The Kept Man Strikes Back Chapter 1 Novels & Stories

She was simply… Watching. Every guard in the security room stared in horror. Then… Slowly… The woman raised one hand. And pointed directly toward Alessio’s ICU. The screens immediately turned black. Every monitor shut down. Power across the mansion flickered. Then… A whisper echoed through every speaker in the estate. A whisper that chilled every soul present. “The third kiss…” A pause. ”…will choose between love…” Another pause. ”…and the Mafia King’s life.” End of Chapter 7

“He’s found her.” Trucker Cap paused, blade in hand. He bent low. “He’s reaching for her.” The man’s arm pawed the tall grass. “She’s kicking.” He pulled himself away from the fridge and past the stove. “She’s kicking,” she repeated to the sound of scratching, the page flipping fast, and then more scratching. A massive hand caught a bloody ankle, the foot missing. The wrist dripped red, the stranger’s knuckles white as he gripped her calf, her thigh. The man’s boot lifted to stomp on her pelvis as he wrenched the leg to the side, the joint snapping.

Tris felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that he was staring at her. "Ah, it looks like the book is currently checked out," Tris said, trying to sound apologetic. "Would you like to reserve it?" The man nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Yes, please. I'd greatly appreciate it." Tris smiled and began to process the reservation. As she worked, she couldn't help but steal glances at the mysterious stranger. Who was he, and what was he doing here? As Tris worked on reserving the book, the man continued to lean against the shelf, his eyes fixed intently on her. Tris felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that he was staring at her, his gaze piercing and unnerving.

“You’ll regret laying a hand on her.” The man chuckled, but there was an edge to it now—a hint of unease. Kael’s resolve was unshakable, his power surging with each passing second. Before the man could react, Kael lunged again, this time catching him off guard. His claws raked across the man’s chest, drawing blood that sizzled as it hit the floor. The man’s expression twisted into one of fury, and he retaliated with a burst of energy that sent both of them hurtling backward.

I told myself I was going to sleep. That was the plan. Close the manuscript. Turn off the light. Pretend I had never just read three chapters of a dead woman describing Damien like he was some kind of attentive romantic hero. Very doable. Very responsible. I closed the manuscript. Then immediately opened it again. Because now I needed to know what happened next. And more importantly— What the hell went wrong? I turned the page. Katherine’s Manuscript — Chapter 4

I shoved him away and said, "Don't worry about me—just go!" However, it was too late. Over a dozen bodyguards rushed out of a car that had just stopped. They grabbed Mark and pinned him to the ground. Cindy walked up and kicked him ruthlessly. "Where the hell did you come from, you clueless idiot? Do you know who I am? How dare you stop me from teaching this wench a lesson! Are you looking for death?" Mark took a hard kick to the chest, and the intense pain made him break into a cold sweat. However, he mustered his strength to fight back, desperately trying to break free.

Then, with one terrifying calm motion, he grabbed Ray by the throat—just like that, and lifted him into the air as if he weighed nothing. "Ray!" I cried out, my heart pounding. Ray's form weakened, bones snapping back into place as he shifted back to human. His feet kicked helplessly while his fingers clawed at the man’s wrist. “Let… me… go…” I looked around desperately. There was nothing I could use. Nothing useful. Except for the book in my hand. Just a stupid cookbook. Without thinking, I hurled it as hard as I could at the man’s back. It hit him right between the shoulders with a dull thud.

Then: "The High Heir asks the right question." Silence. Then: "The First Ones are merely invaders." The battlefield became still. Then: "I serve something older." The words struck like lightning. Then Aurelius cursed. For the first time. Then: "No." The Keeper looked pleased. Then: "Oh yes." The giant suddenly attacked. A massive fist descended from the sky. BOOOOOOOOM! The Keeper didn't move. Didn't dodge. Didn't react. The fist passed directly through him. Like smoke. Then the Keeper sighed.

The night sky starting to set in and the sun fading behind the cornfields. I threw down another plan of wood and decided that was enough for today. We could come back for the rest, next week, I didn’t want to spend another minute here! I turned away from the pile, about to run back to the house, and call down the guards to leave everything and move their arses out here. All of a sudden, my skin bristled, and my wolf growled, I looked over my shoulder to see a tall man with a seedy smile glaring at me. I extracted my claws, prepared to swipe him and shout for help, when two hands wrapped around my mouth and my chest pulling me against a hard body, towering over me. I tried to slash his arm as

“You’re insane if you think she’ll—” “I’m not insane,” the man interrupted, cutting through the tension with precision. “I’m patient. Strategic. And I’ve waited a long time for this. A very long time.” Dorian stepped closer, his presence radiating protective heat. “You’re not taking her anywhere. She stays here, with us.” The man’s eyes glinted with amusement. “Ah, but that’s the beauty of it. She doesn’t have a choice.” Before anyone could react, he moved with lightning speed, drawing a small device from his pocket. A pulse of light shot from it, and the warehouse lights flickered violently. I shielded my eyes, the sound of electricity sizzling in the air.