Novels by C.E Osaghae

CHAPTER 54:Adrian stopped, turning slightly toward the mass of reporters. His posture was relaxed, but his presence commanded silence.The shouting died down to murmurs."I'll answer three questions," Adrian said, his voice calm and clear, carrying easily over the crowd. "Choose wisely."A reporter in the front thrust her microphone forward. "Mr. Valerio, why are you wearing a mask?"Adrian's eyes settled on her. "Privacy. Next question."Another reporter, emboldened. "Are you confident you'll be chosen to represent Diamond Consolidated in the Golden Heights bid?""I don't compete for things I don't intend to win." Adrian's tone was matter-of-fact. "Next question."A third reporter, older, sharper. "There are allegations that the Valerio family has connections to organized crime. How do you respond?"Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained perfectly even. "Allegations without evidence are just noise. And I don't waste my time on noise."He adjusted his glasses slightl

CHAPTER 53:Adrian stood before the full-length mirror in his suite, and even he had to admit, he looked like power incarnate.The suit was all black. Not the dull, lifeless black of everyday fabric, but a deep, liquid obsidian that seemed to absorb light and radiate authority. The jacket was tailored with surgical precision, sharp lines across his shoulders, nipped perfectly at his waist, each seam invisible. The fabric itself whispered wealth: a custom Italian wool blend so fine it moved like water when he turned.But it was the details that made it devastating.Golden thread traced intricate patterns along the hem of the jacket and down the sides of his trousers, not garish, not loud, but present enough to catch the light with every movement.And there, embroidered at the bottom edge of the jacket in flawless gold detail, was the Valerio crest: a stylized V wrapped around a crown, flanked by twin serpents.Legacy. Power. Bloodline.His shirt beneath was crisp white silk, the colla

CHAPTER 52:The penthouse suite was drenched in shadow and amber light from the city below.Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked Mexico City's glittering skyline, but the curtains were half-drawn, casting everything in intimate darkness.Damien Cortez sat on the leather couch, his shirt unbuttoned, his tie discarded somewhere on the floor.Elena Valencia straddled his lap, her designer dress hiked up around her thighs, her fingers tangled in his dark hair.Their mouths moved together, hungry, desperate, like they were trying to devour each other.Elena's breath came in short gasps between kisses. "God, I missed this," she whispered against his lips.Damien's hands slid up her bare thighs, gripping hard enough to leave marks. "Then why did you waste time with him?""Don't," Elena breathed, biting his lower lip sharply. "Don't talk about him. Not now."Damien smirked, his hands moving higher, finding the edge of her lace underwear. "You're right. He's dead anyway."Elena moaned softly as

CHAPTER 51:Adrian stood over Diego's corpse, staring down at the twisted neck, the empty eyes, the blood pooling beneath the expensive purple suit.Dead.Diego Navarro was finally dead.But the satisfaction Adrian expected didn't come. Just... emptiness.A phone buzzed.Adrian's eyes shifted to Diego's jacket pocket, where a faint glow was visible through the fabric. A second phone. Not the one Diego had used to make the call.Adrian crouched down and pulled it free, careful not to let his hands shake. The screen lit up with a new message.Elena Valencia, Is it done, babe?Adrian stared at the words for a long moment.Then he smiled. Cold. Humorless.So she was in on it.Of course she was. Just like when they'd killed him the first time. Elena never got her hands dirty, she just orchestrated. Manipulated. Stood back and watched while someone else did the work.His fingers moved across the screen, slow and deliberate.Diego: I'll be coming for you next, Elena Valencia He hit send.Th

CHAPTER 50:Adrian stared at Diego in stunned disbelief.He knew Diego was cruel. The man had killed him. Beaten him until his ribs cracked. Watched him drown. Dumped his body off a bridge like garbage.So yes, Adrian knew Diego was cruel.But this?Hurting an innocent woman who had nothing to do with their conflict? Someone whose only crime was dancing with the wrong man at a gala?Adrian hadn't expected that. Not this.Through the phone still pressed to Diego's ear, a sound cut through the silence.A scream.Sharp. Agonized. Feminine.Isabella.Something inside Adrian snapped."Stop!"He didn't shout. He growled.The single word tore from his throat like a physical force, reverberating through the warehouse. The metal walls vibrated. The lights flickered. Dust fell from the rafters.Every man in the room froze.Adrian's eyes began to glow.Not the faint red from before. Not the subtle shift when he was angry.This was blinding.Bright crimson light erupted from his eyes, so intense

CHAPTER 49:Adrian checked his watch for the seventh time in three minutes. Twenty-two minutes had passed since Diego's call. Eight minutes left.His knee bounced involuntarily, a nervous tick he hadn't shown since his old life. Since when he was weak.Rafael's hand settled on his shoulder, firm and grounding. "He wouldn't dare do anything to her. She's worth more to him alive. She'll be fine."Adrian didn't respond. His jaw was clenched so tight his teeth ached.She wouldn't be there if it wasn't for me. Dancing with me. Being seen with me.He was dressed in black cargo pants and a black hoodie, thick, expensive fabric with a built-in face mask that could zip up from the collar to cover everything from his nose down. Right now it hung loose around his neck, but his hand kept reaching for the zipper.Old instincts. The need to hide. To disappear.But he wasn't that man anymore.They were in Rafael's Ferrari, sleek, black, fast. Behind them, a black Mercedes SUV followed, carrying five