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
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,
Please note: This a dark romance story, it features dark content.Alissia POVI sit at my desk, staring blankly at the blinking cursor on my screen. It mocks me, as if it knows I have no idea where to start with my latest attempt. Dark romance. The genre I never thought I’d touch. But after bombing miserably in everything else—comedy, fantasy, sci-fi, even horror—I figured I’d give it a shot. How hard could it be to blend the raw, twisted emotions of a toxic relationship with an edge of danger? Apparently, harder than I thought.“Alissia, seriously?” Jenni’s voice cuts through my thoughts like a knife, sharp and teasing. “Dark romance now?”I swivel my chair to face her. She’s sprawled out on the couch in our tiny living room, legs draped over the armrest like she owns the place. Well, technically, we share the apartment, but she’s definitely made herself more comfortable. Her blonde hair is a mess of waves, and she’s wearing one of those oversized graphic tees with some sarcastic quo
Alissia POVHer smile fades, eyes narrowing as she studies me. “Yeah, sure you are.” She laughs again, but there’s a hint of unease in her tone. “Wait... I thought this was all a fucking joke! No, Alissia, no. And no. You can’t go meet these weird people you don’t know!”“I’ll be protected,” I say, trying to sound confident, although deep down, I have no idea how I’m going to protect myself.“How?” she snaps. “By telling them you’re giving them a pseudonym in your book? Sure, they won’t kill you then, will they?” She waves her arms around, exasperated. “Oh my God, I’m going to have to tell the police I gave you the idea when they find your mutilated body in the desert!”I roll my eyes. “You’re being dramatic. I’ll figure it out, Jen. For instance, I won’t use my real name—I’ll use the name that I publish under.”Jenni’s eyes widen. “This is crazy! Do you even know how to find these people? What are you going to do? Post on Facebook, ‘Recruiting a stalker, murderer, and Mafia Don for r
Alissia POVJake drops down onto the couch, his eyes narrowing at the piece of paper filled with lists. He picks it up, reading over it, and a small laugh escapes him. “What is all this?” He looks at me, shaking his head.“Oh, you know, just a list of random people who could kill us that Alissia wants to shadow for a week,” Jenni chimes in with a chuckle.Jake raises an eyebrow, turning his amused gaze back to me. “Right, okay. Sounds fun. Why am I here?”“For that reason, Jake. I need your help,” I say, my voice more serious than I intended. His eyes flicker with curiosity.“Help with what?” His expression turns cautious.“I need to find out how to get on the dark web and talk to people there,” I say, holding my breath, waiting for the laughter.And he doesn’t disappoint. He laughs so hard his head tilts back. But when he looks at me again and sees my expression hasn’t changed, his smile fades. “Shit, you’re being serious?”I nod. “Yeah, I am.”Jake stares at me like I’ve grown a sec
Alissia POVI sit back, staring at the screen, the cursor blinking at me, daring me to close the tab. I can’t move. What if someone actually replies? What if this post is the beginning of something that gets me hurt—or worse?My gut twists again, and I feel the weight of my reckless decision settling in. But despite the fear, there’s an undeniable thrill that rushes through me. This is exactly what I need to stand out, to write the story that could finally get me noticed.No turning back now.I watch the screen, my heart pounding in my chest as pings start echoing through the silence of the apartment. Ping. Ping. Ping. Notifications flood in, comments stacking up faster than I expected. My stomach twists, and a part of me is terrified to read them.Something tells me ninety-nine percent of these replies will be full of mockery, sarcasm, or worse—threats. Still, if I don’t read through them, how will I know if anyone serious is out there?Sighing, I click to open the post.The replies
This chapter contains dark contentDemitri’s POVI peer down at the mess that is scattered across the concrete floor. New guards are hard to find, ones who stick to the rules and live long enough are even harder to find. I consider it, sighing as I shake my head in disappointment. “Such a fucking waste. He was a good little guard,” I mutter, stepping over the mangled body parts, the smell in the air is like metal and rot. “Little guard?” Tony, my personal butcher, chuckles, wiping his blood-soaked hands on a rag that’s already stained. His usual smirk twists his face. “This guy had more meat on him than anyone you’ve ever brought me. You call that little?” He kicks part of the guard like it’s a slab of pork.I sigh again and nod, crouching down to pick up one of the hands. “True, but look at these hands.” I toss it to Tony, who catches it mid-air with a laugh. The fingers look like sausages, bloated and useless.“Fuck, could he even hold one of your guns with these sausages?” His wor
Demitri POVI pull out my burner phone, punch in her number from the file, and type a message.You want to shadow someone? Meet me tomorrow at 6 a.m. I’ll send the location. We’re practically neighbors, Alissia.I hit send, not entirely relaxing. This is going to be interesting.I send another message before she can respond.And delete that post before you end up in your own story.I lean back, waiting. A moment later, my phone vibrates.Who is this?I laugh under my breath. Bold.You don’t get to ask questions. Not until I know you’re not setting me up.Her reply comes almost instantly.So, I’m supposed to meet you without even knowing your name? You’re funny. It's fine, I know a hacker, I'm sure I can find out who you are.I smirk. She’s got some fire in her, I’ll give her that.Please go ahead, you can tell me all about how you failed when I see you tomorrow.Failed? Oh, you're sweet, you think I'm stupid, don't you?Didn’t your parents ever teach you it’s dangerous to talk to stra
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