All Chapters of And he took my breath away: Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

CoryThe small cafe I had chosen was tucked into a quiet corner of the city. Not one of the polished, glittery establishments where business tycoons flaunted their wealth, but a moderate place, with worn brick walls, the faint aroma of roasted beans and a shelf filled with books for patrons to borrow.I ordered a cup of espresso, then chose a seat by the window. Outside, the city moved in its usual rush, but, in here, the world slowed. The hush of conversations, the clink of cups, the hiss of steaming milk. It was almost comforting. I wrapped my hands around the warm porcelain cup, inhaling the rich scent. The bell above the door gave a melodious chime, cutting through the low hum of the espresso machine. I didn’t look up immediately, partly because I was terrified to face Aliyah, if she was indeed the one who had stepped in.I was also distracted by the hairline crack in the tabletop. Then came the sound of footsteps, not the frantic click of someone in a hurr

Cory “I know exactly what you’re going to say. It’s a trap, but what if it isn’t? What if this is the very last piece of information I need to seal this case?” Remy breathed out hastily, glancing between Aliyah and me.She reached out for a piece of apple inside the bowl on the kitchen counter, before taking a large bite. “That’s… a lot to process,” Aliyah started first, she leaned against the refrigerator, crossing her arms over her chest. She fixed her eyes on the burner of the stove as if the answer was etched somewhere there.“You’re talking about meeting an anonymous source who claims to be Marcus Thorne’s daughter. The same Thorne who also happens to have gone AWOL for some months now. To be honest, this isn’t just a trap; it’s basically a cliche for ending up in a body bag…and God forbid you’re gonna fall into it.”Remy chewed slowly, her bravado wavering for just a second before she swallowed. “I totally understand that you’re worried about me. You’re

RemyThe street light of the city streaked past the taxi window in a blur of hazy gold. In the backseat, the air was thick with Aliyah’s floral perfume and the nervous hum of my own heartbeat.I reached down, tugging at the hem of my very short and silk burgundy dress. The movement was useless, because it rode right back up with each thug.“Stop fiddling with it,” Aliyah said, catching my hand. She looked radiant, her own outfit clinging to her like a second skin. “You’ve spent weeks buried in work. You’re allowed to have just one night where we just exist.”“I know, I know,” I exhaled, leaning my head against the head rest. “I’m sorry, it’s just that, you know I’ve never been a club kinda girl, and dresses like this make me feel like I’m still naked.”“I totally understand you” Aliyah reached out to pluck out something from my hair, “but this is just for one night. Plus we get to be in a VIP booth, it’s not every day that happens.”“Yeah… I guess. Thanks to Cory.