AFTER THE SILENCEThe hospital room was filled with the steady beep of the monitor, the walls reverberating with its low hum. Damien sat in the seat beside Elara bed, elbows resting on the armrest, fingers loosely intertwined. His eyes hadn't left her face since he'd stepped in. He couldn't bring himself to. The world outside the room had faded into something distant, irrelevant, and all that mattered at that moment was… her. She looked smaller now. Fragile. The thick bandage wrapped around her head where her skin had split from the blunt force trauma had reddened again. The faint bloom of crimson has begun to seep through, staining the white gauze even after being changed twice. Her pale lips twitched with every breath she took and the bruises along her jaw and collarbone were starting to fade now. He swallowed slowly as his mind replayed everything that had happened. They came slowly–the kidnapping attempt, the moment he'd seen them dragging her to the car, the way rage had bl

RAIN OVER THE DEADThe rain fell in soft pattering sounds, the steady drizzle soaking into the dark soil, washing over the cemetery paths with slick ribbons of mud. Damien stood beneath a black umbrella, his grip loose around the handle while his other hand rested on Elara's shoulder. Elara stood beside him, her fingers gripping the sleeve of his leather jacket as though it anchored her to reality. They were back here again–to the same cemetery. He remembered the exact day he'd met her, right at the cemetery gate–where he had pulled her from the clutch of robbers and nursed her back to health. It felt like another lifetime now. But they were back here again… but this time, they came to bury someone. Lina. Her open grace was surrounded by a few people despite the rain. Some stood under umbrellas, others let the drizzle wash over their black clothing, soaking them to the skin. A priest stood in front under a small canopy, flipping through a worn book as he murmured quiet preparati

A BARREL TO THE HEAD“Naomi Kade.”Sebastian looked down at the picture slid toward him. He picked it up, his thumb grazing the glossy surface as he studied the features of the girl in the photograph. Dark skinned, calm smile, soft features–she looked… professional. Easily trustable. Sebastian lifted his eyes to the man sitting opposite him–Don Rafael Moreno. They were seated in a dim room, lit only by a single hanging bulb that cast a dull amber glow over the concrete floor and metal walls. Shadows surrounding them moved occasionally, adjusting the rifles slung over their shoulder. The Don's men. Sebastian tried to loosen his posture but his shoulders were tense beneath the tailored suit. After hearing his summon from Brooks that morning, he'd put on the velvet suit only to be manhandled, blindfolded and shoved into a truck. That could only mean one thing–The Don was angry. But upon arriving, he was just brought to that room with Don already seated behind the wooden table etched

THE CALL FOR A PARTNERSHIPThe entire room was silent, the quiet filled only with the faint hum of the central air conditioner and the soft clinks of glass against polished wood. A round mahogany table dominated the space at the center, surrounded by seven figures. Damien sat on one side, his posture relaxed. He rested one arm lightly against the armrest of his chair as he stared down at the file opened in front of him. By his side sat Elara, composed too, and elegant in her fitted charcoal suit. The file before her rustled as she flipped through them neatly. At the head of the table sat three representatives of Helios Global Holdings–three individuals clothed in tailored business attire. Their accents were crisp and foreign. On their left sat Vanessa. Her legs were crossed sharply, a soft click resounding from beneath her as she bounced her heel against the marble floor in impatience. Beside her was Sebastian, dressed in a perfectly tailored blue suit, his fingers loosely clasped

AFTERTASTE“Sebastian.”Sebastian had just reached the glass door, his hands on the handle when Damien's voice reached him. He swallowed, pausing as he looked out the glass. Vanessa’s steps came muffled as she walked down the corridor. Without even looking to see if he was coming, she turned and disappeared around the corner. He scoffed. That was just typical of her. She never waited when she was angry. Storm out first, demand explanations later–that was how she operated. And it was going to cost her his money if she continued this way. His fingers tightened briefly around the contract file in his hand as he took in a deep breath. Releasing his grip from the doors handle, he turned around to Damien. The suited man stood near the round table, one hand resting lightly against the waxed surface, the other tucked casually in his pocket. Elara hadn't moved beside him. Her expression was as calm as ever and her demeanor remained unreadable. The representatives from Helios Global Holdi