Semua Bab THE HOSTAGE'S DILEMMA : Bab 111 - Bab 115

NATALIEI step into the huge mansion, my worn sneakers scuffing lightly on polished marble, and my breath catches. I scan the entire house, taking in the beauty of this masterpiece. Sunlight streams through tall, arched windows, illuminating dust motes dancing like tiny, indifferent spirits in the air. A grand staircase, wide enough for a parade, curves elegantly upwards, its banister a dark, gleaming wood that looks impossibly ancient and impossibly cared for. Expensive art lines the walls, abstract splashes of color and emotion in frames that probably cost more than my entire apartment. The air itself feels different here, probably what money can do.“Are you quite finished admiring the house, Natalie?”Luca’s voice cuts through the quiet house. I jump, startled, my daydream dissolving into a prickle of heat on my cheeks. He stands at the end of the hall, leaning against a wall, his arms crossed over a tailored black suit that looks like a second skin. “Come.” The single word is a

AARONI finally signed the last deal for Lombardi Co. It’s been hectic all week working on a particular client and now, it’s over with. I finally have the time to focus on Ash business. Before that, I have to find my Kitten.I haven't had a moment to breathe with her, not truly, since we arrived. I tried to conclude everything and focus on her but work is a lot.Our penthouse is quiet as I step inside, the city’s distant hum barely audible from this height. I chose one of the best hotels just so we can get our privacy and hopefully Mia can get some rest before we travel back. I enter the living room and see Mia sitting on the sofa, her knees drawn up, a hand resting on one. Her gaze is distant, fixed on the curtains but I’m sure she’s not looking at them. On her other hand, she holds a small, beaded bracelet, turning it over and over, the colorful beads catching the last rays of light. It's a bracelet I've never seen on her before.“Mia?” My voice is soft, an attempt not to startle h

MIAThe sound of Aaron’s voice rips through the penthouse. I head out of the kitchen to see what the problem is. “You know what? You'd better handle it. You better make sure every single trace, every thread connecting Randall to Ash, vanishes into thin air. Because if you don’t,” my voice drops, becoming dangerously quiet, a stark contrast to my earlier fury, “then I’m washing my hands of all of it. I’m handing Ash back to you. Since you clearly don’t want to retire anymore, you can have your empire back. See how well you run it with federal agents breathing down your neck. You’ve done it before, you can do it again, can’t you? This isn’t a threat, Grandfather. It’s a promise.”I almost gasp when he mentions his grandfather. Who would’ve thought that the one Lombardi family member that Aaron has a bit of fear for is the one receiving the lashing? He throws his phone against the sofa and takes deep breaths. I’m about to ask if everything is okay when he gets another call and I bite my