Alissia POVHe leans even closer, his lips inches from mine. “Basic rules, Nova.” The way he says my pen name sends a jolt through me. “If I tell you to do something, you fucking do it. No questions, no hesitation. So if I tell you to drop to your fucking knees, what do you do?”I almost laugh, my fear battling with defiance. “Refuse,” I mutter under my breath, but I’m not sure if I’m joking or if I’m testing him.He groans, and the sound sends a shiver down my spine. His hand tightens around the gun as he presses it harder into my skin. “You drop to your fucking knees. Say it.”No. Why would I say it? My brain is screaming at me to resist. “That’s not happening,” I argue, but my voice falters.He chuckles darkly and pushes the gun harder. “Then I refuse to help you, and you don’t get what you need. I won’t touch you in that way, Alissia, even if you’re begging me to. That, I can promise you. Now, if I tell you to drop to your knees, what do you do?”I hate this. I hate him. But I can
Demitri POVI climb into the car, my thoughts entirely consumed by Alissia. She actually showed up. Despite everything, despite the danger, the obvious red flags, she came. I picked that location deliberately—secluded, ominous—to scare her out of meeting me. It was meant to push her away, to make her see the real darkness she was stepping into. But she walked right through it, like she wasn’t afraid of anything.That was foolish. She has no idea how close she came to things going very wrong. I can still feel the sting of her punch. She swung fast, and I didn’t expect it. Didn’t have time to stop it. It wasn’t just the punch though—it’s everything about her. She pushed back against me in a way no one has before. Fought against the darkness instead of running from it.Who the fuck is Alissia?“All good?” Axel glances at me from the driver’s seat, pulling me out of my thoughts.“She’s fucking crazy.” I shake my head, leaning back against the leather seat. “Did anything we found say she h
Alissia POVI’ve spent the entire morning typing up the conversation from earlier, my fingers flying across the keyboard. I still don’t know his name, but based on how he was dressed and the way he spoke, I’m assuming he’s the Don of the mafia. My thoughts keep getting interrupted as my eyes flicker to the clock. I know I should be more anxious about what’s coming, but I can’t help it. There’s an adrenaline rush tied to this whole thing.“Are you sure you should meet this one?” Jenni asks from across the room, her voice full of concern. “At the canal? It sounds… well, murderish.”I laugh, trying to shake off the unease her words bring. “Maybe he’s a murderer then,” I joke, but she groans in response, clearly not amused.“How can you laugh this off, Alissia? I still can’t believe you met that guy this morning, in the middle of nowhere! God, had he killed you, no one would have found your body for years!”I roll my eyes at her dramatic tone. “Years is a bit extreme, Jen. Weeks or months
Lucas POVI slip away from Alissia, the cool midday air clinging to my skin as I leave her sitting on that bench, her mind clearly spinning from our conversation. She has no idea what she’s getting into. That much is obvious from the way her eyes widened when I explained what happens during a real murder—the mess, the loss of control. She probably thought it was like in the movies, neat and clean. But it’s not. Death is chaos.The way her expression changed when I told her about the bodily fluids—that was when I knew. She thinks it’s simple. She thinks I walk in, shoot someone, and it’s over. But it’s never that easy. Murder is an art, and like any masterpiece, it requires time, patience, and precision. In a way, it’s a lot like stalking. Not the person necessarily, but the location, the details. Everything has to be perfect.She probably doesn’t realize how much planning goes into each kill. You don’t just grab a gun and take someone out. That’s amateur work. No, you have to get insi
Alissia POVWhen I get back, the apartment is empty. Jenni’s not home, and honestly, that’s good. I need the quiet, the space, the time to process everything that’s happened. I need to type it all out while it’s still fresh in my mind, while the adrenaline is still buzzing in my veins.I open my laptop and begin typing, my fingers moving quickly over the keys. My mind is racing, replaying everything—the guy I just met, how he spoke, the way he moved, the sharpness in his eyes, and the cold edge to his voice.I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t hot. He was... really hot.I pause for a second, letting the image of him fill my mind. He was tall, with a broad, muscular build, a rugged face shadowed by a thick beard that somehow made him look even more dangerous. Tattoos peeked out from under the sleeves of his leather jacket, crawling up his neck and down his arms, like stories inked into his skin. And those eyes—dark, intense, like they could see right through me. His whole presence screame
Alissia POVMy heart pounds in my chest as I make my way to the door, hesitating for just a second before pulling it open.A man stands there, his face impassive, holding out a box.“Yes?” I whisper, feeling the uneasy twist in my stomach.“Boss said you need to wear this tonight,” he says, handing me the box without another word. Before I can ask anything else, he turns and walks away, leaving me in the doorway holding the box.Boss? Tonight? My mind reels. He must mean the guy I met this morning—the one I’ve been calling Jackson. I glance back at my laptop, wondering if the stalker hacker had anything to do with this, but it seems quiet.Great, I think, sighing. Now he’s giving me gifts.I walk back inside, placing the box on the tab
Alissia POVWhen I walk through the door, Jenni’s waiting for me, arms crossed and eyes full of curiosity.“You’re alive,” she teases with a slight laugh, her eyebrows raising.I groan, tired of the same reaction every time I return from one of these insane meetings. “Yes, and I’ve got all fingers and toes still attached,” I reply, wiggling my fingers at her for effect.“Are you sure they’re real and not just randoms playing pretend to get your attention?” she asks, a more serious note in her voice this time.I hadn’t considered that, but something about the way these men carry themselves, the chilling confidence, tells me they aren’t pretending. “I’m sure they’re not playing pretend. There’s no way they’re faking that.”She nods slowly, eyeing me cautiously. “I was reading your work,” she says, pointing to my laptop screen.My stomach drops, and I wince. “About that,” I say, walking over to close the file on the lapt
Alissia POVAs I stand back and take in the full picture in the mirror, I barely recognize myself. I look like someone else—someone bolder, darker.What am I getting myself into?“Woah,” Jenni’s voice snaps me back to reality. She stares at me, eyes wide. “Goddamn, Alissia, he’s dressing you up like the main meal. I’m just putting it out there.”I groan and roll my eyes at her comment.“You think I’m joking? Guarantee he’s planning to eat you, not dinner,” she smirks, clearly enjoying herself.“I don’t even know if we’re having food,” I mutter, still unsure of what tonight even entails. The dress doesn’t exactly scream ‘Don lesson.’ Maybe it’s a formal event? Or is this part of
Demitri POVI let go of her chin and take a step back, giving her space but not taking my eyes off her. “I’m not your enemy, Alissia. But if you keep testing me like this, you’ll find out exactly how dangerous I can be. And believe me, that’s not what you want.”She watches me, her expression a mix of frustration and something else—something I can’t quite place yet. “You don’t scare me, Demitri,” she whispers, but her voice wavers just enough to let me know that’s a lie.I smile, just a hint of satisfaction in it. “I don’t need to scare you. I just need you to understand the rules. Follow them, and you’ll get everything you want. Defy them, and you’ll lose control of this situation faster than you can imagine.”Her jaw tightens, and she lets out a breath like she’s trying to regain her composure. But I can see it now—she’s rattled, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.She finally turns away, her shoulders tense. “You’re exhausting, you know that?”“You’re not making this easy either,
Demitri’s POVI watch as Salazar rises, satisfied with our conversation, but my mind is elsewhere. Alissia. Her defiance burns in my mind like a brand, twisting my frustration into something deeper, darker. She followed Salazar’s orders without hesitation, but when I command her, she pushes back like it’s a game.Why? Why does she challenge me so relentlessly? She wants to see my world, but she doesn’t respect its rules. That will get her killed. Worse, it will make me look weak. And weakness, in this life, is fatal.Salazar clasps my hand, his cold, calculating smile still in place as he bids his farewell. “A pleasure, as always, Demitri. Keep her in line, will you? It would be a shame to waste someone with such... spirit.” He chuckles, his gaze flickering to Alissia before turning away.I don’t respond. I just nod, my jaw clenched tight. As soon as the door closes behind Salazar, the air shifts. Silence fills the room, but it’s thick, charged with something unspoken. Alissia stands
Alissia POV“El Cuervo,” Demitri greets him, his voice respectful but firm.Salazar’s eyes shift to me, scanning me with a disconcerting intensity. “And who is this?” His voice is gravelly, accented, like each word is weighed carefully.“This is Alissia,” Demitri says, his hand still resting on my back. “She’s my personal assistant. Slowly learning the business.”Salazar’s eyes flicker with amusement, but there’s a hardness to his gaze. “Learning? This is no place for an amateur, Demitri. Can she be trusted?”Demitri stands tall, his expression unwavering. “She follows my orders. She can be trusted.”Salazar takes a step closer, his eyes narrowing as if he’s testing me, pushing for a reaction. “I don’t trust easily, Demitri. Not in this business. If she’s here, she must prove her loyalty.”The room feels smaller, the tension thicker. Demitri’s voice cuts through the silence. “Alissia, pour Salazar a drink.”Simple enough, right? But the way he says it, the demand in his tone, makes my
AlissiaI wake up to Demitri leaning over me, and I instantly hate him for it. The sleep was too good, too peaceful, and now it’s shattered by his presence. I roll out of Jenni’s bed, still half-asleep, and stumble into my room for a quick shower.Once I’m dressed—choosing a skirt and shirt that feel professional enough—I slip on my shoes and head out. As I walk into the living room, I catch Lucas and Demitri locked in a silent battle of glares. Fantastic. Not this again. I sigh, aiming for the kitchen, but Demitri’s hand shoots out, catching my arm before I can get far.“No time for that. We’ll grab you coffee on the way,” he says, his tone as smooth and controlled as ever. “Say goodbye to your serial killer friend.” His mockery is laced with amusement, but I can practically feel Lucas bristling behind me.I give Demitri a pointed look, then turn to Lucas. “Thanks for protecting me from all his... paranoia,” I quip, knowing it will get under Demitri’s skin.Lucas smirks, stepping for
Demitri POVWe stop and look around the warehouse.Axel leans in close, lowering his voice. “The shipment should arrive within the week, and the diamonds will be split for distribution in three different countries—France, Switzerland, and Dubai. Security’s tight on all ends, but you know how these things go. There’s always a risk of something slipping through the cracks.”I nod, watching as a crate is pried open nearby, revealing several small, velvet-lined boxes inside. Each contains diamonds—each sparkling like they hold secrets of their own. These stones could make or break the deal with Felipe tomorrow, but that’s not what worries me.No, what worries me is Alissia. Taking her to this meeting is playing with fire, and I’m not sure she understands just how quickly she could get burned.“Let’s get this over with,” I mutter, nodding toward the men in the office. “Then I’ll figure out how to handle tomorrow.”I push open the door to the office, the scent of stale cigars and whiskey hi
Demitri POVLeaving Alissia with Lucas was hard. There was something in Lucas’s eyes, a glint of amusement, like he had a plan—something he wasn’t telling me. But I left, trusting she would be fine. Still, it didn’t sit right. Not with the way she looked at him, not with the way Lucas seemed to thrive on her attention. I should have stayed, but I didn’t.When I return, Axel is waiting for me, leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed and an amused smirk on his face.“Finally decided to come back, huh?” he teases. “Thought maybe you got lost or something. You know you missed an important meeting this morning, right?”I shoot him a glare, but he’s not wrong. I completely forgot about the meeting. My mind’s been tangled up in Alissia. “I was… occupied,” I say, brushing past him toward the hallway.Axel follows, his smirk growing wider. “Occupied, huh? Didn’t know ‘occupied’ was code for spending the night with a certain writer. Seems like Lucas wasn’t the only one with a plan.”
Alissia POVI should pull away. I know I should. But I don’t. I'm always in control, I never give it up. Yet now? God, I'm weak.“Surrender,” he repeats, his voice a low, seductive murmur. His fingers pause at the base of my neck, lingering just above my collarbone, as if daring me to lean into his touch. “It’s not about losing control. It’s about choosing who you give it to.”The words hit me harder than I expect, like a punch to the gut. I feel my pulse quicken, heat rising in my cheeks. His fingers brush over my skin again, and this time, I can’t help it—my breath catches in my throat.I’ve been playing this game with him, with all of them—holding my ground, keeping my distance, convincing myself I’m in control. But right now? Right now, it feels like Lucas is the one holding the cards. And God, it’s intoxicating.I need to turn around. I want to turn around. But I can already feel the shift happening, like the moment I face him, everything changes. Everything. And once I do, I kno
Alissia POVI stay with my legs draped over Lucas, thinking I’m the one in control, but apparently, in his mind, it’s the opposite. Typical. Across the room, Jenni glances at me now and then, cooking dinner. I know she’s waiting for an explanation. Maybe later when I head to bed, I’ll sneak into her room and fill her in. At least there, I can speak without worrying about Lucas overhearing.“So, what made you move here?” Lucas asks, his eyes narrowing as if he’s trying to piece me together.I shrug, trying to keep it casual. “Honestly? It was kind of impulsive. One minute I’m scrolling through my feed, the next, I’m like, ‘Why not?’ So I started looking for roommates, found Jenni, and here I am.”It sounds like nothing, and to me, it really wasn’t a big deal. There’s a freedom here I couldn’t find back in the UK.“Just like that, huh?” He chuckles, not quite buying the simplicity of it. “So, a change of scenery?”I nod, grinning. I’d always wanted out of the UK, and downtown Chicago fe
Lucas POVGiving in to her now would be the easy part, but it’s not what I want—not yet. Alissia made it clear she plans to stay single, to keep her distance, and if I kissed her now, it would just be a kiss. Empty. A moment that fades before it really begins.That’s where Demitri and Blake got it wrong. They rushed in, chasing the instant satisfaction, but they missed the real game. Where was the longing, the slow burn that makes her want more? If either of them had pulled back at the last second, left her on the edge of it, she’d be craving it now. They could’ve had her thinking about it, wondering when it would happen again, wondering why it didn’t.Pulling away? It’s not rejection. It’s control. And it’s mine now, not hers.As I move back slightly, I see it. The flicker of confusion in her eyes, like she’s trying to figure me out, trying to understand why I didn’t close the distance between us. She’s used to being in control, to making the choices, deciding who she lets in. But I