All Chapters of Love is War: But I'd bleed for you: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

THIRD PERSON POVKyla sat across from a man in a charcoal suit, the blinds drawn shut against the morning light. The air between them was still, traced with quiet calculation. Without a word, she slid a small, rectangular box across the wooden table. It made a soft scraping sound, the only noise in the otherwise hushed room.The man wore black leather gloves. He picked up the box carefully, like it was something very valuable, and unlatched the clasp with practiced precision. A brief nod followed. He was obviously pleased, and satisfied when he saw the contents inside.He bent down, opened a low locker beside his chair, and retrieved a matte black container. There were no markings or logos. Just sleek, polished black can.He handed it to Kyla.She lifted the lid slowly. Inside sat a perfume bottle, elegant, glass-cut, shaped like a teardrop. It glinted even under the dim overhead lights, the liquid inside had a colour like faint rose-gold.Her fingers moved toward the stopper.“What

RONALD. The moment Jeffrey’s question left his lips, I felt the air in the room shift. He was staring at me, searching for an answer he needed. I held his gaze steadily. “Yes,” I said. “Now would you let it go?” Jeffrey didn’t answer right away. His eyes lingered on mine for a beat longer, I felt the fight drain from him. “Fine,” he muttered. “If you don’t want to talk about it…” He turned away from me and walked towards the door. “I need to go for a walk.” “Where are you going?” I asked, already knowing I wouldn’t like the answer. He looked over his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m not leaving the estate.” And just like that, he walked out. I sighed, walked to the bar, and poured myself a glass of water. I didn’t drink it immediately. I stared at the ripple in the glass until a familiar memory came crashing back in, intruding my thoughts. ********** FLASHBACK It was a quiet diner on the east end. Faint music humming from the speakers. The diner booth lights were harsh, expos

JEFFREYThe wind carried the smell of damp earth and flowers. I walked with my hands in my pockets, watching the sway of the trees lining the quiet estate road. My thoughts were still tangled, Ronald’s past, my spray-painted car, and that crawling anxious feeling in my gut that had only gotten worse today.I wasn’t ready to go back inside just yet.There was a small garden up ahead, tucked between hedges. It looked empty. Peaceful, and quiet.I veered toward it and settled on the wooden bench beneath a tree, letting the breeze touch my skin. For a while, I just sat there, breathing. No sound apart from the rustle of leaves. I closed my eyes and pretended the rest of the world didn’t exist.Something rustled behind me. I jolted upright- my heart shooting into my throat… only to spot a rabbit darting across the grass. I let out a shaky breath, a small laugh leaving me.“Jesus,” I muttered.The rabbit twitched its nose, looked at me, then bolted.When it disappeared into the shrubs, I f

KYLADinner was good, really nice. Connor had that smug look again, like I was his little guilty pleasure, the thrill he couldn’t shake.I came downstairs and found him at the sink, rinsing dishes like some sweet, shirtless domestic fantasy. I wore nothing but one of his big shirts, loose, low, clinging just right below my bum. I leaned against the wall for a second, watching him.Then I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist.“I have a surprise for you upstairs,” I whispered against his back, then lifted the hem of the shirt, letting it slide up my hips slowly. I wasn't wearing any panties. Or bra.His breath caught.He turned, eyes darkening the moment he realized. “Wait… what’s this?” he asked with a grin, pulling me into a kiss before I could even answer. “I’m always the one seducing you. Since when did you switch the roles?”I kissed him again, slowly this time, and murmured, “I guess dinner was that good.”He didn’t argue. I tugged him toward the stairs, and h

RONALDI checked the time again.And again.It was the third time in the last five minutes. Probably the hundredth since we left the estate this morning. We’d been on the road for over an hour and a half now, and the longer we drove, the more irritated I got, not because of the drive itself, but because I had absolutely no idea where we were going.Jeffrey, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered. He had both hands on the wheel, sunglasses on, the window cracked open, and that little grin on his face like he was enjoying watching me squirm.I sighed. “Where exactly are you taking us?”He chuckled, like I’d just asked something ridiculous. “Don’t worry,” he said, shaking his head. “You’ll know when we get there. Stop asking.”I leaned back in the seat and exhaled slowly. “You do know abducting me using my own car wouldn’t be a very smart plan. I’d be found easily.”Jeffrey let out a full laugh this time. “Are you scared because you’re not the one driving?”“I think you are pla