Elite Si Novels & Stories

The tires of the black sedan didn’t spin on the wet gravel; they bit into it. Elias kept his hands white-knuckled at three and nine on the steering wheel of the old Volvo he’d pulled from the basement storage unit. It was an anonymous car, registered to a shell LLC that hadn't traded a dollar since 2019, smelling faintly of dry rot and old floor mats. It lacked the biometric tracking arrays his father’s fleet used, and it didn't possess the automated navigation that would report his coordinates back to the Hawthorne Group’s central mainframe every ninety seconds.

The car was a grey Skoda — anonymous, reliable, the kind of vehicle that belonged so completely to the background of Eastern European streets that it functioned as near-invisibility. Elian got in the passenger side without being told, which told Dante something. Most civilians needed to be directed through every physical step in a crisis. Elian had scanned the street twice before getting in, checked the mirrors without being asked, and was watching the road behind them within thirty seconds of the doors closing. "You've done this before," Dante said.

Luxury sedans. SUVs. A few media vans belonging to the invited press. Executives from both corporations arrived individually or in small groups, greeting one another as they made their way toward the reception area. A black Mercedes-Benz S-Class rolled through the entrance and came to a smooth stop. The rear door opened. Elena stepped out first. She wore a tailored black blazer over a cream blouse, matching trousers, and comfortable low heels suitable for the site visit. Marcus stepped out from the other side of the car, adjusting the sleeves of his rolled-up shirt.

He kissed my knuckles, his eyes never leaving Julianna’s, his gaze unwavering. "You're wrong about one thing, Julianna," Silas said, his voice echoing in the hollow, cavernous room like a gunshot. "I’m not the man who values a good deal anymore. I’m the man who finally values his life. And Elena Rossi is my life. You want your three billion? Fine. Start the paperwork. I’ll liquidate every private asset I own. I’ll sell the hamptons beach house, I’ll sell the Maybach, I’ll sell the very ground we're sitting on, and I'll bankrupt myself before I ever sign another contract that doesn't have her name on it."

ELORA “Yup. Black Mercedes. Delivered before sunrise. The security guy gave me the keys and said it was from Grayson Motors.” “Ethan?” I laughed. “Why would he? He would not go such lengths to prove his stance. My problem is that I haven’t even been promoted yet, I don’t even know how to explain this to people at work.” Gemma’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Whoever is doing this is not just spoiling you, El. He’s branding you. Feels like he’s trying to send a message. But who is this person? Any ideas?”

“Vidr? What even is that? Sounds like a sleep aid.” “God of the forest,” Elian replied smoothly, without missing a beat. “Also vengeance.” “Right. Because why not name your megayacht after a vengeful woodland cryptid.” He just smiled like I’d proven his point. The serpent tattoo on the back of his right hand curled as he slid it into his pocket, the picture of casual menace. Behind us, some porters scrambled to keep up, buried under half of fashion week collections. Isla walked beside them with the sort of poise that made me wonder if her bad reaction to flight was only my imagination.

They got into the black Toyota SUV that brought them from the airport the previous day, and David wasted no second in taking a spot beside Isabel, who was seated at the backseat of the SUV, leaving Dylan with no other choice but to sit at the far end of the backseat. And, the journey back to the Pride pack began.

Cash smiled. "Thanks," I returned the smile. "So. Why aren't you leaving the car again?" Eli asked. "I'm afraid," I admitted. I didn't expect Westley to grab my hands and pull me out of the car. "Up you go! "Hey!" I protested. "Unless you fancy me throwing you onto my shoulder and carrying you in, I'd suggest you get over your fear real quick missy," he said, arms crossed. I scowled. "What is it with you, people

I waited for some seconds before following him. We drove to the said location and it was a company that produces Beverages. "Are you kidding me?" Josh said. "If he is a secret agent, it's possible this is their base. Secret being the key word" I said as I unlocked the car and got down. Josh did the same thing. We entered the company. The security stopped us. "I'm sorry, you can't go in" he said. "I can't go in? It's really urgent. There's someone I want to see. A life depends on it" I said

She lifted the pile of reports again, setting her contract on top, and exited my office. As soon as Rylee was out. My phone vibrated - flashing Evan’s charming face. Right on time. “I’m here, Princess,” Evan mumbled. “I’ll be down in a minute.” A few night shift employees greeted me as I walked out of the building, my eyes scanning for Dad’s limousine. “Cali,” hearing Nate’s voice stunned me. He slid out of a Bentley parked in front of Reed Industries. His coat, sweater, and jeans replaced his doctor’s outfit. The clean cut hairstyle gave a perfect view of his sharp carved jaws, giving me that familiar smile - a warm one.