Dhalia POV I wake up with a smile. Yesterday's memory is still fresh in my mind. It was a stressful day, but it ended perfectly—cooking with Blake, eating dinner together, and then cuddling between them in bed as we watched a movie. I must have fallen asleep quickly, feeling safe and content in their arms. Sometime during the night, I woke up and found them still asleep beside me. For a while, I had laid there, thinking about what I would gain from moving back into my apartment—if I even still had it. I haven’t checked, and honestly, there’s not much that apartment could offer me that I don’t already have here. Sure, I’d get some time to myself, but I know that if I told the guys I needed space, they would respect that and give it to me. Now, the bed is empty, and I remember that they said they would be leaving early for a meeting about tonight—a final run-through, they called it. As I sit up, I spot a note on the nightstand. Smiling, I reach for it. Of course, they’ve left a remi
Jax POV As I watch Dhalia walk away, Chase turns to face me, his expression a mix of frustration and concern. “Happy? Why would she tell us about the files if she was secretly gathering information on us?” he challenges, his voice edged with impatience. I roll my eyes, not because I disagree, but because I hate that we’re even in this situation. “She freaked out and hid the papers,” I remind him, the unease in my gut refusing to settle. “She’s scared, Jax. Think about it,” Chase counters, trying to reason with me. “She’s here, living with us, and then she opens a file with our names in it. Of course she’s going to panic. How would you react in her shoes?” I sigh, knowing he’s right, but that doesn’t erase my doubts. “Okay, but Liam said he has confirmation there are pictures. He claims she told him she would send them.” After talking to Liam again today, he confirmed he spoke to her directly, and she supposedly confirmed it in person. Chase’s eyes narrow, considering the possib
Dhalia POV I sit quietly in the car, my mind spinning from the phone call with Keeley. I’m angry, confused, and more than a little stressed. Tomorrow night, when I see her, I’m going to demand some answers. I know for a fact that I sent her the pictures she asked for earlier today. But when she called, she claimed she didn’t have a single one in her files or on her device. If she’s lying to Justin to make me look bad because she’s scared, I’ll take her job. That’s one thing. But to mess with a case? That’s unforgivable. I can’t shake the feeling that this could ruin everything. The thought of that poor woman leaving court only to watch her abuser walk free because Keeley couldn’t find the evidence I provided makes my stomach turn. I can’t stop thinking about it, and it’s eating me up inside. “Are you okay?” Chase asks, smirking as he glances over at me. “You look like you’re having a full-blown argument with yourself, and the expressions are epic, Princess.” Forcing a smile, I no
Dhalia POV We step through, and suddenly, the quiet is replaced by a cacophony of screams and shouts. “I don’t get it. Why did they all hide upstairs?” I ask, bewildered by the lack of logic. “Because their first instinct is to try the doors, and when that fails, they rush upstairs to try and escape through the vents. Only the vents are closed off,” Jax explains, laughing at the futility of their efforts. But I still feel uneasy, not just by what’s happening but by how casually they’re moving through this place. As we descend, I see another body, this one slumped against a wall. I recognise him. A man sits next to it, covered in blood, holding a knife. “Cafe,” Jax mutters, clearly addressing the man. “Don’t sit in the middle of it, go to the cafe.” The man nods and stands, his shoulders shaking as he cries. Blake leans in close to me, his voice low. “Do you remember the case? Your body froze slightly like you recognised him.” “I do,” I whisper, my voice shaky. “It was six years
Dhalia POV Jax is clearly annoyed, and I can sense the tension radiating off him as we continue to search for Carl. He started off slow and methodical, but now it’s obvious he realises we’re running out of time. We’ve found the others, the ones who hurt me, but Carl… Carl is hiding well. Each of the ones we’ve found so far was wearing a mask that matched theirs, a clear indication they were aware of what was going to happen. “He’s not wearing white.” Chase’s words cut through the silence, drawing my attention. I look at him, trying to understand. “They knew, whether by talking to each other or someone else. Somehow, he’s got a black overall on. What numbers were there in the hunters?” Chase continues. Jax sighs, seeming to realise Chase is right. “Thirty-seven. So, we’re looking for someone with thirty-eight or higher.” As we continue to move through the building, Jax starts stopping everyone, not just checking their numbers, but insisting they raise their masks. The faces of th
Dhalia POV Blake is standing close, smiling down at me. His head dips, and his lips brush against mine. "Maybe we should have our own fun, without them." His words melt me, and I nod quickly, his mouth capturing mine in a kiss. My arms reach up, wrapping around his neck as I start to feel safe again. But that feeling is short-lived. “Oh, Sweetness,” Jax’s voice cuts through the darkness, and I tense instantly. Blake pulls us deeper into the shadows, trying to keep us hidden. “Sweetly, so sweetly, I will find you,” Jax’s voice is low, taunting, and it sends a shiver down my spine. Blake’s hand clamps over my mouth, trying to muffle my breathing. “I can smell you, Sweetness. And I’m guessing Blake is trying to silence you, but he’s failing—I can hear your breathing,” Jax continues, his voice laced with amusement. I stop breathing, terrified that even the sound of my heartbeat might give us away. But Jax chuckles, as if he can sense my fear. “I bet you bleed so sweetly on my knife
Jax POVI cradle Dhalia in my arms as the car glides through the softly lit streets, the city outside a blur of shadows and fleeting lights. I'm not sure what I had expected tonight, but it certainly wasn't this. The entire time, I was convinced she would say her safe word, bolt, and never look back—just like everyone else had done before her.But here she is, clinging to me like I’m her anchor in a storm. It’s as if what just happened didn’t terrify her, didn’t make her question my sanity. We sit in silence, both awake yet enveloped in our own thoughts. I don’t care what anyone says—she’s not the type to exploit us for a story or money. There’s no evidence, just strange coincidences.My fingers absentmindedly trace patterns along her back, and she nestles even closer, her warmth pressing into me. But then, the thought creeps in, uninvited and unsettling: What if? What if she really is working to sell a story about us? After hearing everything, seeing everything, would she really do t
Jax POVWhen I wake up, the bed beside me is empty. Dhalia is already up and out, leaving me to face waking up alone. We didn’t get back until nearly four in the morning, and the weight of last night’s events lingers heavily in my mind. Her words echo in my thoughts, and I find myself strangely comforted by them, even as doubt creeps in.“Morning,” Chase greets me with a smile as I walk into the kitchen. I sit down, sensing the tension in the air. Something’s off, something big, but Dhalia doesn’t seem to know. It’s clear from her cheerful demeanour that she’s oblivious to whatever has everyone else on edge.I eat in silence, choosing to ignore the underlying tension for now. “What’s your plan for today, Sweetness, now that you’re safe?” I ask, trying to keep things normal.“Today, I have something planned,” she replies, grinning at me. “I’m going out, meeting Keeley, and then I’ll be back here later.” Her smile is infectious, and despite everything, I can’t help but smile back at her