Taylor’s POVThe smell of smoke drifted around me as I took a long drag, the tip of my cigarette flaring red. Ivy. Even her name made my skin crawl. Just thinking about her prancing around like some kind of perfect princess made my blood boil.She didn’t deserve to be there, in my place, with the life that I deserved. I let the smoke roll over my tongue before I blew it out, letting it spiral into the air. And here I was, shuffling off to Max’s dumpy place. Maybe she was right after all. I coveted everything she had, even if it was her terrible ex-boyfriend.Max’s place was a far cry from what I was used to, with his stack of dirty dishes in the corner and the constant stale smell of alcohol that clung to the air. It looked like he hadn’t done a thing to clean since the last time I was here.Not that I’d complain. I had too much on my mind already. Max didn’t waste any time as he shut the door behind me, his eyes flickering over my face. He must’ve seen the rage practically radiating
Asher’s POVI looked into the mirror as Ivy adjusted my tie, her fingers brushing against my collar. She had this focused, gentle touch, and her lips were pulled into a serious pout. I could barely look at her—her perfume filled the air between us, making it hard to think.“You know,” she said, giving my tie a final pat, “you actually clean up really well.” She smiled at me, and I felt that familiar warmth building in my chest.“If dressing up like this is what it takes to get a compliment from you, I’ll do it every single day,” I declared.She stifled a blush. “It doesn’t have to take so much,” her voice was barely above a whisper.A smirk tugged at my lips. Was Ivy flirting with me? Was it just the magic of the night, or were her defenses slowly stripping away? I caressed her cheek and stared as she leaned into my touch, her eyelids fluttering shut. A small gasp escaped her lips.I slipped my hand around her waist. “You’re going to make it hard for me to let go of you, Ivy…” I glanc
Ivy’s POV.I giggled at something Asher said. My hand was resting on the crook of his elbow as we walked back to our hotel room. The energy between us felt different tonight, and it wasn’t because of the alcohol. I had purposely stayed off it; I didn’t want to be the desperate person I used to be when I was drunk and around him. It was embarrassing how much my body desired him when my senses got dulled.It wasn’t like I didn’t desire him. Even now, as I listened to him and stole glances at him, as our bodies slightly touched, I did - in a way that I hadn’t desired any man before. But I could control it and pretend I wasn’t feeling anything. I could ignore all the sparks that went off whenever we touched.“Janine was the worst of us, I tell you…” he was saying as he punched a couple of keys on the elevator panel. As we walked in, the guards that had followed us at a safe distance tried to enter, but he stopped them. He glanced at me and then back at them.“I need some time alone with m
Ivy’s POVMy core throbbed as he whispered in my ears. I could feel the wetness in my panties. My whole body had been tightly wound up; it had been so long since I felt pleasure. Without the alcohol, my body still felt the aching need for his touch, the need that made me desperate. I wanted to tear off all our clothes until our bodies were naked and touching, and I could feel his cock inside of me, filling me up.He leaned back on the bed so he could gawk at me, slowly taking in everything.“Look at me,” he whispered in a deep voice when I tried to look away.I did as he asked and looked into those beautiful eyes. Those eyes that spoke volumes long before he opened his mouth and uttered the words, “I want to worship you, Ivy...”Jolts of pleasure traveled all over my body, desire washing over me. He lifted me up and placed me on the bed, turning to face me. He held my feet in his hands and stared for a moment before slipping off my shoes.His eyes were fixated on me as he brought my f
Asher’s POVI walked through the VIP room, flanked by three mean-looking bodyguards. They were tall and muscular, dressed in all black with dark sunglasses. I scanned the area, looking for Luca. It wasn’t hard to find him, as the club wasn’t full that day, with not many people showing up on a Sunday night.I walked up to him. “Luca.”He was nursing a drink and spun around. “Goddamnit, Asher! What are you doing here?”I pulled out a stool and sat across from him. “What do people do at clubs, Luca? I’m here to chill and drink...” I gestured to the bartender. “The regular, please.”The bartender nodded and began to fix my drink. Luca glanced at the hefty men standing behind me. “You don’t look like you’re here to chill at all. You brought the bodyguards in?”I nodded. “There’s no way in hell I’m coming to your club without security. Someone’s got to watch my back while you’re doing whatever the hell it is you do... Why are you at the club on a Sunday, Luca?” I asked after a second though
Max’s POV“I hate it when you’re pacing around...” Taylor began, “And can we do something about your dingy apartment? Do we really have to meet here?”I stopped in my tracks, “I’m sorry, Taylor Simmons, I can’t afford pricey hotels for us to stop for a chat. When I was with Ivy, she had no problem handling that...”“Oh, no! That’s not gonna be me, honey. That kind of foolishness is Ivy’s forte, not mine,” she replied. “If you really want us to continue meeting, you’ve got to do better about our meeting place. That is, if you still want to win her over.”“Well, I don’t know how I’m supposed to win her over if you won’t use the one weapon we have against them!” I yelled. “They are getting closer. You saw them at that fashion show? How did it feel watching them together? Being all lovey-dovey with each other, how did it make you feel?”She slowly broke into a smile. “I don’t care for either of them, Max. I don’t have feelings for Asher Sterling. I just like the idea of him. He’s a hot ma
Max’s POVFlashback cont’dI drove into the parking lot of the hotel just behind Taylor. I jumped out of the car and rushed towards her. "Taylor! You’ve got to give me a fucking explanation. I just drove a high man in his own car after abducting him from the club to a hotel—we are going to get arrested!"She got out of my car and slammed the door. "If you keep yelling at the top of your voice, the police are going to come in earlier, and the arrest is going to happen quicker than you think!"My heart was beating faster in my chest. She had a point. I had to calm down. There could be CCTV. I glanced around nervously and looked away the moment I caught a glimpse of one, subtly hidden away from view. I took a deep breath."If you want me to act calmly about this, you’ve got to give me an explanation that makes sense at least," I told her in a controlled voice. "What did you do to him?""I slipped something into his drink," she answered simply. She walked up to Asher’s car and opened the
Max’s POVFlashback cont’dI didn’t respond. What could I say? That my replacement and Ivy’s husband was hot? I didn’t care; I would smother him in his sleep if I could get away with no consequences.She got closer and tugged at his shorts, the last piece of clothing he had on. “Oh, and he’s packing too!” She hummed in satisfaction and bit her lower lip. “I see what Ivy likes about him now, really.”I frowned. “What are you doing, Taylor?” I was still confused about what she planned to do. Nothing made sense; nothing had made any sense since she called me earlier.She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she pulled a phone from her pocket. My phone and tossed it to me. “Take pictures.”I stared at her in confusion at first, wondering how she had gotten a hold of my phone in the first place. My brows furrowed in confusion. “What?”“You heard me, Max. You’re going to take pictures—"“Why?” I interjected. “Are we going to blackmail Asher with nudes of him? Really, what’s that going to get
Isabella’s POVThe newsroom was finally quiet. After wrapping up my evening show, most of the crew had cleared out, leaving me alone in my office.The glow from my computer screen illuminated the small space, reflecting off the framed awards on the shelf behind me.I exhaled, stretching my arms above my head, savoring the rare moment of peace.Then my phone rang.I glanced at the caller ID and froze. Asher Sterling.My heart did a small, stupid flip before I could tell it to calm down. It had been years since high school, and even though he was married now, I had never stopped caring about him.I hesitated for only a second before picking up.“Well, well, well,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “To what do I owe the honor, Mr. Sterling?”“Isabella,” he said, his voice tight. No pleasantries, no playful banter. He was in trouble.My expression sobered. “What happened?”“You’ve seen the news.”I had. Sterling Industries, the mafia, human trafficking. It was a mess. And now, hearing his
Asher’s POVI sat behind my desk, my fingers tapping restlessly against the polished wood surface. The board members had just left, their concerned voices still ringing in my ears.I had assured them I would find a solution, but the truth was, I didn’t have the slightest idea where to begin.How did I end up in this fucking mess? I thought bitterly.I leaned back in my chair, rubbing a hand down my face. There were too many moving pieces, too many variables beyond my control. Should I respond with actual proof of their shady dealings?That could backfire. Exposing them might bring the whole house of cards down on me too. Maybe I should talk to the Don, but would that really solve anything? If anything, it might make things worse.My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. I exhaled sharply and straightened. “Come in.”Evelyn stepped inside, her expression unreadable. “Asher, the FBI is here to see you.”My body tensed. Federal authorities had a way of making people say thing
Asher’s POVThe morning sun cast a soft glow through the curtains as I adjusted my cufflinks, my movements slow and deliberate.Ivy stood behind me, smoothing out the creases in my shirt with gentle hands.Her touch was warm, grounding me in a way I desperately needed.“You look good,” she murmured, stepping in front of me to fix my tie. Her fingers brushed against my skin as she adjusted the knot, lingering just a second longer than necessary. “Strong. In control.”I exhaled through my nose. “I wish I felt that way.”She placed her palm flat against my chest, right over my heartbeat. “You are that way. No matter how overwhelming things get, you always find a way.”I looked down at her, at the quiet confidence in her eyes. “I wish the board saw it that way. They’re circling like vultures, waiting for me to slip so they can tear me apart. Investors are already wary because of our affiliations with the mafia, and now I had to cut ties just to give them a reason to stay.”She nodded, her
Asher’s POVI sat in my office, staring out at the city skyline, my thoughts a chaotic mess. The disaster at the last meeting wouldn’t leave my mind. The company board did not have faith in me.Some investors had walked out, disgusted by the company’s ties to the mafia. I had tried to salvage the situation, offering reassurances, but their expressions had been unreadable, their minds already made up.I needed to act fast. If I didn’t, I would lose the majority of our investors, and the company would crumble. That wasn’t an option.The company was our legacy; the sacrifices made were too much to let everything fall apart because of one reckless decision.The only way forward was to sever ties with the mafia completely.My jaw tightened as I reached for the intercom. “Evelyn, get in here.”The door opened a moment later, and Evelyn stepped inside. She was as composed as ever, dressed in her usual tailored suit, tablet in hand, waiting for my orders.“Yes, Mr. Sterling?” she asked, her v
Asher’s POVThe office felt heavier than usual, as if the walls themselves were pressing in, waiting for me to crack under the pressure of everything I was trying to carry.The morning light filtered through the large windows, casting long shadows across the polished desk, Marcus’s desk.No matter how many days I sat here, no matter how many times I adjusted the chair or placed my hands on the smooth wood, it still didn’t feel like mine.A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I said, straightening my tie.The door creaked open, and Marcus’s secretary, Evelyn, stepped inside. She looked polished as always, her expression calm and professional, but there was something behind her eyes, hesitation, maybe even doubt.“Mr. Sterling,” she said, her voice level, “the board meeting starts in two minutes. We need to leave now.”I exhaled slowly, nodding as I grabbed the file I had barely skimmed through. Two minutes. I had two minutes before I’d be sitting in a room fu
Asher’s POVIt had been three weeks, and Marcus was still in a coma.Three weeks of sitting by his bedside, hoping for a sign, any sign, that he was coming back to us.I had spent most of my time at the hospital, sometimes with Ivy or Janine, but mostly alone.The doctors gave the same updates every day, their words rehearsed, their voices carefully measured: No change. Stable but unresponsive. We just have to wait.Wait.Like that was something I could do.I didn’t know how to exist outside of this hospital room anymore. My world had shrunk to this space, to the steady hum of machines, the sterile scent of antiseptic, and the unbearable sight of my brother lying still in that bed. But today, I had no choice but to leave.I was about to step out of the house when my father’s voice stopped me.“Asher,” he said, his tone softer than usual. “We need to talk.”I turned to face him. He looked exhausted, more worn down than I had ever seen him.The dark circles under his eyes, the way his s
Asher’s POVThe hospital room was unnervingly quiet, with the only other noise coming from the occasional rustle of fabric as I shifted in my chair and the soft beeping of the heart monitor.Yet, beneath the silence, there was an unshakable tension that made Marcus’s fragile state feel even more real, like he was on the edge of something irreversible, something permanent.It was the only sound breaking the silence, yet somehow, it was deafening. Each measured beep was like a countdown, marking the agonizing passage of time since the accident. Four days.Four days of waiting, of watching, of hoping for something, anything, to change.Four days since my world had come to a screeching halt.Ivy had been discharged, and I should have felt relieved. I should have been grateful that at least she was safe, that she had walked away from this with her life intact. But I couldn’t feel anything close to relief. Not when Marcus was still here, trapped in a lifeless state, hooked up to wires and m
Janine’s POVThe phone was cold against my ear, my grip so tight my knuckles ached.“I need you to meet me immediately,” I said, my voice sharp. “Bring as many men as you can.”There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. Then a gruff voice responded, “How many are we talking?”“All of them.”The words left my mouth without hesitation. I didn’t care what it cost. I didn’t care what lines I had to cross.My brothers were walking straight into hell, and I wasn’t about to sit back and pray they came out alive.They left without thinking it through.Marcus was smart, but sometimes even he let emotions cloud his judgment. Asher? He wasn’t thinking at all. He was too desperate, too reckless.I knew they weren’t ready for what they were stepping into, but they didn’t wait. They just went.And I wasn’t going to let them die because of it.The black SUVs I hired rolled up minutes later, their engines roaring loudly. One by one, the mercenaries stepped out, each of them armed to the te
Asher’s POVGunfire erupted the moment I stormed into the building with Luca and Marcus. The scent of gunpowder and blood filled the air, mixing with the sharp cries of men dropping to the floor.My heart pounded, but I barely registered the chaos. My mind had only one thought: Ivy.I scanned the dimly lit warehouse frantically, my pulse hammering in my ears. My grip tightened around my gun as I pushed forward, ducking behind a stack of crates.Then, through the haze of bullets and bodies, I saw her.Ivy.She stood near the back of the room, bound and struggling, her dark hair wild, her face pale. My breath caught in my throat. She was right there. So close. But she wasn’t alone. Taylor stood in front of her, a knife gleaming in her grip.Panic crashed through me. I turned to Luca and Marcus. “Be careful! Ivy’s right there!”Luca gave a sharp nod, his jaw clenched as he took cover and fired precisely at Taylor’s men. Marcus moved beside him, dropping two of them with clean shots. I ba