Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
The idea of tasting Nova’s sweet skin sent shivers down my spine, making my cock harden even further with lusty excitement.
I craved to feel the heat of her body against mine in the dark of night, our bodies intertwined like a single entity under a blanket of stars.
Exploring each other’s inner depths.
Tomorrow will be interesting indeed.
I moved my gaze to the window.
Outside the suburban landscape transformed into dense woods.
We’re close to Peiter’s fortress.
Getting Nova’s address had been a straightforward task for my meticulous personal assistant, Penelope. She had a knack for handling things with grace, and typically navigated through the maze of social connections and information sources with ease.
Yet, knowing where Nova lived was one thing; understanding who she really was, however, was a challenge of an entirely different nature.
That was why I was heading to the outskirts of Paradise City, towards the secluded lair of my childhood friend, Peiter.
He better let me in.
Peiter was an enigma, a recluse living in the world of code and ciphers, thriving in the digital chaos that confounded most. We grew up together in the same harsh foster care system, along with Dominic.
We were misfit souls that found solace in each other’s company. Dominic was the executor of our survival. He always did the things that we never wanted to. I was the tough one, knocking out any bullies who bothered us. Meanwhile, Peiter was the smart, socially-awkward member of our little tribe. He came up with plans that not only kept us safe, but fed.
However, too much occurred in those days to him. It made him terrified to deal with strangers. His fear of the outside world had only grown since then, and he’d retreated further into the safety of his digital fortress.
Over the years, his affinity for computers and knack for unraveling complex codes had morphed into something much more formidable. He’d become one of the most accomplished hackers in Paradise City—a digital ghost capable of extracting information from the deepest, darkest corners of the virtual world.
If anyone could dig up information about Nova, it was him.
And after meeting her, I had many questions.
Who was she beneath the polished exterior she presented to the world?
What were her dreams?
Her fears?
Most importantly, what were her secrets?
After all, Paradise City wasn’t just a place of extravagant pleasures and glittering lights. It was also a city of secrets, where every person had a story hidden beneath the surface.
Unraveling Nova’s story was a mystery I suddenly found myself eager to solve.
Smirking, I checked the bag on my right, making sure the meal was still warm.
Peiter’s food tastes were a blend of nostalgia, comfort, and a sprinkle of eccentricity.
And his absolute favorite dinner was a kid’s meal from Star-Crossed Diner—a local gem in Paradise City.
However, it wasn’t just any kid’s meal. It was their signature Little Gourmet, a perfectly sized double bacon cheeseburger with extra pickles and their special Caviar lime sauce.
Caviar limes, also known as finger limes, were a delicacy in Paradise City. The local chefs had mastered the art of utilizing their pearls to create an array of sauces, but it was Paradise Diner that really hit the spot for Peiter. Their secret blend of ingredients mixed with the caviar lime gave the burger a unique, irresistible flavor.
The meal came with a side of crisp, golden fries, and a special edition toy that Peiter had grown quite fond of. The current collection featured miniature models of vintage arcade machines, a throwback to the simpler times we’d often reminisce about.
To wash it down, he always opted for an old-fashioned root beer. The diner was one of the few places in the city that still brewed their own. The complex, sweet-sassafras flavor was a perfect complement to the meal.
Meanwhile, keeping Peiter’s food warm during the journey from the city to the outskirts was no small task. I had a custom-made insulated bag for this purpose, a gift from a fan who also happened to be a materials engineer. It was a sleek, matte black bag equipped with a high-tech thermal lining capable of maintaining the food’s temperature for several hours.
He won’t turn me away once he sees the Star-Crossed logo on the bag.
I chuckled to myself.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
Who is this?
I grabbed it and checked the screen.
Huh?
A new message came from an anonymous number.
To my shock, it was a video link.
Intrigued, I clicked on it.
My heart stopped.
On the screen was a woman being burned alive in some odd contraption.
What is this? It can’t be real. Right?
My blood ran cold.
The camera zoomed in on her face as she screamed in agony. The sound was a ghastly symphony of her shrieks blending with the crackling inferno.
Nausea rose in my throat.
My grip on the phone tightened.
The sight was horrifying, disgusting, a vision so cruel and savage it was nearly impossible to watch.