Novel-novel oleh Night Raven

Third POVThe dim glow of the pendant lights barely touched the shadows in Renata’s penthouse. Marco leaned against the marble counter, watching her with amusement as she poured herself a drink.“You’re awfully bold for a man with no place to go,” she muttered, swirling the amber liquid in her glass.Marco chuckled. “And you’re awfully desperate for a woman who claims she was ready to move on.”Renata shot him a glare before taking a slow sip. “I gave him a chance to reconsider.”“And he crushed it under his boot.” Marco tilted his head. “Tell me, sweetheart, did you really think Cassiel would let you back in?”Renata’s jaw clenched.“I thought he’d at least remember what we had,” she admitted, voice laced with bitterness.Marco smirked. “Oh, he remembers. He just doesn’t care.”She set the glass down with more force than necessary.“You speak as if you know him better than I do,” she muttered.Marco’s grin didn’t waver. “I know what he does to people who think they can manipulate him

Third POVThe drive back to Cassiel’s penthouse was suffocating.Julian sat in the back of the black Bentley, his fingers digging into the leather seat as the city blurred past in streaks of gold and steel. The sterile hospital scent still clung to him, an unpleasant reminder of how close he had come to dying. His body was weak, his stomach twisted with a residual nausea from the poisoning, but it was nothing compared to the unease settling in his chest.Cassiel sat beside him, silent, his profile sharp against the low glow of the dashboard light in front. His phone was in his hand, his thumb moving efficiently over the screen, issuing commands with the kind of ease that made Julian’s skin crawl.It wasn’t just that Cassiel controlled everything around him—it was the fact that he expected obedience in return.Julian shifted, inhaling slowly. The silence was unbearable.“You don’t have to act like I’m on my deathbed.”Cassiel didn’t look up. “A dead man doesn’t need to be reminded to s

Third POVThe club pulsed with life, its dim neon lights casting deep shadows over the crowd. Bodies pressed together, lost in the throbbing bass, the scent of sweat, alcohol, and desperation thick in the air. Renata Varela sat at the bar, legs crossed, her crimson dress riding up just enough to tempt but not reveal.She lifted her glass to her lips, taking a slow sip of tequila as her gaze slid lazily over the men in the room. Some were watching her, captivated by the way she carried herself—danger wrapped in silk, temptation laced with poison.And then, she found him.Tall, broad, dark-eyed. Handsome in a rugged way. The kind of man who looked like he didn’t ask too many questions.Perfect.She smirked, crooking a finger. He came without hesitation.“Looking for company?” she purred.The man leaned in, voice deep, thick with lust. “Depends. You offering?”Renata tilted her head, dragging a finger down his chest. “Maybe.”Minutes later, they were in the backseat of her sleek black ca

Third POVThe warehouse stood on the edge of the city, abandoned long ago, its walls lined with rust and forgotten sins. Faint moonlight slipped through the broken ceiling, casting jagged shadows against the cold concrete floor.Inside, two figures faced each other—one seated at a rusted steel table, fingers idly tapping the surface, the other standing in the dim light, their face obscured by the shadows.The air was thick, humming with something unspoken.The seated figure—the mastermind—tilted their head slightly, amusement curling at their lips.“Punctual. I like that.”The standing figure didn’t respond immediately. Their silence wasn’t uncertainty—it was calculation.“You said you had a plan.”A slow chuckle. “Not just a plan. A guarantee.”The standing figure exhaled. “And what guarantee would that be?”A name fell between them like a blade.“Julian Dantes.”The standing figure’s posture remained rigid, unreadable.“You want him gone.”The seated figure’s lips parted in a sharp,

Third POVThe photographs lay scattered across Julian’s ransacked apartment floor. Each one, a quiet but undeniable testament to just how long Valerian Cross had been watching.Cassiel stood motionless, the dim lighting casting long shadows over his sharp features. His steel-gray eyes swept over the images again—Julian at a piano bar, Julian on the streets, Julian leaving a grocery store—Julian, everywhere.For months.Enzo stood nearby, silent, letting the weight of the discovery sink in.Cassiel exhaled slowly, tapping a single photo against his palm.Valerian had been patient. Too patient.Now, he was making his move.Cassiel slid the photograph between his fingers and handed it to Enzo.“Find out who took these,” he ordered.Enzo nodded, taking the photo. “Whoever it was, they were good. No obvious patterns, no street angles that show a tail. This wasn’t a rush job.”“No,” Cassiel said darkly. “It was calculated.”Enzo’s brows furrowed. “If he’s had eyes on Julian for this long, w

Third POVCassiel leaned back slightly, his steel-gray eyes locked onto Julian’s. He didn’t speak right away. Instead, he let the weight of Julian’s demand settle between them like an unspoken challenge.Tell me everything.Julian’s grip on the sheets was tight, his knuckles white. He was still weak, his body recovering from the poison, but his mind was sharp—too sharp.Cassiel knew he wouldn’t let this go.A slow exhale.“Valerian Cross,” Cassiel finally said, his voice low, deliberate. “You know the name. Tell me why.”Julian’s jaw tensed. “No. You first.”Cassiel’s lips curved, but the smile was anything but amused. “You’re in no position to make demands, Julian.”Julian didn’t flinch. “I was nearly murdered in this hospital bed. I think I deserve to know why.”Cassiel studied him. Then, with an exasperated sigh, he sat back down beside the bed.“Valerian isn’t just an enemy,” Cassiel said. “He’s a problem I thought I solved years ago.” His fingers tapped against his thigh. “I was