Novels by Ray Michael

**Third person** Valerie dragged her heavy eyes open. She blinked a couple of times to clear her vision. The smell of drugs and antiseptic and hospital filled her nose. Beside her, Lucas sat with his eyes closed. Almost immediately she jumped up on the bed. “Let me go,” she shouted, startling Lucas. He climbed the bed and pulled her into his arms. “It's okay, you're safe now,” he whispered softly, planting kiss after kiss on her hair and forehead. Valerie relaxed into his embrace, her racing heart finally calm. A tear slipped from his eyes and he wiped it. He'd thought he'd lost her. “I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe. I should have anticipated it, I should—” “It's not your fault,” she cut him off gently. “It's not.” Tears trailed down her own cheeks and she sniffed. “What happened to Matthew?” A muscle ticked in Lucas's jaw, he felt Matt had an easy fate after everything he did. "Dead." Valerie let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, her body shaking with relieve

**Third person**“Let's move, slowly,” Matt murmured in Valerie's ears, his hot breath fanning against her skin. His eyes were still locked onto Lucas—who was practically shooting daggers at Matt with his eyes."Matthew, please," Valerie whispered back, her voice trembling. "You don't have to do this. You can still let me go."Matt's jaw tightened, his chest heaving with desperation and anger. "Do you really think I'm stupid?" he hissed. "You want me to let you go? I should just allow you to run into his arms?" He questioned in a mocking tone.“Drop your weapon and surrender,” the police announced again but neither Valerie nor Matt paid any attention. “Best believe that if I do that, then I'll shoot you from behind before you get to him,” Matt added. The chilling sensation in his voice sent a shiver down Valerie's spine.“Man to man,” Lucas began, his voice almost a growl. “What would it take for you to let her go? Anything at all… name it. Even if you don't want to spend a single da

**Third person**It took Matthew half the time it would normally take to get to the bunker. He parked his car at a safe distance before running over to the location. And with each step he took, his mind raced, his heart pounded with anxiety. He couldn't afford to lose her now that he was so close. They'd literally be leaving the country today. Valerie please be there, please be there, Matt murmured, his legs moving faster.A half-relieved sigh left his lips when he reached the entrance and saw that the door was still locked—She was still here. His trembling fingers sifted through his bunch of keys, his breath gaspy and he wiped the sweat on his forehead with the back of his palm.Matt unlocked the door and then pushed it open forcefully. His eyes blazing with anger and anxiety found Valerie immediately. She was curled up at a corner, her cheeks stained with tears and her hands and feet shaking."What have you done??!" he growled, his voice venomous.She frowned in confusion, even th

**Third person**Matt seemed to ponder for a moment before he exhaled deeply. Then he moved over to the table and picked up a small knife. He began cutting the ropes. His jaw clenched at the red mark the ropes left on her skin, a pang of guilt coursing through him. He'd done this to her, he thought. “Do you need me to get you anything from the store?”Finally untied, Valerie examined her free hands and legs, a sense of relief and determination washing over her. “No, thanks.”“I'll be back soon.” He gave her a warning look. “Don't try anything stupid.”She nodded vigorously. “I wouldn't dare.”Satisfied, Matthew turned around and headed out. Valerie had her timid and innocent mask on, until the moment Matthew was out of view.She squeezed her eyes shut and then began counting from one to fifty in her head, giving Matthew enough time to leave the premises. Even with her eyes closed, she could hear the locks click behind him.When she was done, she sprang to her feet, her eyes desperat

**Third person**Eighteen hours had passed since Valerie's disappearance.Lucas stood in the center of his living room, surrounded by computers and anxious faces. His team of experts, handpicked from the best in the business, worked tirelessly to track down any lead on his woman.But so far, neither his team nor the police have been able to come up with anything tangible. There was also no signal from the tracker in Valerie's necklace. Either her kidnapper knew that the necklace was bugged and got rid of it, or they were under water, in a bunker, or somewhere that'll block the signal.One thing for sure; he'd find Valerie and he'd find her soon. Even if it meant turning the planet upside down. She'd be found.News about her and disappearance was all over the media and there was a huge cash prize for whoever brought relevant information on her whereabouts. Lucas ran a palm across his exhausted face. Deep lines creased his forehead, and his jaw was set in a rigid clench. "Broaden the

**Third person** It was almost as if Valerie disappeared just when Elliot blinked. After dismissing the woman who'd come to talk to him, he looked up but he didn't find his boss. Damnit! He'd clenched his jaw and quickened his pace, his hand instinctively resting on the gun holstered at his hip as he rushed outside. Eyes scanned everywhere around but there was no trace of her. "Miss Thorne?" he called out, his mind racing. “Ashley?” He called louder. “Valerie?” There was no response. Immediately, he dialed her number… once, twice, thrice… until it was unreachable. He'd rushed over to some passersby to ask if they'd seen her… There was nothing. Shit! Just then, his phone started ringing. Elliot pulled the device out and stared at the screen, his throat suddenly feeling dry as he registered the caller ID—Mr. Stone. He took a deep breath and then pressed the answer button. ***************************** Valerie's eyes fluttered open, her gaze was blurry and unfocused. She tri

Lyra reached for her bottle of water, gulped down, then wiped her mouth. “If you can't keep up, just say so.”Tyson studied her for a moment, noticing the way she held the bottle with more force than necessary. “You're angry.”She just shrugged, bouncing on her feet instead, fists up. Yet she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Why would I be? Did you do something wrong?” Tyson went still for a second. There it was— The trap question.He exhaled and shifted his stance, like he was actually thinking. “I don’t know. Am I too good that my twin doesn’t measure up?” He smirked. “I imagine that must be frustrating.”Her fist flew. He caught it. His fingers closed around her knuckles, calloused and warm. For half a second he didn’t let go. She felt the grip tighten then release, like he was deciding whether to hold on.“I didn’t use it,” she snapped, yanking her hand free. “And not like it’s any of your business. Daphne was just trying to mess with me.”“Of course.” His smirk faded, his expression tur

Daphne lingered in the corridor, away from the noise as she spoke to Lyra. “Hey babe, what’s up?” Lyra’s voice came through, suspicious and amused. She was sprawled on her bed at home, yanking off a gold hoop earring. “You’re at the club, aren’t you?” “Just came for a few drinks. Work was stressful today.” “Yeah, that’s what you say almost every weekend.” Daphne laughed. There was a pause. Then Lyra’s tone sharpened. “Did you see my message?” “Oh shit.” Daphne minimized the call, swiped to WhatsApp, and scanned their chat. “Sorry, I didn’t see it. I like the blue one.” Lyra sighed, tossing the earring onto her dresser. “Yeah, that's what I picked.” She sat up and started pulling her brown hair into a messy bun, getting ready for a shower. “Some nice guy helped me.” Daphne grinned mischievously. “Is this a love triangle I sense? Sorry—love square, I mean.” “No, no. It's not like that.” Lyra unclipped the other earring. “Plus he’s way older.” Daphne raised a brow. “Don’t

Neon lights flashed across the crowded club, painting the dance floor in shifting shades of blue, pink, and purple.Music thundered through the room, bass thrumming, bodies swaying to its rhythm. The usual smell of alcohol, excitement, and perfume in the air.Daphne had just returned from the restroom where she took Lyra’s call. Easily, she blended into the sea of bodies, spotting a brunette and dancing with her.One song became two.Two became three.By the time Daphne finally stepped off the dance floor, she was pleasantly exhausted and in desperate need of a drink.That was when she spotted him—A man sitting alone at the far end of the bar. And unlike everyone else, he wasn't dancing. Wasn't flirting or trying to be noticed. Just quietly nursing his drink while watching the crowd.Interesting.Daphne smoothed down her black tube dress and headed straight for him.The man glanced up as she slid onto the stool beside him but Daphne didn't look his way. “Two shots,” she said to the

Lyra’s head snapped to Ethan's shocked and confused face. When their eyes met, she immediately realized herself and pushed away from Tyson. “Mr. Ethan…”Ethan just cleared his throat awkwardly. “Uhm, sorry. Excuse me,” he mumbled before disappearing.Lyra’s lips parted with mortification. How on earth did things keep getting worse?Then she glared at Tyson. “I hope you're happy now?”He didn't even have the decency to look guilty or sorry. His back was still against the wall, hands casually adjusting his rumpled white shirt that she'd squeezed. And that infuriated her even more. Why was he acting so unbothered even after everything he'd just done?“Happy?” His eyes crinkled slightly at the corners as he smiled—half, smug. “I thought you didn't see anything? So much for the glasses.” Then his gaze dropped to the box with its torn wrapping lying on the floor. “Is that it?”“Don't!” Lyra snapped. She snatched the package on the ground, then gave Tyson a final glare before walking out th

Lyra froze for a second before her brain screamed at her to protect the package. She recollected herself at once, conveniently avoiding his gaze as she faced the elevator doors.Her foot tapped lightly against the floor, pretending to be relaxed.She kept going against her instincts, she kept finding out why she shouldn't. She shouldn't have opened this package now. She should've waited till she got to the office. But what kind of luck did she have, anyway? I mean, what were the odds that she'd run into the one man she'd been trying to avoid, and in this situation no less.Lyra adjusted her glasses so it sat properly on her nose. At least, she was wearing the glasses now. Why did she keep acting like a rat?Act normal. Act normal. Chin up.“Hey,” she murmured without turning back.“The glasses suit you.” Of course he had to comment on the glasses. She clutched the box tighter. She didn't need to turn around to know he had a smirk on his face. Her eyes remained glued to the number

On the long list of things Lyra never thought would happen on this boring Monday evening, getting caught while trying to snoop in her fake husband's room was a close second. Seeing Tyson naked took the first spot easily.The cocky smile on his face made Lyra's whole body burn with embarrassment. She immediately turned around at his words, her cheeks flushing red. “What? Like what?” she forced the words out of her dry throat. God, why did she stare? And why was he even smiling? What's funny? Did he forget his shame in Russia?"I... I heard you're back, so that's why I came in here. I wanted to say hello. I just... Uhm... Don't worry about me, carry on," she rambled, flustered. Then she made her way to the door, desperate to get away from whatever this was.“So what do you think?” Tyson asked. “Do they look heavy?"She froze. The hell? “What?”“You said my—”“I remember,” she cut in, hoping she could just evaporate. As though catching her with her hands in the cookie jar wasn't enough