When Nikki Myers saves the life of billionaire playboy Bronson Fortworth, he pays her back the only way he knows how. Get her off the streets and into his home. What else would you do with someone that is homeless and has someone after her? He is not prepared for the powerful effect this smart, tough young woman has on him. For Nikki Myers, Bronson Fortworth is supposed to be just another con she's pulling to help out her gang-and to protect her hot-headed little brother. She wasn't supposed to develop feelings for him. Nikki might be in trouble . . . Withstanding the Odds is created by D.S. Tossell, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
My feet hit the pavement with fury as I clutched the large white bag with all my might. I can feel him catching up to me, but I don't give in. I know he won't catch me. I'm fast, faster than him, and have no intention of slowing down. Spotting a parking garage ten yards in front of me, I head right for the darkened area and duck inside, hiding behind a pillar.
"Where did, she go?" I turn my head and look around the large cemented pillar. Security guard number one looks around where the pay station is.
"I don't know. Did you see what she grabbed?" States security guard number two. He was the one that initially saw me looting, something I normally pride myself on being more discreet about. I've been doing this for over five years, and I could honestly say that I have made it my mission to remain the person no one notices; however, I wasn't counting on The Grove Mall having two security guards in one store. Mick, my boss, has made it his mission to hit this location often and it looks like we are finally getting some unwanted attention.
Shaking his head, guard number one runs his hands through his already balding hair, then turns to head towards the elevator, his minion directly behind him. I smirk, knowing that I have lost them, but I remain rooted in my spot for thirty minutes more, just in case. Mick has taught us all well and I'm not foolish in thinking I can get away every time, so keeping myself hidden and safe works both ways.
Protect the merchandise, protect yourself.
There are many mottos we live by; this one has always been a good to me.
I stand straight up, cursing my legs for feeling tired and numb. Walking quickly out of the lot, I dash through the outside of the mall, making sure I don't get under any of the surveillance cameras.
It takes me almost an hour to walk around the city, making sure I am not being followed, and only when I am one hundred percent sure nothing and no one has had the balls, to approach me, I head home.
Walking into the doors of Serendin Atlas, the hotel that house over ten of us. Brody and I have been here just over a year. It's isn't ideal to be in a criminal organization, but after the deaths of our parents thirteen years ago, I don't see any other option. I can still remember the day we learned of our parent's death like it was yesterday.
"Brody, Nikki, we need to speak." Aunt Margot called over to us just as Brody was taking his turn at hopscotch. We had been at Aunt Margot's house for the last couple of days, although we never minded, being around our older cousin Amanda was always fun.
"What's up Aunt Margot." I asked wondering why there was a creased line on her forehead.
"It's your parents' sweetheart, there was an accident and.... they're gone Nikki. Your parents didn't make it."
Just like that our lives were turned upside down. Just like that we were pulled from our home, our school, our lives, and placed into foster care where we spent the last ten years running away from one after another.
Snapping out of my past, I make my way up the three flights of stairs that lead to the rooms.
When I reach the top floor, I am struck with dread as I spot Charles standing outside of Mick's door. Mick is the top dog of the group. What he calls the leader of the Bandits.
I first met Mick when Brody and I came here nearly a year ago. We had run away from our latest despicable foster family, that one, the absolute worst, when we tried out the streets of New York for a living.
"You got something for me?" Charles growled when I approached him. His massive body was blocking the door and his arms were crossed at his chest.
Charles hates me and that is me putting it mildly.
When Brody and I were first introduced into the Bandit's, Charles was the one that would snuff out any problems we could potentially bring to Mick. Charles isn't a runner, he simply held power for being Mick's right-hand man, his wall of muscle. I don't know his story, we all tend to stick to ourselves, but Charles doesn't trust anyone that he can't break.
I happen to be unbreakable.
I'd like to imagine that day never existed. I'd like to pretend that after my prom night, I was able to then graduate, go to college, find my career, get married, and start a family. But that's not reality. He took me that night four years ago, and he never truly returned me. The Beauty Inside is created by D.S. Tossell, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
"You're the moon wolf, Lola. You're the wolf with the power of the Moon goddess", Serena said and collective gasps were heard in the room. After being rejected by her mate in Moonlit pack, Lola escaped on a full moon only to enter the territory of the next Alpha King who also happened to be her second chance mate. Adrian is the next Alpha King but he hasn't been able to assume his role because he needed a Luna by his side. A rogue that trespassed on his territory, whom he ordered be killed turned out to be his mate leaving him in a dilemma. Will Adrian reject Lola because she came into his territory as a rogue? Will he overcome what happened to him in the past and give Lola a chance or reject her and go ahead with Fay as his chosen Luna? What will happen when everyone finds out just how much power Lola wields and how she's supposed to protect her kind in an oncoming war? Find out in Lola - The Moon Wolf!
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"