Astrella's point of view My things finally arrived, and most importantly, my buddy—my laptop. I quickly informed my Buricat gals that I was taking a little impromptu vacation. Their response? A chorus of complaints about why I didn’t give them a heads-up. Like, seriously, bruh, this was practically a spur-of-the-moment kidnapping... but with scenic views. Honestly, considering the peaceful surroundings, I’m not too mad about it. I might even say I willingly came along. Kind of. On behalf of Dax Donomie, I apologized to them for the chaos of that fateful night. Even though it feels like it’s my fault, it’s still hard to wrap my head around how things escalated so quickly. So the morning started with a surprisingly light-hearted vibe. Grandma decided to take me on a little adventure to Shenandoah Park, leaving Dax behind at the manor. Apparently, he was busy handling his online mafia business or whatever that means back in the city. Seriously, it's good news! Grandma was absolutely
Astrella's point of view I helped Grandma into the backseat first, making sure she was comfortable, before striding around to the passenger seat. Like I’d let Grace sit in my spot, absolutely not. Once I settled in, I slammed the door harder than necessary. As I buckled my seatbelt, I heard Dax groan, probably annoyed at my theatrics. Oh well, not my problem. I briefly remembered that we weren't alone, that his grandma was here, and that this Grace girl was important to Dax's life. Tsk. Dax started the engine, and I shifted my focus to the window, watching the sky about to darken as the sun dipped below the horizon. The scenery was beautiful, but my mood? Not so much. In the backseat, Grandma and Grace were chatting away like old friends. But they really know each other long ago and I'm just a newbie in the house. I couldn’t help but eavesdrop, and my ears perked up when I heard Grandma invite Grace to her room later. I rolled my eyes, the irritation crawling under my skin like
Astrella's point of view The clanking of utensils was the only sound breaking the silence at the dining table. For once, no awkward chatter or drama was unfolding during the meal—a small blessing I wasn’t about to overlook. We were almost done eating, and all I could think about was retreating to my room and hoping that Dax’s so-called punishment would magically slip his mind. Wishful thinking? Probably. “Oh, Dax,” Grace suddenly chirped, breaking the peace. “I just remembered, I have something in the basement that I really need help with. Can you come with me and get it?” Dax glanced at her for a fleeting second, his expression jumbled. Then, turning to me instead of Grace, he said, “Sure, after this.” And just like that, his gaze locked on me again. “Astrella,” he said, his voice carrying a warning, “I’m telling you one last time if you’re still not in my room after this, I swear I’ll drag you out, no matter where you’re hiding.” I swallowed hard, trying not to choke on my
Astrella's point of view His punishment is unbearable. It’s not physical, but it’s far worse, mental torture. It feels like my very flesh is grinding itself to dust. I hate being like this, so transparent and vulnerable. My emotions are all over the place, slipping through my grasp, and he knows it. And what truth is he talking about? What does he want me to say? If I tell him what I know, there’s no guarantee of what will happen next or to whom. Dax’s intense gaze burned into me as he leaned forward. “Do you think I don’t know anything? That I’m some kind of fool?” His voice was low and controlled but sharp enough to cut through my defenses. Before I could respond, he was suddenly right in front of me. In one swift motion, he grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me onto the table. My pulse raced as he caged me in, his hands planted firmly on either side of me. His jaw clenched, his face so close that I could feel his breath brushing against my skin. “Look me in the eyes,
Astrella's point of view After a few weeks, something in Dax changed in a way that I couldn't ignore, no matter how hard I tried. Now, the way he looked at me and the way he spoke to me was different. His voice was kinder to the environment, almost gentler, and he wasn't trying to figure out every word I said to see if it was a lie. My parents were still on the run, but my sister was safe and hidden in a place that Dax had set up. At least some of the time, it looked like he believed what I said about not being on my parent's side. Well, when I told him what happened, I could see doubt in his eyes. It was like he was on the edge of trust but not quite ready to jump. I don't blame him; if I were him, I wouldn't trust me either. For now, though, it was enough that he wasn't treating me like a threat. And honestly, the biggest relief of all? Grace. She was finally out of the picture. After that overnight visit, she hadn’t made any more excuses to come back. No more chirping about Dax
Astrella's point of view We were now walking through a peaceful national park. After exploring some trails, we came across a beautiful farm full of life, with horses grazing lazily in the fields, chickens clucking away, and ducks waddling near a small pond. Fresh hay and dirt smelled in the air, which made me feel strangely at ease. Watching a group of ducklings follow their mother, Dax's phone buzzed. I looked at him right away as he casually took the phone out of his pocket. While he read the message, his face was blank; his brow didn't pucker or lift in response. "Who's that?" I asked, tilting my head curiously. It wasn’t like I was trying to pry into his personal matters. I was just mildly intrigued. He slipped his phone back into the pocket of his leather jacket with a nonchalant shrug. “Grace.” My brows went up, and I became very interested. “What did she say?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he reached out and ruffled my hair like I was some mischievous child. “He
Astrella's point of view Another week flew by so fast, and now we’re got ready to return to the city. Dax and I have spent a lot of time getting to know each other, but there is still something about him that I have not been able to grasp. However, that is not a problem. At the very least, I have been able to see a different side of him, the side that he allows me to see. I will not ask for anything else. The most important thing is that we are finally getting along.I have truly enjoyed my time here, especially the time I spent with Grandma. The countryside is calm, which is a sharp contrast to the chaos that awaits us when we return to the city. Yet, Dax's world is meant to remain there, with all of the responsibilities weighing down on him.I inhale deeply, bracing myself for what’s to come. Before we left, he told me he’d give me a gun, one I could hide on my thigh for protection. I smirked at the thought. He’s not worried I might use it on him. Then again, even if I did, I doubt
Dax Donomie's point of view "Any progress with Astrella's parents?" I asked Silvio over the phone, pinching the bridge of my nose as frustration coiled through my veins. "Oh, yeah. We found them. Actually, Fabio and I are already heading to their location," Silvio snapped and pause for a moment. "But there's a problem. The shipment arrives today. Fabio and I can't be in two places at once, hmmm. You just got back to the city, right? You can head straight to the south port and take care of the shipment." I shut my eyes, inhaling deeply to keep from cursing him out. "Are you fvcking kidding me? Damn. That shipment is important." I spat at him. I just got back, and he conveniently forgot to inform me about this in advance? And worse. I was with Astrella. This was one of the things I hadn’t told her yet. Yes, she knew about the Martinelli Security Firm, but this? This was beyond dangerous. More dangerous than running a high-end security business. She wasn’t stupid. She probably
Dax Donomie's point of view The rain had finally stopped, and the only thing that remained in the air was the lingering smell of wet asphalt and dirt. We were en route to the old shipyard, strapped in tight inside the jeep. Silvio had the wheel, knuckles flexing against the leather, while I sat in the passenger seat, my Glock resting heavy against my thigh. Xanthe and Fabio lounged in the back, looking relaxed, but we all knew the truth, we were wired as hell, nerves stretched thin like a tripwire ready to snap. Silvio, ever the dramatic bastard, decided to cut through the silence. “Guys, if ever we lose, please let my wife know that I love her very much.” I turned my head slowly to him, eyebrows raised. “The fvck? You don’t have a wife.” Fabio didn’t even hesitate, he leaned forward and smacked the back of Silvio’s head hard enough to make him flinch. “You don’t have a fvcking wife, and we are not losing this war, idiot.” Silvio barely spared him a glance, still foc
Astrella's point of view When I stepped out of the building, I didn’t look back. I couldn’t. All I had with me was my phone and the Glock strapped tight against my thigh, a cold reminder that safety was just an illusion. The night swallowed me whole. No stars, no moon, just the eerie glow of distant lightning splitting the sky. A silent warning. A storm was coming. I pulled out my phone, dialing my sister’s number again. Out of reach. My chest tightened. Why the hell isn’t she picking up? A sick feeling curled in my stomach, my pulse hammering. Is there something happening to her? No. Damn. I don't claim that negative thought. The streets stretched ahead, empty. No passing cars. No late-night wanderers. Just silence. Too much silence. I stopped at the corner, gripping my phone so hard my knuckles ached. How far had I walked? I didn’t even realize I’d put t
Dax Donomie's point of view “What about Astrella? Where is she?” That question hitched my breath. Instead of looking at them, I forced myself to look somewhere else and swallowed the knot that was forming in my throat. “She’s gone,” I muttered. Silvio frowned. “Gone? What do you mean gone?” Xanthe blinked rapidly, confusion twisting his face. “I made her leave.” My voice was quieter than I intended, but there was no point in taking it back. “Threw her out.” Silvio’s lips pressed into a thin line, and Fabio cursed under his breath. “What the hell, Dax?” “Damn it,” Xanthe hissed, stepping forward, his tone thick with disbelief. “Did you even think before doing that? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for her out there? Especially now?” I exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose. “She’s better off away from me.” My voice was firmer this time, but the weight in my chest tightened. “If she stays, she’s in more danger than if she runs. At least this wa
Dax Donomie's point of view Astrella was gone. I told her to leave. I fvcking threw her out. She had begged me to believe her, and I had turned my back on her. I could still feel her last gaze burning into me, searing straight through my skin, down to the part of me that I tried so fvcking hard to ignore. The muscles in my jaw tightened, and my entire body became hard as I stood there motionless. Every nerve in my body was quivering, and my breath came in a nutshell erratic bursts. What the fvck just happened? And the second those words left my mouth, all I wanted to do was run after her. To grab her, hold her, bury my face in her neck, and take back everything. But I didn't. Instead, I just stood there like a goddamn idiot while she walked away from me. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the memory of her tear-streaked face, but it was fvcking burned into my skull. As I struggled against the wrath that was churning inside of me, my fists became clenched, and
Astrella's point of view I woke up to the sound of my stomach grumbling, my head throbbing with a dull ache. I groaned, pressing a hand to my forehead. I hadn’t been drinking, and I’d been eating well enough to avoid headaches. Then it hit me. Fvck. I hadn’t eaten real food all day. And now, judging by the dim light filtering through the curtains, night had already fallen. Heat crept up my face as I remembered exactly what I had eaten for breakfast. We had been tangled in each other for hours, his body pressed against mine, his hands claiming me over and over again. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, my thighs instinctively pressing together. I could still feel him, his touch lingering on my skin, the ghost of his kisses trailing down my body. But reality struck fast and hard. Dax was probably gathering his men now, preparing for war. And here I was, still sprawled in bed, sore but not broken. I forced myself up, wincing moderately as I moved. The soreness betw
Astrella's point of view He responded immediately. My chest ached from the intensity of Dax's kiss, which was profound and full of affection. I would make sure to take pleasure in this moment and burn it into my memory if I knew that our future was uncertain. Without breaking the kiss, he scooped me into his arms, carrying me to the bed. His fingers worked on undressing me; his touch was both careful and possessive. While he positioned above me, he had a sneer playing over his lips. "Well," he murmured, voice husky, "I haven’t had breakfast yet, so I guess we’ll just have to eat each other instead." He gave me a wink. I completely lost myself in him, laughing out loud and freely. He continued to remove my top and the cover of my chest; he tossed it, and I could see in my peripheral vision that it landed in the lampshade. I'm now leaving only my thong. He seemed to be possessive, as seen by the darkening of his eyes. His fingers moved slowly and deliberately over the length of
Astrella's point of view For some reason, I awoke feeling surprisingly light, yet I was also burdened by discomfort that I was unable to get rid of. For the conflict. It is Dax. The uncertainty that surrounds everything. No matter what I did, I was at a loss. Nevertheless, I needed to take a shower before I could allow my thoughts to take control of me. Perhaps if I washed away the negative emotions that were sticking to my skin, it would be easier. Even if the warm water did not do much to calm my anxiety, at least it gave me a sense of refreshment. I got out of the room, wrapped myself in a towel, and made my way to the closet that was shared by Dax. I rummaged through my closet and found a sky-blue terno, a loose shirt, and shorts, which are the items of clothing that I typically wear when I am feeling comfortable at home. My fingers were running over the surface of my vanity mirror as I sat in front of it, lost in contemplation. I had been nagging Dax to get it for me, and t
Dax Donomie's point of view When I got to the base, the staff and my men were all huddled in their corners, busy securing the place. The entire building was already on lockdown. Silvio and Fabio, along with the others, were out hunting the traitor. But damnit. Why was the breach in my room? The moment the alarm connected to my room went off, I rushed there, expecting the worst. What I didn’t expect was to find Astrella inside with the intruder. For a brief second, suspicion flickered in my mind. Could she? No. That didn’t make sense. Astrella had no reason to betray me. Her sister was already safe, and her parents? They were rotting in the dungeon. Then why the hell was she the intruder’s target? I exhaled sharply, running a frustrated hand through my hair. Was she hiding something from me? Aisssh. No. Not now. Xanthe will handle it. I have a big situation waiting for me. I moved toward one of the cubicles, slumping into a chair as I scanned the security footage. My
Astrella's point of view "What the hell just happened?" "I don’t know. I just felt something was off. But I ignored it, thinking I was just exhausted from the shooting range. I was about to take a shower when he suddenly appeared, out of nowhere—in your closet." He grasped my wrist gently, examining the red marks left by the masked man. His expression darkened. Then, without a word, he pulled me into an embrace, exhaling deeply against my hair. His voice was shadowed with restraint. "We’ve already locked down the building. My men are hunting every last traitor." He breathed out, pressing a firm kiss to my forehead. "When I heard the alarm after the crash, I bolted straight here. Where’s Xanthe?" As we broke apart, his sharp eyes scanned my face, searching for something, maybe doubt, maybe fear. I stiffened but forced myself to regain composure in a second. I can’t let him know something’s wrong. And what was I supposed to tell him? Another lie? I was already neck-deep