Download Chereads APP
Chereads App StoreGoogle Play
Chereads

Goldie Vance

Vom falschen Bruder beansprucht

Aurora Crestwood ist seit zehn Jahren in ihren besten Freund Liam verliebt. Zehn Jahre, in denen sie seine Schulter zum Ausweinen war, sein nächtlicher Anruf, seine emotionale Stütze durch jede Trennung. Zehn Jahre, in denen sie zusehen musste, wie er derselben toxischen Frau hinterherläuft, die immer wieder sein Herz bricht. Als Selena Beaumont ihre Verlobung mit jemand anderem bekannt gibt, denkt Aurora, sie sei endlich frei. Aber Liam hat andere Pläne. Er will die Hochzeit crashen, einen letzten verzweifelten Versuch starten, die Frau zurückzugewinnen, die ihn nie wirklich wollte. Und er möchte, dass Aurora ihm dabei hilft. Gegen ihr besseres Urteil stimmt sie zu. Was sie nicht erwartet, ist die Begegnung mit Kian Vance. Liams entfremdeter Bruder ist alles, was Liam nicht ist – gefährlich, direkt und völlig desinteressiert daran, Spielchen zu spielen. Er ist auch mit dem Bräutigam befreundet, was ihn zur größten Bedrohung für ihren Sabotageplan macht. Aber wenn Kian Aurora ansieht, sieht er nicht Liams zuverlässige beste Freundin. Er sieht eine Frau, die ihr wahres Ich viel zu lange versteckt hat. "Ich werde sie dir wegnehmen", sagt Kian seinem Bruder mit kalter Gewissheit. Als Kian eine Wette vorschlägt – wenn die Hochzeit auseinanderfällt, gehört Aurora ihm – sollte sie weggehen. Sie sollte sich darauf konzentrieren, Liam zu helfen, die Frau zu gewinnen, von der er besessen ist. Sie sollte dabei bleiben, das brave Mädchen zu sein, das sie immer war. Stattdessen schlägt sie ein in die Hand des Teufels selbst. Nun ist Aurora zwischen zwei Brüdern gefangen, einer Hochzeit, die vielleicht nicht stattfinden wird, und einem gefährlichen Mann, der direkt durch ihre sorgfältig errichteten Mauern hindurchsieht. Kian verspricht, ihr zu zeigen, was es bedeutet, wirklich begehrt zu werden, aber sein Interesse hat seinen Preis. Während das Hochzeitswochenende ins Chaos stürzt, muss Aurora entscheiden: Wird sie weiterhin auf Nummer sicher gehen oder wird sie endlich das Feuer annehmen, das sie versteckt hat?
Ava Reed · 4K Views

Revendiquée par le Mauvais Frère

Aurora Crestwood est amoureuse de son meilleur ami Liam depuis dix ans. Dix ans à être son épaule pour pleurer, son appel téléphonique tardif, son soutien émotionnel à travers chaque rupture. Dix ans à le regarder courir après la même femme toxique qui continue de lui briser le cœur. Quand Selena Beaumont annonce ses fiançailles avec quelqu'un d'autre, Aurora pense qu'elle est enfin libre. Mais Liam a d'autres projets. Il veut s'inviter au mariage, tenter une dernière tentative désespérée pour conquérir la femme qui ne l'a jamais vraiment voulu. Et il veut qu'Aurora l'aide à le faire. Contre son bon jugement, elle accepte. Ce à quoi elle ne s'attend pas, c'est de rencontrer Kian Vance. Le frère éloigné de Liam est tout ce que Liam n'est pas—dangereux, direct, et complètement désintéressé par les jeux. Il est également ami avec le marié, ce qui fait de lui la plus grande menace pour leur plan de sabotage. Mais quand Kian regarde Aurora, il ne voit pas la fidèle meilleure amie de Liam. Il voit une femme qui cache sa vraie nature depuis trop longtemps. "Je vais te la voler," dit Kian à son frère avec une froide certitude. Quand Kian propose un pari—si le mariage échoue, Aurora lui appartient—elle devrait s'en aller. Elle devrait se concentrer sur l'aide à apporter à Liam pour conquérir la femme dont il est obsédé. Elle devrait continuer à être la gentille fille qu'elle a toujours été. Au lieu de cela, elle serre la main du diable en personne. Maintenant, Aurora est prise entre deux frères, un mariage qui pourrait ne pas avoir lieu, et un homme dangereux qui voit à travers ses murs soigneusement construits. Kian promet de lui montrer ce que signifie être vraiment désirée, mais son intérêt a un prix. Alors que le week-end de mariage sombre dans le chaos, Aurora doit décider : va-t-elle continuer à jouer la sécurité, ou va-t-elle enfin embrasser le feu qu'elle cache ?
Ava Reed · 4.2K Views

Von meinem Alpha-Gefährten zurückgewiesen

"Ahh!" Sie wand sich in einem Nebel aus Stöhnen, ihr Körper zitterte vor widersprüchlichen Empfindungen. Sie verabscheute diesen Mann, doch jede Faser ihres Wesens reagierte auf seine Berührung. Als seine Hände begannen, entlang ihrer Taille zu wandern, sog sie scharf die Luft ein – das plötzliche Ziehen ihres Rückenverschlusses sandte einen Schauer über ihren Rücken. Der Metallschieber hielt am unteren Rücken an, und als er sich öffnete, wurden ihr oberer Rücken und ihre Taille entblößt, ihre Haut der kühlen Luft ausgesetzt. "N-Nicht—mmph!" Ihr Protest wurde vom Kissen erstickt, als seine Finger über ihren nackten Rücken strichen und eine Spur von Gänsehaut hinterließen. Mit einem tiefen, wütenden Knurren flüsterte er harsch in ihr Ohr: "Ich werde dich jede Berührung, jeden Kuss, jede Erinnerung an ihn vergessen lassen. Von jetzt an wirst du, wenn du mit einem anderen Mann zusammen bist, nur mich sehen." Elara Vance war eine zurückgezogene Omega, die im Silbermond-Rudel wegen ihres ruhigen Wesens und ihrer unscheinbaren Erscheinung oft übersehen wurde. Aber hinter ihrer dicken Brille verbarg sich ein heimlicher Schwarm für Rhys Knight, den zukünftigen Alpha des Rudels und einen berüchtigten Campus-Playboy. Rhys verspottete Gefährtenbande und behandelte Beziehungen als austauschbar – bis zu Elaras achtzehntem Geburtstag, als er sie öffentlich zurückwies und sie zur Zielscheibe jedes Witzes machte. Jetzt kehrt Elara verwandelt zurück – ohne Brille, mit elegant gestyltem Haar und selbstbewusst – und Rhys kann seine Augen nicht von ihr abwenden. Was, wenn ihr Blut ein heiliges Erbe in sich trägt, auserwählt von der Mondgöttin? Was, wenn die "Demütigung" Teil eines größeren Plans war? Und als Rhys, der Alpha, der sie einst abwies, vor ihrem neuen Verehrer, Liam Thorne, niederkniet und um eine zweite Chance bettelt, wer wird in diesem Kampf aus Stolz und Leidenschaft den Sieg davontragen?
Elara Veyne · 51K Views

The Strongest Demon Lord Reincarnated as a Commoner

In his past life, he was Azeros, the Demon Lord of Absolute Desolation. His very name silenced gods, and his power could unmake reality. But omnipotence was a gilded cage of crushing boredom. Seeking a flicker of genuine feeling, he orchestrated his own demise, reincarnating into the future as Leo Vance—a penniless commoner in a world that had all but forgotten his terrifying legacy. Now, he must navigate the halls of the prestigious Aethelgard Magic Academy, where noble arrogance, hidden dangers, and powerful beauties lie around every corner. His goal? To live a normal, unremarkable life. But when you possess the power to shatter mountains with a whisper, "normal" is a fantasy. Forced to reveal slivers of his true might to protect the few he begins to care for, Leo unwittingly starts to build a new legend. Powerful women—from tsundere princesses and genius mages to seductive professors and a war-hero instructor—find themselves inexplicably drawn to his quiet confidence and the terrifying, god-like aura he can't fully conceal. He only wanted peace, but his very existence is a declaration of war. As ancient evils stir and the world's most powerful figures begin to notice the "commoner" who defies all logic, Leo's quest for a simple life might just end with him on a throne once more, with a harem of devastatingly powerful women by his side. The Demon Lord is back, and this time, he's taking the Academy by storm.
RSisekai · 5K Views

The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Three years ago, Hazel Vance made a choice that changed everything. One night of passion with a mysterious stranger at a masquerade ball left her with more than just memories—it left her with a son whose rare violet-blue eyes are a constant reminder of the father she'll never find. Now a struggling single mother, Hazel desperately needs the executive assistant position at Sterling Group. The salary could finally give her two-year-old Leo the life he deserves. But her new boss, CEO Liam Sterling, is nothing like she expected. Demanding, brilliant, and devastatingly handsome, Liam has a reputation for being impossible to work for. Most assistants don't last a week. When Hazel refuses to be intimidated by his cold demeanor and sharp tongue, something shifts between them. The attraction is immediate and electric, crackling through every professional interaction. But it's his eyes that stop her cold. The same striking violet-blue shade that stares back at her every morning when she looks at her son. As the tension between them builds and the lines between professional and personal begin to blur, Hazel finds herself caught between her desperate need for this job and her growing attraction to the one man who could destroy everything she's worked for. She doesn't know that Liam has been searching for the mysterious woman from the masquerade ball ever since that night changed him forever. And he has no idea that the composed, fiery assistant who challenges him at every turn is the same woman who haunts his dreams. When the truth finally comes to light, will it bring them together or tear apart the fragile new life Hazel has built for herself and her son?
Isla Fox · 289.8K Views

Rejected by My Alpha Mate

"Ahh!" She writhed in a haze of moans, her body trembling with conflicting sensations. She loathed this man, yet every fiber of her being reacted to his touch. As his hands began to roam along her waist, she sucked in a sharp breath—the sudden pull of her back zipper sent a shiver down her spine. The metal slider halted at the small of her back, and as it opened, her upper back and waist were exposed, baring her skin to the cool air. "D-Don’t—mmph!" Her protest was smothered by the pillow as his fingers caressed her bare spine, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. With a deep, angry growl, he whispered harshly in her ear, "I'll make you forget every touch, every kiss, every thing about him. From now on, when you're with another man, you'll only see me." Elara Vance was a withdrawn omega, often overlooked in the Silver Moon Pack for her quiet demeanor and unassuming appearance. But beneath her thick glasses lay a hidden crush on Rhys Knight, the pack's future Alpha and a notorious campus playboy. Rhys scoffed at mate bonds, treating relationships as disposable—until Elara's eighteenth birthday, when he publicly rejected her, turning her into the butt of every joke. Now, Elara returns transformed—glasses discarded, her hair styled sleek and confident—and Rhys can't take his eyes off her. What if her blood holds a sacred heritage chosen by the Moon Goddess? What if the "humiliation" was part of a larger scheme? And when Rhys, the alpha who once dismissed her, kneels before her new love interest, Liam Thorne, begging for a second chance, who will claim victory in this battle of pride and passion?
Elara Veyne · 225.3K Views

Reclamada por el Hermano Equivocado

Aurora Crestwood ha estado enamorada de su mejor amigo Liam durante diez años. Diez años siendo su hombro para llorar, su llamada telefónica a altas horas de la noche, su apoyo emocional durante cada ruptura. Diez años viéndolo perseguir a la misma mujer tóxica que sigue rompiéndole el corazón. Cuando Selena Beaumont anuncia su compromiso con otra persona, Aurora piensa que por fin está libre. Pero Liam tiene otros planes. Quiere colarse en la boda, hacer un último intento desesperado por conquistar a la mujer que nunca lo ha querido realmente. Y quiere que Aurora le ayude a hacerlo. En contra de su buen juicio, ella acepta. Lo que no espera es conocer a Kian Vance. El hermano distanciado de Liam es todo lo que Liam no es: peligroso, directo y completamente desinteresado en jugar juegos. También es amigo del novio, lo que lo convierte en la mayor amenaza para su plan de sabotaje. Pero cuando Kian mira a Aurora, no ve a la confiable mejor amiga de Liam. Ve a una mujer que ha estado ocultando su verdadero ser durante demasiado tiempo. "Voy a quitártela", le dice Kian a su hermano con fría certeza. Cuando Kian propone una apuesta —si la boda fracasa, Aurora le pertenecerá a él— ella debería alejarse. Debería concentrarse en ayudar a Liam a conquistar a la mujer con la que está obsesionado. Debería seguir siendo la buena chica que siempre ha sido. En cambio, estrecha la mano del mismísimo diablo. Ahora Aurora está atrapada entre dos hermanos, una boda que podría no suceder y un hombre peligroso que ve a través de sus cuidadosamente construidas murallas. Kian promete mostrarle lo que significa ser verdaderamente deseada, pero su interés tiene un precio. Mientras el fin de semana de la boda se precipita hacia el caos, Aurora debe decidir: ¿seguirá jugando a lo seguro o finalmente abrazará el fuego que ha estado ocultando?
Ava Reed · 8.1K Views

A Esposa Secreta e Mascarada do CEO

Três anos atrás, Hazel Vance tomou uma decisão que mudou tudo. Uma noite de paixão com um estranho misterioso em um baile de máscaras deixou-a com mais do que apenas memórias—deixou-a com um filho cujos raros olhos violeta-azulados são uma lembrança constante do pai que ela nunca encontrará. Agora uma mãe solteira lutando para sobreviver, Hazel precisa desesperadamente da posição de assistente executiva no Grupo Sterling. O salário poderia finalmente dar ao seu filho de dois anos, Leo, a vida que ele merece. Mas seu novo chefe, o CEO Liam Sterling, não é nada como ela esperava. Exigente, brilhante e devastadoramente atraente, Liam tem a reputação de ser impossível de trabalhar. A maioria dos assistentes não dura uma semana. Quando Hazel se recusa a ser intimidada por seu comportamento frio e língua afiada, algo muda entre eles. A atração é imediata e elétrica, crepitando através de cada interação profissional. Mas são os olhos dele que a deixam paralisada. O mesmo tom violeta-azulado impressionante que a encara todas as manhãs quando ela olha para seu filho. À medida que a tensão entre eles aumenta e as linhas entre o profissional e o pessoal começam a se confundir, Hazel se encontra dividida entre sua necessidade desesperada deste emprego e sua crescente atração pelo único homem que poderia destruir tudo pelo qual ela trabalhou. Ela não sabe que Liam tem procurado pela mulher misteriosa do baile de máscaras desde aquela noite que o mudou para sempre. E ele não tem ideia de que a assistente composta e impetuosa que o desafia a cada momento é a mesma mulher que assombra seus sonhos. Quando a verdade finalmente vem à tona, isso os unirá ou destruirá a frágil nova vida que Hazel construiu para si mesma e seu filho?
Isla Fox · 42.7K Views

Rejeitada Pelo Meu Companheiro Alpha

"Ahh!" Ela se contorcia em meio a gemidos, seu corpo tremendo com sensações conflitantes. Ela detestava esse homem, mas cada fibra de seu ser reagia ao seu toque. Quando as mãos dele começaram a percorrer sua cintura, ela prendeu a respiração — o puxão repentino do zíper nas suas costas enviou um arrepio pela sua espinha. O cursor de metal parou na base de suas costas e, ao se abrir, a parte superior das costas e a cintura ficaram expostas, deixando sua pele exposta ao ar frio. "N-Não—mmph!" Seu protesto foi abafado pelo travesseiro enquanto os dedos dele acariciavam sua coluna nua, deixando um rastro de arrepios por onde passavam. Com um rosnado profundo e furioso, ele sussurrou asperamente em seu ouvido: "Vou fazer você esquecer cada toque, cada beijo, cada coisa sobre ele. De agora em diante, quando estiver com outro homem, você só verá a mim." Elara Vance era uma ômega retraída, frequentemente ignorada na alcateia Silver Moon Pack por seu comportamento quieto e aparência discreta. Mas por trás de seus óculos grossos havia uma paixão secreta por Rhys Knight, o futuro Alpha da alcateia e um notório conquistador do campus. Rhys zombava dos vínculos de companheiro, tratando relacionamentos como descartáveis — até o décimo oitavo aniversário de Elara, quando ele a rejeitou publicamente, transformando-a no alvo de todas as piadas. Agora, Elara retorna transformada — sem óculos, com o cabelo elegantemente estilizado e confiante — e Rhys não consegue tirar os olhos dela. E se o sangue dela contiver uma herança sagrada escolhida pela Deusa da Lua? E se a "humilhação" fosse parte de um plano maior? E quando Rhys, o alpha que uma vez a desprezou, se ajoelha diante de seu novo interesse amoroso, Liam Thorne, implorando por uma segunda chance, quem sairá vitorioso nesta batalha de orgulho e paixão?
Elara Veyne · 34.5K Views

When the CEO and the Star Swapped Lives

Z-List actress Skylar Vance has been dogged by controversy since her debut. Vilified for her curves and drowned in tabloid scandals, she’s branded a "sex symbol" by ruthless industry rivals. Studio sabotage, smear campaigns, and predatory gossip columns have trapped her career in limbo for years. Enter Silas Sterling, the Ivy League-educated CEO of Sterling Holdings. A titan of Wall Street whose strategic ruthlessness reshaped entire industries, he reigns from a gilded throne—yet his icy demeanor has alienated family and colleagues alike. To the world, he’s untouchable. To those who know him? Unbearable. When a freak accident swaps their bodies, Skylar wakes up as the feared billionaire—and accidentally sets about revolutionizing Sterling Holdings with radiant empathy: She starts her days with warm family check-ins, showers subordinates with genuine care, rolls out irresistible employee perks, and lavishes compliments on her secretary's stunning new perm. Meanwhile, Silas storms through Skylar’s world like a corporate Category 5 hurricane: suing tabloids into oblivion, blacklisting scheming rivals, and warning online trolls with signature legal threats. The Internet Explodes: Forum Post: WHO is Skylar Vance’s sugar daddy? Her rise from Z-list to A-list reeks of shady backing! Tabloids froth with theories about her mysterious benefactor—until Sterling Holdings’ notoriously reclusive CEO drops a bombshell on live TV: "I’m bankrolling my own girlfriend’s career. Got a problem with that?"
周伊雯 · 5K Views

The Stolen Melody of Starlight: INYEON

Elara Vance, a gifted but unassuming music student, finds her quiet life shattered when she inherits an antique music box. Within it lies an unfinished, coded melody – a fragment of the legendary "Starlight Requiem." When shadowy figures, relentless in their pursuit of the Requiem, target her, Elara is thrust into a dangerous alliance with Liam Thorne, a brooding rock star haunted by his family's ancient secrets. Together, they uncover a truth far more profound than any song: the Starlight Requiem is not magic, but an intricate, ancient master code of universal frequencies. A scientific principle capable of manipulating fundamental forces, its complete knowledge could redefine reality itself. As two ruthless factions close in – Liam’s power-hungry uncle, Elias Thorne, and a mysterious, technologically advanced organization – Elara and Liam must piece together the Requiem's fragmented clues. Their perilous quest leads them from the hidden depths beneath a city library, through forgotten tunnels, to a secluded observatory nestled high in the Himalayas. With each decoded segment, the immense potential, and terrifying danger, of the Requiem becomes clearer. Their only defense lies in their deepening partnership. Elara's unique intuitive sensitivity to the Requiem’s intricate patterns, combined with Liam’s vast knowledge of ancient Thorne family archives and his strategic mind, forms an unbreakable bond – their Inyeon. They are two halves of a singular purpose, racing against time to protect this world-altering knowledge from falling into the wrong hands. Can their combined efforts unveil the universe's ultimate secret before its power is unleashed for destruction? Or will their fated connection simply lead them to the heart of a war they never sought?
WRITTENBYJOON · 5K Views

jumping

a world where everyone is born with the ability to harness Mantra—a mysterious energy that enhances physical abilities—individuals train to become Mantra Knights, warriors who uphold peace and justice. Only a select few, however, are gifted with a rare and powerful ability known as a Special Manifestation—unique powers that set them apart from ordinary knights. While all Mantra Knights can rise to high ranks through strength and skill, those with Special Manifestations hold even greater potential. At 16, Axel Killamon has dreamed of becoming a Mantra Knight, and now faces the opportunity to join the elite group, Swords of Symphony, led by the youngest and most powerful Lance, Xavier Gray. Xavier, known for his unmatched power and his uncompromising stand against evil, carries a heavy burden of responsibility. Alongside Axel is his rival and best friend, Asaya Vance, a brilliant fighter who wields Plasma Kinesis, a rare and devastating Special Manifestation. As the recruits undergo rigorous trials, they discover that being a Mantra Knight means far more than battle and honor. A dark organization known as the Hollow Ward, a secretive group of masked assassins, begins to emerge, targeting recruits and spreading fear. When a fellow recruit is brutally murdered by a member of Hollow Ward, the stakes become deadly. Axel, Asaya, and the rest of Swords of Symphony are pulled into a dangerous game, where even strength and strategy may not be enough to stop the growing threat. As the masked enemies close in, secrets about Special Manifestations and the true history of Mantra Knights start to surface. With growing danger and rising tensions, Axel must learn to control his own power and face enemies far more powerful than they could have ever imagined.
Unsung1 · 11K Views

Crownless King:Royal love

In a kingdom veiled in secrecy, where magic is a sacred privilege of royalty and power is inherited by blood and oath, Aurellion Caelum—a forgotten heir of a slaughtered noble house—awakens with a destiny he never chose. Raised behind the gilded walls of the Royal Island, Aurellion believes himself a noble like any other. But deep within him stirs a mystery—the echoes of a massacre buried by the King’s decree and a legacy erased from history. Every two years, a new power awakens in him—seven in total, each stronger and more enigmatic than the last. When he unlocks the rarest of all—cloning—he finally makes his move. Escaping to the outside world using his clone as a decoy, Aurellion discovers a society untouched by magic yet thriving on money, ambition, and influence. In this unfamiliar world, where lineage means nothing and wealth is king, Aurellion vows to conquer from the shadows. Within six months, he becomes the mysterious and feared CEO of Vance Corp—a man of cold elegance, piercing intellect, and undeniable charm. But when a naïve yet brilliant young woman crosses his path, everything begins to change. She’s not from his world. She doesn’t know his past. Yet her presence feels... necessary. As romance brews in silence, and hatred masks desire, secrets unravel, truths collide, and fate begins to whisper. Will Aurellion rise to become a ruler of both worlds? Or will love crack the crown he never wore?
CrazyImmortal_ · 9.7K Views

The Quiet General

A gripping tale of sacrifice, deception, and the enduring power of family. General Marcus Thorne, a man whose name once resonated with strategic brilliance and unwavering resolve, vanished from the world, officially declared a hero lost in the fog of war. But Marcus Thorne was not dead. He had meticulously orchestrated his own disappearance, shedding his identity and his rank to become Elias Vance, a quiet, unassuming man seeking anonymity in the tranquil coastal town of Seabreeze. For years, Elias lived on the periphery, driven by an agonizing need to protect the family he left behind: his resilient wife, Clara, and his now-grown children, Anya and Leo, who had bravely forged a new life without him. From the shadows, he watched them thrive, his unseen hand occasionally offering subtle aid, always yearning for a connection he dared not reclaim. But the carefully constructed facade of Elias Vance begins to crack when a chance encounter exposes his military past. The revelation shatters the fragile peace his family has built, unleashing a storm of anger, confusion, and betrayal. Clara, who had grieved a hero, must now confront the man who chose absence over presence. Anya and Leo grapple with the identity of the stranger who has been watching them, and the phantom father they once revered. "The Quiet General" is a poignant exploration of the profound cost of duty, the weight of secrets, and the arduous journey of reconciliation. Can a family fractured by years of absence truly heal? Can a man who once commanded armies find his place in the quiet rhythm of a simple life? This novel delves into the complexities of love, forgiveness, and the unwritten future of a family desperately trying to find their way back to each other.
DaoistMApKyt · 22.5K Views

GRAVES. Código de Sangre.

Nathaniel "Nate" Graves, conocido en ciertos círculos sangrientos como "El Carnicero de Langley" o simplemente "Código 9", no quería volver. Tras ser quemado por la Sección Ómicron, una unidad gubernamental de "soluciones definitivas", su vida era humo barato y recuerdos peores que una resaca permanente. Pero cuando Vincent "El Cuervo" Crowe, un periodista de investigación con más enemigos que contactos (y eso es decir mucho), le suplica protección mientras intentan borrarlo del mapa por el "Expediente Cerberus", Nate sabe que su retiro se ha terminado. "¿Protegerte?", le espeta Nate, encendiendo un H. Upmann con manos que no tiemblan. "Cuervo, lo único que garantizo es que morirás cansado de correr." El Expediente Cerberus es una bomba: prueba la red de corrupción que une al Proyecto Sombras (asesinatos gubernamentales), Thorne Industries (explotación y contratos sucios), el violento Cártel de la Bahía (tráfico de todo lo imaginable) y policías y políticos hasta la médula podridos. Y el nombre de Nate está dentro, vinculado a la misión que lo convirtió en chivo expiario. Para limpiar su nombre (o vengarse con estilo), Nate necesita descifrar el Expediente y mantenerse vivo. Su único aliado estable es Vin, cuyo optimismo se limita a: "Buenas noticias, Carnicero: hoy solo nos quieren matar tres facciones distintas. ¡Progreso!". Pero la complicación tiene nombre, curvas y un juego peligroso: Seraphine Dubois, "El Ángel de Hierro". Esposa del magnate y político corrupto Darius Thorne, y amante de Nate. Su romance es pólvora mojada en whisky barato: pasión, celos tóxicos y la certeza de que ella comparte la cama de Thorne (y otros) para extraer secretos. "¿Te gusta mi vestido nuevo, querido?", le susurra Seraphine después de una cita con un juez comprado. "Es de seda italiana... y costó exactamente los detalles del próximo golpe de tu jefe contra los muelles. Una ganga, ¿no crees?" Nate lo sabe: Seraphine los usa a todos, y su información es un arma de doble filo. "Eres como un Upmann, Seraphine", le dice Nate en un raro momento de claridad. "Elegante, letal y condenadamente adictiva. Y sé que me matarás." Mientras la ciudad se desangra entre la codicia de Thorne, la brutalidad del Cártel de la Bahía liderado por Marta "La Dama" Rostova, la limpieza despiadada de Ómicron dirigida por el frío Director Vance ("El Archivista"), y la corrupción visceral del Comisionado Bell, Nate y Vin se adentran en el fango. Nate aplica su particular sentido del humor en medio del caos: "Disculpen el desorden", masculla después de dejar inconscientes a tres matones del Cártel en un club de striptease que sirve de fachada. "Pero su servicio al cliente era... mortalmente aburrido." Mientras Vin, revisando cámaras de seguridad hackeadas, comenta: "Mira el lado bueno, Código 9. Al menos la contaminación en el puerto oculta el olor a los que tú dejas atrás." La cacería es total. "La Jauría" de Ómicron, los sicarios del Cártel, los esbirros de Thorne y la policía corrupta de Bell quieren sus cabezas. Nate deberá usar cada gramo de su cerebro y cada gota de su brutal eficiencia para descifrar el Expediente, enfrentar la verdad sobre su pasado, decidir si Seraphine es su perdición o su salvación, y tal vez, solo tal vez, hacer justicia en una ciudad donde la corrupción es el único sistema que funciona. "Redención, Cuervo?", pregunta Nate mientras apunta a su siguiente objetivo, el humo de su Upmann dibujando una corona efímera sobre su cabeza. "Aquí lo único que se redime son las balas recicladas. Apunta y reza... o mejor, solo apunta." ¿Sobrevivirá Nate Graves lo suficiente para ver el Expediente Cerberus reventar en la cara de los poderosos? ¿O será solo otro nombre tachado en una lista interminable de bajas, fumando su último cigarrillo en el infierno que ayudó a crear? En esta ciudad, incluso la verdad huele a ceniza y tabaco caro... y tiene muy mal sentido del humor.
Ronnie_Praga · 1.6K Views
Related Topics
More