Richard Kane’s head throbbed with a dull ache as he slowly regained consciousness. The scent of stale cigarettes and cheap liquor permeated the air, assaulting his senses. His vision blurred, and he blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog from his mind. As his surroundings came into focus, he realized he was no longer in the VIP lounge of the club. Instead, he was in a dimly lit room, the walls bare and the floor cold beneath him.Panic began to set in as Richard’s mind raced, piecing together the last thing he remembered. He had been enjoying a drink, surrounded by the haze of the club's flashing lights and pounding music, when three men had approached his table. They were dressed inconspicuously, blending in with the crowd, but their intent had been anything but ordinary. Before Richard could react, one of the men had whispered something in his ear, something that made his blood run cold. Then, everything went black.Now, as he sat up, the realization of his predicament hit him lik
Evelyn Kane’s eyelids fluttered the darkness that had enveloped her mind slowly receding like the tide. The sensation of weightlessness, the numbness that had kept her in its grasp, began to fade. Her senses returned in fragments: the steady beep of a heart monitor, the cool, sterile scent of antiseptic, and the soft hum of machinery. She was aware of the faint pressure of a breathing tube down her throat, the restrictive feeling of the IV line in her arm.She struggled to open her eyes, the effort draining her already limited strength. Finally, the blinding light of the hospital room pierced through her vision, causing her to wince. Everything was blurry, as though she were seeing the world through a fogged-up window. Slowly, the shapes and colors began to sharpen into focus.She was in a hospital room, that much was clear. The walls were painted a dull, pale blue, and a large window to her left allowed beams of sunlight to filter in, casting long shadows across the floor. A vase of
Lisa hurried through the hospital corridors, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and relief. The news that Evelyn had finally woken up from her coma had filled her with a sense of hope. She had been checking in on Evelyn regularly, ensuring that her condition was stable, but this was the breakthrough they had all been waiting for.As she approached Evelyn’s room, Lisa couldn't help but think about how she had shared the news with Ace earlier that morning. His reaction had been lukewarm at best.“I’m glad she’s awake,” Ace had said, his tone flat as he glanced at the paperwork strewn across his desk. “But I’ve got things to take care of, Lisa. I’ll come by later.”Lisa had nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. She understood that Ace had a complicated relationship with his sister, but she had hoped he would be more enthusiastic about Evelyn’s recovery. Still, she didn’t want to push him. She knew how much he had been struggling with everything that had happened recen
Lisa’s hands trembled as she unlocked the door to the apartment. The events at the hospital weighed heavily on her mind, the memory of Evelyn’s harsh words cutting deep. As she stepped inside, the familiar scent of their home—of Ace—washed over her, but instead of bringing comfort, it only deepened her sense of despair.She saw Ace sitting on the couch, his posture tense, and his gaze fixed on the television. The volume was muted, and he was staring at the screen as if lost in thought. The sight of him, so close and yet so distant, made her chest tighten with unresolved emotion. But she couldn’t stop to talk, not now, not after everything that had happened.Without saying a word, Lisa walked past him, her footsteps echoing softly on the hardwood floor as she headed straight for their bedroom. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat a painful reminder of the decision she had made on the drive home. She couldn’t stay. Not after Evelyn’s accusations, not after realizing the damage her
Ace gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. His mind was a storm of anger and frustration, his thoughts circling around one thing: Lisa had left. The one person he thought he could count on, who understood him, had walked out the door without looking back. He couldn’t understand it, couldn’t accept it. The anger boiled within him, each breath stoking the fire until it felt like he was going to explode. How could she leave him like that? How could she choose his sister—his traitorous, manipulative sister—over him? It was incomprehensible, and it made him feel like the world was spinning out of control.He needed to confront Evelyn. She was the reason for this. She had manipulated, twisted, and lied her way into Lisa’s mind, driving her to leave. Ace was sure of it. And now, he was going to make sure Evelyn understood exactly how much she had taken from him.Ace sped toward the hospital. He knew he was driving recklessly, but he didn’t care. All he could think
Lisa's footsteps echoed softly on the pavement as she walked through the city streets, the cool evening air brushing against her skin. She pulled her coat tighter around herself, more out of habit than necessity. The city was alive with activity—cars honking, people chatting, the distant sound of music drifting from a nearby bar—but she felt utterly alone.She had left the mansion hours ago, refusing the guards' insistence to follow her. Ace’s men, loyal to him and by extension to her, had been taken aback by her firm command, but they hadn’t argued. Perhaps they could see it in her eyes—that she needed space, needed to get away from everything for a while. But now, as she walked aimlessly through the city, the weight of that decision pressed heavily on her shoulders.Being the wife of a Mafia leader meant she was always watched, always protected. She had grown accustomed to the presence of Ace’s men, shadowing her every move, ensuring no harm came her way. But tonight, she had walked
Lisa stepped out of the hotel, the cool night air wrapping around her like a shroud. She glanced left and right, searching for any sign of the figure she had seen from her window. The street was eerily quiet, with only the distant hum of the city in the background. She gripped her bag tighter, the weight of her situation sinking in. There was no turning back now.Her footsteps were brisk as she moved away from the hotel, heading toward the busier part of the city. She needed to get lost in the crowd, to disappear among the throngs of people who wouldn’t give her a second glance. The sense of being watched still lingered, every rustle of leaves or distant footstep setting her nerves on edge. But she couldn’t let fear control her. Not now.As she walked, Lisa’s mind raced with possibilities. Where could she go? What options did she have? She had some money, enough to get her through a few nights, but not enough to sustain her indefinitely. She couldn’t go back to Ace, not after everythi
her bag down on the bed, her body finally starting to tremble as the adrenaline began to wear off. She had been running on pure instinct, her mind focused on survival. But now that she was alone, the full weight of what had just happened crashed down on her. She sank onto the bed, burying her face in her hands as she tried to steady her breathing. She had barely escaped being caught, and the reality of how close she had come to...what? Being killed? Taken? She didn’t even know. Her thoughts turned to Ace, to the life she had just walked away from. As dangerous as it had been, at least she had known where she stood. But out here, on her own, she was vulnerable. She had no allies, no resources, and no idea who might be after her or why. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just about Ace, that there was something more going on. But what? And who could she trust to help her figure it out? The exhaustion from the day’s events began to take its toll, and Lisa realized she ne
A year had passed since the chaos, and now, the air in their new home was filled with a sense of peace that neither Ace nor Lisa had ever known. They were far away from the world they used to know, the one that had been filled with danger, betrayal, and uncertainty. It was a small, quiet life now, one where the past didn’t matter, only the future they were building together.Lisa cradled their baby girl in her arms, smiling down at the tiny face that had completely changed her world. Their daughter, with her soft dark hair and delicate features, was the perfect blend of both of them. A reminder of the love and strength that had carried them through everything.Walking down the hallway of their cozy little house, Lisa could hear the faint sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore in the distance. It was serene, soothing in a way that felt like a lullaby to her soul. She made her way to the room where Ace was sitting, his back facing the door as he gazed out the large windo
Ace leaned against the doorframe of the small bedroom where Lisa lay resting. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated her peaceful face, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded just hours ago. He couldn’t stop thinking about Richard’s lifeless body and how close his wife had come to harm. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts, and the only thing keeping him grounded was the sight of Lisa, safe and sound in their bed."Stay here," he whispered softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. Lisa stirred but didn’t wake, her exhaustion finally catching up with her after everything that had happened. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then turned to leave the room, closing the door quietly behind him.Ace’s expression hardened as he walked down the hallway toward the warehouse's lower levels, where Evelyn was being held. His men had taken care of Richard’s body, as per his orders, disposing of it far away from their hideout. Now, there was one
Grey stood outside the cell where Evelyn was being held, watching her through the small window. The bruises and cuts on her face were evidence of the fight she had put up, but there was no sympathy in his eyes. She had brought this on herself, and Grey had no more business here. His part was done—he had helped Ace capture her, and now it was time for him to leave.He pushed the door open and stepped inside, the cold air of the cell greeting him as the heavy metal door closed behind him. Evelyn was slumped in the corner, her arms wrapped around her knees, her hair hanging loosely over her face. She didn't look up as Grey entered, but he could sense that she was fully aware of his presence.A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he sat down in the lone chair facing her. "Oh, poor Evelyn," he said mockingly, his voice filled with dark amusement. "I must say, it's been quite a ride, hasn't it?"Evelyn remained silent, her head tilted slightly, but she didn’t look at him. Grey didn’t
Lisa lay peacefully in bed, the soft warmth of the blankets cocooning her, her body relaxed as sleep slowly pulled her under. She was vaguely aware of the gentle ticking of the clock on the wall and the quiet hum of the house, sounds that had become comforting in this strange new place Ace had brought her to.But then, something shifted. A sound, almost imperceptible, but enough to make her stir.Her brow furrowed, still caught in the remnants of a dream, as she called out, "Ace?"There was no reply.She blinked her eyes open, pushing herself up on the bed. Her hand reached out, instinctively seeking Ace’s familiar warmth beside her, but her fingers touched only cool, empty sheets. Her frown deepened as she sat up fully, glancing around the dark room. Where was he?"Ace?" she called again, louder this time.Still nothing.A chill crept up her spine as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, slipping her feet into her slippers. Something didn’t feel right. Her heart began to bea
Ace sat in his office, fingers drumming against the wooden desk as he stared at the stack of papers in front of him. His mind wasn’t on the documents, though. No matter how much he tried to distract himself with work, his thoughts always drifted back to Lisa and the baby. He hadn’t been home much lately, caught up in his dealings, and a part of him knew he was avoiding her.His phone buzzed on the desk, pulling him from his thoughts. He picked it up, seeing Grey’s name flash across the screen.He answered immediately. “Grey?”“We have her,” Grey’s voice came through, cool and composed. “Evelyn’s in our custody. She’s in the cells now, and we rounded up a few of her men, but Richard wasn’t with them.”Ace’s heartbeat quickened. They had Evelyn. Finally, they had her. But the news about Richard not being there left a bitter taste in his mouth. That man was like a ghost, always slipping through their fingers.“I’m coming soon,” Ace said, his voice firm. He stood up, grabbing his coat, a
Ann sat in the dimly lit room, her hands trembling slightly as she held the burner phone.Grey and his team had just briefed her on the plan—she was to call Evelyn, pretend to be sorry, and offer her some fabricated information about Ace and Lisa. It was a risky plan, but one they hoped would finally lead them to capturing Evelyn. Her mind was racing, trying to process the weight of what she was about to do. She had betrayed Lisa once by working with Evelyn, and though she had switched sides, the guilt still gnawed at her. Now, they were asking her to go back into the lion’s den, to trick the very person who had manipulated her before. Grey stood across from her, his expression calm but serious. “Are you ready?”Ann swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah… I’ll do it.”One of Grey’s men handed her the phone, the screen lit up with Evelyn’s number. Ann’s thumb hovered over the call button for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew this call would either lead to Evelyn’s capture o
Grey stood in the dimly lit room, his phone in hand as he looked at the group of men before him. They were a small but elite team, hardened by years of working in the shadows, each of them bound by loyalty to one another.Ace had been one of them once, and now that Lisa was back, Grey felt a sense of relief. They were all in this together again.“I just spoke to Ace,” Grey began, his deep voice cutting through the silence. “Lisa is back. She’s safe. But things are still tense between them.”The men exchanged glances, some nodding in acknowledgment, others frowning at the thought of the ongoing tension between Ace and Lisa. It had been a long road for the couple, and though Lisa’s return was a relief, it was clear that the war between them and their enemies was far from over.One of the men, a tall, muscular figure with a sharp jawline and a serious expression, stepped forward. He was known as Briggs, and he was the leader of their small group, a strategist who rarely spoke unless he h
Evelyn leaned back in her plush chair, the dim light of the room casting shadows across her sharp features. A slow, satisfied smirk spread across her lips as she watched the live feed of Richard locked up in the isolated house. He was pacing, his usual calm and controlled demeanor slipping as he realized the gravity of his situation. It brought Evelyn a sense of twisted satisfaction to see her husband, always so proud and calculating, reduced to a caged animal."How the tables have turned, dear Richard," she whispered to herself, her fingers drumming on the armrest. The power shift between them was intoxicating. He had been trying to control her for too long, always thinking he could outsmart her, manipulate her into submission. But Evelyn had always been one step ahead, playing the long game, and now, with Richard out of the way, her plans could finally proceed uninterrupted. Or so she thought.A knock on the door interrupted her moment of victory. One of her men entered, his face
Ace stood at the far end of the room, arms crossed as he watched Lisa enter. His expression was cold, eyes narrowed, the tension in the room palpable. Lisa could feel the weight of his stare, the anger simmering beneath the surface. It wasn’t like him to be so distant, so guarded. But she understood why—everything had been spiraling out of control, and her sudden return had likely only added to the chaos.“Why are you here, Lisa?” Ace’s voice was low, almost a growl. He took a step forward, his eyes locked on hers, searching for answers.Lisa took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before responding. “I tried calling you, but you didn’t answer. I came because I needed to tell you something important.”Ace’s jaw clenched as he shook his head. “You should’ve stayed where you were. I put you there for a reason. It was to keep you safe.”“Safe?” Lisa scoffed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “How can I be safe when everything is falling apart around us? Evelyn has her claws