007: Everything Or Nothing Novels & Stories

Life has been peaceful—if we don’t go outside, that is. “Look, Mama Reigna! Papa! He has fire breath!” Erwin exclaimed, holding up his masterpiece with a proud grin. My heart swelled. “It’s magnificent, sweetie. The fiercest dragon I’ve ever seen.” My phone, resting on the glass-topped coffee table, buzzed, its sudden vibration jarring the peaceful atmosphere. I glanced at the screen – an unknown number. Frowning slightly, I reached for it. “Oh, that’s odd.” Mumbling to myself, I picked it up.

Jameson did not come home all night. Early the next morning, Camille got a call from her professor, Ryan Zach. He sounded excited. “Camille, are you really willing to go abroad with me for this exchange program? Our first stop is a battlefield, where we will be working with Doctors Without Borders. It’s dangerous, and we might lose contact with home for a long time!” Camille’s voice was soft but determined. “Yes. I’ve made up my mind.”

he replied as if he was making perfect sense. “If you don’t remember… I told you last night I don’t want to jump into an affair.” “It’s a bit too late for that, Alannah. I believe you already are… Here… Try this, it’s my favorite,” Darius offered as if they weren’t having an important discussion. “Fine, I’ll try the wine if you tell me more about your vendetta,” Alannah compromised. “You first! What were you dreaming about? That nightmare shook you up pretty good…”

Mine had just walked back into my life wearing the same eyes I'd spent a year trying to forget. I made it to the stairwell and stopped! Right there by the door, pinned up for everyone to see, was the official partner list. I had walked right past it when I came in. Blancham, D. and Darius, M. were highlighted in yellow, just like all the others. My phone buzzed, and I waited ten seconds before looking at it. Tomorrow. 9 am. Don't be late. I stared at it longer than I should have. Then I put my phone away and walked out into the cold.

Her lips trembled, but no words came out. Mrs. Cunningham stood to the side, wanting to curse at me, but not daring to. Seven years of marriage. Twenty years of friendship. In the face of betrayal and lies, it had all become worthless. I had nothing more to say. I turned, ready to leave this nauseating place.

The guard studied me for a long moment. Then he reached for his radio. I stood at those gates and I did not fidget and I did not look away and my wolf stood straight inside me for the first time in seven years. The radio crackled. The guard looked up. Alpha Rhys says to bring her in, he said. He did not sound surprised. And that was the part that should have reassured me. It did not.

He ran to me, panting heavily, but his eyes were shining with an unusually bright light. It was a light I hadn't seen in his eyes for a very long time. A light mixed with nervousness, anticipation, and even a bit of boyish anxiety. He pulled the velvet box from his sea-sprayed jacket and snapped it open. Then, he dropped to one knee. "Chloe." "It's been seven years. Thank you for walking these seven years with me." "I know I haven't been good enough, that I've put you through a lot. But please believe me, from this day forward—"

His mouth was drawn tight, his movements clipped. He didn’t bother with small talk. “Warehouse Seven was hit.” I stood. “Hit how?” I asked sharply. “Quietly,” Damon replied. “Two men, surgical precision. No alarms. The inside cameras were looped for exactly twelve minutes.” “Twelve minutes?” Matteo repeated. “What the hell did they take?” “Nothing.” That stilled me. Damon walked forward and placed something on my desk. A black card. Matteo leaned in first. “Is that—?”

Everyone around him was frozen in shock. His assistant rushed over. "Mr. Lawson, what happened?" Rory couldn't speak. His throat was tight, choked by the weight of the pain. Behind him, the sky above the villa was filled with the fireworks that had been prepared yesterday. It would have been the happiest moment of his life, but he had lost me.

Then I recorded a video and sent it to her. In the spacious office, more than a dozen core engineers were busy at their stations. Carrie's competitor had given us an entire floor to ourselves. When they saw me filming, they grinned and flashed big peace signs at the camera. When Carrie saw the video, she angrily tossed her phone onto the bed. The sudden motion startled Gabe, who had been about to enter. "Carrie, what's wrong?" A towel was wrapped around his waist, droplets of water trailing down from his damp hair along the lines of his abdomen.