CHAPTER 15

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But for now, Ryker just held Lila, letting her know she was safe, that she would never be alone again.

He could feel the anger burning inside him, a fire that threatened to consume him whole. But he knew he had to control it, for Lila's sake.

As Lila finally drifted off to sleep, her body still shaking with sobs, Ryker held her close, his arms wrapped tightly around her. He could feel her tears soaking through his shirt, but he didn't care. He just wanted to hold her, to protect her from the pain that had been inflicted upon her.

As the hours passed, Ryker's grip on Lila never wavered. He held her through her nightmares, through her tears, through her pain. And when she finally woke up, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy, Ryker was still there, holding her, comforting her.

But as the sun began to rise, Ryker knew he couldn't wait any longer. He had a mission to complete, a mission to take down Roger Kâzz, Ryker remembered his name now, the crime boss of Vanessa city. Ryker's eyes narrowed as he thought about Roger, his mind racing with strategies and plans. Roger wasn't an easy person to found. He was called "the ghost of the Vanessa city", but he was fucking evil. He trapped women and left them for his brother, Tucker Kâzz.

He gently laid Lila down on the bed, covering her with a blanket. "I'll be back soon," he whispered, his voice soft and gentle. "You're safe here."

Lila though slept, but was still distressed. He knew it was going to be difficult for her but she was strong. She was his Leonessá.

And with that, Ryker turned and walked away, his mind focused on his mission. He knew it wouldn't be easy, that Roger Kâzz was a formidable opponent. But Ryker was determined, driven by his desire for revenge and his need to protect Lila.

Lila woke up with a throbbing headache, her mind still reeling from the events of the previous day. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach, like a weight was pressing down on her. She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep. "You're strong, Lila," she repeated, trying to convince herself.

She took a deep breath and headed to the bathroom, the warm water of the shower washing away some of the tension. As she got dressed, her mind kept wandering back to Ryker and what he was planning.

Downstairs, she found Ryker already working, surrounded by computer screens and devices. The room was a hive of activity, with wires and cables snaking across the floor. Lila's eyes widened as she took in the scope of the operation.

"What's going on?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Ryker looked up, his eyes intense. "We're finding Roger's location," he said, his voice low and deadly. "And I'm going to make him pay."

Lila felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized the magnitude of what Ryker was planning. She knew that she had to be strong, for herself and for Ryker.

As she watched, Ryker and his friends working on it. Lila knew that she had to be a part of this, to help Ryker bring down the man who had ruined her. She took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

She stood behind him as the all worked from their seats. It was Kieran who said it, this time, "he will pay for it, little one", in his deep but calm voice, with Asher in order,"yes he will".
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He spent hours gathering information, talking to sources, and tracking down leads. But every door he opened led to a dead end, every lead ended in a brick wall. Roger kâzz was a ghost, a shadow that haunted the streets of Vanessa city.

Ryker's frustration grew with each passing hour, his anger simmering just below the surface. He knew he had to keep his cool, to think clearly and strategically. But it was hard, oh so hard, when all he wanted to do was smash his fist into Roger's face.

shadows of deceit by author berryyWhere stories live. Discover now