Novels by Quin Ari

The guards immediately straightened, their batons dropping to their sides.Tracy's eyes lit up with vindication. Finally—someone with real authority. Someone who would put Adam back in his place."Magnus!" She stepped forward, her voice dripping with entitled confidence. "Thank God you're here. This man attacked us, assaulted my parents, and my brother. Look at their faces! I want him arrested. I want him banned from this hotel. Luca will hear about this, and he'll—"Magnus didn't glance at her. He didn't acknowledge a single word she said.Instead, he walked straight past her outstretched hand, and stopped directly in front of Adam.Then, in full view of the guards, the Black family, and everyone watching, Magnus Chen—general manager of Crystal Hotel, bowed deeply from the waist."Mr. Cole." His voice trembled with genuine remorse. "Please accept my most profound apologies."Magnus continued, his voice rising as he addressed his subordinates. "You fools! All of you! This man is a d

The security chief's face darkened. This nobody, this clearly insignificant man in his bargain clothes, dared to speak to him like that? Dared to act as though his name meant something?"I don't give a damn who you are!" the chief roared, his voice echoing through the garage. His grip tightened on the baton. "Luca himself could have you erased for breathing the same air as his woman. You think your name matters?"He stepped forward, baton raised."Anyone—anyone—who causes trouble at this hotel gets their hands and feet broken. That's the rule. That's the Alessandro family way."The Black family leaned forward, eager, hungry for the violence to come.Tracy's smile widened. Adam's expression didn't change. If anything, that terrible calm deepened.The chief's baton whistled through the air, aimed directly at Adam's thigh, a disabling blow meant to shatter bone.Adam moved. Not backward or away, but forward.His leg swept up in a blur—too fast to track, too precise to dodge. His foot co

At that moment, the heavy thud of boots echoed through the garage.A team of security guards from Crystal Hotel rounded the corner—all retired soldiers by the look of them, strong and imposing. Each carried a baton at their side, their expressions professionally blank as they surveyed the scene.The head of security, a broad-shouldered man with a military haircut, approached quickly. His eyes swept over the Black family sprawled on the ground, then landed on Tracy. Recognition flickered."Miss Black?" He bowed his head respectfully. "What's happened here? Are you alright?"Tracy visited Crystal Hotel frequently with Luca. The guards knew her well, knew she was connected to the eldest son of the Max family and was not someone they wanted to offend.Seeing reinforcements arrive, the Black family's arrogance surged back.Tracy's eyes blazed with vindictive fire. She pointed at Adam, her voice rising to a dramatic pitch."This man attacked us! Assaulted my parents, my brother! Look at th

Adam's eyes turned icy.Two hundred thousand dollars a year. That's what he had earned driving Uber, night and day, while Tracy spent and the Black family helped themselves. And in the end, it was as if he had fed it to dogs.Jaxson and Zara felt chills run down their spines under Adam's gaze. For the first time, they understood: even an honest, good man, when pushed to the edge, could become this terrifying. They had caught him completely off guard—never once considered that the doormat might one day stand up.But then they remembered. Tracy. Luca. The Max family. Their confidence returned like a wave crashing ashore.Jaxson struggled to his knees, spitting blood onto the concrete. His swollen face twisted into a sneer, though the effect was ruined by his missing teeth."You think you're something now?" he rasped. "Earning money to support the family was your duty! That money was meant for us anyway. What's two hundred thousand a year? Peanuts. Pocket change."Zara nodded vigorousl

Tracy had never seen this version of Adam.The man who once obeyed her every word, who cowered before her anger, who apologized for existing—that man was gone. In his place stood someone else entirely. Someone who looked at her with contempt so pure it burned.Her face cycled through colors—pale, red, pale again. Her mouth opened, but no words emerged. For the first time in her life, Tracy Black was speechless.Jaxson saw his daughter's humiliation and erupted."You ungrateful bastard!" He shoved past John, his face purple with rage. "You couldn't earn enough to give my daughter the life she wanted! Couldn't give her children! And now you dare humiliate her? After everything she sacrificed for you?"His hand drew back, aimed at Adam's cheek.At the same moment, Zara lunged forward, her manicured nails extended like claws, her face twisted with fury.Adam's head turned sharply. His gaze caught them both, razor-sharp.Jaxson's hand descended.Adam raised his arm smoothly, catching Jax

Then, to everyone's surprise, Adam suddenly laughed.The Black family stared.John's smug grin faltered. Zara's cold sneer froze on her face. Jaxson's menace curdled into confusion. Even Tracy, who knew every expression her husband had ever worn, found herself utterly baffled.Why is he laughing?Adam's laughter subsided, leaving behind a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes—eyes that had grown colder."Let me ask you something," he said, his voice calm. "That Luca you're all so proud of—the high and mighty young master of the Max family. The one who seems so omnipotent to you."He paused, letting the words hang."If one day," Adam continued softly, "that same Luca were to kneel before me and beg for mercy... would you still be able to keep those ugly expressions on your faces?"Silence.Then Tracy laughed.It was brittle with disbelief. She shook her head slowly, looking at Adam as though he'd grown a second head."You?" She gestured at him, from his simple clothes to his unremark

Marcus dropped the gun on Grey's chest, covering his face with his hands before standing up and pulling his hair back. He walked away, got into his car, and drove off, lost in thought.As he arrived home, he rested his head on the steering wheel, wondering how he would face his parents. He was still reeling from the revelation that his parents, whom he had believed were dead, were actually alive.With a sigh, he stepped out of the car and locked it, noticing the eerie silence. As he entered the house, he flipped on the light switch, and suddenly, everyone screamed "Surprise!"Marcus flinched, taken aback by the sudden noise and the sea of faces before him. He was surrounded by loved ones, all holding flowers and balloons, their faces beaming with joy."What's going on?" Marcus asked, genuinely surprised, and they all smiled.Sandra stepped forward, beaming. "Since your parents are alive, I thought of doing a little celebration to mark the happy news," she explained, and everyone nodde

"I should be the one saying that," Grey sneered, laughing evilly. Marcus stared at him, his eyes blazing with fury, as he moved forward."You dare think of hurting my parents?" Marcus growled.Grey shrugged. "That's the rule of the street: kill to survive."Marcus shook his head in disgust. "Not your own blood, Grey. He was your elder brother, and you dared to do this to him?"Grey smirked. "Spare me the crap, Marcus. You would have done the same if you were in my shoes. It's survival. The rule is to survive. Your father thought he could have all the good things in life and make me his puppet? Never. I took control of my own destiny."Marcus scoffed. "Take control of your destiny? You call this control? Locking up your own family, manipulating and using them for your own gain?"Grey didn't answer, he just shrugged his shoulders, his expression unrepentant."You know one of the things I hate?" Marcus asked, his eyes blazing with anger as he stared at Grey."What?" Grey asked, a hint of

The next day, after breakfast, Marcus set out to Grey's house, parking his car at a distance. He put on his hoodie and stepped out, glancing around cautiously before walking towards the gate. To his surprise, it swung open with ease, suggesting Grey had forgotten to lock it. Marcus entered, still looking over his shoulder, and pushed open the creaky front door.As he stepped inside, his eyes scanned the empty rooms, his gaze darting everywhere. The house seemed abandoned, with no signs of life or warmth. Marcus let out a sigh, confusion etched on his face. Why did Grey's house look like no one lived there?He began to climb the stairs, trying to be careful not to make a sound, his senses heightened as he ventured deeper into the house.Marcus stood in the middle of the house, his eyes scanning the area, trying to locate the source of the mysterious noise he had heard earlier. He finally found the room, but it was locked. He searched for something to open the door, but found nothing

Sandra groaned, trying to sit up, and Marcus rushed to her side, helping her into a comfortable position. She gave him a weak smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Leaning back against the pillow, she whispered, "Thank you."Marcus nodded, adjusting the pillow for her. The silence between them was awkward, until Marcus cleared his throat, forcing Sandra to look at him. "I want to ask a personal question," he said, his eyes locked on hers.Sandra nodded weakly, "Go on."Marcus held her hands, his voice filled with emotion. "Have you ever thought of marriage?" he asked, his eyes searching for answers.Sandra smiled weakly, but this time, it reached her eyes. "Does it matter?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Marcus nodded, urging her to answer. "Please, answer me. Have you ever thought of marriage?" he asked again, his voice filled with longing.Sandra chuckled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Why are you so interested? When did you begin to care?" she asked, her voice

"What?!" Marcus exclaimed, stunned, and Katherine nodded, swallowing hard. "The report came in when you left to find her," she said, her voice trembling. "It showed that she's carrying a child." Marcus gasped, cursing under his breath as he rubbed his hair in disbelief. "No, no, no," he muttered, shaking his head. He couldn't believe this was happening to him. He didn't need a DNA test to know the child was his. Overwhelmed, Marcus collapsed to the floor, covering his face with his hands. He felt angry at himself, frustrated that he couldn't protect his own child. "I couldn't be there for my own child... what kind of father am I?" he mumbled, slapping himself in despair. Katherine rushed to his side, trying to calm him down. "Stop, Marcus, please," she begged, but he shook her off. "No, I have failed," he repeated, slapping himself harder. "I have failed as a father. What kind of father am I?" he asked, his voice cracking with emotion. Katherine paused, taken aback by his word

Amayah seized the opportunity to escape, dashing outside as Marcus was distracted. She spotted Owen and rushed towards him, relief washing over her. "Baby, let's get out of here! Marcus is crazy!" she begged, tugging on Owen's arm.But Owen didn't budge. Instead, he pulled her close, his hands gripping her waist tightly. "How did you think I ended up here?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.Amayah swallowed hard, confusion etched on her face. "I don't get it," she stammered.Owen let out an evil laugh. "You're truly dumb," he sneered, his eyes glinting with malice.Amayah's eyes widened as the pieces clicked into place. "Wait, you... you tracked me here?" she asked, disbelief etched on her face.Owen nodded, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. Amayah tried to step back, but he caught her, holding her tight. She was trapped, and Owen's grip only tightened as he reveled in his sinister triumph."I didn't just track you here," Owen sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. "

“Get me a full neuro workup, now! And push phenobarbital, 20 mg IV,” he barked, his medical instinct taking over despite the fear. He moved back to Victoria’s side, placing his hands on her temples this time. He didn’t try to pour raw power in. Instead, he sent out fine, seeking threads of energy, probes trying to map the chaos in her mind.It was like touching a live wire. Jagged, hostile feedback zapped back at his senses. His own head pounded in sympathy. Blood dripped steadily from his nose now, spotting Victoria’s pillow. He ignored it.The anti-seizure medication flowed into her IV. For a long, terrifying minute, nothing changed. The spiking lines on the EEG continued their violent dance.Then, slowly, the peaks began to lessen. The chaotic scribbles smoothed into slower, rolling waves. The frantic beeping slowed, returning to a steadier, if still abnormal, rhythm.The next six hours were a relentless siege. Ethan operated on Victoria’s body. When her kidneys showed signs o

The hospital corridor was a tunnel of silence at 5:30 AM. Ethan stood outside Victoria’s room, dressed in dark scrubs. He had insisted on being in the operating theatre. He would oversee every second.The door opened. Two orderlies pushed a gurney out. Victoria lay on it, draped in a thin cotton gown, an IV already in her arm. Her eyes were open, fixed on the ceiling. They were dry now, and empty. Her eyes stayed fixed elsewhere, burning with the sting of betrayal. They hadn’t given her a single chance to stand and fight for their baby.They moved down the hall to the elevator, to the surgical floor. In the pre-op area, the anesthesiologist, a man Ethan trusted, gave him a brief nod. “We’re ready, General. She’s been sedated lightly for anxiety.”Ethan looked at Victoria. Her eyes were half-closed, the fight gone.He followed the gurney into the operating room. He took his place at the head of the table, near Victoria’s shoulder, a position to monitor her vitals and to be close if

Ethan’s words hung in the air. “We have to get rid of the baby.”Victoria’s scream dissolved into ragged, broken sobs. She curled onto her side, away from him, her body a tight ball of grief and defiance. The monitors beeped faster, tracking her distress."you need to be calm," he whispered.But Victoria, was far from listening to anyone.Ethan stood up. His face was pale, his eyes dark with a storm she had never seen before.It wasn’t anger, It was horror. He turned and walked out of the room. His steps were too steady, too controlled. He moved down the hospital corridor like a machine, nurses and orderies parting for him without a word.He didn’t stop until he reached a deserted supply closet at the end of the hall. He shoved the door open, stepped inside, and locked it. He drove his fist into a metal shelving unit. Once. Twice. The clang was deafening in the small space. Pain shot up his arm. He welcomed it. He leaned his forehead against the cool, dented metal, breathing hard

The doctor stood at the foot of the bed, clipboard pressed against his chest like a shield. His eyes flicked between Ethan and Victoria, careful, measured.Victoria’s fingers tightened around Ethan’s hand. Her pulse jumped under his thumb. She suspected the doctor was about to reveal her secret.She cleared her throat. Voice thin. “I’m… I’m tired, Doctor. Can we talk later?”The doctor’s brows lifted slightly. He glanced at Ethan, then back to her.Ethan caught it—the quick look, the hesitation. His head turned slow. Eyes narrowed. He glanced from Victoria’s pale face to the doctor’s guarded expression.“No,” Ethan said. Flat. Final. “You talk now.”Victoria’s breath hitched. She tried to pull her hand free, but Ethan held on. Not rough. Just steady.“Ethan—” she started, her heart pounded. He didn’t look at her. Kept staring at the doctor. “Speak.”The doctor shifted a bit. Opened his mouth. but before he could speak, Victoria started coughing. Sudden. Hard. Wet. Her whole body

Chapter 182. Hand on the knob. His chest tightened. He could see her through the gap—pale face, closed eyes, tubes snaking from her arm to the IV stand. Machines beeped steady. He stepped in. Closed the door quietly. Pulled the chair close to the bed. Sat. Watched her chest rise and fall. Remorse hit him like a gut punch. He dragged a hand over his face, fingers rough against stubble. Foolish. So damn foolish. He had thought she was betraying him. Hiding phones. Meeting shadows. But here she was—broken because of his world, his enemies. He had dragged her into the fire, and now she burned. "I'm sorry," he whispered again. Voice broke. He leaned forward, elbows on knees. Head bowed. "I should've protected you better. Should've seen it coming." Victoria stirred. A small sound escaped her lips. Her eyelids fluttered. Ethan straightened fast. Reached for her hand. Gentle. His thumb stroked her knuckles. Her eyes opened. Focused on him. Tears welled up instantly. "Ethan..." We

Ethan stood there—right behind her—arms loose at his sides, face calm as stone.Victoria’s eyes widened. The gun jerked back up for half a second before she forced it down again.“You—” Her voice cracked. “You were supposed to come through the door.”“I changed the plan.” Ethan’s tone was even. Almost gentle. “You need to be more alert, Victoria. If I can slip up behind you that easily, Jack will eat you alive.”Victoria’s shoulders dropped. A long, shaky sigh slipped out of her—like she’d been holding her breath underwater for minutes. The pistol trembled in her hands. She lowered it slowly, barrel pointing at the carpet.The room stayed silent. Too silent.Ethan stepped past her. “I need to use the bathroom. Stay here. Don’t move.”He walked into the attached bathroom and closed the door. The lock clicked.Victoria stood frozen in the middle of the dark bedroom. The Glock felt heavier now. Her pulse still hammered in her ears.She turned toward the vanity again, trying to steady her

The slap echoed in the marble foyer. Arthur stumbled, the world tilting. He caught himself against the wall, his cheek burning.Before he could speak, his father, Charles Walsh, grabbed him by the front of his shirt. He yanked him close. Spittle flew from his lips as he spoke, his voice a low, furious tremor.“You bribed a police officer?” Charles hissed. “You handed cash to a cop in a school hallway, in front of a hundred witnesses? Are you brain-dead?”“Dad, I—”“Shut up!” Charles roared, shaking him. “Do you know how that ends? It ends with you running my upcoming election! They might use this against me, you stupid boy!”He shoved Arthur away in disgust. Arthur tripped over his own feet and landed hard on the floor. He looked up, cradling his face, eyes wide with terror. He’d never seen his father like this.His father loomed over him, his expression one of pure contempt. “You are a useless son. A blunt instrument. No brains, only ego. I send you to the best schools, and you lear

The sound of Arthur’s mocking claps stopped when another sound cut through the hallway.“Break it up! Move aside!”Students scrambled to clear a path. Two police officers in dark uniforms pushed their way into the circle. Their eyes swept over the scene: Jack standing, blood on his lip, Mark on his knees, Dex slumped against the lockers.The taller officer, his face stern, zeroed in on Jack. “Jack Miller?”Jack nodded slowly. “Yes.”“You’re under arrest for assault,” the officer said, his voice leaving no room for argument. He pulled a pair of cold, metal handcuffs from his belt.“What? He was defending himself!” a voice shouted from the crowd.Saint James shoved his way to the front, his face flushed with anger. Another friend, Sanito, was right behind him, eyes wide with shock. They had just arrived, drawn by the commotion.“They jumped him!” Sanito yelled, pointing at Mark and Dex. “Three on one! Ask anyone!”The officer ignored him. He took Jack’s wrist and snapped one cuff on, t

Jack gave a single, slow nod. He understood Mr. Black’s warning perfectly. Then he turned and left.Outside the Lotex building, the evening air was cool. Jack pulled his collar up against the breeze as he walked toward the bus stop. As he passed a dimly lit café window, a reflection made him pause.Inside, seated alone at a small table, was the same woman from earlier. Dark sunglasses were now pushed up on her head, revealing sharp, observant eyes.She wasn’t looking at him directly, but her gaze was fixed on his reflection in the glass. Her expression was unreadable. Not hostile, not friendly. Just… watching.Jack’s frown returned. He stopped walking and turned to look directly into the café.The woman didn’t look away. She took a slow sip from her cup, her eyes holding his for a long, deliberate moment. He shook his head, dismissing her as a strange coincidence, and continued on his way.---The next morning, the halls of Northwood University were buzzing with the usual chaos. Jac

The silence in the lobby became absolute. Every whisper died. William slowly rose from his chair. The legs scraped against the marble floor with a sharp, ugly sound. His face, which had been glowing with cruel satisfaction, went slack with disbelief. He stared at Mr. Black as if he’d spoken in another language.“What did you say?” William asked. His voice was low, dangerous.Mr. Black didn’t blink. He walked forward, until he stood beside Jack. He didn’t look at Jack. His eyes were locked on William.“I said,” Mr. Black repeated, his tone even and clear, “Jack Miller will not apologize. You will invest under the original terms, or you will leave. There is no third option.”Victor Crane’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. He looked from Mr. Black to William, panic flooding his features. “Mr. Black, please! You don’t understand! We need this investment! The board—”“The board,” Mr. Black cut in, his head turning just slightly toward Victor, “does not make this decision. I do. On b

Jack shoved his hands into his pockets and held William's gaze without blinking. That only made William hotter with anger, he could not believe a kid like this would dare insult him. He gritted his teeth.William answered a call and flipped the phone to speaker. “There’s an idiot at the downfall,” the voice said. “If that person doesn’t leave the company, I won’t invest.” Jack didn't flinch; he only scoffed. “I’m coming,” the caller finished, and the line went dead.“You don't know what you’ve done,” William snapped. “I’ll make you pay. You’ll regret this day.” Jack smiled then, calm, almost amused. He loved that William was the one losing his temper, not him. He took a slow step closer, his calm presence only feeding William’s fury. “Regret it? That’s funny,” Jack said softly, almost mockingly. “Because right now, you’re the one losing control.”William’s hands trembled slightly as he balled them into fists. “Control? You have no idea who you’re dealing with!” he shouted, his

Chapter thirteen.“Sir—” he began.“Just call me Jack,” Jack cut in, his voice sharp enough to slice through the silence.Mr. Black swallowed hard and nodded. “Jack… announcing you as the cleaner doesn’t seem like a good idea.”Jack’s lips curved into a dry, humorless smile. “Just do it.”A tense pause hung in the air. Mr. Black drew in a deep breath, eyes flicking to the stack of files on the desk as if searching for courage. “Then I’ll have to appoint Ms. Evelyn Harper,” he said finally.Jack’s head snapped up, eyes narrowing. “Why her?”“She’s supposed to be your mentor,” Mr. Black replied, his tone low but firm. “And right now, she’s the only one who can be by your side without them noticing.”Jack’s jaw tightened. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then he muttered under his breath, “Fair enough,” though his voice carried the weight of a man who hated to admit it.“Let’s go,” Mr. Black said quietly.Jack followed him down the hall, the sound of their footsteps echoing like a