Chapter 14 – Ghosts and Guns
Rain lashed against the windows of the VossTech penthouse, drumming like war drums.
Elara stood barefoot in the kitchen, pouring herself a cup of coffee she wouldn't drink. Her hands trembled—not from fear, but from rage. The kind that settled deep in the bones.
Juliette had confirmed it minutes ago.
Jasper Monroe was back.
She didn't know much about him—just that he'd been exiled from the Monroe dynasty after a very public scandal involving embezzlement and a mysterious death. He'd vanished from the spotlight years ago.
And now he was suddenly here, partnering with Garrett?
What did he want?
And more importantly… why now?
Damian entered the room shirtless, towel slung over his shoulder. His presence was electric even in the dim morning light. He could tell something was off immediately.
"Elara?"
She turned, voice clipped. "How long have you known about Jasper?"
His jaw tightened. "Two days."
"You didn't tell me?"
"I wasn't sure it was credible. And I didn't want you distracted."
She set the mug down harder than she intended. "Stop deciding what I can or can't handle. I'm not your delicate little secret anymore."
He crossed the room in two strides, voice low. "I never thought you were. But this man… he's not like Garrett."
She folded her arms. "Meaning?"
"Garrett plays with reputation. Jasper plays with lives. He has no conscience. No limits. And if he's here…" He met her eyes. "It means the war's escalating."
That afternoon, they held an emergency strategy meeting with Simone, Juliette, and Damian's head of security, Ryker.
"Jasper's been off-grid for years," Ryker explained, tapping the screen. "But there are rumors—false passports, a stint in the Balkans, arms deals in the UAE. No concrete proof."
"Then why reappear now?" Elara asked.
Juliette exhaled. "Because of you."
"Me?"
"Jasper always hated Garrett. Thought he was weak. But if Garrett can't destroy you two, Jasper will try—and he'll do it his way."
"What does that mean?" Damian asked.
"It means," Simone said, "Jasper won't use business. He'll use blood."
That night, a gift was delivered to Elara's private office at VossTech.
No name. No card.
Just a small black box wrapped in a deep crimson ribbon.
She opened it carefully.
Inside was a single bullet.
Etched with her name.
And a folded photograph.
Her father. Dead.
Only… he wasn't.
Her father had died two years ago in a car crash. Or so she'd believed.
But in the photo, dated just three weeks ago, he was standing outside a safehouse in Lisbon.
Very much alive.
Elara stared at the image until her vision blurred.
She didn't even realize Damian had entered the room until his hand touched her shoulder.
He looked down at the photo, face hardening into stone.
"Where did this come from?"
"It was delivered ten minutes ago."
"This changes everything."
She turned to him, breath catching. "What does it mean?"
"It means your father's faked death wasn't an escape."
"What then?"
"It was a cover-up. And Jasper just ripped it open."
Back at Monroe Industries, Garrett paced in fury.
"You sent her the photo without my approval?" he hissed.
Jasper sat calmly, swirling whiskey in a glass.
"She needed to know."
"Why?"
"Because the truth is a better weapon than a lie. And because her father—your asset—isn't playing the game anymore."
Garrett's face went pale. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Jasper said with a sly smile, "that Gregory Vale was never your pawn. He was mine."
Elara couldn't sleep that night.
The bullet sat on her nightstand like a threat wrapped in velvet.
Damian emerged from the shadows of their bedroom. He hadn't even attempted to lie down. He was in full black tactical gear, earpiece blinking.
"You're going somewhere," she said.
"I'm going to Lisbon."
"You're not going without me."
His expression said no. Her expression said try me.
"Elara—"
"My father's alive. My past isn't a ghost story anymore. And I won't let you do this alone."
After a long pause, he gave her a nod.
"Then we leave at dawn."
OH. MY. GOD. 😱
Y'all… Gregory Vale is ALIVE?! Jasper Monroe's a full-blown villain, and this story just snapped into full-throttle suspense. A bullet with Elara's name on it? A faked death? Damian and Elara flying to Lisbon to uncover the truth?
We're in it now, family.
💬 Let's break it down:
Do you think Gregory is a victim—or was he in on everything?
What's Jasper's true motive?
Should Elara forgive Damian for hiding Jasper's return?
📌 Upcoming in Chapter 15: A Lisbon confrontation, a betrayal in the shadows, and a secret vault that holds the truth behind both families…
💎 Drop a comment, leave those power stones, and add to library if you haven't already!