CHAPTER 361. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. PREFACE.Chiara Keller was never an angel; she was a queen. As one of the CEOs of Switzerland's largest bank, she had more character and cunning than many of the men she knew, and none of her relationships ever got serious. Maybe that’s why meeting the CIA’s Director of Organized Crime was so unforgettable. Jhon Hopkins was a man who didn’t beat around the bush, a natural fighter who viewed life as a constant battle to be won. In that way, they were far too similar, and for what was a magical moment, the spell endured.But eventually, they had to get out of bed.What will happen when their jobs and lives collide head-on?What’s the worst that could happen when the CEO of a bank in a tax haven falls in love with the man in charge of hunting down all her clients?Betrayal, lies, heartbreak, mistakes that can't be forgiven—because in the end, love is not stronger than the bars of the queen's cage.---A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. PREFACE.Chiara was desperat

CHAPTER 362. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. Now, get to work… Jhon“Well, if you’re that desperate, I’ll let you crawl up my leg on the plane, but for now, you’re coming with me, and you’re going to put all those resources to work finding my brother,” she replied with determination.Jhon looked her straight in the eye. “Your brother?”“Zack Keller. I understand he was of great help to you a few days ago. Now we have a family emergency, and I need to find him in Nigeria, so I assumed you’d be more than willing to help me.”Jhon squinted with suspicion. That woman seemed far too certain of herself.“And why exactly are you so sure I’ll help you?” he asked, stepping so close to her that if anyone had doubted her pregnancy claim before, now, seeing the way they looked at each other, no one could doubt they had something very intimate.“Because I know you let Mason Lee die on purpose,” Chiara replied.Jhon glanced around to make sure no one had overheard, then grabbed her arm and dragged her to th

CHAPTER 363. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. I’m in love nowJhon had had many women in his life. He didn’t leave his heart in every port, but he certainly made his rounds at each one.However, when Chiara Keller stepped off the plane with elegance, she still looked like a queen, and he felt like the knight in shining armor who had jumped into the crocodile pit to ensure she made it safely to the other side. He leaned against the door of the plane, breathing heavily, with his tie askew, his hair disheveled, and his cheeks flushed because they had been squeezed between those two legs until infinity and beyond.So, he had to admit it: that woman knew what she wanted and exactly how she wanted it!It wasn’t long before his team gave him the information he needed to find Chiara’s brother. Without a word, they headed to the parking lot and soon found a car waiting for them.Luckily, finding people wasn’t a problem for Jhon, so a few hours later, they were back with Zack, flying toward Lucerne. Zack

CHAPTER 364. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. Zoom inHis arrival in Lucerne was stealthy, and within a few hours, he was already wrapped up in something quite illegal—something someone in his position definitely shouldn’t be involved in. But when she asked, he couldn’t resist.The smallest thing he had to do was break into an apartment, so he knelt before the door handle, pulled out a set of lockpicks, and managed to open the door in less than fifteen seconds."Ouch! I’ll keep that in mind never to cuff you," Chiara winked at him as they entered the apartment, and his heart skipped a beat. "I’ll go for zip ties instead."Jhon grinned crookedly, but as soon as he saw her guard drop, he leaned over her back, rubbing all of himself against all of her."I thought you gave the card back when I gave it to you," he murmured into her ear."I did… but I already had one," Chiara replied."You swiped a card from me without me noticing?" Jhon was surprised.She pouted in a way that made him feel like an i

CHAPTER 365. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. Reveal MeChiara burst into light, happy laughter as she listened to Jhon’s comment."Are you applying to be my partner? Seriously?" she asked, gently caressing his face. "Like, courtship and all that? The old-fashioned way?"“Well… not *that* old-fashioned. I doubt your parents would accept three chickens and a cow for you, but…”Chiara playfully hit his shoulder, and he ran his eager fingers down her back."You drive me crazy! I don’t mind admitting I’ve thought a lot about you since that… flight to Nigeria," he confessed. "I’d like to see you again, Chiara."The words hung in the air for a moment, and Chiara didn’t know how to respond. He seemed so serious and sincere, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit puzzled. Was he really asking her out… or just suggesting they have sex more often?"What do you mean when you say you want to see me again?" she asked bluntly. "Do you mean at my house with my family, or do you mean at your hotel?"Jhon smiled,

CHAPTER 366. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. Smart people are rarely happyJohn looked at the report in front of him for the tenth time. He had told himself he wouldn’t be intrusive—after all, Chiara had her own life, and she wasn’t a helpless girl. She’d managed for over two decades without him, and Heston Darroze wouldn’t be her first or last enemy. Yet, there was something about this woman that John couldn’t quite explain. Maybe it was the fact that she didn’t need him, or maybe it was her intelligence, her strength, that hidden sweetness, her down-to-earth sense of humor...John could spend all night listing the things he liked about Chiara, and he didn’t need to search his memory to know that no other woman had ever captured his attention like this. So, he steeled himself and opened the report. For the past few weeks, one of his men had been tracking the chef’s expenses, and as soon as John saw those names, he called his investigator."Plot every one of these expenses on a map, especially

CHAPTER 367. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. No Secrets"Please!"They ran toward the elevator like a couple of teenagers, and “wild” was an understatement for what they did on that couch. Still, it wasn’t enough, as they both ended up with more energy than when they’d started."I’m starving!" Chiara exclaimed. "Take me out for food, come on.""Let me guess, the restaurant’s food didn’t even make a dent.""Fancy and skimpy. I need more... meat."John rolled on top of her and kissed her. "I know a place with amazing burgers."A while later, they were seated at a small riverside shack along the Thames, eating burgers and enjoying the early morning air."You’re going to spit it out, or do I have to pull it out of you?" she suddenly asked, catching John off guard. "For someone who’s a director at a spy agency, you’re not very good at hiding your emotions. What’s on your mind?"He took a deep breath and turned toward her. "Okay, I did something I shouldn’t have, but I was worried about you. I know

CHAPTER 368. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. I'll Handle ItChiara stared at the map in disbelief. She had been so close to him for days and hadn’t even noticed. It all made sense, but she hated confronting it. Why was Heston watching her? To threaten her? Blackmail her? Kidnap her? Jhon saw her concern and discomfort. "Do you need help?" he asked softly. Those words seemed to pull her out of her thoughts. Chiara looked at him intently and shook her head. "No," she replied. "I’m just trying to make sense of it all, but I think it’s impossible. Heston needs money, and he gains nothing by watching me. I’m not blackmail material because I don’t care what the press thinks of me. So unless he plans to kidnap me..." Chiara took a deep breath and turned off the tablet. "Thanks for the warning, Jhon. I’ll handle it from here. I’ll stay alert, and I might even hire a bodyguard just to feel more secure. But really, thanks for the heads-up." Jhon nodded as she nestled against his side on that bench

CHAPTER 369. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. Somewhere nice“Ms. Keller...” she heard the voice on her phone. “We’re entering your apartment. I’ll identify myself at the library door, okay?” The front door was open, so the detective was fairly sure the intruder was no longer inside. Still, they were cautious and cleared the space before bringing Chiara out. "It’s safe now, Ms. Keller," said the officer, and Chiara emerged, surrounded by protection. The detective accompanied her to the station, where Chiara had to give a full statement about what had happened. "And you’re sure Mr. Darroze is responsible?" asked the police chief. "Heston Darroze has been following me for some time. It’s financial issues; we used to be friends, but my bank had to foreclose on his properties, so..." "Revenge?" the officer jotted down. "I think so." "We’ll have confirmation very soon," said the detective, Jhon’s friend. "I didn’t see any injuries on you, right, Ms. Keller?" She shook her head. "No, I’m no

CHAPTER 370. A CAGE FOR THE QUEEN. We'll Make It WorthwhileShe was nervous, which was normal. A man had chased her inside her own home, so no matter how strong she was, it made sense for her to feel scared.Jhon handed her a glass of wine, and she took a sip, savoring the taste that filled her mouth before it slid down her throat. The warmth of the alcohol spread through her body, and for a moment, she felt calm.Jhon watched her, his eyes fixed on her. He felt his heart racing, knowing the fear he’d experienced when he got the detective's call was something he hadn’t felt in a long time.Finally, he broke the silence.“How did you know? That someone was in your apartment.”“There was a dirty glass in the kitchen… I don’t do that.”Jhon nodded. Her quick reaction had saved her life, and he simply couldn’t deal with that thought.“What’s wrong?” Chiara asked.“I couldn’t have done anything,” he murmured. “You were seconds away from a very different outcome, and I… I wouldn’t have bee