Five Nights With 39 Novels & Stories

—Tracy. Beneath the caption was a video link. His hands trembled as he clicked it open. The screen filled with the image of me, painting. It was a step-by-step chronicle, from the initial pencil sketch to the meticulous finishing touches. Each stroke carried the weight of dedication and love. The version of me in the video smiled softly as I spoke to the camera. "This is my fifth-anniversary gift for my husband. Dennis Malcolm, thank you for staying by my side."

I woke up in a private room at the family hospital. The white lights stung my eyes. My body felt like a truck had run over it. A doctor stood at the foot of my bed. His face was tired. "Mrs. Vitale," he said, "We did everything we could, but we could not save the baby. I am very sorry." He left before I could answer. I reached for my phone. No calls. No messages. Nothing. That did not make sense. Enzo never allowed his Donna to be out of contact for more than an hour. The last time a rival family kept me out of contact for three hours, he shut down half the city looking for me. Now? Three days. Nothing.

Chapter 66 Tonight MIDNIGHT PACK: FINLAY INC Tommy paced the room, his head threatening to split with the incessant ache he was feeling. He had started the day with some sort of bliss and was in the middle of experiencing a wild orgasm through Linda’s mouth on his dick. Not until Ava's call came in to ruin his mood.

The York family wanted Caleb and me to spend more time together, so he often took me out. We went skydiving, hiking, and visited the ocean. Slowly, we grew closer with every adventure. Mom finally divorced Dad. I heard the York family cut off business with the Johnsons. Dad's reputation suffered after the divorce, and no one wanted to work with him. The Johnsons were soon facing bankruptcy. Hayden stopped paying attention to Selena. Furious, Selena tried secretly drugging both herself and Hayden to force a situation, but Hayden caught her and dumped her out into the street.

The second with a shattered jaw. I ran. Dawn found me at a human airport. I dialed a number I never thought I would use. "Dean Thorne. This is Selene Nightshade." His voice was calm. "I was wondering when you would call." "I need to report Alistair Blackthorn. Infidelity. Abuse. Misuse of restricted Moonflower Essence resulting in a death. Desecration of remains." I held my breath. "I have evidence. Recordings. Everything." A pause. Then: "The council will hear it. Come to the liaison office. I will send Gideon Frost to meet you."

Five years of humiliation and five years of being less than a person… Had I even been like a human to them? “You two! Check that side!” Voices echoed from the yard. They were closing in. I snapped back to myself and tore down the mountain path as fast as my legs would carry me. Back in the city, I flagged down the first cab I could find and went straight home, to the place Melissa and I once called home. My steps froze when I pushed open the study door, it was filled with monitors, all displaying live feeds of the estate. Every room, every path, and even the stable that I’d slept in for five years, were displaying right in the middle of the screen.

"We already talked about this. I was tired. I slipped up. Why are you bringing this up now, after such a perfect night?" "Because I found the paper, Damian." I walked over to the laundry bin. My heart was thumping against my ribs like a trapped bird. I reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the crumpled reservation. I threw it on the unmade bed. Then, I pulled out the strip of condoms. They looked small and ugly against the white sheets. "Chicago," I whispered, pointing at the paper. "A hotel room in Chicago. On our anniversary. And these? We haven’t used these in five years.

I jumped on my bed and checked my phone, seeing a text notification plastered on my screen. Of course it just had to be my damned mother. Who else could it be? Lyssa Hendrix, the "queen" of the mafia. She was nothing better than my father; if anything, she was worse. She was cold, brutal, and didn't care about anything but herself. It disgusted me. I opened my phone, reading the text. "You're coming clubbing with me tomorrow. It's going to be so much fun!"

"Five years ago, I was merely a shadow of your past. What makes you think I would come back?" My head was filled with questions and doubts. He fell silent. I could see the fear in his eyes, the fear of losing me for a second time. But I was no longer the same woman I was five years ago. I was no longer the woman who waited for him to turn around and see me as I was, not just a vessel for his old memories. "I know I don’t deserve a second chance. I know I’ve hurt you in the cruelest way. But I regret it, truly regret it. I’ve spent five years searching for you, hoping to atone for my mistakes. I... I still love you."