All Chapters of Divorced, Desired, Dangerous : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

NILAHThe elevator doors slid open directly onto the top floor of Castellano Tower.Darien walked beside me, his large hand pressed firmly into the small of my back, guiding my posture with that same steady, possessive weight he always carried. The trading floor was already buzzing with morning energy, but the second we stepped onto the sleek marble, every single executive, assistant, and senior analyst stopped what they were doing and stood up straight behind their desks."Good morning, Mr. Castellano. Good morning, Mrs. Castellano," Marko said, stepping into our path with a thick stack of leather-bound files tucked under his arm."Is the board waiting inside?" Darien asked, his voice low, flat, and raspy from the early morning calls with our international teams. He didn't slow his stride for a single second, forcing Marko to fall in line right beside us as we moved toward the double glass doors of the boardroom."Every single one of them, boss," Marko said, opening the top folder to

NILAHThe Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel was a sea of crystal chandeliers, tailored tuxedos, and silk gowns.Every major player in transatlantic shipping was in the room. The International Trade Gala was supposed to be a public victory lap—a formal celebration of the new European berths Castellano Group had secured in Rotterdam. But standing beside Darien, surrounded by armed security hidden in the shadows of the balcony, the room felt less like a party and more like an open battlefield.Darien’s hand was heavy and warm against the small of my back. He wore a fitted dark tuxedo, his jaw set in a hard, rigid line as his dark gray eyes continuously scanned the crowd. He hadn't let me leave his side for a single second since we stepped out of the armored SUV."You're tense," I whispered, leaning my head slightly toward his shoulder as a group of French logistics executives walked past us."We are surrounded by people who lost tens of millions of dollars when we took those Rotterdam le

NILAHEver since the Greenwich raid on Arthur Pendelton three days ago, Darien had turned our penthouse into a golden cage. There were extra guards at every door, panic buttons installed in every room, and two full-time nurses stationed downstairs just to test every drop of food before it reached our table. He wasn't just protecting me anymore—he was suffocating me.I stood near the edge of the large king-sized bed, wearing a simple silk nightgown, staring down at my flat stomach in the floor-length mirror.The master bathroom door clicked open. Darien stepped out into the dim room, wearing only a pair of dark sweatpants. His damp hair was pushed back, and his broad chest was still glistening from the shower. His dark gray eyes swept across the room instantly, checking the balcony locks, checking the corner camera, and finally locking onto me."You should be resting, Nilah," he said softly, his voice low and gravelly as he stepped toward me. "Dr. Harrison said your blood pressure was

NILAHVenice was cold. The sky above us was clear, filled with bright stars, and the ancient stone walls of the palazzos cast long black shadows over the water. Long wooden poles stuck out of the canals, marking the paths for the boats, and the distant sound of church bells echoed across the lagoon.I sat in the back of the covered boat, pulling my black velvet cloak tightly around my shoulders. Underneath the cloak, I wore a fitted dark emerald silk gown that fell all the way to my shoes. My hair was swept up into a soft bun, and on the leather seat beside me lay my mask, a delicate piece of hand-cut black lace lined with small green crystals around the eyes.Darien sat right beside me on the narrow bench. He wore a tailored black tuxedo with a crisp white shirt and a black bow tie. His dark leather mask rested in his lap, plain and unadorned, fitting his sharp jawline perfectly. His hand was wrapped firmly around mine, his thumb moving in slow, heavy circles across the back of my fi

NILAH"Castellano!" the voice barked again through the loudspeaker, echoing loudly between the stone walls of the canal. "Shut down the engine now!"Darien did not move a muscle. He kept his grip firm on my arm, leaning down close to my ear while staying crouched below the level of the glass windows."The moment the first shot is fired, stay flat on the floor," Darien said in a low voice. "Do not try to look up.""What about your arm?" I whispered, my hand instinctively dropping to cover my lower stomach to protect our baby as I stared at his posture. "You do not have a vest on.""I am fine," Darien replied, his voice completely steady. "Marko, take out the light on three.""Ready," Marko called back from the rear door, his gun leveled toward the steel boat."One," Darien said.I pressed my back flat against the floorboards beneath the leather seats, curling my body protectively around my stomach as my chest rose and fell fast against my dark gown."Two," Darien counted. "Three."Mark