"When innocent and beautiful Lexi Thompson falls prey to the ruthless and cunning drug lord, Ethan Blackwood, she's forced into a world of darkness and despair. Caged and controlled, she's torn between her desire for freedom and her growing attraction to her captor. As Lexi navigates the treacherous landscape of Ethan's empire, she must confront the secrets of her own past and the lies that have haunted her for so long. Will she find a way to escape the clutches of the powerful drug lord, or will she succumb to the danger and desire that surrounds her?
Chapter 1: The Secret
Lexi Thompson's eyes scanned the dimly lit alley, her heart racing with anticipation. She had been investigating the notorious drug lord, Ethan Blackwood, for months, and finally, she had received a tip about a secret meeting. Lexi's determination to expose the truth had driven her to take risks, but she never expected to stumble upon something that would change everything.
Ethan was prepared for the meeting with his long-lost friend Damon, who was threatening to spill out his secret to his enemies. But before we dive deep into the meeting, what could be the secret?
Ethan's organization had been involved in a lucrative deal with the president's sister, who had been secretly embezzling funds from the government. However, when she tried to double-cross Ethan, he was forced to take drastic measures to protect himself and his empire. In a fit of rage, Ethan ordered her murder, which was carried out by his loyal henchmen.
Damon's arrival was announced by the sound of screeching tires and the revving of a luxurious car engine. Ethan's men nodded respectfully as Damon stepped out of the vehicle, his tall, lean frame radiating an air of confidence. Ethan watched from the shadows, his eyes narrowing as Damon approached.
"You're as predictable as ever, Ethan," Damon said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Threats and intimidation may work on your loyal followers, but I'm not one of them. I have insurance, Ethan. And with what I know, you'll do exactly as I say."
Damon paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "You see, I've been watching you, Ethan. I know all about your little secret, and I have proof. So, here's the deal: you'll give me a 20% share of your empire, and I'll keep your secret safe. Refuse, and... well, let's just say you won't be the only one who'll be sleeping with the fishes."
Ethan laughed evilly despite what Damon said. He then asked him, "Do you think I can fear you? Go ahead, tell anyone, but before you can do that, I will kill you and your entire family."
Damon's eyes narrowed, his expression unyielding. "5%?" he repeated, his voice laced with disdain. "You think I'm some kind of fool, Ethan? I know what I have, and I know what it's worth. 20% is the lowest I'll go, and even that's being generous. You're not in a position to negotiate, Ethan. You're in a position to accept my terms, or face the consequences."
Ethan raised it to ten percent as his final offer.
Damon's expression didn't change, but Ethan could sense a flicker of interest behind his eyes. "Ten percent," Damon repeated, his voice neutral. "That's still not enough, Ethan. But I'll tell you what - I'll accept your offer, not because I'm satisfied with the percentage, but because I have a feeling that you're going to be very... accommodating in other ways." Damon's smile was thin and menacing, sending a shiver down Ethan's spine.
As they shook hands, Ethan's eyes locked onto Damon's, a silent understanding passing between them. But, just as he was about to release Damon's hand, his gaze flickered to the side, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Lexi. She was standing in the shadows, her phone held discreetly in her hand, a look of intense focus on her face. Ethan's heart sank as he realized she must have been recording their conversation. He felt a surge of anger and panic, knowing that Lexi now possessed information that could destroy him.
Ethan ordered his men to bring her over immediately, but before they could catch her, she had already escaped. That scared Ethan a lot.
Ethan's face turned red with rage as he watched Lexi disappear into the crowd. He barked orders at his men, demanding that they find her and bring her back immediately. But as the minutes ticked by, it became clear that Lexi had vanished into thin air. Ethan's anger gave way to a growing sense of unease. He knew that Lexi had recorded their conversation, and if she were to reveal the secrets she had uncovered, it could mean the end of his empire. Ethan's mind was racing with the implications, and for the first time in his life, he felt truly scared.
As Ethan hastily departed, Damon couldn't help but let out a low, amused chuckle. "It seems like our little friend is in a bit of a hurry," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Damon's men exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to react to their boss's sudden change in demeanor. But Damon just smiled to himself, clearly pleased with the way things were unfolding.
In the mystical realm of Cardobar, where the sun dipped into the horizon and painted the sky with hues of crimson and gold, the village of Brindlemark lay nestled within a valley. It was a place of ancient magic, where the air was sweet with the scent of blooming wildflowers and the sound of soft chimes carried on the breeze. In a tiny cottage on the outskirts of the village, a young woman named Lyra lived a simple life. She was a fairy, with delicate wings as transparent as glass and hair as bright as the stars. Lyra's nights were filled with a special kind of magic, for she was the Night Fairy of Cardobar, tasked with the sacred duty of weaving dreams for the sleeping villagers. As the moon rose high in the sky, Lyra prepared for her nightly journey. She slipped on her favorite cloak, woven from the silken threads of spider webs and the shimmering scales of moonbeams. With a gentle flutter of her wings, she took to the air, soaring above the thatched roofs of the village cottages as she made her way to the Dreamweaver's Glen. Little did Lyra know, tonight's journey would be different from all the others. Tonight, she would encounter a stranger who would change the course of her life forever...
Dr. Emma Taylor, a brilliant psychologist, returns to her hometown to investigate a series of mysterious crimes. The victims all have one thing in common: they were patients at the local psychiatric hospital, where Emma's estranged father, Dr. John Taylor, works. As Emma delves deeper into the cases, she uncovers a web of deceit and corruption that leads her to question everything she thought she knew about her family, her past, and even her own sanity.
Blurb "Part your legs for me, princess" Alpha Damian humored huskily like he was intoxicated, I whimpered as he voice sents a jolts of emotions round my body. An emotion that I wasn't supposed to feel. Selene was 18 years old when she found out that Alpha Jasper of the Silver Crescent pack was her mate at her Awakening ceremony. Being a reject with no parents she lived with him for over one year as a slave and he never acknowledged her as his mate because he couldn't accept a reject as his mate. On her 20th birthday, her mate not only rejected her and chose her best friend; Imogen, as his new mate, but he also sold Selene to the most feared Alpha; Alpha Damian of the Crimson Moon pack whom everyone referred to as a beast. Not knowing why Alpha Damian chose to buy her, she can only resign herself to fate. What has the moon goddess installed for me again? Is this the freedom she solely crave for? Will she be tied down with the shackles of the unknown?
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."