Chapter 13: Unspoken TensionsThe morning started with a stifling air that hung heavy in the house. Ethan woke up to a restless mind, the remnants of yesterday's skirmish with Alex swirling through his thoughts like a tempest. He could feel the ache in his muscles, reminders of the ferocious battle that took place on the balcony. As he stepped into the living area, he sensed an unspoken tension brewing.Gracie, sitting at the dining table, eyed him with a mix of irritation and concern. Her silence spoke volumes. The air was pregnant with unsaid words, and Ethan could almost taste the acrimony in the atmosphere."What?" Ethan muttered, trying to mask the discomfort that pricked at him. "Why are you staring?"Gracie's eyes narrowed, the intensity of her gaze slicing through the room. "I'm tired of this, Ethan. Tired of the constant tension between you and Alex. I can't deal with this anymore."He knew exactly what she meant. The cold war between him and Alex had reached a boiling point,
Chapter 14The abandoned mansion, a crumbling relic from a forgotten era, nestled deep within the enigmatic embrace of the forest's dense foliage. Its weathered facade, once grand and imposing, now stood as a testament to time's relentless passage. The wooden panels, worn and discolored, bore the weight of forgotten secrets, the windows, shattered remnants of a bygone opulence.Within the mansion's decaying walls lay the heart of the Ravens' clandestine meetings. The hall, now a cavernous expanse, held an air of haunting mystery, the shadows playing tricks in the dim light that filtered through the tattered curtains. Time had robbed the space of its grandeur, leaving behind only remnants of its former glory: shattered chandeliers, faded tapestries draped askew, and an ancient throne-like chair atop a raised platform that served as the focal point of the chamber.Vada Khan, the enigmatic leader of the Ravens, sat perched upon the makeshift throne. His presence demanded obedience, his d
BlurbAlec: I’m in my thirties and life is…well not boring, but uneventful despite being CEO of the family company. Just how I like it. Then I meet Lumen, a woman who challenges everything in such an irresistible way. For once in my life I can see myself in a relationship. There’s one problem though, she’s off limits.Lumen: Growing up in foster care wasn’t the nightmare for me as it was for some, but life hasn’t been easy. I work hard, focus on my goals, and I never let things distract me, specifically men and relationships. Until one rainy Seattle night when a gorgeous hunk walks into the spa where I work.When billionaire Alec McCrae mistakes Lumen Browne’s workplace for a “happy ending” massage parlor, things get more complicated than he prefers. Especially when their lives become entwined in ways never imagined.ALECMY DATE WAS SEVEN MINUTES LATE, AND I WAS ALREADY ON MYsecond drink, wondering how the hell someone had managed to talk me into this.At least I was
TWOLUMENIT WAS A STRANGE FEELING TO HAVE CHILDREN LOOKING AT ME LIKE Iwas some sort of beacon. A representation of hope for the future. For their future. Like, if I could make it, they could too.Like I was the opposite of a cautionary tale.Not surprising, really. I should have expected it when I’d requested to come here as a volunteer. It’d been six years since I’d aged out, and this had been the place where I’d done it. The dropping off point for kids who weren’t going to be adopted, or at the very least, put into long-term care. Usually teenagers. Often troublemakers.I smiled at each of the other volunteers as I passed them. A few had been volunteers back when I’d been one of these kids. Houseparents, drivers, cooks, servers…people who’d come in to help when there were too many kids and not enough adults.“Always wonderful to see you back here, Lumen.” Brie R
ALECIF THERE WAS ONE POSITIVE THING ABOUT TONIGHT, IT WAS THAT ITwas beautiful out. A surprisingly dry evening in mid-August with barely any cloud cover. I always enjoyed walking the Fremont area, particularly Canal Park, so after my dramatic escape from the restaurant, I flagged down a cab to cover the four and a half miles quicker than I could on my feet, gave a generous tip, and set out to enjoy the rest of my night.Seattle was different from Scotland where I’d been born, though the weather was more similar than it had been in Northern California where I’d spent my adolescence. The frequent rain reminded me of Edinburgh, though it was a lot steadier here. The clouds made it far less hot than California, which I appreciated, particularly when I was in a full suit.I took a slow, deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment, smelling the salt from the sea. I’d missed the sea in Californi
LUMENWHEN I HEARD THE CHIME FROM THE LITTLE BELLS ON THE DOOR, Isighed. I had less than an hour until close. Why did people always insist on coming in right at the end? It never failed.I’d been busying myself by going over the day’s transactions in preparation for close, but I still put on my best customer service smile before turning around to greet the jerk who’d decided to drop in for a last-minute, late- night massage.The moment I saw him, every word I’d intended to speak flew out of my head.He was tall. Very tall. Well over six feet and gorgeous. Probably in his early thirties, he had a good head of golden- blond hair and a chiseled jaw that was surprisingly clean- shaven at this time of night. He was lean and tanned, with a scar through his right eyebrow that just added to his masculine appeal. Not to mention that the suit he wore looked insanely expensive. A far, far cry from the portly, hairy-backed b
LUMEN“PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW YOU, AN INTELLIGENT COLLEGEgraduate, forgot to ask a client to pay his bill before he left?”Lihua was no bigger than five feet tall, but when she planted her hands on her slender hips and gave me that look of complete disappointment and disapproval, she might as well have been a giant.We were both at the front counter, waiting for the next scheduled client. Saturdays could get busy, so two other MTs were already in the back room, changing into their uniforms. Lihua had changed a few minutes ago, wanting the chance to look over the books from last night before we opened.“My final client last night asked for an…ending,” I said. She knew what that meant, of course, but her expression held no sympathy.“You know the procedure,” Lihua said. “Tell him we are not that kind of establishment. Then you end the session and take the payment as normal.”“I know, Li
SIXALEC“WHAT’S WRONG, DADDY?” THE QUESTION CAME OUT OF THE BLUE ASI tucked Evanne into bed. She always came up with the best questions at bedtime.At eight years old, she was wise beyond her years, and I hoped that it wasn’t due to anything her mother and I had done, or hadn’t done, for that matter. Keli had primary custody, and I had enough visitation that I’d always had a relationship with my daughter, but I’d always felt like I was responsible for her missing out on something.I blinked at her. “What do you mean, mo chride?”Her blue eyes lit up at the familiar term of endearment, but then they faded again as she answered my question. “You seem weird.”“Maybe I’m the normal one, and it’s you who’s the wee odd one,” I suggested, letting my accent regress to my childhood simply because it made her burst into the sweetest giggles I’d ever heard. I’d been a serious child, and it took a lot for me to shake that off and give Evanne a father she would be comfortable talking to