I fiercely jump off the stairs, closely tailing Levi as he forcefully fights his way through Gios' mob. Levi swiftly brings one of them down, while I quickly notice Roberto approaching me. I lift my firearm high, urgently reposition myself, and strike the back of his head. I watch the scene unfold in slow motion as he tumbles to the ground, landing face-first on the bottom step. Blood slowly seeps from his skull, pooling around his head. Abruptly, I find myself ensnared in a tight embrace, feeling the air being pressed out of my lungs. Lowering my head, I forcefully thrust it backwards, striking my opponent squarely in the face. The impact jolts him, causing him to lose his hold and stumble backwards a couple of steps. I aim my gun at his shoe, pulling the trigger and he roars with agony. Without hesitation, I pivot and deliver a decisive shot to his head, killing him instantly. Scanning the foyer covered in debris and timber, I search for Levi. The sound of him growling and s
***Night terror***I could remember the panic in my mother's voice as she screamed for someone to leave us alone as she planted her foot down on the accelerator, causing the car to lurch forward. She turned her head to look at me in the backseat.“Put your belt on, baby.” Her voice was filled with terror, matching the expression across her face as she averted her gaze to the back window.Her mascara-smeared eyes grew wide as a small cry departed her lips, and she quickly returned her gaze to the road. As I pulled my belt over my chest with trembling hands, it took me a few attempts to click the belt in place.My mother was scared and initially, I was scared too. I don't remember why, but I have a feeling she was running away from something — someone.“Mommy…” I cried out when the car swerved across the road, the tyres screeched as my mother tried to gain control of the car once again. Moments later, the interior of the car is flooded with a brilliant, dazzling light, accompanied by
I can sense the torrent of torment that is weighing Arnica down. Anchoring her mind in an abyss of destruction, plucking away at her already fragile heart and making it almost too difficult to open up and trust anyone. And that’s all because of me, Matthias and my father. The Quinns as she prefers to dub us.The guilt and shame of being her tormentor all these years is eating me up, and I want nothing more than to tell her the truth.Because we all know that secrets are weapons and weapons kill.I crave to explain to her what happened that fatal night, with the hopes that she can eventually learn to forgive me and find some solace in knowing that I was forced to etch my sins into her innocent soul. Going to church and confessing my depravities hasn’t changed anything. For most of my life, I believed Arnica was my first kill.Her agonising screams that night tore through me, embedding the gut-wrenching sound in the back of my mind—bleeds my ears dry each time I am reminded of what I
The church is overflowing with guests, extending out onto the lawn in front of the grand old oak doors. This funeral is extravagant, almost fit for a worshipped King. A tribute my father doesn't merit. In our world, appearances are everything. Which is why I’m sitting here, in the first row, next to my wife Arnica on my right and Matthias on my left. I pull out my shades and slide them over the bridge of my nose. I'd rather people think that I am mourning my father rather than showcase the vile disdain and hatred that is glistening in my eyes. I sit rigid as I try to tune out the priest rambling about my father. Making him sound like a good man who gave back to the community, when in reality. He was nothing but a low-life scoundrel who fed off other people's misery. My father doesn't deserve to have his final farewell service in a church. I'm surprised the building hasn't burst into flames already. There just aren't enough prayers or fucks given to prevent my old man's sou
“Fuck!” I curse in a muffled tone, pulling my hand back and cradling it against my chest as pain splinters across my hand. I don't know what came over me to physically assault Matthias, or why I said that Maverick swooped in to save me when that part isn't true at all. Ugh, I'm just going to patiently wait for the sense of humiliation to gradually melt my insides like acid, hoping that Maverick doesn’t use it against me in the future. Perhaps I'm getting a bit too into character around Matthias, as I would never admit that a certain male, especially a Quinn, has ever saved me in any way whatsoever. I do know one thing for sure: I will never forget the shocked expression on Matthias's face when my fist made contact with him. His jaw felt like I had just punched a concrete wall. Yup! My knuckles are most likely going to be severely swollen in an hour or two. But it's worth it. With my gaze still glaring daggers at Matthias. I watch as he cups the side of his face and turns
I groan, slowly clawing my way out of the darkness that refuses to set me free, and I rub the back of my neck where the source of my pain is coming from. Spreading up the back of my head and exploding across my temples.“Welcome back to the world of the living, Mr. Quinn.” A familiar voice resonates in my ear canals, compelling me to force my eyelids to open.A murky fog blankets my vision and I rapidly blink, slowly gaining my clear vision back to find that I am in the back seat of Mavericks’ SUV and Levi is behind the wheel.“What the fuck is going on here?” I snarl, sitting upright in my chair and looking out the vehicle window.“I’ve been instructed to see to it that you make it back home safely,” Levi states in a firm tone as I meet his gaze in the rearview mirror.“Don’t bullshit me. We both know you are the one who suggested taking me home. Maverick would have a ball and chain wrapped around my ankle, then have me dumped in the middle of the ocean somewhere.” I grumble, unboth
I stare outside the window of Mavericks’ silver sedan, watching the buildings and fields as we pass them by, and trying to smother the urge to turn and face Maverick at the same time.Wow, I have to say that today's service has got to be the most interesting funeral I’ve had the displeasure of attending. As we were leaving, I couldn’t help but notice that Maverick was almost dragging me behind him as we crossed the cemetery to get to Dan who was waiting in the sedan with the engine running.We probably drew more attention than Maverick could manage in a public setting.Brushing my fingers over my tender knuckles, I sigh, wishing I had ripped Matthias’s nose ring out of his nose over jabbing him in the face.I wonder if it hurt him and has left a bruise on his jaw. Reminding him of me every time it aches when he’s kissing his new whore.I shouldn’t call her that, but shit doesn’t come labelled and well…If the shoe fits and all that other stuff.I can't help but notice that we have be
Control.Breathe.Stay calm, Maverick.I chant to myself. I can feel the last restraints of control slipping through my fingertips when Arnica fills all my senses. It’s going to become problematic, and before I know what's taking over me, I’ll be on my knees before her.I just know that my wife is going to mentally fuck me inside out, leaving me a mess. It's going to be a crazy ride and I'm here for it.As I turn the handle to my door, I twist my neck and look at Arnicas' bedroom door, concentrating on the little sounds coming from inside. I slam my door shut, peeling off my clothes as I head towards the shower and turn it on full blast — cold. The images of her taking a shower in her room, lathering her soft skin with a fruity body wash contaminate my brain cells like a flesh-eating parasite. Stepping under the cold spray, I dip my head and allow the water to cool my searing flesh, hoping it will help to dampen the temptation to pin her desirable body between mine and the shower
I adjust the fabric of my turtleneck, pulling it higher over my throat to conceal the red mark along my neckline. Even though it's like ninety degrees outside, a cold chill creeps through my veins, leaving me on edge. What happened this morning between me and Maverick is a little hazy because I refuse to dwell on what transpired between us. The way he looks at me when he knows something is up… When he tells me that everything is going to be okay because he will never let anyone hurt me…I believe the things my mother used to mutter to herself. 'If you can’t stop thinking about someone. It’s because they can’t stop thinking about you too.'I should never have mentioned his mother and sister. It was a low blow, and if anyone knows what it is like to lose someone you love and admire dearly. It's me. But he is experiencing it tenfold as he lost two important people at once, and I refuse to try to imagine how that would feel. Returning my attention to my Aunt Joy. I turn my body sideways
“Maverick. Did you hear what I just said?” Removing my hand from my cheek that still stings from Arnicas’ palm, I raise my gaze to meet Levis’. “Yes, I heard you. Was I listening? Well, no.” I state boldly, rising from behind my desk. Combing my fingers through my hair, I head towards the door. “What the fucks gotten into you this morning?” Levi hisses, hot on my heels. “If this is about last night. I’ve apologized once for how I handled things with Mrs. Quinn. You won’t get a second one out of me.”I stop dead in my tracks and spin around to face him with my nostrils flaring. “I fucking put my hands on her.” Raising my head, I meet his stunned, encased irises. “She mentioned my mother and Scarlett.”Exhaling and shaking his head, “shit.” Levi says. “When you say that you put your hands on her-”“I tried to fucking strangle the life out of her. A red haze took over me and I was consumed with rage. The look in her eyes…” My voice trails off as I swallow thickly and try to elevate my
A moan filled with pleasure escapes with my breath as my hands ball the bedsheets at my sides. Still groggy from my sleep, I arch my back as the sensation of my clit being licked and then sucked on, causes my body to shudder. Pressure builds in the pit of my stomach as my clit is flicked and a finger slides between the slick folds of my sex. “Shit…” I cry out, squeezing my eyes shut when another two fingers stretch me, thrusting deep inside me. “Come for me, Angel,” a hoarse voice growls with desperation. “Come all over my face and scream for me.”Overwhelmed by desire, I can't help but lose control. I gently grasp Mavericks' hair beneath the sheets, keeping him in place as I indulge in the intense pleasure. Ecstasy courses through my heated body, igniting a whirlwind of tremors as waves of pleasure consume me. Maverick delicately teases my sensitive clit with a flick of his tongue, and he gradually eases the pace of his tortuous fingers within me, extending the duration of my clima
After Maverick leaves the library, I pause for a moment, touring the books before making my way out and heading towards the flight of stairs to find the powder room. I could have opted for the one on the main floor, but I prefer not to engage in conversations with unfamiliar people in particular, considering that I currently have semen running down the insides of my legs. I walk down the hallway, noticing the different color doors and handles.“Mahogany door with a brass knob.” The barmans' words enter my mind at full force, trying to compel me to seek out Mavericks’ office.I swiftly pivot on my heel and head back towards the staircase. I'll just wait until we get back home to freshen up. This seems like a risky and ill-advised plan, especially if I were to be discovered. The last thing I desire is to betray Mavericks' trust and have the other members of the Elite family suspect me of being a spy.“Make it happen, Matthias, or I will personally see to it that you and Contessa lose ev
I fold over Arnica, my hair falls forward, and it tickles her heaving chest, matching my heaving lungs. “Gods, you are fucking perfect.”She runs her fingers through my damp hair, giggling. “I think a certain someone has had a little too much to drink.”I nuzzle her breasts, liking how soft they feel against my face. “You do realise that this changes everything between us, don’t you?” I pull her up as I get to my feet, my cock still buried deep inside her, until the soles of her heels touch the hardwood floor, and she is standing in front of me. “I will have your things moved back into my room before we return home.”She pulls her lower lip between her teeth and nervously starts to chew on it as her gaze shifts to the other side of the library. Her good mood disappears, and I can’t help think it’s because I’ve said something I shouldn’t have. I place the pad of my thumb on her chin, bending at the knees so we are face to face, and her gaze lifts to mine.“Tell me what is going on in t
“I’m losing my mind over you. I can’t work, I can’t sleep or think straight. My body aches for you, but I won’t force you to do anything that you don’t want to do. Give me a safe word, Angel.”Tears run freely down my face, splashing on the upper swelling of my breasts, and Maverick licks at them. How will I recover if I let him make love to me? How will I survive if I don’t let him?“I want you, Maverick,” I whisper. “The need to have you fill me is consuming and overwhelming at the same time. You have the power to hurt me. To destroy what little of me that isn’t damaged.”His gaze flits with confusion and a promise that he will never do wrong by me the same way his brother did. “Don’t compare me to my brother, Angel. This is about us. What was meant to be. You were mine from the moment I laid eyes on you. Once won’t ever be enough. You’ll crave it. Need it. Dream about it. No one will ever satisfy your body again. Don’t let your past push me away.”I nod my head, “I won’t,” I whispe
I make my way to the bar, placing my wine glass on top of the varnished counter, lifting my hand as I grab the barman’s attention.“Another refill?” He asks me, holding up a bottle of flat white wine.I don’t know what I’m currently drinking because I never bothered to ask him what he is serving. As long as it loosens the tension in my body, I'll drink it.Pushing my glass forward, “that would be lovely, thank you.” I say with a forced smile, not wanting to be here.When Maverick had picked me up from my aunts earlier this evening, he reluctantly informed me that we had to attend a prestigious event to pay tribute to one of the influential Don's he is associated with at the Elite Family estate. This venue is perfect for exclusive events, where a strict code of conduct ensures a peaceful atmosphere for all attendees.This particular Don, whose name I didn’t bother to remember, is being recognized for his outstanding achievement in leading a big project aimed at providing a safe and eng
I walk out of Mavericks' office, ignoring the dozen sets of eyes staring at me as I slide my large shades over the bridge of my nose with a little bounce to my steps. My body feels lighter, and I still feel raw. Sensitive. Full. And truly well fingered. Two of Mavericks men cast shadows behind me as they follow my movements. I wonder if they can see the slight tremble in my legs with every step I execute. Not that it matters. One of them rushes forward to hold one of the double doors wide open for me. A stream of sunlight hits my face all for a second before it is eclipsed by a large shadow that instantly has killed my mood, and I try to step around the obstacle blocking my way, but I fail. “Arnica, fancy seeing you here.” A deep voice murmurs with an underlay of surprise and lack of conviction. “Why wouldn't I come here, Matthias?” I say in a placid tone to cover the irritation in my voice. Just by being in his presence, he has killed my mood, and after all these years, seein
“Now's not the time or place, Angel. Besides, only good girls get what they ask for, and you showing up here unguarded was a seriously naughty thing to do.” She blinks at me, lowering her skirt, and she stands up. “Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, and you won't hear me begging you, Maverick.” I watch as she walks to the door and sticks her head out, looking left then right. “See you at dinner,” she calls over her shoulder. “Oh, Thomas…” She calls out to one of my barmen in a singsong voice that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “Why are you calling for Thomas?” How the fuck does she know who Thomas is too?“I need a problem solver,” she says and turns to look at Thomas when he reaches her. “Hey, Thomas. Do you consider yourself to be a problem solver?" Thomas’s gaze nervously darts between me and Arnica before he finally decides to answer. “Well… I've always been told that I have a knack for solving the impossible, most times.”I bite down on my molars, silently