Alissia POVI’m taking a leap, hoping Lucas is telling the truth. My arms wrap around his neck as he lifts me effortlessly, our lips crashing together. I let my hands drop, unfastening his trousers with quick, urgent movements. Before I can even fully process it, his hands are on me, positioning me just right, and he thrusts into me without hesitation. The sensation of the cold metal piercings sends a jolt through my body, making me moan against his mouth. His hips slam into me, each movement rough and unrelenting. I scream, but his hand immediately covers my mouth, muffling the sound.“Shh...” He chuckles, thrusting into me harder. “Unless you want them to hear and come running.”His hips move in a steady rhythm at first, slowly building intensity, each thrust deeper than the last. His free hand snakes into my hair, tugging hard and pulling my head back, though the wall behind me prevents him from getting the angle he wants. Not satisfied, he shifts, turning us
Lucas Alissia sits sulking in the back, and I can’t help but chuckle at the irony of her breaking her toe. Of all the ways to end her little game, kicking a door barefoot was a bit anticlimactic. Demitri had to carry her out of her apartment without shoes after she refused to go out and talk to him, which made it even funnier. The fact she forgot she didn't have shoes on. She had been running around and didn't notice she was barefoot. “Are you more upset over the broken toe or that your fun in tormenting us got cut short?” I ask, smirking. Her glare could melt ice. “I’m more upset that he called for backup!” She shoots a heated look at Demitri. “So much for making me choose, that changed fast.” Yeah, that threw me too. Demitri had been acting like a possessive maniac, determined
Lucas POVAlissia rolls her eyes. “So, what’s the big discussion? You’ve already told me my toe is fractured and that I need ice. Done, right?”Demitri narrows his eyes. “Stop acting like a brat, Alissia. I’m talking about us—this,” he gestures between the three of us. “This isn’t nothing.”She crosses her arms. “This is nothing, Demitri. It can never be anything. That’s why I keep saying I’m staying single.”He groans in frustration, rubbing his temples as if she’s giving him a headache. “You can’t keep saying you’re staying single.”“Why not?” she challenges. “You’re not willing to share unless I push you too far. You three are completely different, constantly battling each other. It won’t work. I’ll stay single.”She’s not entirely wrong, but she’s not entirely right either. I decide to speak up. “We can work through our differences, Alissia. Yeah, we’re different, but that’s what makes this interesting. I enjoy the chase, Blake thrives i
DemitriWatching Lucas lounge around, casually amused by the situation, I feel the tension coil even tighter. Every part of me wants to throw them out, lock the doors, and keep Alissia to myself. But I agreed to this ridiculous arrangement, so here we are, all trying to make sense of a damn lullaby while balancing on the edge of a fragile truce.Lucas breaks my thoughts, giving me that lazy, observant look of his. “You know,” he starts, voice low and deliberate. “Have you ever considered that Alissia might have ADHD or something? I mean, think about it—she’s all about keeping control, always shifting her focus, diving into everything at full speed…”I groan, rubbing my temples. “Lucas, now’s not the time for an armchair diagnosis,” I snap. “We’ve got bigger issues&m
Demitri POVBlake considers this, and then, with a calculating gleam, he sits back, tapping his fingers against the arm of his chair. “If we rearrange the lyrics or analyze any embedded patterns, it might reveal something. I’ve got a decryption program we could run this through, see if there’s anything coded in it.”Lucas, sprawled on the couch with his legs stretched out, chuckles and shoots me an amused look. “So, let me get this straight – this month isn’t just going to be about dealing with each other, but a treasure hunt too? And let me guess, half the time we’ll be reeling her back in whenever she’s caught up in her own messes?”I smirk, glancing at the hallway toward Alissia’s room. “She’s probably holding back more than she’s letting on. If we’re going to keep her safe – and in one place – we’ll need to figure this out.”Blake crosses
DemitriI stand, gathering my things. “Alright, you two stay here with her,” I say, already moving toward the door.Lucas straightens, arms crossed. “Excuse me?”I stop, barely glancing back. “What? I’ve got things to handle. Just stay here, keep an eye on her.”He doesn’t budge. “I thought we agreed to work on this together, not with you throwing orders around and expecting us to nod along.”I grit my teeth, realizing quickly that this whole “working together” idea is going to be more complicated than I’d hoped. “Fine,” I say, trying to rein in my tone. “Could you please stay here with her and make sure she doesn’t get any ideas, like raiding this place for a gun?”Blake smirks. “She won’t find them. Never mind been clever enough to crack the safe.”I glare at him. “How long have you been in my system?&r
AlissiaI woke up with a slight ache from my toe and hobbled out to find Blake and Lucas, who were comfortably lounging around. They told me Demitri’s busy working, so I settled in with ice on my foot. When Demitri came back, he had my laptop.Saying a quick thanks I fire up my laptop. It feels great to have it back; I need to dive back into my story and make some serious changes. Hours slip by as I get lost in my writing, adjusting each scene with renewed inspiration, aware of the occasional glances from both Blake and Lucas. They’re watching me; I can practically feel their eyes on me.“Food’s here,” Blake announces, breaking my focus. I stretch and close the laptop, realizing how much time has flown by.“I’ll take some down to grumpy,” I say, grabbing two plates and standing up, a bit wobbly on my injured foot.Blake smirks. “You sure you can manage?”I roll my e
Alissia POVLeaning in, I press my lips against his, feeling the heat between us ignite instantly. Lucas’s hands slide along my bare thighs, fingers digging into my flesh as he pulls me closer. His mouth moves urgently against mine, and his tongue slides past my lips, claiming my mouth as I grind against him, drawing a low groan from his throat. The scent of him—woodsy with a hint of metal—fills my senses, deepening my craving.My fingers fumble to unfasten his trousers, feeling the heat and strength under my touch. Without hesitation, he grabs the waistband of my underwear, tearing them away with a swift pull. I whimper in anticipation, my hand wrapping around his hard length, feeling the pulse of need between us as I stroke him slowly.He holds my hips, lifting me just enough so I’m kneeling over him. Then, lowe
Lucaa POVThe minutes stretch out, an hour slipping by before Demitri finally reemerges, his face a mask of contained anger as he stalks to the table and sits down heavily.“Marco confirmed the links I suspected. Volkov, Ryan, and Kozlov are all tangled up together,” he says, his voice cold. “Turns out, the shot wasn’t intended for Alissia—it was for me, but Volkov is a shit shot. But Kozlov wanted her taken too. Volkov missed his mark, but if things had gone according to plan, I’d be out, and Marco would’ve delivered her to Kozlov.”A chill runs through me, and I tighten my jaw, feeling the weight of it settle in. “So it was her past coming back all along…none of us brought this to her.”Demitri’s glare darkens. “It goes deeper than that. Marco knew she was with us, but it’s no secret to anyone now. They know she’s involved with all three of us, and that makes her
LucasAs I sit with Alissia, bundled under the thick throw from the sofa, I can’t shake the growing tension in my gut. Demitri and Blake are at the table with blueprints sprawled out, finalizing plans for tonight’s hit. My patience is running thin—sitting this one out feels wrong, but leaving Alissia alone, or worse, trusting her safety to anyone else, isn’t an option.Alissia’s still, bundled tightly, her face pale and silent as if frozen in that moment at the casino. Since it happened, she hasn’t spoken a single word, and there’s a weight in the silence between us that eats at me, adding to the creeping guilt. She’d laughed it off when I’d warned her before, shrugging off my caution, but now… I know what she’ll decide once she processes everything. No one in their right mind would stay if they knew they were a target. And it feels like my fault—Demitri never had issues with Volkov before, and th
Demitri POVI step closer, reaching out to her, my hands gentle as they cup her face. Her skin is cold under my touch, and her gaze shifts to mine, but there’s a hollow look in her eyes.“Alissia,” I say softly, keeping my voice low, “look at me.”My thumb strokes her cheek, and she blinks slowly, her eyes just barely focusing on mine. The fragile silence hangs between us, her expression lost and haunted. She’s not entirely here; her mind is still tangled in the chaos of that shot, still reliving the fear.“It’s okay, Alissia,” I murmur, my hands staying firm, my voice steady. “You’re safe. I’ve got you.”Blake narrows his eyes at me. “What exactly happened?”I exhale, frustration and adrenaline making my words feel like lead. “Everything was going smoothly. Then I saw him. Volkov, with a gun. I was too slow. Axel saw it at the same moment, and he
DemitriEverything happened too fast. I barely had time to register Volkov’s face and the glint of his gun before my instincts kicked in. I turned, intent on taking the shot myself, but Axel moved at the same time, pulling Alissia with him. The force of it all threw us to the floor, a chaotic mess of bodies and momentum.Pain flares in my arm, a sharp, hot burn where the bullet grazed me. But I can’t afford to check the damage now. My focus sharpens on Alissia, on the fact that Axel’s quick thinking saved her from taking that hit. If he hadn’t reacted, if he hadn’t dragged her down when he did… My hands tighten around her protectively as I lift her off the floor, cradling her close as we make our way out of the building with Axel covering us.I keep her head shielded, pressing her face into my chest to keep her hidden from everyone. My grip tightens with every tremor I feel from her body. The way she clings to me, makes every
Alissia POVEverything before now felt like a warm-up compared to this—like child’s play. These men aren’t just dealers or associates. They exude a power that’s deep-rooted, the kind that demands respect and evokes fear in equal measure. Their conversations drift into my ears, dense with cryptic language and undertones of authority. Every word seems to carry a hidden weight, an implication that would take years in this world to fully understand.I’m trying to keep up, my mind racing to piece together fragments of meaning when I feel Demitri’s fingers graze my exposed thigh. It’s a simple, almost absentminded touch, yet it grounds me in an instant. His fingers trace gentle patterns on my skin, moving slowly along the inside of my thigh. His touch is possessive but soothing, a reminder that, to him, I’m not just an accessory in this world of shadows and deals.Across the table, one of the men, a tall, middle-aged fig
AlissiaI slowly come to as a gentle nudge stirs me from sleep, and I blink my eyes open to find Demitri’s face hovering above me. His eyes are warm but intent, and he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.“You’ve got two hours to get ready,” he murmurs, his voice low and smooth.“Two hours?” I sit up, groggy and surprised. “That’s way more than I need,” I laugh, brushing my hair back. “I can be ready in half an hour.”Demitri’s mouth quirks up slightly, but his expression remains determined. “It would be enough time if you were getting ready on your own. But tonight, I have a team to help,” he says, voice firm but teasing. “Now, go on, shower, and throw something on for now. Meet me back out here when you’re done.” He kisses me again and walks out, leaving me both curious and a bit wary of what’s to come.I shuffle out of bed, stretch
Lucas POVBlake looks over at me from across the room, noticing my intense focus. He raises an eyebrow. “Going over the details of a new hit?” He walks over and leans in reading the screen.“Yeah. The guy’s paranoid as hell, but he’s got weak spots,” I reply, still scanning the screen. “Tomorrow, I’ll go by the place, do some on-the-ground recon. If it all goes to plan, I’ll be in and out before they know what happened.”He nods, his gaze drifting momentarily. “Be careful. With Volkov, things rarely go according to plan.”“Always am,” I say, though my mind flashes back to Alissia for a second. This job has no mercy for hesitation, for divided focus, and with her, things are becoming complicated.Blake glances at me, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You know, I could help with the tech side—security feeds, camera interference, the works. If this guy’s
LucasIn the quiet aftermath of telling her about my past, a weight still lingers in my chest. It’s like speaking the truth out loud made it even more real, dredging up old wounds I’d prefer to keep buried. But her presence, her warmth against me as I carry her toward the bathroom, brings a strange kind of comfort too. It’s twisted, really—how much I want her here and how much that want terrifies me.Setting her down gently, I move to the tub, filling it with warm water and adding a faintly scented oil I found in one of Demitri’s cabinets. Well hers now, as this is her room. She watches me, her eyes soft, and the sight of her looking so tired yet trusting does something to me I can’t explain. I step out of my own clothes and reach out, helping her into the bath and settling in behind her, wrapping her up against my chest. She relaxes, leaning into me, and for a moment, the fear eases.But as I let the silence stretch, my mind
Alissia POVFinally, the blindfold is loosened, and as my vision clears, I see Blake’s wicked grin hovering close, eyes gleaming with unmasked amusement. He leans in, his breath warm against my skin. Demitri moves one of the ear buds. “Ready to beg yet?” Blake questions.I narrow my eyes, refusing to give him that satisfaction. A defiant shake of my head is all he gets, though I can’t ignore the flush of heat surging through me, my body betraying my resolve.Demitri appears from behind, his hand slipping under my chin to tilt my head back as he leans in, voice a dark, tempting whisper. “You’re holding out well, kisa, but how much longer before that defiance crumbles?”His words wrap around me, insidious and coaxing, filling the space that silence left. It’s a twisted game they&rs