(Olivia’s POV)It wasn’t the kind of decision you planned.One moment I was pacing the penthouse, trying to make sense of the storm brewing around us. The next, I found myself in Armando’s office, standing in front of his desk with trembling hands.The tension from our last conversation still sat heavy between us. He’d been gone most of the day, leaving me alone with my thoughts—the worst place to be. His words played on a loop in my head: Stay out of it.But how could I? Ferro was attacking, Samantha’s name had resurfaced in whispers, and Armando’s silence was like a wall I couldn’t scale. I could do anything to get back at that witch Samantha.So there I was, staring down at his files. His fortress of neatly labeled folders and encrypted documents.I told myself I was just looking for clarity, for something to make me feel less like a pawn in whatever game Armando and Ferro were playing. But the moment my fingers brushed against the edges of those papers, I knew I’d crossed a line I
(Olivia’s POV)The room was so cold, the kind of cold that seeped into your bones no matter how hard you tried to shake it off.I sat on a stiff leather chair, my wrists free but my body frozen in place. The walls were bare, industrial gray, and the only sound was the faint hum of fluorescent lights overhead. I wasn’t tied up or restrained, but the two men stationed at the door made it clear I wasn’t going anywhere.Ferro hadn’t shown himself yet, but I could feel his presence in the room—an invisible weight pressing against my chest, heavy and suffocating.The door creaked open, and there he was. Alessandro Ferro.He was taller than I’d expected, his sharp suit tailored to perfection, his every movement exuding power and control. His dark eyes locked onto mine as he entered, his lips curling into a smile that sent a chill down my spine.“Olivia Pierce,” he said smoothly, his voice low and calm. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”“I can’t say the feeling is mutual,” I replied, my
(Dual POV)(Olivia’s POV)Ferro had left me alone with his words, the weight of his offer pressing down on my chest like a vice. Betray Armando, and Ferro would destroy James for me.It wasn’t just the deal that rattled me—it was the possibility that Ferro might be right about Armando’s lies.The door creaked open, and I stiffened, expecting Ferro’s return. But instead, I heard quick, muffled footsteps outside, followed by shouting.Then came the gunshots.One. Two. Three.Each one sent a jolt through my body, and the air suddenly felt too thin.What’s happening?I stood slowly, my legs shaky beneath me, when the door burst open with a force that knocked it against the wall. My breath caught in my throat.“Get up,” Armando commanded, his voice low and dangerous.And just like that, everything changed.His voice cut through the haze like a knife, sharp and commanding.I stared at him, my mind struggling to keep up with what I was seeing. Armando was here, standing in the doorway like a
(Olivia’s POV)I sat on the edge of the bed, the events of the past few hours replaying in my mind like a broken record. Ferro’s words, Armando’s confession, the cold efficiency with which he’d rescued me—it all blended into a haze of confusion and exhaustion.I was too drained to cry, too numb to feel anything except the nagging ache in my chest. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, its incessant vibration cutting through the silence.Reluctantly, I picked it up.That’s when the world shifted and my eyes went wide and wild.The message was from an unknown number, a single link accompanied by two words: “Watch this.”I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen. Every instinct told me to delete it, to ignore it, but curiosity—or maybe masochism—got the better of me. I clicked.The video began, shaky and grainy at first, like something captured on a hidden camera. But when the image cleared, my stomach dropped.It was me.The footage showed me at a gala weeks ago, leaning into Armando’
(Olivia’s POV)The plan was simple—or at least, Armando made it seem that way.We sat across from each other at the kitchen table, the lights casting sharp shadows across his sharp jaw lin. His jaw was tense, his brow furrowed as he outlined the steps we’d take to dismantle James’s latest stunt.“First, we discredit the video,” he said, his voice low but firm. “Matteo is already working on tracking the source and finding evidence of manipulation. We’ll leak the truth before the media has time to run with the lie.”“And James?” I asked, my arms crossed tightly over my chest.Armando’s eyes darkened. “He won’t get another chance to humiliate you. I’ll make sure of it.” He sounded so confident as he locked eyes with me.I nodded, though my chest still ached with the weight of everything and truly couldn’t believe that James was still bent on ruining me after the betrayal from him, after using and dumbing ne like a piece of trash. “And what about me? What do I do?”“You focus on staying s
(Samantha’s POV)There’s a certain art to betrayal.The trick is to always stay one step ahead, to make people think they’re the ones pulling the strings while you tighten the noose around their necks. That’s what I’d done with James and Armando, manipulating them both while feeding Ferro just enough information to keep him hungry.But the thing about playing with fire is that it burns.And tonight, I was about to get scorched.The meeting was supposed to be routine—another dark, smoky room filled with Ferro’s cronies, another exchange of information that would leave me just a little richer and a little closer to untangling myself from this mess.But the moment I stepped into the room, I knew something was wrong.Ferro was already seated at the head of the table, his sharp suit impeccable, his cold eyes gleaming with something dangerously close to amusement. Beside him, James leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.“Gentlemen,” I said smoothly, stridi
(Olivia’s POV)The world Ferro had built was dark and opulent, the kind of place that thrived on shadows and whispered betrayals.The underground auction was held in a private estate on the outskirts of the city, its sprawling grounds guarded by men in sharp suits and sharper eyes. I wasn’t supposed to be here—Armando would lose his mind if he knew—but I couldn’t stay away. Not after hearing about the auction, not when I knew Ferro was selling secrets that could destroy him.The invitation in my hand felt like a betrayal. I’d found it tucked inside a folder on Armando’s desk, the sleek black envelope embossed with Ferro’s insignia. The mere fact that Armando hadn’t told me about it spoke volumes.I told myself I was doing this for him, to protect him from whatever trap Ferro had laid. But the truth was, part of me needed answers—about him, about Ferro, about the twisted web I’d been caught in since the moment I’d agreed to this arrangement.The estate loomed ahead, its marble columns
(Armando’s POV)The moment Ferro said her name, the world tilted.Olivia’s name on that screen. Her life, her family, her scars—laid bare for the vultures to pick apart.Ferro had crossed a line, and I was done playing his game and I couldn’t stick to my plan anymore.I stepped into the spotlight, tearing off the mask I’d worn to blend into this den of filth. My fury cut through the crowd like a blade, and they scattered as if sensing the storm I was about to unleash.“Enough,” I said, my voice low, sharp, and final.The crowd froze. Even Ferro, who thrived on chaos, faltered for a moment before regaining his smug composure.“Armando,” he said smoothly, spreading his arms like a ringmaster basking in applause. “What a surprise. Have you come to bid, or just to steal the show?”“You’ve gone too far,” I said, my words laced with venom. “Take her off the docket. Now.”Ferro smirked, tilting his head as if he found my anger amusing. “I don’t think you understand how this works. Once a sec
Dual POV — Olivia & ArmandoOlivia’s POVThe night reeked of gasoline and gunpowder.I crouched low behind the rusted shell of a burnt-out car, my chest rising and falling with shallow, nervous breaths. From here, the compound looked like a fortress wrapped in shadow — cold walls, steel gates, motion-activated lights that scanned the field like a predator’s eye.Dominic was somewhere inside.Alive.Hopefully.I clutched the detonator tighter in my gloved hand, the edges of it biting into my palm. I could hear Armando’s voice in my earpiece — low, steady, commanding.“Three guards to the south. You’ll have a five-second window after I draw their fire. On my mark.”This was crazy.But what wasn’t, lately?Everything in my life had spiraled. Love. Betrayal. War. And now I was risking my neck to pull Dominic out of Ferro’s jaws, with the one man I couldn’t trust — but somehow couldn’t stop wanting either.“Mark,” Armando’s voice cut in sharply.I moved.I bolted across the open ground, he
Olivia’s POV⸻I couldn’t sleep.The air felt too thick. The silence too loud. And my thoughts — they were a battlefield. One half of me wanted to run as far away from Armando as possible. The other? It wanted to crawl back into his arms and melt there, consequences be damned.I hated him.And I craved him.My body was a traitor. My heart? A mess.And yet… when I walked past his room that night, I paused. The door was slightly open. A sliver of golden light spilled out, warm and tempting.I didn’t mean to look in. I swear I didn’t. But something in me — something curious, desperate, starving — peeked.He was standing shirtless near the window, the light of the moon tracing the lines of his body.God.Every time I saw him like that, I forgot how to breathe. Broad shoulders. Sculpted chest. Those scars — a brutal history painted on perfect skin. His muscles flexed as he rolled his neck, and all I could think was: Why does he have to look like that?Why does he have to ruin me like this?
Dominic’s POV They say you get used to pain. That eventually, it numbs you — that if you’re beaten enough, your body learns to stop reacting. They’re wrong. Pain never gets easier. It just changes. It morphs into this twisted, crawling thing that lives under your skin, reminding you with every heartbeat that you’re not dead… yet. My wrists were raw. The ropes bit into my skin like they had teeth. Blood had dried on the side of my face, crusted and flaking. One of my eyes was swollen shut — Ferro’s men had done a fine job reminding me how breakable the human body could be. But my mind? That was mine. That was still standing. Barely. The door creaked open, slow and theatrical, like a scene from a movie I never auditioned for. And there he was — Ferro. Clean. Calm. Wearing that smug expression that made me want to lunge at him and bury my fists into his face, even if it cost me everything. He didn’t speak right away. Just walked in with his usual predator grace, the ki
(Dual POV – Armando & Olivia) Armando’s POV The smoke clung to the air like a phantom, choking and blinding, curling into my lungs with every frantic breath. I shoved past the fallen beam, my clothes already singed, sweat and soot dripping into my eyes. Where is she? “Olivia!” I roared into the chaos, my voice hoarse, panicked. Flames licked the ornate ceiling, collapsing the once-grand manor into a hellish inferno. I didn’t care if the whole place came down on me—I’d find her. I had to. Then I saw her. She was slumped against the wall, her arm draped over her head, coughing violently as smoke overwhelmed her. “Liv!” She looked up sluggishly, eyes wide with recognition. Relief crashed through me like a tidal wave, but I didn’t waste a second. I reached her, dropping to my knees, pulling her against me. “Don’t speak,” I said, lifting her into my arms. “Just breathe. I’ve got you.” Her fingers clenched weakly into my shirt. “Armando…” “I’m here,” I
(Olivia’s POV) The fire still raged behind me, the screams and chaos fading as I slipped into the night like a ghost. Smoke clung to my dress, a haunting reminder of the destruction I had left behind. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I knew Armando was looking for me. I could feel it. But I didn’t want to be found. Not by him. My car was waiting at the far end of the street, exactly where Celeste had said it would be. I slid into the driver’s seat, my hands trembling as I started the engine. I shouldn’t be doing this. A small voice in the back of my mind whispered its warning, but I silenced it. I wasn’t running. I was choosing. And tonight, I was choosing to end the lies. Celeste’s private suite was dimly lit, the glow from the fireplace casting flickering shadows across the elegant space. She stood by the window, sipping from a crystal glass as she watched me approach. “You came,” she said smoothly, turning to face me. I swallowed hard, still breathless from th
(Dual POV – Olivia & Armando) Armando’s POV: Something was wrong. I could feel it in the way Olivia smiled at me—too perfect, too polished. Like she had rehearsed it in the mirror before stepping into this ballroom. Her eyes, once filled with defiance or reluctant warmth, were unreadable now. She was pretending. And I hated that I couldn’t figure out why. The weight of the text message sat in my chest like a loaded gun. She’ll betray you before dawn. I wasn’t a man prone to paranoia. I built my empire by knowing when to trust and when to doubt. But Olivia? She had always been the exception. The one thing I wanted to believe in, even when my instincts screamed otherwise. Now, I wasn’t sure if she was still in my hands—or if she had already slipped through my fingers. From across the ballroom, I watched as Celeste pulled her aside, leading her toward a quieter corner of the event. My fingers curled into fists. Celeste. The poisonous whisper in Olivia’s ear. Th
(Armando’s POV) The night was a carefully orchestrated display of wealth and power, but I could feel the cracks forming beneath the polished veneer. The air buzzed with conversation, champagne flowed endlessly, and alliances were whispered over clinking glasses. But none of it mattered. Not when Olivia was slipping further and further away from me. I had noticed it in the way she moved tonight—graceful, poised, but distant. She wore the dress I had given her, yet there was no warmth in her eyes when she met my gaze. Every smile she offered was measured, every laugh carefully placed, and I hated how easily she made it look real. She was pretending. I knew that for a fact. And it infuriated me because I didn’t know why. But there was just something about her that seemed off. I kept my distance, watching from the periphery, but my focus never left her. She drifted through the room like a queen without a throne, and yet… she wasn’t alone. Celeste. My jaw tightened as I
(Olivia’s POV)The screen flashed, the grainy video looping in my mind even after it stopped playing and one part of me really wished I had watched wrong or it was just a dream but it wasn’t. My body felt heavy, as though every ounce of strength had been drained from me.Armando.The man who told and cried to me he loved me. The man who swore he’d protect me. The man who looked into my eyes and made me believe that maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t alone in this nightmare.And yet, there he was. His hands on another woman, his lips brushing against hers with the same tenderness he once showed me. My heart! Shattered!I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it wouldn’t budge. My chest felt tight, each breath a struggle as the betrayal sank in and I instantly felt dizzy. My legs couldn’t hold me up anymore as everything around me was spinning.“Olivia,” Celeste’s voice was soft, almost pitiful. “I’m sorry you had to see
(Celeste’s POV)Ferro’s hideout was as grim as the man himself—cold, industrial, and reeking of blood and steel. The air was heavy with the metallic tang of iron, and the low hum of machinery in the background was a constant reminder of his empire’s ruthlessness.I stepped into the main chamber, my heels clicking against the concrete floor, the sound echoing ominously. Ferro was seated at a long metal table, a glass of scotch in one hand, his other casually drumming against the surface. His sharp eyes followed me as I approached, their glint as calculating as always.“Celeste,” he greeted, his voice smooth but wary. “To what do I owe the pleasure again?”I smiled sweetly, taking the seat opposite him. “Business, of course. I thought it was time we discussed our mutual interests.”He raised an eyebrow, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “And what might those be?”“Olivia Pierce,” I said, my voice dipping into a dangerous