2025-08-24 15:30:32He slammed the brakes, wrenching the wheel like the car owed him money. The tires screamed, the whole beast of metal lurched, and finally it skidded nose-first into the covert, coming to a brutal stop.
Two seconds. Three.Silence.No scream. No thud. Which meant the woman was still alive—or worse, playing games.Charles shoved the door open. He sprinted toward where she’d been. Nothing. Just empty asphalt and shadows.He turned in circles, scanning every corner. Nothing.“What the hell…?” His mind wasn’t the kind to play tricks.That was when his phone beeped.Emmy.Of course. Who else?Charles almost laughed. Was she drunk? Deranged? Or just stupid enough to think he’d forgotten the part where he told her to never call him again? Did she think she could reel him back in with another sad little sob story?He hung up.But her number flashed again.This time he went for
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“This way, everyone,” he said loudly. “We’re not letting what happened ruin the mood tonight. If you’re scared of enjoyment, you can go home. But for the next four hours—” He cut himself off deliberately, grinning, then signaled them forward.Charles noticed Sadie had already linked up with her friend. He caught Natasha’s eye and motioned for her to hang back.Natasha smirked as she drifted close. She gave his chest a playful tap. “You looked shy a second ago. Afraid Miss Sadie will find out you fell in love with me after, what, two hours?”Charles scanned the area before leaning in. His voice dropped low. “I’m not signing up for anything romantic with you. Not now, not ever.”Natasha leaned in anyway, lips parting, eyes closed. “We can’t kiss here,” she whispered.Charles stepped back, letting her hang there with her eyes shut until she finally peeked them open again.He saved her from embarrassment with a quick deflection. “Tho
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“Good thing,” Charles replied dryly. “Not sure I’d trust some stranger to check me out.”She smirked, then shook her head. “Be ready for Miss Sadie to drag you to a hospital. That’s the last thing you want, isn’t it?”Damn. She read him too easily.“I feel sorry for Miss Sadie,” Natasha continued softly. “She can’t even live a quiet life. I’ve barely been around her twenty hours and she’s already been through this mess.”“Thought you’d been with her longer,” Charles said, side glance sharp.“No. I just met her today. That’s why I was saying earlier—we clicked instantly. I don’t get what those men wanted though. It’s not her life. If they wanted her dead, they would’ve pulled the trigger already.”Charles mulled that over. She was right. Whoever those men were, Sadie wasn’t the target to kill. The fact they killed all their own men instead… meant something deeper was hidden. Loose ends weren’t allowed to live.A beam of l
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Charles sat up slowly, groaning. “Even if I was, your shouting just made me un-okay.” “Don’t stand up!” Sadie cried, rushing over with panic in her eyes. Behind her, the others swarmed forward. “Call 911!” someone yelled. “Will he die?” “He’s losing too much blood!” “No. I’ll be fine,” Charles shouted, louder than he intended. He had never been so embarrassed in his life as they all crowded in, hands fumbling like they wanted to smother him with “help.” “Everyone, wait!” Natasha’s voice cut clean through the chaos. The noise froze. All eyes swung to her. “He’ll be fine if you all just stop shouting,” she said firmly. “Someone get me bandages, painkillers, and antibiotics.” “Are you a doctor?” someone asked. “We have to take him to the hospital right now!” another cried.
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“Your parents are rich?” Charles asked. She was talking like someone who had never once needed to compare pizza prices before ordering.“Well, rich?” Natasha shrugged. “My father owns one little company downtown, and my mom is kind of like a model.”“If they’re rich, why are you working with Sadie? Or—you’re not really working for her, are you?”“It’s just Dad’s suggestion,” she said, twirling a strand of hair. “He wants me to check out different places so that when he eventually hands over the company to me, I’ll be capable. He’s built it all his life.”Charles nodded, hoping that would finally end the conversation.“Are you married?” she asked suddenly.Charles turned his head, giving her a long stare.“You don’t seem to be,” Natasha pressed. “And from the way you gladly followed Miss Sadie in here, I guess you don’t have a girlfriend either.”“And what does that suggest?” Charles asked, raising a brow.
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Damn. Charles swallowed hard. What was he supposed to say now?“You’re up for some party tonight?” he asked instead.The line went quiet. Charles could bet the shock on August’s face.“You’re gonna sit around and sulk like a kid?” Charles asked. “Will that bring her back?”“Of course not. Sorry, my speaker was muffled. I was talking. Would love to come with you. Where’s the party?”That was a lie, but Charles wasn’t about to question it. The last thing he wanted was to babysit some guy drowning in emotions. That stuff was harder to deal with than bullets.He told him the address. Hung up as soon as he sighted Sadie coming out with some of her people.Quickly, he got out of the car and opened the passenger door for her. She bid the others goodbye and slid inside.“They’re not coming with us?” Charles asked.“It’s just a little party for us friends.”For the rest of the drive, Charles’ mind wasn’
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“What is this?!” She tapped at her screen, disbelief climbing her face. She had just been debited—ten million dollars gone. Money she had set aside for this moment.She darted a look at the cashier.“Are you joking with me right now?!” she screamed, waving the phone. “Look! I was debited just now! You all heard the sound!”“That’s not our account name,” the cashier said nervously.“It was debited two seconds ago!” Mrs. Harrington shouted, her plan crumbling before her eyes. Forget Charles, forget bragging—this was ten million dollars! “Don’t stand there like statues, check the transaction!”Daniel’s patience snapped. “So in plain words—you can’t pay?”“Shut your filthy mouth!” she barked. “Look for yourself before I—” She shoved the phone at him.He took it, squinting. Then frowned deeper. “What are you talking about? This is a credit alert.”“You sick little thing!” She snatched it back, furious—only to stop co
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