Greg turned fully to face the intruder, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. The warehouse fell into a tense silence as all eyes darted to the figure emerging from the shadows. Dressed in a black leather tracksuit, the intruder moved with a grace that seemed almost predatory. Slowly, the person reached up, pulling off a dark nose mask to reveal sharp, determined eyes. With a deliberate motion, the hood was drawn back, and a cascade of jet-black hair tumbled down, catching the dim light of the warehouse."A woman?" Greg muttered, amusement flickering across his face. The smirk on his lips widened as he watched her step forward boldly, her face now fully visible—stoic and unwavering. It was Anna, her features hardened like a warrior’s, her eyes cold and focused, betraying nothing but the intent to protect.Greg raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Who are you?""Anna," she replied, her voice steady.Greg chuckled, his eyes raking over her with a mix of curiosity and desire. "Wow, regardless of th

The few remaining thugs in the warehouse shuddered, their confidence shattered. They slowly backed away, retreating to the far side of the room, fear evident in their eyes. Anna rushed to Gabriel’s side, concern etched on her face.“Gabriel, are you okay?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.“I’m fine,” Gabriel replied, his tone firm. “Untie my father and get out of here, Anna.”As Anna ran to free Oliver, Greg struggled to sit up, clutching his stomach in pain. “Hey, Gabriel,” he called out lazily, his voice weak but defiant. "Look, even if your father doesn’t die today, you will."Gabriel sneered, his eyes narrowing. “You talk too much, Greg.”Greg’s smirk returned, though it was more forced this time. “Guys, attack him. Now!” he ordered, his voice rising in desperation as he tried to rally his remaining men.But the fear in their eyes showed they knew it was a losing battle. Gabriel braced himself, his muscles tense as he prepared to finish what he had started.Greg’s eyes dar

In the dead of night, Ruth sat alone in the living room, staring at the wall with worry etched across her face. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of her son, Greg, and the gnawing fear that something terrible had happened to him. Suddenly, a loud knock on the door jolted her from her thoughts. “Who could it be at this hour?” she wondered aloud, her voice trembling with anxiety. For a moment, she considered calling out to Leo, who was upstairs and probably still awake like her, but another heavy knock broke her train of thought. With her heart pounding in her chest, Ruth walked cautiously to the door. As she opened it, her jaw dropped in shock.“Good evening, ma’am,” a man greeted, standing in the doorway with Greg slumped against him, looking battered and barely conscious. Ruth let out a blood-curdling scream as the man dragged Greg inside, laying him down on the couch. The sound of her scream brought Leo rushing down the stairs. He stopped dead in his tracks, horrified by the si

Camella hurried into the hospital, her heart heavy with worry as she rushed down the hallway. She had just returned from dropping Jessie off at her parents' house for a sleepover, but her thoughts were entirely with Gabriel and his father. As she turned the corner, she paused, her steps slowing as she spotted Gabriel asleep on a bench. Anna was beside him, also asleep, her head resting on his shoulder, and her arm draped around his. Camella’s heart clenched at the sight. She didn’t know what to say or do. She didn’t want to wake them, but seeing them so close like this made her feel uneasy. Before she could decide, Zoe walked up to her, her expression mirroring Camella’s unease. They exchanged a glance, and Zoe immediately noticed Anna. Without hesitation, she approached the sleeping pair and gently nudged Anna awake.Gabriel stirred as well, blinking his eyes open. He saw Camella standing there and asked groggily, “Cam, when did you get back?”“Just now,” Camella replied, her voice

Dan woke up the next morning with the sunlight streaming through the curtains. He turned his head to see Zoe still soundly asleep, her chest rising and falling gently, the duvet wrapped around her perfect milky body. Smiling softly, he leaned over and pecked her forehead, careful not to wake her. He then slipped out of bed, picking up his pants from the couch and pulling them on quietly. He headed to the kitchen, deciding to make breakfast. As he fried eggs and prepared toast, his mind replayed the events of the previous night. It had been unexpected, but he couldn’t deny the feelings that had surged between them. He wanted to see where this could go.A few moments later, Zoe stirred in bed, her hand instinctively reaching to the other side. When she didn't feel Dan next to her, her eyes fluttered open. She sat up, brushed her hair back, and called out softly, “Dan?”He appeared in the doorway, holding a tray with breakfast. “Good morning, beautiful.”She smiled, her voice playful. “