The Key Man Novels & Stories

The battery on my front door smart lock died, so I called a locksmith to come over. While he was working on the lock, he made small talk. "Dude, this lock comes with six spare keys. Did you lock all of them inside the apartment?" I froze. I've lived in this apartment for three years. My wife and I each have one spare key. The other three were always kept in the hallway drawer. That makes five total. So where's the sixth key?

“Sir? The liquid’s destroyed. But we have the girl. Should we start Protocol Zero?” June froze. She spotted a gold key tattoo on his neck. “Who are you?” Her voice shook. The man smiled. June had seen that smile before—in the very first secret book her father ever showed her. ​"The Romanos were just the bankers, Mrs. Romano," the man said. "Did you really think they were the ones in charge?"

the young man replied, dangling a ring of keys in front of me. I studied the keychain. "That's the key from the head office. Who are you, really? What's your name and how did you get that key?" "Hmm?" The man's grin widened teasingly. He was in a playful mood, especially after successfully identifying the woman before him. "I'm also curious about that," he answered cheekily, his smile almost a leer as he continued looking at me mischievously. "Do tell me once you know my name."

I'm not alone. "First," the man says, "we need to talk about your safety. You're not safe here, at least not for long. We need to get you to a more secure location." I nod, understanding what he's saying. "I know," I say. "I know I'm a target." The man looks at me, and his expression is serious. "You're not just a target," he says. “You're the key to everything." I look at him, confused. "What do you mean?" I ask.

The old man then spoke, "Sorry for my impudence, but before taking sides, wouldn't it be better if I knew whom I was going to vote for. Isn't that right?" "Heh," Kevin smirked again. Julio then took charge by introducing Kevin, "Introducing, this is His Majesty Kevin Robert de Raltz, leader of the Raltz Clan," he explained. "Then who are you? And this woman on his left?" asked the old man. "I am Your Majesty's right-hand man and confidant. My name is Julio Robert de Raltz. On the left, as His Majesty has said, is his woman. Her name is Pine Robert de Raltz," explained Julio, introducing himself and Pine.

“She’s manipulable. Which is better.” “Good. Prepare her. But Malik…” The black eyes pinned him through the mirror. “No more mistakes. The Key is the most important piece on the board. If I lose her because of incompetence, it won’t be a head in a box you receive. It will be your entire body — conscious and dismembered — feeding my worms for the next hundred years.” The mirror darkened. The connection ended. Malik remained standing before the black glass, hands clasped behind his back, expression of a man who had just received perfectly clear instructions.

I was a stickler for rules. When I was in elementary school, we were supposed to vote for class president, but the teacher simply appointed the principal's daughter instead. Hence, I followed the school rule that whoever received the most votes would win and brought all 42 students to the principal's office to hold a proper vote. After I started working, my boss handed me a 1,500-dollar invoice and told me to claim 15,000 dollars in expenses. I told him that wasn't allowed under company policy, but he said that, in this company, the boss' word was the only rule that mattered. "You need to learn to be flexible," he claimed. "Otherwise, the company may as well replace you with someone more obe

Not to mention Madeline got mysterious vibes from this man as his eyes wandered toward her face. "You must be wondering who I am." His smile suddenly shifts to a smirk. To her astonishment, he stepped closer, which got her on alert with his strange aura. "Well... I’m your Plutus." He bends down to her face and her breath hitch. "Sorry?" She took a back, looking confused by his action. "No need to give that look. I’m Kevin. CEO of SK groups, one of the biggest companies in New York, you know." He gave a pompous stare as she stepped back.

“You really can’t resist other people’s business, huh?” He chuckled softly, completely unfazed. “Think of it as a well-developed instinct for being helpful.” I gave an exaggerated sigh. “You’re a hero, truly. But I don’t need saving, Mr. Key Man.” “I know,” he said calmly, lifting his glass and taking a slow sip. His eyes were clear and sharp. “But you do seem in desperate need of clarity.” I frowned. “Is this how you treat all your neighbors? First their keys, then their dignity?”

The date marked only two days prior to Kayden and Eleanor’s music ritual. She played the CD, and Kayden listened intently as the voices of two men filled the room. Their words sent a chill down his spine as he realized the gravity of the situation. “We need that key, without it we will not succeed in our mission. Get me that key which is hidden in Kayden Knight’s Closet” “But it's risky. How will I reach his room?” the other man asked.