All Chapters of Rise of the Rejected; Bred by the Mafia CEO: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The Next Morning…Khaid opened his eyes. It was still early, but the sunlight was filtering past the heavy curtains. He was instantly aware of the weight on his chest and the small, warm body snuggled against his side. His muscles were stiff, still unused to being held, especially in a position of such close proximity.He gently tried to shift and leave, but Bluey tightened her grip, her fingers digging lightly into his shirt, securing him in place even in her sleep. She eventually began to stir, her eyelids fluttering open. Her mind was clearly still in the comfortable fog of sleep.“My pillow,” she muttered, her voice thick with sleep. “It's so firm and... comforting.”She then began to innocently rub his chest, her small palm kneading the unfamiliar texture of muscle and skin, seeking the perfect spot for rest. When her hand touched the firm, rising plane of his pectoral muscle, her brain finally registered the difference between fabric and flesh, between foam and a living, breathi

Qye was standing by the window of Bluey's old apartment. It was the only vacant space she could find immediately outside the main Jager surveillance zone. The room was sparsely furnished and dimly lit. The landlord had sent someone to pack out Bluey's things and cleaned the space before Qye’s moving in. She lit a cigarette, taking a long, contemplative drag, and watched the jolly smoke curl up and disappear into the stale air.Her phone rang, an encrypted line.“What's going on?” Qye asked, exhaling a plume of smoke.“I think something big is going down at the Niche Tech Room,” the anonymous contact reported, his voice tight with frustration. “High alert, internal shutdown. But I can't figure it out. Entry is limited to only authorized personnel, and they’ve locked down every data port.”“What do you think it is?” Qye asked impatiently.“I have no idea. But the robot launch has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. I think they got your package” The anonymous caller intoned.

I slammed the heavy door of my room shut and immediately leaned against it, gasping for air that wasn't stale and wasn't tinged with the scent of Jerry's ridiculously clean laundry. I felt like I'd just finished a ten-mile sprint except I hadn't moved faster than a brisk walk since leaving the Guard Quarters.My chest was heaving. I placed a hand over my chest, trying to know what was going on there. My heart was battering against my ribcage with a relentless, frantic rhythm. My skin felt unnaturally hot, and when I looked down at my reflection in the dark, polished wood floor, my face was indeed flushed and red like a tomato.“What is this?” I quizzed myself, taking a step back. I have logged physical trauma, psychological duress, and chemical imbalances, but this was new. I have never felt this way before, and because of this, my usually precise internal dictionary had no word for it.I walked straight to the large mirror on the wall and stared directly at it. I looked entirely dish

I kissed him back. I don't know when the shock turned into pure, frantic need, but the moment his lips crashed onto mine, I responded. I gripped the fabric of his still-open shirt—the one I was supposed to be professionally unbuttoning—and I kissed Khaid like my very life depended on it. It was all the pent-up tension, the suppressed attraction, and the sheer terror of my situation exploding all at once. My mind was completely blank, consumed only by the pressure of his mouth and the intoxicating taste of him. It felt like I was sitting on the sheer softness and serenity of the cloud. I couldn't think of anything.It wasn't until he broke the kiss, pulling back just slightly, that I regained any shred of composure. My lungs were burning, my brain was short-circuiting, and I was utterly mortified by my own desperate response. I stared at him desperately to see his reaction. His usual blank face was gone. All he had was a look of hunger for more. We both said nothing. I watched breathl

Qye arrived on a dark power bike. She had heeded Specter's impromptu invite for a tip to get to Khaid and she's not missing that chance. She climbed down the bike and removed her helmet which made her long hair loose, cascading down her back. She walked with a hardened gait toward the main keep, moving directly to the Throne Room, where she’d been told The Specter was waiting. She reached for her hair and tied it in a bun in a split second.The moment she stepped through the grand archway, she was greeted with a scene of chilling cruelty unfolding. A typical scene she has witnessed several times and subsequently got used to. Specter was sitting high on a dark, imposing throne, presiding over a dreadful judgment. Before him knelt a family of three—a husband, a wife, and a small boy child, all looking utterly tattered and broken. "Treason," Specter’s voice boomed, echoing in the vast, cold hall. "The penalty is death."The husband immediately threw himself further onto the floor. "Ple