Novels by Hi.ayana

Chapter 7: The Shipyard TrapThe white linen of Maximilian’s fresh shirt felt like a shroud against his skin as he stepped out of the shadows of a rusted crane. The shipyard at Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan was a graveyard of industry, where the salt of the Java Sea gnawed at the bones of old freighter ships. The air was thick, tasting of rust and stagnant water.Max adjusted his cuffs, his eyes scanning the perimeter. Silence was the only thing greeting him."I’m here, Arabella!" Max called out, his voice echoing off the corrugated metal walls of a nearby warehouse. "You wanted a show. I’m standing center stage."A flicker of light sparked inside Warehouse 28. Max didn't hesitate. He moved with a low, predatory grace, his hand hovering near the small of his back where a fresh Glock rested. He pushed through the heavy sliding door, the hinges screaming in protest.In the center of the cavernous space, bathed in the sickly yellow glow of a single overhead bulb, sat Arabella. She was tied t

Chapter 6: Shadow Sanctuary"Jump!" Max yelled, his voice barely audible over the screaming sirens and the thud of the first flashbang."You first, billionaire! I want to see if money actually floats!" Arabella shouted back, her eyes wild with a mixture of terror and exhilaration.Max didn't argue. He grabbed her hand—his grip like a vise—and lunged toward the massive floor-to-ceiling window. He didn't wait for a tool; he used his shoulder and the weight of his momentum, the reinforced glass spider-webbing before shattering into a thousand jagged diamonds.They were airborne for a heartbeat, suspended over the dark, murky waters of the West Jakarta canal. Then, the world turned into a cold, crushing weight.Max hit the water first, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. He felt the sludge of the canal swallow him, the taste of salt and oil filling his mouth. He kicked upward, breaking the surface just as Arabella popped up a few feet away, gasping for air and wiping a clump of wa

Chapter 5: Deadly Countdown"Try to keep up, Max. It’d be a shame if you died before I decided whether to kill you myself."The elevator doors hissed shut on Arabella’s smirk, plunging them into a descent that felt like a fall into an abyss. Max checked his watch. Four minutes and forty seconds."Orion, tell me the engine is running," Max snapped into his comms."It’s screaming, Boss. We’re in the lobby basement. Get your asses down here," Orion’s voice crackled back, tight with the kind of stress that only comes when millions of dollars are about to evaporate.Max glanced at Arabella. She was leaning against the mirrored wall of the elevator, casually checking the weight of the Sig Sauer. She looked like she was heading to a gala, not a suicide mission."You’re awfully calm for someone about to drive into a wall of C4," Max said."I’ve always liked fireworks, Max. Besides, if we die, I don’t have to worry about my dry cleaning bill for this dress," she replied, her eyes tracking the

Chapter 4: The Mole's WhispersThe descent down the maintenance ladder was a blur of cold steel and the rhythmic clatter of boots against metal. Max hit the floor of the darkened basement garage first, spinning around with his borrowed pistol raised. Arabella dropped beside him a second later, landing with the silent grace of a shadow."My car’s in bay four," Max whispered, his eyes scanning the rows of parked luxury sedans. "Orion should have moved it by now."Arabella checked the Sig Sauer’s safety, her expression unreadable. "You sure your driver didn't sell you out too? Lucius seemed pretty confident about having the exits covered.""Orion’s the only thing in this city I don't have to buy," Max said.A pair of headlights cut through the gloom. A reinforced black SUV roared toward them, tires screaming as it drifted into a halt. The door flew open, and Orion leaned out, a submachine gun slung over his shoulder."Get in! Now!" Orion yelled.Max shoved Arabella into the back seat and

Chapter 3: Burning ThresholdMax stood in the hallway for exactly three seconds before he kicked the steel door back open. The humid Jakarta night rushed in, smelling of rain and exhaust, but the alleyway was empty. He didn't look for her on the street; he looked up.A metal fire escape groaned three floors above."You're not getting away that easy!" Max shouted, his voice echoing off the damp brick walls.He didn't wait for an answer. He leapt, catching the bottom rung of the ladder and swinging himself up with the practiced ease of a man who had spent his summers in military camps rather than beach resorts. By the time he reached the roof, Arabella was standing by the ledge, the wind whipping her emerald dress around her legs like a silken flame."I wasn't running, Max," she said, not even turning around. "I was leading. I wanted to see if you’d follow.""I’m a predator, Arabella. Following is what I do. Usually right before I bite.""Is that a threat or an invitation?" She turned t

Chapter 2: The Scent of Roses and GunpowderThe scent of expensive tobacco and French perfume hung heavy in the air of The Obsidian Room, an underground club so exclusive it didn't bother with a sign on the door. Maximilian Adiwangsa adjusted the cuffs of his midnight-blue tuxedo, the fabric a stark contrast to the blood-soaked linen he’d been wearing only hours before."You’re sure she’s here?" Max asked, his voice barely a whisper over the low hum of the cello playing on the stage.Orion, standing half a step behind him, scanned the room with eyes that never stayed still. "My contact at the door confirmed it. Emerald dress, no date. She’s at the bar, Max. But you’ve got company first.""Who?""Everett Suryanegara. Table four, right by the VIP railing. He’s been nursing the same glass of Scotch since we walked in, and he looks like he’s seen a ghost."Max didn't turn his head. "Everett always looks like that when there’s money on the line he hasn't stolen yet. Did he have a hand in t