Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 70

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Pulling himself free, his hand gripped the length of his throbbing desire. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back, the image of Emma flooding his mind. Her smile, her laugh, the way she moved-it all played on an endless loop in his head.

His hand moved rhythmically, seeking relief from the torment, but it wasn't enough. No matter how much he tried, the pleasure was hollow, a poor substitute for what he truly craved.

He wanted her. Needed her. No one else could make him feel whole-no one else could

d fill the void she had left behind.

Just as he was beginning to lose himself in the sensation, the shrill ring of his office phone jolted him back to reality.

"Damn it," he hissed, cursing under his breath as he reached for the phone, his frustration reaching a boiling point,

He answered with a terse, "What?" his voice rough and uneven, bis emotions barely contained.

"Sir, it's Kevin," came the steady reply. "I've got the details on the man you asked about

Alexander straightened, his breathing still heavy. He tucked himself away, composing himself as best as he could. "Il call you back." he said curtly before slamming the receiver down.

heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. Her face was twisted with rage, her eyes. blazing as though fueled by a fire she could no longer contain. She looked

hadn't seen directed at her in a

But she had wielded tears as a weapon for years, a means to pull Alexander back into her orbit whenever she felt him

over as she grabbed a

fleeting, the shards glittering on the floor like the

happened in the store wasn't just an insult; it was a warning. A message that she could no longer ignore. Emma was a threat-no, more than a threat. She was the embodiment of everything Annie had fought so hard to keep. Alexander

in her anger, her phone vibrated insistently in her purse. The shrill ringtone grated against her frayed nerves. Snatching the device, she

snapped, her voice sharp

rasping, sinister voice replied, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "At last, you've decided to pick up my call." Her heart skipped a beat as she pulled the phone away to check the screen. The name glowing on the display made her blood boil even more. She clenched her jaw, wishing she'd ignored the call altogether. "What the hell do you want? Annie growled, masking the unease that pricked at her insides. She wouldn't give this man the satisfaction of seeing her fear. "We have no more business. Do

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Chapter 70

be so hasty," the man replied, his tone mocking. "Our business

П

"I paid you what we agreed

man said slowly, the menace in his voice chilling. But a woman came to see me a few days ago. She's offering ten times what you paid

The room seemed to tilt, her grip on the phone tightening.

a grin evident in his voice. "She wants me to