Sarah felt content with her existence. She could overcome anything as long as her fiancé and boyfriend were by her side, even with the daily challenges. That's what she thought, until he abruptly stopped talking to her and left her with their ring and a message. Brokenhearted, she attempts to go on, but instead she gets kidnapped and taken into the arms of the incredibly attractive Dominic, the Mafia boss. When she discovers that the man she loved wasn't who she believed him to be, everything is turned upside down. "He informed me that he is employed in security," "No, cara-he was employed by me." With his henchman having abruptly defected with crucial information, Dominic Caruso kidnaps his fiancée and holds her as collateral and bait. He had no idea that she would turn out to be more fascinating and distracting than he had anticipated, nor that he would find himself drawn to her. As identities and realities are exposed, there is more to the maze of peril and secrets than first appears. Would Sarah make it through the chaos? Would Dominic be able to let her go when the time came?
As I gulped in the next shot, the muted tones of the bass music slammed in my ears and swam beneath my skin. How many had I already taken? Even though I had lost count, it didn't matter because I was still sane.
I felt a wave of vertigo as soon as I moved. Perhaps I had gone a little too far. I didn't realise someone was calling my name until I felt a hand abruptly shake my shoulder. I turned to face my closest friend.
"Sarah! For the benefit of Pete. Why are you in this place? With a heaving motion, Bailey let out a curse and ran towards me. Remembering that I'd called her here took a time.
"Bailey." I drew her in with a smile and said, "Come drink with me."
She shook her head, but didn't move from her spot at the bar next to me.
"Is it about him, baby?" Under the lights, her voice was clear and sweet as she enquired. She could have dipped me in ice instead.
The thought still caused my heart to thump terribly. I wanted to forget about him forever. Athan Slater. That idiot.
My fiancé-or rather, my ex-fiance.
Life was pleasant. I believed that as long as I had him, it didn't matter how bad my hand was from the start. When I dropped out, Ethan helped me through my mother's illness and remained by my side till her death. He had swept me off my feet. He was my rock, and I believed that he was the same.
That's what I believed until I heard nothing when I got home, discovered that all of his possessions were gone, and discovered his engagement ring and a note that said, "It's over," on the dinner table.
Done. After three years of courtship, they split up. And he couldn't even say it directly.
It had taken me an entire day to come to terms with the fact that he was not returning. I asked all his acquaintances and the individuals I assumed he worked for, and I searched everywhere for him, but nothing turned up. He had vanished, leaving me alone.
I had already progressed through half of the grieving process, from acceptance that he wouldn't return to anguish and guilt.
Was I the one? Was it something I'd done? Was I a burden, in his opinion?
I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was working at an office with no skills, barely out of high school, just to make ends meet. As a security guard, it was him who brought in the majority of the cash. He had never addressed my feelings of inadequacy as an issue, but he had always consoled me when I felt inadequate. He could have easily told me if that was the case.
Or was there another reason?
I had now chosen to feel rage, as there was no way to know otherwise.
"I'll report sick to work tomorrow on your behalf." Bailey jolted me out of my reverie with her voice.
No need, I said, shaking my head. It was oppressive to consider spending more time in that house than was required. Whether I was drunk or not, I wasn't going to stay in. In the first place, the office job wasn't that vital. I wouldn't be the first person to arrive there inebriated.
"I appreciate you coming here for me." As I mentioned,
You weren't supposed to come here by yourself. Things happen in settings like this all the time. Things mafia and gang related. Horrible garbage. She flicked her braid and gave me a wary look. "We must leave here as soon as it is necessary."
Observing the concern in her gaze, I hummed. I could see why she was always so worried about visiting places like this. If my life was difficult, hers had been much worse. She talked a lot about that, always being so unduly circumspect. Occasionally, she would regale me with a series of hazy tales about various things that she said she had heard from a friend of a friend, all of them terrifying. from trafficking to gangs to the shadowy underworld. She had even mentioned the Mafia boss before.
Again, what was that name? Dante? David?
"Whatever," I thought as I got up from the chair. Although I appreciated her prudence, all I wanted to do tonight was forget.
I said, "I'm going to dance." I moved fast, amazingly stable for an alcoholic, before she could object. I moved, swaying to the beat of the music as I blended in with the crowd.
It was not like me to do any of this. Clubs and bars had never been my scene, mostly because it would never have been appropriate to do so while I was engaged. It was time for something different.
My courage came from the drink as I joined in the crowd's dancing. I started to feel a little pressure in the middle. Odd. I could feel someone watching me.
Since I was near the periphery of the dancing crowd, it wasn't too difficult to turn around. I saw the look and quickly froze.
There was a man seated on a chaise lounge. The lights dance across his face, deepening the shadows to accentuate his chiselled jaw and blackened hair.
But I was imprisoned by his intense stare. I was afraid of it because it was so intense that I found myself pulled to it.
The crowd of people about me felt oppressive all of a sudden. I made myself turn away, pushing and tugging to get out of the crowd and stumble into the arms of those I knew.
Bailey mumbled, "I think that's enough for today, babe." I lacked the will or the strength to object. She helped me out of the club together as I staggered.
I looked up, saying an apology, after a severe bump. The look was so familiar, like the mysterious man I had met before.
There was not time to think things out. I skirted him and met the refreshing night air outside the club. All other memories vanished until I stepped into Bailey's plush vehicle seat cushion.
..
I felt immediate guilt for turning down Bailey's offer the following day. I forced myself to go to the office and work despite having a pounding headache and feeling sick.
I had to let go. Ignore him. I was able to look after myself.
That was my motivation for the entire day. Bailey could only help me so much when it came to quelling the migraine-inducing cries coming from our manager's office. She needed to leave, I had to persuade her, lest the manager see her with me and try to get even with her.
The hours passed inertly, yet my motivation persisted. When nighttime finally arrived, I treated myself to some takeaway and ice cream before returning to the flat.
I hummed softly as I worked my way through the takeaway with my keys, but nothing occurred when I tried to use them. My door was not locked.
My heart began to rush right away. There was a problem.
I never forgot to lock the doors, not even on the morning after a late night. Had I?
I cautiously opened the door as anxiety filled me, yet something bothered me even though nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Everything was as it was supposed to be. I stepped inside and looked around to see what had set off my alarm.
Then I caught sight of it. In the corner of the space, there was a human-shaped shadow.
"How the heck is that?"
Suddenly, a hand covered my lips. I screamed at it, but before I could fight back, a stinging chemical smell flooded my nostrils.
All was lost.
"In a world divided by power and prejudice, Emily finds herself trapped in a life of torment under her father's cruel reign. Desperate for freedom, she stumbles upon her salvation in the form of four powerful alphas: Xavier, Xander, Xaviero, and Xavian, the Martinez brothers. Drawn to Emily's strength and resilience, they offer her sanctuary from her oppressive past. As Emily navigates the complexities of her newfound alliance, she uncovers dark secrets hidden within her own bloodline. With the threat of her father's betrayal looming over her, Emily must confront her past and embrace her true identity as a white mage. But when a sinister plot orchestrated by dark forces threatens to destroy everything she holds dear, Emily and her mates must unite their powers to vanquish the darkness once and for all. In a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and redemption, Emily discovers the true meaning of family and the power that lies within her heart."
Rocky Bai, a young and talented scholar in the field of gene study, ranked number one among his peers. While he was on the flight headed for the venue, an aircraft accident occurred right before he passed out. ... Rocky Bai is reborn! He saves a dragon and trains it in the Holy Dragon Empire. To his surprise, his dragon can cure disease and even bring people back from death. With the dragon, Rocky starts a new life. He is no longer a good-for-nothing, but an ambitious martial arts master and spirit manipulator among his generation. Let's join in their adventure!
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."
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
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?"
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"