AbelI got back into the car, revved up the engine, and started the two-hour-long drive down to the cemetery at the outskirts of town. I visited it more often than I should, more often than my father and brothers did. Parking the Porsche close to the family plot, I climbed out. It was already noon, and the heat and humidity hung thickly in the air, suffocating and uncomfortable after the air-conditioned drive. I went over to the flower stand operated by a burly, elderly woman and purchased a dozen white Calla lillies — they were Abigail's favourite, and began the walk up the small hill. The wet grass yielded beneath my feet, soft and covered in moss. A thick black gate surrounded the plot of land housing a large number of the deceased Stravkos family. I strode my usual path silently, noting the names of the dead in my head, how many years they'd spent on earth before their demise — so many not even up to forty. Too many damn lives cut short. Too many untimely deaths. Too many more, y

SolanaI was worse than a prisoner here.Still shaken by what happened in the bathroom, I had to spend the day in my bedroom. I slept through most hours, then played a few games on my phone. It was depressing. Lauren brought up a tray during lunchtime when I lied to her that I wasn't feeling well, and then a medicine package to accompany another tray at dinnertime. I expected Abel to check up on me, but I wasn't bothered when I caught no sight of him. I didn't ask Lauren where he was or what kept him so occupied to have forgotten about demanding silly things from me and humiliating me some more. I didn't care for the most part of it, but when she came up a third time to clear up the dinner tray, I finally worked up the nerve to ask.“Did Abel go out? Or is he working in his private office? Is he sleeping?”So many questions... I hated to realize I cared a lot more than necessary.She shook her head, a hint of a smile tugging at the left corner of her lips. “No ma'am. He's been out the

SolanaI couldn't break contact no matter how hard I tried. And my body's terse reaction to him wasn't helping matters. I couldn't feel the ground beneath my feet anymore. His gaze took me up in the air, dropping me back down, his eyes moving over to Helly who stood up now, wringing her fingers together.Well, this is awkward.His shoulders relaxed as he nodded to my sister and beamed at Frank who was busy munching the shortbread biscuits, oblivious to the tension in the air. He waved at Nico dismissively. “Thanks, man. I'll take it from here.”Nico nodded, gave a curt bow, then exited the room quietly. Abel took long strides to Helly, extending his hand for a handshake. “Nice to see you again, Helen. What brings you to New York?”“I came here so I could be closer to my sister,” Helen's voice was strained, a tinge of resentment making her words come out forcefully. If Abel noticed this, he made no comment, turning his attention to Frank.“Nice. Hey, there little buddy. What's your nam

SolanaAbel escorted us outside, lingering in the doorway while I kissed Helly and Frank goodbye. After they'd entered the car, and drove off, out of view, he stepped out of the way to let me pass, then closed the door. We stood in the grand foyer, facing each other, silent for a few minutes.“I'm sorry for my behavior this morning,” he spoke up first, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “I was wrong. I never should've done what I did.”I blinked, stunned. An apology was the last thing I'd anticipated. It seemed way out of place. If he'd gone on a rampage, locked me in a room, and treated me like shit, it would've made way more sense. But an apology out of the blue? Him agreeing to let me go to my sister's and even offering to drive me there?Utterly unbelievable.“I hope we can put everything that's taken place behind us, and start a new page. A new chapter. We both need each other's friendship to make this ship sail,” he added.We both stared at each other for a long time until it bec

SolanaHis fingers left my thigh, tugging at the sleeve of my blouse. I raised my hands so he could slip it off, unable to say anything, my pulse quickening as the minutes rolled by slowly. He tossed the blouse aside, and used a finger to lift my chin up, so I could stare directly into his deep, blue eyes.“Never take your eyes off me.”I gave a small nod, my breath hitching as I tried not to blink, tried to avoid drowning in the depth of his gaze. He swallowed carefully as he explored my chest, his blue eyes now a frightening, excited black. My nipples tightened from the intensity of his gaze upon them, barely hidden by the white lace material.Bringing his face down to mine, he shut his eyes and inhaled deeply, his mouth close to mine, so close, I could feel his ragged breathing. He planted a kiss softly on my cheek, the rushed unexpectedness making my stomach flutter, his breath on my face making my sex throb in a foreign, delightful kind of way.“It doesn't have to be war every ti