Introduction
But what David doesn't know is the Killer operates with a chilling, personal vendetta. Driven by a past steeped in unimaginable abuse and betrayal by the very elite David pursues, the Killer has meticulously orchestrated every death and every one of David's spiraling breakdowns. With calculated precision, they slip unseen through the city's surveillance, delivering a single, precise stab to the heart of their victims, who never see their end coming. Every move is a calculated chess piece, guiding David closer to a truth he's not prepared for.
As David’s mind crumbles under the weight of the invisible forces at play, the ultimate deception comes to light. He is forced to confront a horrifying reality that shatters his world, leading to his public descent into madness. Committed to a mental asylum, David's breakdown is publicly attributed to the very case the Killer so carefully orchestrated, making him a tragic hero and burying the true identity of his tormentor deeper than ever.
Now, with the Killer's mission complete and the city's corruption finally forced into the light, a new, quieter form of justice begins to take hold. The Killer vanishes, becoming a ghost once more, while Newport City starts to heal. But as a new normal settles, the cost of vengeance, and the chilling secret lingers in the shadows.
Chapter 1
Gracie
The hum of fluorescent light in my office at Northwood Elementary was usually pretty constant, like the low buzz of a fridge you barely noticed until it stopped. Today, though, it felt louder, pushing against the quiet that always settled in after the kids left. Sun was slanting through the blinds, painting these dusty stripes across the carpet where I sat. Just another Tuesday wrapping up, another pile of files waiting, another kid's mess of a world trying to untangle itself.
Leo was here in here earlier. Ten years old, but his eyes told a story twice that long. You know, that look some kids get when they’ve seen too much? He was clutching this crumpled drawing, a house with smoke pouring out the windows. Not chimney smoke. This was the dark, angry kind, like something was burning inside. He mumbled about his stepdad, his voice barely a whisper, with a little shake in it. He looked tiny in the big chair, like a bird about to fly off if you looked at it wrong. I just listened, nodded, kept my face soft. Said the usual stuff, the soothing words, the promise of safety. It's my job. It’s what they need to hear.
"It's okay, Leo," I remember saying, keeping my voice low and calm. "You're safe here. We're gonna make sure you stay safe."
He looked up, and for a second, there was this tiny spark, like maybe he actually believed me. Hope. It's a fragile thing, right? Easy to stomp out. I know that better than anyone. After he left, clutching a new drawing of some superhero, I just leaned back. The hum felt normal again. But the stuff he said, the small, casual cruelties he mentioned, the way some grown-ups just throw their weight around like it’s nothing—that stuff just stuck with you. It was the same old song, played out on different stages, different faces. Kids, women, anyone who couldn't fight back.
My job here, helping these kids, it feels right. Like I’m actually doing some good, giving them a place to land. It’s a good feeling.
Later that day, as I drove across town, the air was still thick with that summer humidity that just won’t quit. City lights smeared into blurry lines. The Women's Hope Shelter showed up, its windows glowing soft and yellow. It’s a quiet street, tucked away, a place where people come when they have got nowhere else to go. Here, the stories are different in the details, but the fear’s always the same. Women, some with little ones glued to their legs, running from the same kind of men Leo was talking about.
My shift tonight was intake. The first one in was Sarah. Her face was messed up, bad bruises, eyes puffed up from crying. She whispered about her husband. Said he’d “lost his temper” again. This guy was supposed to be a big shot, a respected real estate man, shook hands with everyone, gave money to charities. But behind closed doors? He was a monster. The way she told it, it was the usual stuff: controlling every move, cutting her off from friends, then the sudden blow-ups. I just sat there, taking notes, gave her a warm cup of tea, walked her through the papers. My hand was steady, my voice calm, just like always.
"He said he'd find me," she whimpered, tears streaming down her face. "Said he'd make me pay."
I looked right at her, putting all the warmth I had into my eyes. "He won't find you here, Sarah. You're safe. We'll help you. We'll make sure he can't hurt you or your kids ever again."
I meant it. For her, the shelter was a start. A safe spot, at least for now. For guys like her husband, well, they had a different kind of ending coming. The thought felt… clean. Like washing away something dirty.
Then Maria came in. Her story made Sarah’s sound almost tame. Her ex-partner, A guy she met online, had been secretly filming her, sharing the videos. Threatened to post more if she didn’t do what he wanted. She’d gone to the cops, she said, and they told her it was a "civil matter," like they couldn’t do anything without more proof. Her desperation was raw, like an open wound. You could just feel it. It hit differently. Another name, another man who thought he was untouchable.
When my shift was over, the air had finally cooled down a little. Walking to my car, the city sounds seemed far away, muffled. The world felt… clearer. Leo, Sarah, Maria – their faces floated in my head, mixed with the faces of the men who’d done them wrong. It was a gallery, a collection of brokenness. Northwood was a city of good but also evil and I knew that evil more than anyone else.
I thought about David. He’d be home by now, probably still hunched over some case file, ordering takeout because he forgot to eat. He’s a good man, David. Dedicated. Believes in the law, in doing things by the book. I used to be like that, a long time ago. Before the world showed me how messy things really were. He’s kind, Always listening. We met in the most natural way a school counselor and a detective could ever meet.
I first bumped into David at one of the schools many "awareness day" they used to have, a total scene with kids running everywhere and booths set up. I was over at my charity's table, A n organization to helping out kids, trying to explain what we did to anyone who'd listen. David was a detective back then, still kind of new to the job, chilling at the police booth talking about staying safe in the neighborhood. Honestly, I didn't even notice him much at first, just another guy in uniform. But then, during a quiet minute, our eyes just kind of locked across the room. It was like the whole noisy place faded out for a second.
We ended up chatting when things slowed down. Just small talk at first, about the event and stuff, but it got easy real fast, like we just got each other. He was super genuine, and you could tell he really cared about his work, not just punching in to be there because he had to but, because he wanted to be there. And he actually listened when I talked, which was rare. I, on the other hand, was totally drawn to how steady and strong he seemed, but also really kind. There was just this undeniable spark between us, like we were on the same wavelength. So, when the day was winding down, and everyone was packing up their stuff, we swapped numbers. Simple as that. Never thought that little piece of paper would lead to... everything.
We dated for a while almost a year before we moved in together, my apartment had suddenly felt like home after he came and that’s where we were now. We didn’t want marriage, and both agreed that we were happy that way and that’s the way we have been ever since.
Last Chapters
#72 Chapter 72
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#71 Chapter 71
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#70 Chapter 70
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#69 Chapter 69
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#68 Chapter 68
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#67 Chapter 67
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#66 Chapter 66
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#65 Chapter 65
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#64 Chapter 64
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#63 Chapter 63
Last Updated: 1/23/2026
You Might Like 😍
Vengeance of the Forsaken Luna
"Bella." Ethan's tone shifted, taking on that warning edge I knew too well. "Faye is vulnerable right now. She's terrified you'll resent her, that this will divide the pack. The last thing she wants is for this baby to come between us."
"Then you shouldn't have done it." I met his eyes squarely, letting him see the ice in mine. "Go back to your son."
"For fuck's sake." He dragged a hand through his hair. "How many times—it was artificial insemination. They used my sperm, yes, but Faye and I never—"
Bella let out a cold snort. Such brazen lies. Her mate had an affair with his brother's partner, and his entire family helped force her out with nothing, all to make way for the mistress to take her rightful position. Poor fool—he thought she was just an unwanted adopted daughter, easy to dismiss and control. He never knew the computer genius he'd been searching for was his own Luna.
Since he'd tainted himself, Bella was done. She rejected him and reclaimed what was hers, rising to the top with help from Victor, who'd been secretly in love with her for years.
When Ethan tried winning her back: "You don't want our child growing up fatherless."
Bella smiled mockingly. "The child's father isn't you."
Underwater: The Silent Luna
It sounded like fate. Like rescue. Like the moment the universe finally chose her.
Even with the suspicion clinging to the proposal, Meadow let herself believe it. She stepped into the marriage blindly, hoping love would fill the quiet spaces of her mute, colourless life.
But the truth comes fast, and cruel.
The Alpha never asked for her. Never wanted her. Luna Amber arranged everything without his consent, driven by selfish motives Meadow couldn’t see until it was too late. What should have been tender and sacred becomes a cage, and Meadow is trapped in a nightmare she can’t wake from.
Bound by the Dragon Mafia
The head chef looked like he was silently praying for death.
I rushed forward. “Amara. Stop traumatizing these poor people.”
She spun around, delighted. “Sera! Good, you’re here. Taste this. It’s missing despair.”
The chef’s face morphed into existential crisis.
I grabbed her arm. “Put the spatula down.”
“But—”
“Down.”
With exaggerated offense, she dropped the spatula and muttered, “Fine. But if no one here has artistic vision, that’s not my fault.”
She went undercover to expose a mafia empire.
He offered her thirty nights to save her life.
When investigative journalist Seraphine Vale steps into the glittering underworld ruled by billionaire crime lord Dante Vescari, she thinks she’s chasing a story about missing women and corruption.
Instead, she uncovers a secret older than blood—an empire built on fire, sin, and dragons.
Bound to Dante by a forbidden pact, Seraphine finds herself caught between fear and desire, truth and temptation.
Each night pulls her deeper into his world of power, passion, and danger…
and closer to the monster hiding beneath his perfect skin.
Thirty nights. One bond.
And a love that might just burn the world to ash.
Soulbound Mark
Elena is a witch who adores flowers and plants, possessing a gentle kind of magic that is tied to nature. She leads a quiet life with her family—until one day, the peace is shattered. After a ruthless vampire kills her parents to obtain their magic, she barely escapes and is forced to go into hiding.
From that moment on, she lives in constant fear and does all she can to avoid vampires, afraid that her past may catch up with her one day.
However, Elena can’t escape her fate, and it leads her straight into the arms of yet another vampire. Their encounter throws her life into disarray—not only is Ryder her enemy, but he is also her destined soulmate.
The Family Books 1-3 (A Mafia romance)
The saint to my sinner. with her innocent eyes and devilish curves.
A Madonna that was meant to be admired but never touched.
Until someone took that innocence from her.
She left.
The darkness in my heart was finally complete.
I avenged her, I killed for her, but she never came back.
Until I saw her again. An angel dancing around a pole for money.
She didn’t know I owned that club. She didn’t know I was watching.
This time I won’t let her escape.
I will make her back into the girl I knew.
Whether she likes it or not.
2/ Judge and Jury- I can’t stop watching her.
I’m not even sure I want to.
Taylor Lawson, blonde, beautiful, and totally oblivious to how much dangers she’s in.
She’s also the one juror in my upcoming murder trial that hasn’t been bought.
The one who can put me behind bars for a very long time.
I know I should execute her.
After all that’s what I do.
I am the Judge.
I eliminate threats to The Family.
And Taylor is a threat.
But I don’t want to kill her.
Possessing her, making her love me seems like a much better plan for this particular Juror.
3/ Rags and Ritches-
A Queen Among Tides (Book 5 in the Gods' Saga)
Shocked to find he's been bound in more ways than one to Sebastian, the future King to the Kingdom of Atlesper, Lemuel resists Sebastian's advances at every turn, believing this may be one pairing Goddess Zarseti got wrong.
Lemuel will have to face his past in hopes of starting a new future, but an overly flirtatious King is the least of his worries when he learns Sebastian's parents are convinced that a conniving usurper disguised as a curvy blonde, is the future king's true soulmate.
A Queen Among Tides is the 5th book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series. To see how it ends, I recommend reading the full series.
Books in the series order:
A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1
Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2
A Queen Among Blood - Book 3
A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4
Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Tides - Book 5
Valor, Virtue, and Verve - Tides Prequel Spin-off (will be available under book 5)
A Queen Among Gods - Book 6
Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel (will be available under book 2)
A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7
Dark Vocation - Darkness spin-off (will be available under book 4)
A Court of Arcane Souls Anthology (side character short stories exclusive to Ream)
Royal Shadow Series (Next Gen Coming Soon)
To protect what’s mine
The Heir of Flame and Fang
Please note: this story contains strong language and mature scenes.
This is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone.
The first book is The Matchmaker.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy.
COLD (Ruthless Player)
“Please… Nick, wait.” He pulled out, thrusted back in. “How much? Twenty thousand? Fifty? Hundred?” With every question, he thrust harder and harder. My neurons are frying with the confusing feeling in my brain. Torn between pleasure, fear, and panic. I couldn't utter a single sentence to save my life.
His cold eyes pinned me in place while he plundered my body with deep thrusts, which only added to my confusion. My dumb body mistook the mixed signals, my pussy becoming even wetter than before.
“I hope she'd paid you well, because I'm going to fuck you all night long, hard,” he growled. “Sleep, then do it all over again. I want to feel you come for me, Andrea, want to feel you squeeze my cock, milking me.
Begging for me to give you the high only I can, I'm going to fucked you until I fuck all my wife's money's worth, I want you to remember how hard I took you while you're meeting her.” I sobbed, moaned, and tried to scramble out under him.
“No, please…Nick, let….let me explain.” Nick abruptly pulled out. His eyes were cold but hooded.
Andrea was sent to take down billionaire magnate Nicklaus Montgomery.
Her mission was simple: get close, seduce him, find the proof, and disappear. Instead Andrea finds herself exposed—cornered into signing a contract that binds her to Nicklaus's side as his lover. Now she’s living in his world of wealth, danger, and secrets… and the deeper she falls into his bed, the harder it becomes to remember what side she's on.
In Bed With My Ex's Brother-in-Law
On the day her ex, Mark, married the wealthy socialite Bella, Elena was thrown out with nothing but the clothes on her back—humiliated, broken, and utterly alone.
Until Eric Thompson appeared.
Bella’s older brother. Mark’s powerful brother-in-law. And the most feared Alpha in the city.
He offered her a hand when no one else would. Then, he offered her a deal:
A marriage in name only. A shield against her past. A chance to rebuild.
Elena accepted, expecting a cold arrangement between strangers. But behind closed doors, Eric’s carefully guarded control unraveled—and so did hers. Their chemistry was explosive, their nights intense, and the lines between business and pleasure blurred beyond recognition.
He was the one man she could never have… and the only one she couldn’t resist.
But when Mark realizes what he truly lost, and Bella discovers the secret behind her brother’s bride, Elena must decide:
Is this just a contract?
Or is this the love she was always meant to fight for?
The Game of Claiming
A drunken bet becomes their private game: win the maid.
The rules?
Don’t let the others know you’re falling for her.
And never, ever let her leave.
But each brother plays differently—
The eldest buys her obedience.
The second steals her breath.
The third corners her in the dark.
The youngest ruins anyone who touches her.
Lila isn’t sure if she’s a player in their game… or the prize they’ll destroy each other to claim
The Alpha's Stripper Mate
"What?" It was out of my mouth before I could stop it. I did not wait for him to answer me, I walked toward him.
"Dance on my lap."
My head screamed at me to turn around and run. But my whole body responded to his command.
"Yes, Alpha," I pulled my dress over my body, it dropped over my head and fell to the ground behind me. I was left in nothing but my matching bra and thong. My hands covered my chest on reflex.
"Let me see."
My hands dropped to my sides.
I lowered myself into his lap, facing him. His eyes peered into mine, and I could feel his hot breath fan my face. His dick responded to all my moves, hardening against my now-moist vagina. I swallowed hard, allowing my lips to part in a ragged breath. His hands trailed up to my waist.
"No touching."
At the tender age of eleven, JoJo Wyatt was forced to grow up far sooner than she should have. Born to a cruel father and a weak mother, she quickly realized she had to become the breadwinner for herself and her sister. Nothing else mattered to her, not even the hottest men. In fact, she despised them. After one horrific night, she swore never to have any contact with the male species again. That was, until she started working for him as his stripper.
Meanwhile, Alpha Lake Rush, thirty, was the most feared Alpha in the country. Burdened by his own share of life's struggles, he had learned only to be cruel and reckless, rejecting not one but two mates. But what happens when he discovers yet another mate, and she turns out to be his stripper?













