Alissia POVJenni unties me, still giggling, and I rip off the blindfold, glaring at the door. Part of me wishes he was still here. Damn him.“I saw this all coming,” Jenni says, sitting there with that knowing smirk, clearly enjoying the mess I’ve gotten myself into. “How can you keep refusing to accept you like them, and they want you?”“It’s not that simple,” I mutter. “Giving up, agreeing to be with any of them—it’s just not that simple.”Jenni raises an eyebrow. “Why not? You’re acting like it’s the end of the world.”I rub my temples, feeling the frustration build. “Relationships and me? We don’t mix well. Plus... how would I even choose?” I throw my hands up. “There’s three of them, Jenni. Three! That just makes everything way more complicated.”She grins like she’s got it all figured out. “Blake Monday and Tuesday. Lucas Wednesday and Thursday. Demitri Friday and Saturday. Then Sunday, relax and gain back your energy to go again.” She laughs, clearly amused by her own joke.I
Demitri POVThe silence is deafening. It baffles me, irritates me. Alissia’s been utterly quiet, not a single message, not even a hint of her usual defiance. I expected her to push back, to fight me as she always does, but this? This silence feels different. It feels final, like she’s done with all of it—shadowing me, playing the game, toying with the control she so desperately clings to. It’s as if she’s walked away from me entirely, and that unsettles me in ways I can’t explain.I can’t shake the feeling. My mind keeps circling back to her, wondering if this was her way of winning—by disappearing, cutting off all contact. It gnaws at me, this loss of control. She’s flipped everything on its head, and I’m left standing here, unsure whether to let her go or pull her back in.Temptation rises. I could send out a message, have someone track her down, find out which club she’s in with Jenni tonight. Just “accidentally” bump into her, play it off like a coincidence, and when she least exp
Demitri POVShe keeps dancing, her body moving in ways that tear my restraint to shreds. My mind is at war, fighting against the idea of giving in, of letting her win this round. But my body is screaming for her, every muscle tense with need. Her hands grip my knees tighter as she moves between my legs, pushing me to the edge of losing myself completely.I clench my jaw, fists balling against the urge to slam her against the wall and tear the clothes from her body. I know her though—she’ll fight it, she’ll resist, and she’ll enjoy every second of it.“I’ll just go to the next room since you can’t give me the control I want,” she taunts, turning as if she’s about to walk away.My hand snaps out, gripping her waist and pulling her back to me, my patience cracking. “Fine,” I grit out, the word burning in my throat.“Fine?” She tilts her head, stepping even closer, the tension between us electrifying.“You have my control,” I say, the words forced but heavy with meaning.She smiles—sweet
AlissiaI stay above Demitri, my mind screaming at me that this was never part of the plan. I swore I wouldn’t let it get this far, that I’d keep my distance, decide between them, figure out what I wanted. But here I am. And Demitri—this man who never gives up control—is groaning beneath me.I know the second I let go, he’ll snap back, reclaim that control, dominate the situation like he always does. So I draw it out, pushing him further, testing the limits. How far will he let me take this? It's a question that stays in my mind. This might not happen again, so I'm taking everything that I possibly can right now.His groans vibrate against my lips as I stroke him, my hand working over his cock with slow, deliberate movements. Meanwhile, my other hand reaches for his tie, pulling it free without breaking our kiss. I keep his mouth locked to mine—if he thinks for even a second, he’ll regain control, and I’m not letting that happen. I move my hand over his cock faster and harder, ensurin
Demitri POVI watch her as she grows heavier against me, slipping deeper into sleep. My mind’s racing, replaying everything that just happened. What the hell was that? There’s giving up control, and then...fuck. I didn’t just give up control—I let her tie me down, blindfold me, and fuck me.Every part of me was waiting for her to stop, to make it some twisted power game, but she didn’t. She actually went through with it. And because I wasn’t expecting it, I barely even processed that she pinned me down, choked me, and completely dominated me.No woman’s ever taken control like that, not with me. I’ve always been the one in charge, especially in bed. This wasn’t just a game of power. If it was, she wouldn’t have gone that far, wouldn’t have fucked me.But what does that even mean? I can’t stay here and overthink this. I gently move her, laying her down as I try to gath
Blake I sit, tapping my fingers impatiently, while glares at his phone like it owes him an apology. I get it—he’s pissed—but honestly, he kind of deserves Demitri rubbing it in his face that he fucked Alissia. I say “fucked,” but who knows? Though, that picture Demitri sent definitely screamed it. I glance over at Lucas, hoping for a clue. He just shrugs. “We can handle this ourselves, leave him out of it,” he says, casual as ever. I snort. “Oh, sure. Let’s just stroll up to the Russian mob boss without backup.” I laugh, but it’s humorless. “Has he said anything at all? He demanded to be the first one told, and now? Crickets.” Lucas chuckles, and I squint at him, realization dawning. “You didn’t tell him, did you? Seriously?” I
Blake POVI watch as Demitri calls his guys in, because of course he’s not going anywhere without backup. Meanwhile, Lucas is pacing, laser-focused on the Ryan Jenkins situation. He keeps insisting that Ryan is his mark—his hunt. It’s the guy he’s been chasing for weeks, the one he wanted Alissia to shadow him with. Lucas wants to control the entire situation, and it’s causing tension between him and Demitri.“Stop it. At this rate, Ryan’s going to walk free while you two are busy fighting each other,” I snap, trying to cut through the mounting tension.Before either of them can respond, we hear a voice.“Ryan?”I turn and see Alissia standing in the doorway, wearing one of Demitri’s shirts, rubbing her eyes like she just woke up. Why the hell is she awake? Demitri hadn’t even gone to get her yet.“Go get dressed, little one,” Demitri says, flashing her a smile. “We’ve got somewhere to be.”“Dressed in what, Demitri? You kidnapped me and left all my clothes at the club,” she mutters,
LucasMy eyes stay locked on Alissia. After what happened in the kitchen, I was certain I’d won—certain that she was mine. But she keeps insisting she’s staying single, though her actions speak differently. She may have slept with Demitri, but in my mind, she’s already claimed. Every sign points to it, so Demitri can enjoy his brief moment with her, because going forward, nothing like that is happening again.Demitri’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “We don’t have solid confirmation yet that Ryan Jenkins is working with Sergei Kozlov. But given Ryan’s been posting those messages and stalking you, there’s a chance he’s involved.”He turns to Alissia. “Kozlov’s the type who stays in the shadows until he’s ready to strike. He doesn’t get his hands dirty unless he knows he’s got an easy target.”Alissia narrows her eyes. “So, we’re going to Ryan, hoping he admits to his connection with Kozlov?”“No,” Blake cuts in, drawing all of our attention. “Before you shoot me or carve me to death,
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