THE WRONG TURNThe sharp vibration of Elara's phone cut through the haze of sleep, pulling her awake. She let out a tired groan as she rolled onto her side, placing a pillow over her ear. It did nothing to stop the sound. Hissing, she fumbled her fingers across the nightstand, searching for the phone. When she found it, she lifted her head from underneath the pillow and looked at the screen. The name glaring back at her made her frown. Lina?Calling this early?Frustrated, she swiped to answer and placed the phone against her ear. “Lina,” she called groggily. "Do you know what.. time it is?”"So sorry, ma'am,” Lina's voice bled through the line, rushed and breathless, like she was walking fast. "But are you up?" The suddenness in her voice blew whatever fog of sleep remained in Elara's eyes as she sat up straight. “Well… I am now,” she mumbled. “Is there any problem? Why do you sound like that?" "Oh, no, no, no,” Lina answered quickly. Way too quickly. "I'm just, uh, walking to w

GUNS NOW BLAZING Damien didn’t think twice. His body just reacted. The moment he caught the glint of sunlight against the guns, he kicked the door open and jumped out. Rage boiled within him as he watched them drag Elara toward their car. She was limp now, yet panic was written over her pale face. “Hey!" he shouted, his voice tearing through the air, causing them to stop. Every head snapped in his direction–to the suited man standing a few meters away. One of the men–grey haired, scar cutting across his lower lip–stepped forward, lifted his gun and shot a round into the air. “Head back where you came from, office boy,” he said, grinning. “Or you'll leave with bullet wounds in your fucking head." Damien didn't respond at first. He just slipped his suit jacket off, folded it neatly and dropped it on the ground before him. “I would have spared your lives," he said calmly, despite the storm brewing within him, “but you hurt her. And for that, you're all dead." The me

NO MERCYHer grip loosened around his and her hand dropped to the seat. Her eyelids still fluttered as though she was still trying to tell him she was alive–barely. Damien pressed his foot against the pedal and the car tore through the empty room. The dilapidated neighborhood blurred behind him as his fingers tightened around the steering wheel, blood drying against his skin, pain dotting his vision every time he moved his leg–but he ignored it. His gaze occasionally shifted to Elara who lay reclined in the passenger seat, unconscious. Her breathing was shallow but it was still steady. His attention never left her, one hand always leaving the wheel just to make sure she was still there. Still warm. Still alive. “Just stay with me," he whispered, though she could not hear him anymore. “We're almost there." The hospital building finally came into view, standing tall amongst the concrete and steel giants, the sign standing at the front reading ‘Moubt Sinai Hospital’ in bold letters

CHAPTER 47THE DEVIL ON THE LINEThe room was dark–dark enough to instill fear in the hearts of the brave. Only the faint glow of a desk lamp cut through the heavy darkness, its light spilling over the polished mahogany table, but never reaching the corners of the room. Thick velvet curtains blocked out the world beyond the windowsRafael Moreno took a long drag from the cigar between his fingers. The tip glowed faintly for a moment before being swallowed by the smoke curling from his mouth. It twisted upward like ghosts trying to escape the room, only to gather and cloud the ceiling.Brooks stood in front of the Don, his posture straight, shoulders stiff. One hand held a phone with a secured line, the other resting in his pocket. He didn't speak immediately. Just pressed play and dropped the phone on the table. First, static crackled through the speakers, cutting the eerie silence. It lasted for no more than five seconds when a voice spilled out–calm, light. “Oh, fuck this. Leave

NIGHT WHISPERSThe weak orange glow of the flickering streetlights bathes the back alley of the hotel as a lone figure stood by the bushes. The place was quiet, dropped in long shadows that stretched across the cracked pavement like reaching fingers. The wind blew over with a soft whisper and the leaves rustled in response, barely audible over the busy hum of the city. Sebastian stopped over a rose bush, muttering curses under his breath as he unzipped his pants. The cheap toilet in his hotel room had finally given out, taken over by the water coming from the blocked sewers. Vanessa had called the hotel plumbers to fix it but they claimed it would be done in three days' time. That left him no choice but to come outside to empty his bladder. If only Vanessa had picked from her savings account, this wouldn't be happening. He exhaled sharply, a puff of smoke from his lungs clouding the air as he pulled at the waistband of his pants. A small rustle in the bushes made him jump and he m