Nora P.O.VWe parked outside a small, nondescript restaurant nestled in a quiet part of the city.“Is this the place?” Lee asked, his eyes scanning the front of the building.“Yeah, this is it,” I confirmed, shutting off the engine. We stepped out of the car, the sun dipping low in the sky as we made our way to the entrance.The inside of the restaurant was dimly lit, with a few patrons scattered around the tables. It had an old-school vibe, the kind of place where the regulars knew the menu by heart and the staff by name. The faint hum of conversations and the clattering of dishes filled the air as we approached the counter.A young man with a mop of curly hair and a stained apron stood behind the register, wiping his hands on a towel. He looked up as we approached, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in our appearance.“Good evening,” I began, pulling out my badge and flashing it briefly. “I am Detective Stevenson, and this is Detective Jonas. We’re here to ask a few questions ab
Nora P.O.VWe pulled up to a weathered apartment building on the bad side of town. The streets were cracked, littered with broken bottles and crumpled paper bags, and the walls of the nearby buildings were covered in fading graffiti. The people here looked rough, wearing old clothes and eyeing us with suspicion as we parked the car. A group of men huddled around a broken fire hydrant, speaking in hushed voices, watching us as we walked past.The stairs creaked beneath our feet as we ascended to the fourth floor. The walls were stained with grime and covered in old posters and faded gang tags. Paint was peeling off in large flakes, revealing the mould underneath. The air was thick with humidity and the smell of sweat, smoke, and something else I didn’t want to think about.“This place is a dump,” Lee muttered, glancing around at this shady area of the city.“Yeah,” I agreed, keeping my voice low. “Let’s just get this over with.”When we finally reached the fourth floor, we stopped in f
Nora P.O.V"I need all the reports on this case as fast as possible." I handed over a thick file to one of the junior detectives as we stood waiting for the elevator."Yes, ma'am," he replied quickly, taking the file just as the elevator bell rang, and the doors slid open. We stepped out together, the hallway buzzing with the usual office noise.Suddenly, the floor’s intercom crackled to life, the voice echoing through the walls. “Detective Stevenson, conference room, now.”I looked up, my brow furrowing in mild annoyance. "Now what happened?" I muttered to myself, glancing at the ceiling as if it held the answer. Everyone on the floor was looking at me, either happy that they are not in my place or happy I am the one who is going to the wolf's den . Nothing comes good from this type of calls.Handing the remaining files over to the junior detective, I instructed, "Take these and put them on my desk." He nodded in understanding and hurried off as I began making my way to the conferenc
Nora P.O.VThe dressing room was dimly lit, its walls lined with vanity mirrors surrounded by faded, yellowed bulbs. I leaned into one of the mirrors, smoothing the blush on my cheekbone with a flick of the brush, watching how the shadows played against my face. My reflection looked like a different person—long pink hair cascading down in waves, lips painted deep red, and golden eyeshadow making my eyes gleam beneath hazel brown contacts. The makeup was thick, almost theatrical, but it did its job of transforming me.I caught the strap of my lacey black bra and adjusted it slightly. It barely covered anything, hugging my curves tightly and pushing my chest up in a way that almost felt obscene. The matching skirt was a joke—so short it clung to my hips and left my legs bare, nothing more than an afterthought against my skin. The outfit was designed to catch attention, but it wasn’t mine they’d be focusing on tonight.A knock at the door made me pause. "Crystal, you’re up next!" came th
Nora P.O.VHidden in the darkness of the club ,far from the crowd we were two seconds away strangling each other's throats."You have been pushing too hard, Nora," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "He is not going to fall for it if he thinks you are onto him.”I glared at him, frustration bubbling beneath my cool exterior. "I know what I am doing, Layson. I do not need you to babysit me.”His jaw clenched slightly, and he lowered his voice even more. "This is not a solo operation. We are supposed to be working together, remember?”I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to keep my composure. "Fine," I snapped. "What is the plan then, partner?”Layson glanced around again, then leaned in slightly, his breath hot against my ear as he spoke quietly. "He is heading to the VIP section. I will keep an eye on him from the floor, but we need to be subtle. The man already has an eye on you.”I raised an eyebrow, feeling a little annoyed by his overly cautious approach but noddin
Nora P.O.V“Come here.”His voice was a low, demanding rumble that cut through the haze of smoke and the distant hum of music. I swayed my hips as I moved toward him, letting the curve of my body lead the way. The room seemed to darken around me, the dim pink light casting seductive shadows on my skin. My thong, discarded earlier near the stage, lay forgotten on the floor.I approached his chair, placing one hand delicately on the armrest. Slowly, I slid it along the worn leather, letting my fingers trace a path up to the top of the couch as I circled behind him. His eyes never left me, following every move.When I reached the other side of the chair, I leaned in, just enough to bring my lips close to his ear. My breath brushed against his skin as I smiled down at him, letting the moment linger. I stood up straight , about to walk away but before I could relish it, his hand shot up and grabbed mine, pulling me down onto his lap with one swift motion.His strength surprised me. My body
Robert P.O.VI sat in my office, staring at the financial report spread across my desk. The numbers were not adding up. Not just by a little—there was a noticeable gap, money missing that could not be explained away as an accounting error. My irritation slowly grew into a simmering rage. I pinched the bridge of my nose. I felt the headache was starting to come back. I looked at the report before me, I felt like my pulses began to throb. I slammed the report shut, the sound echoing through the room. It was unacceptable. I had been in Italy for only a month, expanding business ties and securing partnerships that would further solidify my control. And now, the second I returned, I was faced with this mess.Just fucking great.I hit the intercom. “RICCARDO, GET IN HERE. NOW.” I barked . I need a drink.Riccardo, my second-in-command, entered a few moments later. He could tell by my expression this conversation was not going to end up good and he is thinking right. He straightened his pos
Nora P.O.VThe abandoned building was a husk of its former self, its windows shattered and walls covered in graffiti. Dust floated in the dim beams of moonlight that seeped through the cracks in the ceiling. My partner and our men dragged the unconscious dealer to the middle of the room, his body slumping lifelessly between us. The effects of the drug were still lingering in his system. I had changed and was standing in the shadow They dropped him into a battered metal chair in the centre of the room. His head slumped forward, chin resting against his chest. I walked out of the shadow. One of our men handed Layson a water bottle. Opening the cap of the bottle he splashed the content on the dealer’s face.The man jerked awake, blinking rapidly as confusion clouded his face. His eyes darted around the room, trying to make sense of where he was, but the drug still fogged his brain. He tried to move but realised his hands were bound tightly behind him. “W-What...?" he muttered, trying