John Bridger and his team are betrayed by their teammate Steve during a heist, which results in his death. Charlie convinces Bridger's daughter to join the team and seek revenge for her father's death
John Bridger and his team are betrayed by their teammate Steve during a heist, which results in his death. Charlie convinces Bridger's daughter to join the team and seek revenge for her father's death
The clang of the prison gate echoed through the sterile courtyard, a harsh counterpoint to the chirping of unseen birds. Sunlight, sharp and unforgiving, sliced through the grimy air, momentarily blinding Charlie Croker as he stepped out of the concrete cocoon that had been his home for the past five years. The world outside, once a familiar playground of adrenaline and calculated risks, now felt alien. The ceaseless hum of traffic, the cacophony of car horns, the vibrant tapestry of human activity – it all assaulted his senses like a relentless barrage.
He squinted, adjusting to the sudden brightness. Lines, etched deeper by years of frustration and suppressed rage, fanned out from his eyes. His once-youthful face, hardened by prison life, bore the stoic mask of a man who had stared into the abyss and found only his own reflection staring back. The swagger he once possessed was replaced by a coiled tension, a panther caged but not tamed.
A beat-up pickup truck, its faded paint job a mirror to Charlie's mood, idled at the curb. Behind the wheel sat John Bridger, the man who had been more than just a partner; he'd been a mentor, a father figure in a world devoid of genuine affection. John looked older, frailer, with a cough that rattled his chest like a dying engine. The years had left their mark on both of them, but in John's eyes, a spark of defiance still flickered, a testament to the thrill-seeker who lurked beneath the weathered exterior.
"Took you long enough," John rasped, his voice gravelly with disuse. "Thought you might've gotten used to the place."
A ghost of a smile, tinged with bitterness, played on Charlie's lips. "Nah, the food's still lousy." It was a feeble attempt at humor, a bridge built out of nostalgia towards the shared experiences that had once bound them. The silence that followed stretched, thick with unspoken words and unspoken memories.
John fished a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, offering one to Charlie. He took it, the familiar rasp of the paper a comforting reminder of the world he'd left behind. John lit their cigarettes, the flickering flame momentarily illuminating the worry etched on his face.
"Listen, Charlie," John began, his voice low and urgent. "Got a proposition for you. One last job."
Charlie inhaled deeply, the smoke stinging his throat. The offer hung in the air, heavy with unspoken promises and potential dangers. He knew John – knew his penchant for grand schemes that often teetered on the edge of disaster. Five years in prison had dulled his edge, but not his instincts.
"Let's hear it," he said finally, his voice a low rumble. "But make it good, John. I don't have many of these left."
John leaned forward, his gaze intense. "The San Marco Vault," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Full of gold bars recently liberated from the clutches of some trigger-happy Italians. A nice little retirement fund for the both of us."
Charlie eyed John, skepticism etched on his features. "Sounds ambitious, John. How ambitious are we talking?"
John unfolded a map, laying it out on the worn dashboard. It depicted the labyrinthine layout of a Venetian palazzo, its canals shimmering under a midnight moon. In the center, a red circle pulsed with an intensity that sent chills down Charlie's spine. The Venetian Dream – a heist whispered about in hushed tones within the criminal underworld, a daring operation that separated the legends from the fools.
John's cough wracked his body, his face pale and drawn. As the coughing subsided, his eyes met Charlie's, a desperate plea shimmering in their depths. "This is it, Charlie. One last score. A chance to set things right."
Charlie studied the map, his mind a whirlwind of calculations, potential escape routes, and the ever-present awareness of the risks involved. Five years in the joint had dulled his edge, but his instincts were beginning to stir, the familiar thrill of the game coursing through his veins. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just about the gold, that a deeper motive lay hidden beneath the surface of John's desperation.
"Alright, John," he finally said, his voice firm. "Let's hear the plan."
And so, under the harsh light of freedom, Charlie Croker found himself drawn back into the world he'd sworn to leave behind. The Venetian Dream shimmered before him, a glittering mirage that promised salvation and redemption. But the path to that dream was paved with danger, and the ghosts of the past were waiting to be confronted. The first chapter in a story of retribution had begun.
She came to survive. He was born to rule. Fate made them mates. And that's where the nightmare began. Evangeline has spent her whole life on the edge, unwanted, unclaimed, and surviving in the shadows of Crescent Moon Pack. A omega by blood and an outcast by choice, she's learned to keep her head down and her scars hidden. But when her dying uncle asks her to enroll at Blackclaw Academy, a school built on bloodlines, brutality, and unforgiving rules..... she agrees. For him, not for herself. She expected whispers. Glares. Even cruelty. What she didn't expect was Ronan Nightbane. The future Alpha. Cold. Untouchable. Worshipped. Feared. And the one the Moon Goddess bound her soul to. Being his mate should've meant protection. Belonging. Destiny. But Ronan wants none of it. He rejects her in front of the entire academy. Mocks her. Marks her as nothing more than a mistake. A threat. A girl born of nothing, who means even less. But Evangeline? She doesn't break. Not for him. Not for anyone. Because the power buried inside her was never meant to be found. The truth behind her blood could burn the entire pack system to the ground. And Ronan, no matter how hard he fights it.... can't stay away. Their bond is poisonous. Addictive. Dangerous. And when war creeps closer and secrets claw their way into the light, he'll have to make a brutal choice: Reject her... or ruin them both.
"Take the money and disappear." I froze, my breath catching in my throat. "What...?" "You heard me." His forest-green eyes, once warm and captivating, were icy and unyielding now, cutting through me like shards of glass. "Take the money and get the fuck out of my life. I don't want you, Amber." *** Rejected and disowned by her own family for being an Omega, Amber Queen's life has been the definition of difficult. She is unexpectedly marked during a night of passion with her mate, who also turns out to be her best friend's boyfriend. Rayne rejects her despite the bond and casts her aside in favor of being with his boyfriend. Now Amber is alone, pregnant and stuck with a bond that's slowly going to kill her as Rayne continues his relationship with Reed, abandoned by everyone who was supposed to love her. Follow Amber's journey as she fights her way through hardship and rises to the top. She's determined to make them pay. Each and every last one of them. 18+ Content, ABO (Omegaverse) story.
In the eighteen years of her life, Brianna had endured relentless abuse from her family, living in constant fear. One fateful day, two dignified figures approached her and revealed a shocking truth: she was their long-lost daughter, heiress to the wealthiest family in the city-the Owens. Desperate for love and acceptance, Brianna hoped to escape her past. Instead, she fell victim to Cassie, a cunning impostor who manipulated their parents against her while feigning distress. Rather than forging a connection with her real family, Brianna found herself betrayed and isolated. When a car accident left Brianna in a vegetative state, she found herself able to listen to everything around her, though unable to respond. Bitterly, she realized her parents didn't care for her; they visited just once. A month later, Cassie visited, disconnecting the ventilator before leaning in to whisper coldly, "Goodbye, my dear sister. You shouldn't have come back. You are meant for that despicable, wretched family." Somehow, fate granted Brianna a second chance. Reborn and fueled by rage, she vowed to make everyone who had wronged her pay dearly. This time, she would seize the life that had been stolen from her.
"No, Alpha, please stop. You won't fit," Selena gasped, her eyes wide with fear as she stared at Alpha Zander's enormous member. "I don't have that much patience. Be a good Luna and give me an heir," Zander growled, his eyes dark with menacing intensity. He gripped her thighs-rough and hard-spreading her legs wide. With a single, forceful thrust, he breached her innocent barrier and slid deep into her slick heat. * They say marrying the Alpha King is a death sentence. They were right. No she-wolf in her right mind would volunteer to be his bride. Rumor has it, none of his brides lived long enough to even try. They say he's cursed. They say he's impotent. A monster who kills to keep his secret buried. But refusing him means your entire pack dies with you. So when the alliance reached Selena's pack, her father didn't hesitate. She was the useless daughter-the wolf-less one. The perfect offering to a king who only wanted a womb and silence. But Selena soon uncovers secrets far more terrifying than she ever could have imagined. And when the truth threatens everything, there's only one thing left to do: run. But can you ever run from the Alpha King? Especially when he's willing to cross hell and burn the world down just to claim what's his.
Being second best is practically in my DNA. My sister got the love, the attention, the spotlight. And now, even her damn fiancé. Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now-billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn't mind. I'd crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one? Wrong. One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That's when it hit me-he didn't love me. He didn't even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn't even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup. So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster-my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise. Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol. Enter him. Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I'd met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes. It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised. But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life. And, as it turned out, the best decision I'd ever made. Because my one-night stand isn't just some random guy. He's richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with. And now, he's not letting me go.
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all-from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn't return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel's terminal illness and realized she didn't have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
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