"Oh" Sicily grinned sheepishly. I could tell she seemed a bit disappointed that he had found out so I figured she was trying to stay away from him. At her petition, Drew let Sicily down and we helped her to her feet. "Are you OK sweetie?" I asked her "I'm fine" Sicily said, nodding profusely at Drew, hoping he'd get the hint and go back to the agency. "Alright, be careful Sicily" Drew said He leaned in to kiss her but she moved back, clearly annoyed, and ducked behind me. Drew threw up his hands in defense, "Alright I get it, I'm leaving". He sighed and sprinted off into the night Beep bop
Lorah's POV
It's been two whole weeks since the explosion at the abandoned airplane.
Two weeks since Sicily has been unconscious.
Drew and I have barely left her side the entire time. It's strange, considering I don't even like the guy.
"So, how long have you known Sicily?" I asked, figuring we might as well talk since we're both stuck in the same room, waiting for any sign that she's waking up.
He looked up at me, surprised. "Oh, uh, we've known each other our whole lives, actually. Me and two other guys, Eric and Peter, have been her big brother figures since we were all under a year old."
"Oh." His response caught me off guard. I didn't like the dude at first, but he's been looking out for Sicily all these years, doing the job I couldn't. It's not my fault I didn't know about her for 18 years, but I still feel indebted to Drew somehow.
"Wow, thank you so much for being there for her all her life," I said, walking over to shake his hand.
He smiled, glancing at Sicily fondly. "Well, I was her brother figure. I even thought I might be her real brother since I don't know who my real parents are either." He hesitated, looking a bit nervous. "Please don't knock me out for admitting this, but I've started developing feelings for her since finding out we aren't related."
"I know," I grinned, "You seemed a bit head over heels at the agency meeting."
"You're not mad at me?" He asked, visibly relaxing.
"No, I'm not, Drew. Technically, you were in her life first. I'm indebted to you, and if letting you go for my sister is a way to repay you, I'll do it."
"Thanks, man," he said, smiling brightly.
Suddenly, Sicily began to stir. Drew and I jumped from our seats, moving to either side of her.
"Sis, are you awake?" I asked, bending over her. She squirmed again.
"Drew, go get the doctor!"
"Wait! I want to try something!" Drew leaned down and kissed her.
"Whaaa?!" Sicily's eyes flew open.
"Heyyy," he grinned, and I high-fived him.
"Sicily, you're okay!" I said, helping her sit up and hugging her. Drew hugged her too, making her blush and turn away.
"How do you feel?" Drew asked gently.
"I... feel fine. Lorah, how long have I been out?"
"Two weeks! Mom and Dad were so worried. Everyone panicked when you didn't wake up. I've got to call them and let them know you're awake! Drew, watch Sicily!" I said, pulling my phone out of my pocket as I ran out of the room.
---
Sicily's POV
I'm... awake?! Was I asleep? I don't remember much. One moment, I was jumping out of an exploding airplane, and the next, I'm lying in a hospital bed being kissed by Drew.
God, I feel so embarrassed! I can't even look at him.
I'm starting to get annoyed at my otherwise amazing twin brother for leaving me alone with Drew. Doesn't he realize how insanely awkward this is?!
I'm sitting in a reclined position, staring at the door on the far left as Drew watches me from my right side.
"Sicily?" he called softly.
I didn't respond.
"Sicily, I'm sorry. Kissing you was a bold move, and though I don't regret it, I really didn't mean to make you mad at me." He paused, waiting for me to say something. When I didn't, he continued, "I love you, and I just wanted to see if I could wake you up that way."
I immediately turned and stared at him in shock.
"Yeah, I'm definitely still in whatever coma or dreamland I was just in," I said incredulously, lying back down.
"You're not dreaming Sicily"
"That's what the Drew in my dreams would say"
Omg I DID NOT JUST SAY THAT!! I groaned and pulled at my hair.
"Haha you dream about me?" Drew laughed
"No....I didn't mean.... Ugh" I sat up and yelled for Lorah. "Lorah get back here and make Drew leave!!"
"Sicily calm down I'm sorry" Drew said, "Do you really want me to leave?"
I looked back at him and noticed how worried and sad he looked "Before I answer that.." I replied, "Did you really mean what you said a second ago?"
Drew rose from his chair and sat on the bed next to me, looking into my eyes, "I meant every word" he said slowly.
"Drew...." Tears started falling as I stared at him, a smile coming over my Face.
"Sicily!!!!!"
"Oh honey thank goodness"
Drew and I turned to the door in surprise.
I was upset that my moment with Drew was being interrupted and I didn't really feel like seeing my parents right then Thankfully only Drew came in, holding a tablet with my Parents on a video call.
"At least I can turn them off when I get too uncomfortable" I thought
Lorah, yes I'm calling him Lorah.
Anyways, lorah gave me the tablet and then he and Drew sat on either side of me as I talked to my parents.
My hands tensed as I gripped the tablet and my heart raced. Aware of my discomfort, Drew and lorah put their arms around me. "You got this" Drew whispered into my ear
I tilted the face of the camera away as I smiled at Drew, just in case my
Dad was one of those protective ones who can't stand their daughters talking to boys.
"Uh Hi Mom and Dad! How come you aren't here in person? Not that I mind of course! I definitely prefer the video call, but why?"
"I'm sorry sweetie, but Ten put us on a mission right when we got the news that you were unconscious. He wanted to keep us from worrying ourselves into a panic.
It's not really working so I really hope I don't knock out a certain commander when I get back."
"If you don't I will" Mom said, clenching her fists"
I tried not to smile for I had had every intention of hating my parents for all eternity Nevertheless a small smile crept through my determined face.
"So how do you feel sweetie?"
"I feel fine! Just a little dazed that's all"
"See honey I told you she'd be fine!" My Dad, Agent Dakota remarked.
"Sweetie I saw your picture on the wall! One of a highest ranking agents in the Opposition, we're so proud!!"
"Thanks"
"She takes after me, I was always a prodigy in agent academy!" Mom bragged "Not even! I was called 'expert sniper' when I was eight!" Dad said, "Now Sicily's an expert sniper so she clearly got it from me!" "Well then Lorah got his infiltration skills from me! I infiltrated the most dangerous enemy base of our time and scored thousands of resources for our side when I was six!
That's technically when I was promoted to second in command but they had to hold off on the promotion because I was ten years too young!"
Mom laughed, "Lorah is the top infiltrator in the 0-40 age group and Sicily got promoted so they both got my genes!!"
I giggled in the background.
I was actually enSicilying a normal conversation with them. It finally came over me how much I wanted parents. How much I hated that they were "dead". How much I wanted a bond with the people who had me!!
"So you two seem like you're bonding!" Mom suddenly said
I looked from one boy to the other not sure who she meant until Lorah responded, "Yeah. Feels great to have a twin sister" He gave me a side hug, "I honestly feel complete"
"We're so glad. We can barely believe she's been here this whole time. Lucky we found out right when our agencies came together!" Suddenly my twin's expression changed. He scowled at my Mom and Dad and ended the call.
"Lorah what's wrong?" "You don't get it do you Sicily?"
"Get what?"
"Mom and Dad! They found out you were even alive on the day our agencies joined. If they found out before then, they never would have told me or tried to get in contact with you!"
"But they did!" I said, "Mom and Dad found out I could potentially be their lost daughter a few weeks ago.
I stopped at their base during a mission and Dad guessed who I was and told Mom. He believed I was Sicily but Mom didn't....."
"What?!?!? Then if Dad knew, what did he do about it?"
"Kissed me and called me his baby girl"
"Yeah......but he never told me so that proves my point." Lorah sighed as
I looked down sadly. After a moment he looked back at me and said, "Sicily. I know you've always wanted parents, but these ones you got are no good. You and I can take care of ourselves so please don't show them any sort of affection. They don't deserve it."
Lorah shook his head again and went to put the tablet away. Drew patted my shoulder as I sighed...
I just got my parents back, and now this?
Diana Hartley, an ambitious and independent architect, has built her life with precision and focus. When she lands a dream contract to design a landmark for the McAlister Corporation-a global powerhouse owned by reclusive billionaire Colton McAlister-she's sure this is the project that will launch her into a new league of success. But working alongside Colton proves to be as challenging as it is exhilarating. Colton, known as a ruthless titan in business, is fiercely private and haunted by secrets he keeps buried. Driven by a painful past, he has little time or trust to spare, especially for someone outside his ironclad circle. But Diana's passion and vision intrigue him, sparking feelings he thought he'd buried long ago. As they clash and connect over late nights and city skylines, they find themselves tangled in more than blueprints and business. But when old rivals resurface and a corporate scandal threatens the empire Colton has fought to build, Diana is faced with a choice: protect her career, or risk it all for the enigmatic man who's captured her heart. Can love survive in a world where loyalty has a price and trust is the rarest currency of all?
After a near-death experience, 25-year-old Harper Riley awakens with an inexplicable connection to the moon and an unsettling hunger for the hunt. As the full moon rises, Harper discovers she's been reborn as a werewolf. Enter Maverick Jackson, a mysterious and captivating alpha who claims Harper's transformation is a sign of an ancient prophecy. Will Harper accept her new identity and Maverick's love, or will the dangers of the werewolf world tear them apart?
In 16th century Europe, where humans believe wolves are mere folklore, shape-shifters live secretly among them. Ryker Flynn, last surviving member of the Emberclaw Pack, seeks vengeance against the Shadowmoon Pack for massacring his family. But as war rages between wolves and vampires, Ryker must unite the fractured packs and confront the darkness within himself. Can he overcome his thirst for revenge and lead the wolves to victory, or will the shadows consume them all?
In a world where werewolves are hunted, 17-year-old Luna Reyes discovers she's the last living heir of the ancient Lunar bloodline. Forced to flee her home, Luna joins a secretive pack of rebels fighting against the oppressive government. As the full moon rises, Luna's transformation begins, and she must confront her destiny. Can she reclaim her family's legacy and lead the werewolves to freedom, or will the hunters silence her forever?
When ex-CIA operative Kalliope "Kae" Wilder uncovers the truth about Echelon, a mysterious surveillance program, she's drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Joining forces with enigmatic whistleblower Beckett "Beck" Vaughn and rogue hacker Sage Riley, Kae must confront her past and stop Echelon's mastermind, Magnus "The Archon" Blackwood, before global catastrophe strikes.
Ava is an 18-year-old Omega female in a werewolf pack. As an Omega, she’s viewed as weaker and less important within the pack. She has long admired the Alpha, perhaps even harbored feelings for him, despite knowing that as an Omega, she’s considered unworthy in the eyes of the pack On her 18th birthday, which is significant in werewolf lore, she gets her heart broken as the Alpha rejects her. Shortly after the rejection, she meets the twins—two charming, attractive wolves who are both strong but with different personalities. They are drawn to her despite her Omega status. Her father, concerned about her future and possibly the pack’s standing, tries to coerce her into an arranged marriage with someone else, possibly for political reasons within the pack. Will she choose the safety and security of the Alpha, or will she take a chance on the twins and risk everything for love?
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"