Lahat ng Kabanata ng Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele: Kabanata 381 - Kabanata 390

[Atlas]A faint buzzing sound is the only warning we hear. Clark's sizziling, useless computer begins to spark right before it explodes, casting scrapnel of melted plastic and twisted circuitry across the room. Ducking out of the way, I hit the floor as my four guards knock down the door. "Sir," one of my men help me stand. "We need to evacuate." "What's happening?" Sasha breaks his quiet, stoic stance to speak up, holding Delilah close to his chest. "The hotel is surrounded," Another one of the guards reports out, his hand on his ear. "Mistress Steele is requesting I escort all of you to the rondevous point ASAP." My mother, meddling, again. "And that point...?""Need to know only, Sir." My lead guard bows. "Sorry, but she outranks you." "She," Clark dusts himself off, picking up what he can salvage of his destroyed tech. There isn't a lot left."Mom," I clarify as we file out into the hallway. "It seems she's in control now." "Do you think she knew..." Clark coughs, waving

[Sydney]At dawn, Magnus left our bedroom in a huff, throwing on a pair of slacks and grabbing a jacket from the closet. He usually is more mindful of his appearance, but an alert on his phone stole the color from his cheeks."There's been a breach," he announces. "I'll take care of it."He returned an hour later, sweaty and angry."They got away," he announced, throwing his phone on the nightstand as he pulled off his clothing with jagged motions, tearing the seam of his coat. "They must be working with HER."The way he emphasized that last word makes the hairs on the back of my neck extend like tiny antennae.I don't need to ask who he means. He calls this person Nemisis. He has no name, no gender, no idea who it is, but he is convinced that this person was behind other attacks against him as well."Magnus," I sit up. "What? Who?""My daughter is being a very bad girl," he frowns as he climbs into bed next to me, his body surprisingly firm for an older man. "You won't be a bad girl,

[Cordelia]I miss my husband. I miss the way his lips gently curl when he's amused and the way he only warms for me and our son. I miss his touch on my waist as he kisses our daughter good night. I miss his smell. Suzanna meant well when she left us all in the care of Cousin Wally. It wasn't her intention to cause me so much pain. But it does. Damn it, every time he opens his mouth, those shining teeth smiling too brightly as he grins like a maniacal clown, feels like a stab to the heart and a big reminder that he isn't the man who shares his face."So Miss Delia," he never uses my proper name, "Are you ready for another adventure? I thought today I'd take you to the seaside."Atlas only called me "Cordelia," never Cordy, and sure the heck, not Delia. "Won't it be too cold for a beach excursion?" It might be nearing summer stateside, but here in the Southern Hemisphere, the chill Autumn air is giving way to winter. "I wouldn't want the babies to get sick." "Nah," he waves away my

[Sydney]"Weird," I turn the pin in my hands. I had heard that ladies once had pins like this for self-defense--a way to stop would-be attackers. It looks authentic--a true antique and likely quite valuable. Who would send me such a gift?Another knock on the door, this one far louder, turn my head just in time to see someone I've been waiting for. "Mr. Summers," I smile, remembering Jude's alias, and that others are listening nearby. "Not that I mind, but why are you here? I'm not sure my husband would approve."I try to make eye contact with him in the mirror, to warn him, but I can't catch his gaze. Jude doesn't return my smile. "I am here to escort you to the site, madam," Jude's pose is stiff, his hands clenched. "The boss asked me to take you there myself." A hummingbird flutter of panic dances across my chest but I don't have time to think. Magnus wasn't just bluffing to get me to confess to something earlier--he knows about Jude which means he probably knows about Dee and A

[Atlas]We were eating lunch on the deck of the ship when the second boat arrived from the west. "Oh good," my mother smiles as she looks through a pair of binoculars. "Our company is here." My mother hasn't explained much about how she ended up on the deck of an Austrailian aircraft carrier, nor why she's wearing the military of a naval general, nor has she or Cristine Devaroux explained why they knew to be waiting for us where they did. It has all been a big mystery.Suzanna Steele is full of mysteries. I remember being a child and finding it magical when she'd invent something new or solve an impossible problem. As an adult, I find it irritating. "Why won't you just tell me the plan," I demand, trying my best to sound authoritative. "This is about me and my family. I should have some control." "No offense, Atlas, but I left you alone for decades only to have you mess things up. This time, I'm taking things out of your hands. I know that it can be frustrating for someone who is u