Today I Surrender Novels & Stories

Only the triad. Only surrender.

I spat, wishing I could shoot daggers through my eyes. “You've always been, since that fire. I fucking own you now, do you hear me? You're a threat to me. Trying to get me arrested that day was the biggest mistake you've ever made. You could've stayed in hiding, making sure I never knew you survived. Now look at you, hopeless on my bed, at my mercy–” “Fuck you.” I said with ragged breath. He had no morals and conscience! I needed to let off this steam before I exploded.

And just like that, the world tilted. The time for silence was over. Tomorrow, I would tell the truth. But today… today, the storm had come to my doorstep. Oh, fucking hell.

Pretend like none of this ever happened. 38: Hiro - Surrender

"But we don't borrow tomorrow's terror. We celebrate today's victory. Today we learned we're having a daughter. Today Isabella kicked for the first time. Today we're pregnant and in love and building the family we fought for. That's enough." I'm drifting to sleep, believing him, when my phone lights up with an email notification: Package delivered. Signature required. Dr. Holloway's confession. Already here. Waiting downstairs with the night doorman. "Tomorrow," Aurelius says, reading the notification over my shoulder. "Whatever he sent, we deal with it tomorrow. Tonight is about Isabella."

"Today?" "Today I'm winning."

Kane exhaled quietly—almost a laugh. Maddox’s mouth didn’t move, but his eyes softened by the smallest fraction. Then it vanished. “Okay,” Maddox said. One word. Heavy. Kane straightened slightly, relief mixing with tension. Rowan went still, like he didn’t like the plan but couldn’t argue it anymore. Maddox’s gaze held mine. “We surrender.” I nodded once, sharp. “Good.” I reached for my phone. “I’m calling Ms. Lacey and setting pretrial compliance terms into the record. Then I’m calling Silvia and offering voluntary surrender on our terms.”

Today represented the peak of my efforts as I readied myself to finalize the deal. I fastened my shirt with purposeful movements as I quietly said to myself "Today belongs to Audrey." "She has to accept it today. There's no other option for her." The fabric under my fingers sent waves of adrenaline coursing through me. This was it. Through weeks and months of strategic planning and countless sleepless nights we finally reached this moment.

Gruesome scenarios flashed in my head, each one darker than the last. “Put me down,” I demanded, fighting to keep the fear from my voice. He gave no response. I couldn’t even see his face to read him. The not knowing made it worse. Why was I thrashing like some helpless damsel? I wasn’t weak. I refused to be weak. For a moment, I stilled, letting my body go limp. Let him think I’d surrendered. “Please put me down,” I whispered. “I promise I won’t run.”