Semua Bab A DEBT PAID IN FLESH AND SECRETS: Bab 131 - Bab 140

The room was completely dark now, the bright morning and afternoon light having faded into a thick, heavy night. The only illumination came from the pale blue glow of the streetlamps filtering through the window glass. Andreas was lying beside me, his large body radiating a deep warmth that usually made me feel entirely safe. He had fallen into a heavy sleep, completely worn out after his long day of meetings and strategy sessions with the family uncles.His massive, heavy arm was locked tightly over my waist, pinning my lower body against his side. Every time he took a deep, even breath, his chest expanded against my shoulder blade. He was holding me like a prized possession he couldn't afford to lose, even in his dreams.I lay there in the dark, my eyes wide open, staring at the blurry shape of the wardrobe. The silence in the suite was so loud it made my ears ring. The small slip of paper with the new four-digit elevator bypass code was still sitting in the pocket of my trousers, w

The clock on the wall showed nine in the evening, its small hands moving slowly toward the midnight marker. Inside the master suite, the lamps were turned down low, casting a soft, warm glow over the large bed and the two figures sitting together. Outside the glass windows, the city streets were quiet, covered in a thick layer of dark mist that hid the cars and the distant streetlights. Everything felt perfectly still, but for Arthur, every single tick of the clock felt like a blow against his chest.Andreas was completely relaxed, leaning back against the pillows with his shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He had a large paper map spread out over his lap, his long fingers tracing the faded blue lines that marked the roads leading out of the city and toward the northern hills. He looked entirely at peace, his usual stern expression replaced by a calm, quiet ease that he only showed when the doors were locked for the night."The drive will take about three hours if we leave early in the m

I was lying wide awake in the dark, my eyes staring blankly at the ceiling while the slow ticking of the wall clock filled my ears. Andreas was still sleeping deeply beside me, his large arm resting over my ribs, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. The gold ring he had placed on my finger felt tight and cold against my skin, a constant reminder of the trust I had just thrown into the dirt. Every second that passed felt like a hot iron pressing into my throat, making it completely impossible to breathe.Then, a tiny, sharp click cut through the quietness of the bedroom.It was the unmistakable sound of the main door latch turning. My body went completely stiff, my heart slamming against my ribs with a sudden, violent force. Before I could even draw a breath to scream, the mattress shifted instantly beside me.Andreas snapped awake in a single second, his dark eyes opening wide in the shadows. He didn't ask a question, and he didn't hesitate. He grabbed my shoulder wi

The pale gray light of dawn finally broke through the mist, filling the bedroom with a cold, dim brightness that made the ruined walls look even worse. The white plaster dust had settled over everything, coating the overturned chairs and the torn mattress like a layer of dry frost. I sat on the very edge of the stool near the wardrobe, my hands tucked into the pockets of my trousers to hide the gold ring. I had not slept a single wink since the shooters left the floor.The bedroom door opened slowly, and Andreas stepped back into the suite. His face looked completely drained, the dark shadows under his eyes showing the immense fatigue from spending the entire night down in the security office. He had changed into a clean black shirt, but the scent of smoke and cold rain still clung to his clothes.He stopped in the center of the room, his eyes scanning the damage before they finally landed on me."The building is fully secured now, Arthur," he said, his deep voice sounding rough and g

The dressing room was completely empty when I walked in, which was exactly what I wanted. The large mirror on the wall showed my reflection, and I looked terrible. My face was pale, and my eyes were wide with a fear that I could not seem to shake off. I walked over to my locker and pulled the door open. It made a loud squeaking sound that made me jump. Every single noise in this building was starting to scare me.I reached inside to grab my practice clothes and the soft shoes I used for training. My hands were shaking so much that I dropped one of the shoes on the floor."You are going to ruin those if you keep dropping them," a voice said from the doorway.I spun around quickly, my hand flying to my chest. Nico was standing there, holding a stack of clean laundry. He looked at me with his eyebrows raised, his face filled with concern. He walked into the room and set the laundry down on the long bench in the middle of the floor. Nico was one of the older dancers, someone who usually k