Novels by Julia Davis

I walked into the casino with my head held high. The air smelled of smoke and expensive whiskey, the soft clink of glasses and murmured conversations filling the space. Money and power flowed through the room like an invisible force.I made my way toward the back, the same place I had been the other night. But tonight, something felt different. Security was tighter. More guards stood around, their sharp eyes watching everything. Whatever was happening tomorrow night, it was big.Then I saw Antonio.I approached him with a calm smile. “Hey, Antonio. Is Gerrard here?”His eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here? Gerrard doesn’t want to see you right now. He’s busy.”“I just need a moment.” I lowered my voice, adding a touch of urgency. “Please, just tell him I’m here. It’s important.”Antonio hesitated, considering. I held his gaze, hoping to sway him.After a long pause, he sighed. “Wait here.”As he disappeared into Gerrard’s office, my pulse quickened. Around me, men moved with quiet

I lay on the bed, as I rested my head on Gerrard’s chest. His fingers moved slowly, tracing circles on my arm. The warmth of his skin, the steady rhythm of his breathing, it so was comforting. I felt... Safe. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could let my guard down.Then my phone rang. Again.The third time now.I ignored it.It was Thaddeus, I knew why he was calling. But for once, I didn’t want to answer. I didn’t want to be pulled back into that dark world. Right here, in this moment, I wasn’t Lily, the girl forced to play spy. I was just… me. A woman lying in the arms of a man who made her feel something other than fear.Gerrard chuckled, tilting his head to look at me. “Someone really wants to talk to you,” he teased.I forced a smile. If only he knew.“Is it that guy who sent you flowers last time? Your boyfriend?”I scoffed. “Hell no, he’s not my boyfriend.”Gerrard smirked. “Good for me, if that spot is open, I’d like to apply.”I laughed, shaking my head. “You

Gerrard had changed. He buried himself in work, barely speaking to me. I knew he was busy, especially with the plan to attack the Santorini Syndicate, but I also knew Bruno and his men weren’t going to let that happen without a fight. If Gerrard got hurt, it would be my fault. I had to warn him. That night, I waited for him, but he didn’t come home. By morning, I couldn’t take it anymore, I needed to talk to him. I walked down the hallway and pushed open his bedroom door without thinking. The sight hit me like a slap on the face. Gerrard was lying against the headboard, shirtless. But my heart stopped when I saw a nearly naked woman draped across his bed. My stomach twisted, but I stood my ground. For a second, my mind blanked. My stomach twisted. Then she looked at me and smirked. "Uh… can I help you?" Her voice was thick with amusement, like she already knew how much this was killing me. Gerrard didn’t say anything. Didn’t move. Just sat there, watching. I swallowed hard.

The dinner had ended abruptly. The guards surrounded me at Gerrard’s command. My heart raced as memories of that night in his private residence came flooding back, the night he had summoned the guards on me. Back then, I had barely escaped being discovered. This time, I wasn’t sure I would be so fortunate. I braced myself for the worst, certain they had come to arrest me. But to my surprise, they positioned themselves on either side of me; I could not read their expressions.“Miss Lily,” one of them said, “we need to escort you to your room immediately. There’s been a security breach.”A security breach? My mind raced as I struggled to make sense of the situation. As they guided me out of the dining hall, I glanced over my shoulder at Gerrard, hoping for an explanation, but his focus was elsewhere. He was in a deep conversation with Gilmore, Antonio, and several other men. His demeanor seemed colder than I had ever seen it.Back in my room, I paced nervously, replaying the evening’s e

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst. I felt so terrified of what might be inside. Sir Bruno’s warning echoed in my head, and I braced myself for the worst. Slowly, I lifted the lid on the box.Inside, I didn't find the horror I had imagined but something completely unexpected. Inside the box was a stunning green dress lay folded neatly. Alongside it were designer heels, a matching purse, and sparkling accessories. I froze, relief washing over me, but it was quickly followed by confusion. Who would send me something like this? I searched the box for a clue, my fingers brushed against a small card tucked beneath the tissue paper. I felt tensed as I opened it and read the message in bold, elegant handwriting:“Join me for dinner tonight."—G. N. Bellarico”My heart skipped a beat. Gerrard sent this? Why? I tried to make sense of it. Before I could dwell on it further, my phone buzzed in my apron pocket. It was him.“Did you get the package?” Gerrard’s voice was

Gerrard’s jaw tightened as he looked at me, his voice cracking. “You have a boyfriend, Lily?”A knot twisted in my stomach. “He’s not my boyfriend,” I said quickly, trying to keep my voice steady. “He’s just... someone I used to know. We just had a drink, that’s all.”Brenda’s smirk grew. “Oh, really? He seemed pretty close to you, Miss Lily.”“That’s enough, Brenda,” Gerrard said sharply. “You’re dismissed.”Brenda hesitated, clearly enjoying the drama, but finally left, shutting the door behind her. The room went quiet except for the sound of Gerrard pacing. He stopped and faced me, his eyes unreadable. “Who was he?”“Just an old friend,” I said, trying to sound casual. “It’s not what you think.”“I don’t like secrets, Lily,” he said firmly. “Especially not in my house.”I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know he would come looking for me.”Gerrard studied me for a moment. “Is he courting you?” he asked, trying to sound casual.I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Of course not. I don’