Thursday. The day had finally arrived.Xavier pulled his black Ford Ranger up in Ari's small, ivy-covered house. He turned off the engine and took a moment, looking at the house. He was fully packed, his duffel bag sitting on the passenger seat.The front door opened, and Ari stepped out. She was dressed simply in dark jeans and a comfortable, oversized grey hoodie, her hair pulled back into a casual ponytail. She looked ready for a weekend of forced smiles and old history. He got out of the truck to meet her, leaning against the door.“Morning,” she said, her voice dry, already sounding tired of the day ahead.“Morning,” Xavier replied, flashing a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. “Ready for the weekend?”“Thrilled,” she muttered, walking over to the porch to retrieve her bag. It was a modest, deep-red suitcase.He pushed off the truck and met her halfway, easily taking the case from her hand. “Lead the way, Captain.” He opened the back door of the Ranger and slid her bag in nex

David checked his wristwatch and raised his hand high, holding a small electronic whistle.“Time’s up, everyone! I see all our pairs are lined up and ready!” he announced. “Remember, two yellow ribbons are hidden in the woods. The first two pairs to return with a yellow ribbon win a camping bus for the weekend! On my count! Three… Two… One… Go!”The high-pitched squeal of the whistle was instantly drowned out by a flurry of shouting and the pounding of feet. Alumni, suddenly reverting to their competitive high school selves, charged into the dense, pine-scented woods.Xavier spared one final, furious glance over his shoulder at Ari and Jonathan. His eyes were cold, delivering a silent promise,I’ll win this, and you will regret your pathetic choice.He then grabbed Tiffany’s hand, not gently, and began to run. Tiffany, her face already flushed from excitement and the thrill of touching a handsome man giggled breathlessly.“Wow, Xavier! You’re so competitive! I love it!” she squealed, c

The camp was still waking up, buzzed with the low thrum of activity. Tents were zipped open, the first hint of coffee smoke drifted from the outdoor kitchen, and the alumni, united by the obligation of communal living, began to sort out chores.Ari, dressed in a practical t-shirt and work jeans, was one of the first to volunteer for the less glamorous tasks."I’ll take the bathrooms and toilets," she announced to a grateful group. A collective sigh of relief went through the assembly, no one wanting the job of tackling the small, blockhouse structure at the edge of the clearing. Armed with a caddy of industrial-strength cleaners, she headed toward the outbuilding.Inside, the cinder-block room was functional but grimy. The job was more about sheer water-power than delicate scrubbing. She found the pressure washer stored in a small utility closet, dragged it out, and began the tedious process of hooking up the hoses. The engine sputtered to life, a loud, aggressive roar in the quiet mo

Xavier was the first to wake in the morning. He felt a substantial weight resting heavily across his midsection.“Ugh. Must have rolled onto my gear,” he thought groggily, and began to push the obstruction away. He gave a firm shove, but the weight didn't budge,instead, it snuggled closer, accompanied by a soft, sleepy sigh.Xavier pushed again, harder this time, annoyed by the persistent obstacle. As it settled back against him for the third time, he finally forced his eyes open, ready to identify and relocate the offending object.He froze.It wasn’t gear. It was Ari.She was completely sprawled across him, having migrated the entire distance between their sleeping bags during the night. Her head was tucked firmly against the thick curve of his pectoral muscle, her breath warm against the base of his neck. One arm was draped possessively around his neck, the other tucked beneath his pillow. Her legs were tangled with his, her knees resting squarely on his thighs. Xavier went utter

After hours,Xavier finally got to the coffee shop , where their organisation was secretly run.Several of his men were already gathered, including Peter. The tension in the air was palpable, thick and cold. In the center of the room, tied securely to a heavy metal chair, sat a man in his twenties with wide, terrified eyes.Xavier walked directly into the center of the space, his entire demeanor changing“What’s going on?” Xavier asked Peter, his voice barely above a whisper.Peter stepped forward, nodding towards the man in the chair. “Found him, boss. He’s been orbiting the shop for days. Almost a week, maybe. We finally snagged him tonight. He was taking pictures. A lot of them.”Peter held out a burner phone. Xavier took it without a word, his gaze fixed on the captive. The images were quick, covert shots of Xavier leaving the building, Xavier getting into the SUV, Xavier having lunch with Peter. Pictures of Xavier going to work and leaving. He was basically being stalked. Xavier’