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Bodyguard Autumn Blake doesn't do relationships. They are messy things, and her life is about order and staying detached. She works only for female clients. Period. When she gets a request to protect a male IT specialist on a two-week assignment in Cayenne, it's too tempting to resist. The country holds a special place in her heart. And what trouble could a computer geek be? A ton, she soon discovers. Her new client could have walked off the cover of a top men's magazine. When their gazes collide, awareness slithers up her spine. For the first time, Autumn wishes she could change her past, wishes that there wasn't a stone-cold lump where her heart should be. And it's too late to turn down the assignment. Martin Whitmore is not a typical billionaire playboy. Not only is he as sexy as sin, but he's also the British government's secret weapon against cyber criminals. He's used to women throwing themselves at him. So, it's comical that the first woman he's wanted in a long time seems determined to keep him at arm's length. He can tell that she wants him just as much, but something or someone is standing in the way. He will stop at nothing to remove that obstacle. Will his determination overcome her reticence? Read on to find out!
18 September, 2003.
Later, in moments of despair, Autumn Blake would close her eyes and remember the way her older sister Stella shoved her protectively behind her slightly taller body as they faced the gunman.
The move startled the masked man standing several feet away. Over Stella's shoulder, Autumn watched as he paused and then lowered the weapon.
For a millisecond, she thought that he would spare their lives, thought that there was a conscience somewhere inside the man who had just extinguished four lives with single bullets to the head with frightening speed and accuracy, thought that perhaps the memory of the happy times he had shared with her and her sister would stay his hand.
She was wrong.
His finger tightened on the trigger, and once again, she heard the frightening sound as the bullet left the silencer of his gun, a sound barely louder than a puff of air.
Her sister gave a soft sigh and tumbled back onto Autumn, taking her to the floor.
And though she'd had no experience of death until minutes ago when she'd seen her father, her mother, her grandmother, and step-grandfather executed, Autumn recognized it in the crushing weight of her sister's body and in the harsh coppery smell that filled her nostrils as Stella's life-force seeped hotly between them.
She closed her eyes tightly as she heard the man's heavy thread on the polished wooden floorboard and prayed that he was making a quick getaway.
Instead, there was a creak as the front door opened, and his voice hissed, "Get in here, Caleb! Shit hit the fan."
A moment later, she heard a strangled gasp and a shaky voice say, "You said no one was going to get hurt, Uncle Finn. You said you were only going to rob the safe."
"Someone changed the stupid combination. Plus, I don't know why they weren't in their fucking beds fast asleep!" The man retorted, sounding furious that the occupants had changed the security code of the safe and stayed up later in their own home than he'd expected and inconvenienced him. "Grab her chain and get their phones!" he commanded in a distinctive voice that Autumn would have recognized even if his nephew hadn't just called him by name.
She closed her eyes more tightly and held her breath as she waited for the man's sixteen-year-old nephew to comply.
"I can't, Uncle Finn," the young man made a retching sound.
It was immediately followed by the sharp retort of flesh on flesh.
"Pull yourself together, boy!"
Whimpering as he did so, the young man grabbed the 24-karat necklace with its diamond-encrusted locket that Stella had been given only the day before as a sweet sixteenth birthday present. The chain held valiantly for a few seconds, and Stella's head lifted off the floor and Autumn's shoulder where it had come to rest. As the clasp gave way and it fell back with a muffled thud, the young man gave another whimpering moan.
Autumn listened as they moved around the living room, identifying the young man's lighter sneakered thread as he collected her and Stella's iPhones and his uncle's firm step as he quickly divested the other bodies of valuables.
Her mind revolted as she imagined him pulling off the diamond choker and matching tennis bracelet her mother had worn for the party earlier, as well as her wedding band and engagement ring with its obscenely large diamond.
Perhaps he'd first gone for her father's Rolex and the only jewelry he wore, a heavy signet ring with the Latin: Fideles Ubique Utiles. Faithful and Useful Everywhere is the motto of Gotham's College, the secondary school he'd attended as a young man. The school Stella had also attended and the one which Autumn was due to start in less than a month.
Autumn's grandmother and her husband, on a visit from the UK to celebrate Stella's sixteenth birthday, only wore their wedding bands.
Autumn lay holding her breath until, seeming satisfied that he had taken everything of value, the man ordered, "Let's get out of here!"
She turned her head and watched them leave, her eyes daggers of rage that would have pierced them both through the heart if it depended on her will.
The older man's stocking mask disguise hadn't fooled her.
Or anyone else present in the house before the madness had begun.
Finn Maxwell, the burly, almost six-and-a-half-foot security guard her father had recently hired. His dead sister's son, Caleb Grayson, had been posted outside as a lookout before he had been called indoors to help loot the bodies.
Shy Caleb, who had earlier danced with Stella at her birthday party and, appeared a hopeless fool in love. As he was about to leave the room, he turned his head at the very last minute to cast one last sorrowful glance at his dead classmate.
Through the fine mesh of his stocking mask, his eyes connected with Autumn's.
She saw his slim body jerk in shock.
He froze, the look in her eyes seeming to hold him spellbound.
Then he broke the connection and pulled the door shut behind him.
18 September, 2010.
7 years later.
Just when Caleb Grayson had finally forgotten those rage-filled, accusing eyes, he was shaken out of his sleep to find them staring out at him from the holes of a black balaclava.
He shook his head, thinking that the young girl had once again come to him in a dream as she'd done countless times before.
But this was no nightmare.
This time, she was as real as she had been the night his uncle had massacred everyone else in the house.
And this time, she was older and stronger.
Strong enough to pin him effortlessly to the bed.
"Never spare someone's life when you've taken everything that mattered away from them." The words were softly, calmly spoken with a faint British accent. Other than the tip of the knife at his throat, it could have been a lover whispering into his ear. "It's crueler than killing them."
"Please don't kill me," he begged.
Lady Aubrielle Dane and Dorian St. Laurent once dreamed of a future together, their love burning bright against the shadows of duty and expectation. But when debts threaten to consume his estate and her brother secures a marriage offer from the wealthy but enigmatic Lord Evercroft, their dreams crumble into bitter reality. Dorian refuses to let her go without a fight, desperate to defy fate and claim the woman he loves. But Aubrielle knows the truth-love will not save them from ruin. Bound by loyalty, honor, and the weight of family duty, she must make the ultimate sacrifice. As she walks toward a future not of her choosing, will the love they shared fade into the past-or will it haunt them forever?, will her marital status with Evercroft lead to a good end or not?.
Amelia wakes to find herself among Twelve kidnapped women including herself. Whilst finding a way to escape with her fellow group of kidnapped women, they get taken to an island after their failed attempt to escape. On getting to the island they find out that they were chosen to become mates to some sets of werewolves through a blood ceremony that turns them into werewolves. Amelia becomes mated to an unexpected werewolf from an unexpected household. She then finds a way to rescue the women and escape with them. Who is this werewolf?Will they both accept each other as their mates?Will Amelia find a way to escape with the women?How will she proceed with her werewolf life?..
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
"I, Erika Blackwood, stand before you, Alexander Robertson, with a heavy heart. I hereby reject you as my mate. The bond we once shared has grown fragile, and my soul yearns for a different path. May you find solace in the love of another, and may we both find the happiness we seek." Alexander didn't say a word and looked at me. But he refused to accept. *********** Erika Blackwood is the next Alpha in line of the Ironclaw Pack. She hides her identity and gets mated to the Alpha of the Moonforest Pack, Alexander Robertson. Three years passed, but Alexander is still unwilling to let go of his childhood sweetheart. Erika is mistreated and eventually framed by the same childhood sweetheart. Now she leaves with that humiliation, and goes back to her pack, swearing vengeance on those who hurt her. They all waited for her to return and beg, but what happens when they realize that the famous Ironclaw Pack that was going to help in the rogue war, was ruled by a woman named, Erika Blackwood. Now her Ex mates want her back. Other Alphas want this woman.. But will she accept any of them? Or will she stay independent forever?...
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.