Last Mile David Baldacci Novels & Stories

My mother was critically ill, and I drove five hundred miles back to my hometown alone. At a rest stop, I saw a video online. A young man had posted: "First day driving long-distance as a nervous beginner. My ex followed me for three hundred miles, all the way until I got home safely." In the video, a familiar black Mercedes followed a white car the entire way. The top comment came from a burner account: "I'm the driver's ex. No other meaning. I just couldn't stop worrying. "He's timid, but always tries to act brave. I was afraid something would happen to him. "Please don't overthink it. Don't bother him. I'll feel bad." The internet exploded. "What kind of once-in-a-lifetime devoted ex is this? Get back together already!" I stared at that Mercedes. The plate number was GB-8860V. It was my fiancee Vanessa Tomlinson's car. That morning, she had canceled the plan to drive home with me. She said her company had an emergency project and she could not get away. I had sent her dozens of messages, and she had not replied to a single one. Yet she had time to escort the man she never truly let go of for three hundred miles. My phone buzzed. Vanessa had finally texted me: "Is the interstate jammed? Drive safe."

Insomnia, depression and what's worse, he had absolutely no appetite. Things couldn't get any worse for him. Yet when life had already made him hit rock-bottom, there was nothing left to lose anymore. Thrown into such situation, a young man who wasn't in the best mental condition, suddenly got nicknamed Midnight and found himself visiting the same girl over and over again every night in her backyard. The girl being the same one he had had a crush on years ago. The problem is... This girl has no idea who he is, nor did he have any intention to let her know. In such situation a question arises: How do I make her like me back?

The ninth time I walked in on Andy Lowe in bed with another woman. I didn’t lose control, and I didn’t question him. I casually tossed a piece of clothing at the girl and said calmly, “Leave through the back garden door.” She froze for a moment, glanced at me nervously, then grabbed the clothes and fled. Andy leaned back against the headboard, looking relaxed, and slowly lit a cigarette. “It’s her first time here,” he said as if it were only natural. “Don’t scare her.” “She’s very innocent, unlike you. I don’t want her getting hurt.” He paused, then added, “It’s her birthday today. I won’t be coming back tonight.” I nodded and said nothing more. As I turned around, I smiled. He seemed not to know that the “innocent” girl had AIDS.

It has always been him, he was my first love, and so, I had to let him go. He wasn't made for this life. He, was made for greater things. He was too much of a tornado for this small town, that doesn't mean I miss him any less. It's been 9 years since we last saw each other. Nine years of hatred on his part and self-loathing on mine, why did I let him go? Now, he is a successful billionaire, living the life one could only dream of. I wish things were different now that he's back but that just seems like a foreign concept to him. He doesn't want me anymore, but I can't blame him either. It was me who broke us and it is going to be me who will put all the pieces back together. Even if it is the last thing I do before death comes knocking at my door.

I've been in a long-distance relationship with Xavier Harrington for four years. Every time we meet up with each other, the first thing he says to me is, "You've gotten fatter… and shorter." When my friend finds out about it, she jokes to me, "Maybe he has another girlfriend who's taller and thinner than you." It's supposed to be a joke, and yet I take it seriously. It explains why I've decided to travel a span of 1,800 miles just to seek Xavier out at the city he's stationed to. But that's when I accidentally stumble upon Xavier going on a stroll with a young woman side by side. I trail behind them, only to see them going to a cafe that's filled with people. There, they line up so that they can snap commemorative photos. However, whenever Xavier's hanging out with me, he often turns my suggestions down impatiently. To him, lining up at such places is a waste of time. Later on, Xavier and the woman secure a table in a restaurant. There, Xavier pulls out a chair for her before he starts setting out the cutlery for her. Even when the food is served, he will subconsciously push the woman's favorite dish in her direction. For the first time ever in our relationship of eight years, I find out that Xavier can be caring when he feels like it. I watch as Xavier chats animatedly with the woman at the table. He shares everything with her, be it the irritating experiences at work or the funny and interesting incidents that have happened to him so far. Then, I lower my head to look at the short text messages Xavier has sent to me in the past. "Time for work. It's lunch time. I'm about to nap." Suddenly, I find my relationship with Xavier extremely boring, so I dig out the invitation sent by my company regarding their outstation request and tap on it. After all, I no longer want anything to do with this flawed relationship anymore.

As the second son, Rene was but a shadow to his big brother. He never really care about this hierarchy, or about his playboy brother who have a lot of living sex toys. But, when Nic touches Rene's girlfriend, everything turns around. Rene started his revenge, he created a channel of CCTV that records his brothers sexcapade. He saved every file he collected in a hard drive, a hard drive that he plans to use to bait every woman in those video to fall on his trap and make them pay for what they took from him.

As we all know that if you are a man you are burdened with lots of responsibilities as the bread earner of the family. This story centers around Robin Bradley who is a live in son-in-law. But then he learns that he's a billionaire. Will he use this newly gained identity to take revenge on the people who looked down at him or help his wife so he will be the inheritor of the family business? Let's go on this journey to see how a worthless and useless painter becomes a somebody that others will respect.

Casanova, bad boy, innovator, heartless man, perfectionist... Aryan Kapoor was called many things. Success followed him and girls chased him, thanks to the heady mix of his brilliant mind, devilish charm and hunky body. Love, commitment and happily ever after... These were not meant for him. He learnt this bitter truth seven years ago from Chandni, his supposed soulmate. He felt nothing but hatred towards Chandni now. He has moved on. Then why is he still haunted by the romantic moments and passionate nights he shared with Chandni? And why has she come back to ruin his life again, after seven years? That too as the Co Owner and CEO of the company that he successfully built with his hard work and innovation. As they stood facing each other, it was hard to define the feelings on Aryan and Chandni's faces. Hatred? Loathing? A Sense of Betrayal? Or was there somewhere a suppressed feeling of a love that lasted... Despite everything.

Alyssa walker had thought her chapter with the billionaire businessman had closed but when Lucas Ramirez strode back into her life claiming that he never signed the divorce paper, would she be able to handle being married to a man she detest and love more than life itself?

Ophelia Morgan, a beautiful young woman meets the arrogant but strikingly attractive and handsome billionaire/CEO, Nicholas Kendrick, and it is attraction at first sight- at least for the beautiful and charming Ophelia. Nicholas is a cold-hearted man with no emotional attachment and he doesn't reciprocate Ophelia's feelings even though they are blantantly obvious to him. Will Ophelia ever lose hope on her love for him or will he finally notice and love her the way she deserves? Read on to find out!