The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 345

Callahan pulled her gently, pinning her against the doorframe as he looked down at her.

"Leilani." His voice was hoarse.

Leilani's heart missed a beat. "...Yeah?"

His thumb brushed over her lips. "Don't go in just yet."

Her breath hitched. Before she could react, his lips crashed down on hers.

This kiss was far more intense than the one on the roof, filled with a possessive heat that allowed no resistance. Leilani was boxed in by his embrace, her fingers clutching his shirt as her mind went blank.

“Click.”

A sound came from inside Leilani's apartment.

Yvonne poked her head out, looking confused. The noise at the door had alerted her. "Leilani? Is that you?"

The two broke apart instantly. Leilani's face was scalding hot. She pushed Callahan away in a panic, trying to feign composure. "Uh... yeah, I just got back. I was just about to come in."

Yvonne looked at her suspiciously, then at Callahan, who stood to the side looking perfectly unruffled. "You're home but you didn't come in? What were you two... doing?"

Leilani lied through her teeth. "Nothing. Just chatting."

Yvonne squinted. "Chatting requires standing that close?"

Callahan didn't blink. "We were discussing work matters."

Yvonne looked skeptical. Something was definitely off, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Afraid she would ask more questions, Leilani nudged Callahan. "It's late. You should go."

Callahan glanced at her, a lingering smile in his eyes. "Alright," he said softly. "See you tomorrow."

Given the sensitivity of the patient's identity, Leilani rested for the night and briefed Yvonne on her plans.

...

The next day, Leilani drove to the suburban estate in Brass City where Floyd was staying. The moment she arrived at the gate, she sensed something was wrong. The security team had been swapped out. The protection seemed much tighter than before.

Leilani paused, a trace of wariness rising in her chest.

Floyd was waiting for her at the entrance. "Leilani, please follow me," he said in a low voice.

The tension became even more palpable once they were inside.

Following Floyd, Leilani noticed that the guards outside Mr. Chilton's room had also been replaced. A row of men in black suits stood guard, their expressions cold, the outlines of holstered firearms visible beneath their jackets.

Leilani was suppressing her doubts when the door to the sickroom opened. The curtains were half-drawn, and the air was thick with the scent of medicine.