Simon Riley Novels & Stories

"Dante said eight. That's eight. We're good." "We're not good," Simon muttered, already pulling out his equipment. His fingers were moving over the small handheld device he used for everything — scanning frequencies, monitoring channels, patching into surveillance feeds. He was the quietest one of the group, which made it stranger when he spoke up. "There's chatter I don't like." "What kind of chatter?" Dante asked. "Encrypted, short-burst. Could be nothing." Simon didn't look up from the screen. "Could be a second sweep team. I want to go around the east block and check."

“Lucy! Did you know Eli has fought professionally? Like, actual professional fights?” “Good morning to you too,” I tell him. From the living room couch, my cousin Tyler lifts one hand in greeting without looking away from Eli, a piece of cereal hovering forgotten between the bowl and his mouth. Tyler is seventeen, staying with us for the semester because his parents are in London for work, and he has the attention span of someone who has never met a situation he didn’t immediately try to assess for entertainment value. He has, apparently, decided that Eli is excellent entertainment.

, Alexa said harshly. Simon is my avid admirer since college. Until now, he is still courting me even though I already told him that I'm not yet ready to enter into commitments but he told me he is willing to wait. Although he doesn't come from a well-off family but I think he's better than Royce. I just don't understand why Alexa doesn't like him. He is a good-looking man and has a stable job already. He is now working as a bank accountant, so maybe it's okay if I will give myself a chance to get to know him better. Well at least, he is not a womanizer like Royce Miller!

CIARA'S POV The reporters were still outside. Their voices carried through the front gates. "Mrs. Hale!" "Is the video real?" "Did you leave with Cain Hale?" I shut the car door harder than I meant to. The noise didn't stop. Camera flashes bounced off the mansion windows. The front door opened before I reached it. Simon stood there. His tie was gone. His sleeves were rolled up. For the first time since I'd known him, he looked tired. "You took your time."