The dim glow of candlelight flickered across the scarred hardwood table, casting elongated shadows that danced eerily on the walls of Viper’s private dining room. Amanda sat stiffly, her hands trembling in her lap, eyes fixed on the single rose in a crystal vase, an ironic token of romance amid the chaos of her mind. She hated herself for feeling so powerless, yet every instinct screamed to comply, to stay quiet, to avoid provoking him.Viper leaned back in his chair, a crooked smile playing on his lips. His dark eyes flicked over her with a predatory patience. “You’re beautiful tonight, Amanda,” he said softly, voice deceptively gentle. “And I want you to understand how serious I am about us. About us forever.”She nodded mechanically, her throat tight. Her stomach twisted with dread. She had no choice but to sit there and endure, to keep her fears hidden behind a facade of compliance. “I didn't expect all of this,” she said to him, still forcing a smile.“Come on. You've been a

The air was thick with fog as Richard’s car skidded to a halt in front of the rusted iron gates that concealed the Bogeyman’s lair. Years of rumors had surrounded this place, an abandoned warehouse deep in the outskirts of town.He stepped out, the gravel crunching beneath his boots. The heavy chains of the gate swung open with a groan, as if protesting his arrival. Inside, the darkness swallowed the faint glow of his flashlight. Navigating through the maze of corridors, Richard’s senses sharpened. Every creak, every distant sound made his heart thump harder.“I'll have a fucking heart attack before I meet him at the point!” Richard cursed.He kept moving until a rat scared him. Richard jumped. “Fuck!” He mutteredAnd then, he saw him standing in the faint glow of a flickering light, the Bogeyman."Richard," the Bogeyman rasped, voice rough like gravel. "You’ve come so far. And you have balls coming back here, after everything you did,”Richard took a step forward, hands clenched. "

Devin barely had time to react. He threw himself to the side, the arrow embedding itself into a tree where his head had been seconds before. His heart hammered in his chest as adrenaline surged through his veins.From the shadows emerged four ninja assassins cloaked in black. Devin frowned.“You messed with the wrong man. You should know that I don't take prisoners!”Devin’s instincts took over as they hurled at him. He clenched his fists, summoning the flickering sparks of magic swirling around him. The air shimmered as energy crackled from his palms. With a fierce cry, he unleashed a bolt of lightning, striking the foremost ninja in the chest. The assassin crumpled to the ground, smoke curling from his charred armor.The remaining three pressed forward, blades flashing in the pale moonlight. Devin dodged and countered with precise strikes, his magic intensifying. A burst of fire erupted from his fingertips, engulfing one ninja in flames. The second was caught off-guard as Devin

88. Devin stood, watching the rain slide down the glass. His arms were crossed, and his face was set in a stern look and his fists were tightly clenched. He hadn’t slept properly ever since he got the last attack. Dreykov stood behind him, quiet and alert as always, but even his stance had changed slightly, as the man was more tense than usual. “You’ve not said anything since we’ve stood here.” Devin said suddenly, not turning. Dreykov cleared his throat. “Yes sir. I’m just keeping my ears sharp and making sure I’m alert. You never know who’s listening anymore.” Devin turned slowly to face him. “Do you think they’ll try that nonsense again?” “Pardon me, sir, but they didn’t come for tea the first time.” Dreykov said, stepping forward. “They came to kill you, it seems. And since they failed, they’ll want to finish the job, that’s how these things work, sir.” A knock came at the door before Devin could answer. He didn’t move. Dreykov walked over, opened it slightly,

Kia stood in line at the coffee shop with her phone in one hand, and her purse slung lazily across her shoulder. The day was too quiet, if she was honest. Ever since the attack on Devin, things had been tense. But today, she had escaped her guards by saying she wanted to use the ladies and used that to escape. She took in a deep breath. The sun was out, and nothing had exploded. Yet. "Kia?" A warm voice said behind her. She turned around slowly. The man who had spoken had a gentle smile, his suit crisp, dark gray with a blue tie, and a dimple on one cheek when he smiled. His face was familiar, though she couldn't place where she had seen it before. "Do I know you?" She asked, cautious. He chuckled, light and disarming. “Perhaps you don’t remember, but we bumped into each other last month. I'm Ronan Gray." Lies. She raised a brow in disbelief. “Really? How come you’re here?" "Just running errands, then I saw you. Wanted to say hi. You look... incredible." Ki