Adrian's Possession

er nightstand blinked 11:47 a.m.-way past when she should've left for school. Saph's missed calls buzzed in her pocket like angry bees, but she ignored them, her movem

she stuffed her phone into the front

s silent on the worn hardwood. Halfway to the stairs, she froze, one foot hovering mid-step. Voices-sharp, jagged-spilled from Adam's study, the door cracked just enough to let

s brushing the doorframe, the wood cool and splintered against her palm. Holding her breath, she pressed her ear to the gap, the voices sharpening into focus. Jo

n Adam's study like a cornered dog. She leaned in, her fingers trembling as they gripped the frame. Adam's voice snapped back, thic

ad worn thin months ago, but this-this was something darker. She pressed closer, the door creaking faintly under her weight, and Josh's voice dropped, a guttural edge slicing through the air. "You promised me. You sa

her mouth, muffling it, but her chest heaved, air coming in shallow bursts. Killing Stephen. Her father. Not a crash. Not an accident. Murder. The word seared through her, hot

ing to her? The mining company was one thing, but the shipping company too? He willed it all t

frame. She hit the bottom hard, nearly tripping, and sprinted for the front door, her backpack slamming against her spine. The screen door banged shut behind her as she leaped down the porch steps, t

head. She didn't see the car until its horn blared, a sharp wail that snapped her back to reality. She skidded to a stop, gravel crunching underfoot, as tires screeched and the sleek

oked tie that dangled like an afterthought. His dark hair gleamed under the noon sun, and his sea-blue eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unreadable. He tilted hi

napped, planting her feet despite the shake in her legs. "And your driver nearly broke my damn legs

ogy from me?" He stepped closer, his shadow falling over her, and she caught a whiff of expensive cologne-ceda

she'd be damned if she admitted it. "I was in the right,"

is gaze. "You should apologize for nearly

sing. "I was running for my life, not

piqued his interest. "Running for your life?" he ec

't ready to pull the pin. "None of your business," she said, her voice ice-cold. "Forget it." She flipped him the finger, the gesture sharp an

m her pocket with shaking hands. Saph's name glowed on the screen, and she hit call, the ring cutting through her spiraling thoug

r of students as she neared the school's cafeteri

ern bleeding through. "You

racking as she pushed through the crowd. "E

irm and steady. "I'll be t

ttered, her grip tig

too, Lena.

osh's growl, the cartel. Her father's company wasn't just a legacy; it was a weapon, and they'd killed for it. She couldn't go back to that house-not now, not eve

e hurried over, and Elena's shoulders sagged with relief.