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 should’ve chosen the dress. Axel warned me not to get too involved, but the one they picked? It’s damn close to what I would have selected. Maybe I should’ve told them no slit, make sure it covers her shoulders—something a bit less revealing. But here we are, and she’s sitting there with the dress hugging her curves, the slit revealing just enough of her legs to make it impossible to concentrate.I try to focus on tonight’s business, but the way she’s seated, both her legs are showing in a way that has my attention splitting in two. Axel catches my eye in the rearview mirror, giving me a knowing smirk, as if he can sense the internal battle I’m facing.There are a few reasons for tonight. First, I want her to feel what it’s like for the characte
Alissia POVWe stare at the masterpiece in front of us, both marveling at its presentation. When we finally cut into the crispy shell, the savory aroma that wafts out is heavenly. Each bite is a delightful mix of textures and flavors—the smoky salami, the tender meatballs, the melted cheese, and the rich, buttery pastry crust. We eat slowly, savoring each bite, occasionally exchanging looks of awe.“This is… amazing,” Jenni sighs, eyes closed in bliss.“Demitri was right about this place,” I say, thoroughly enjoying the meal. After a moment, I take a deep breath, and Jenni notices the thoughtful look on my face.“So,” she says, arching an eyebrow, “you look like there’s something else you want to share.”A small smile tugs at my lips. “I told them I love them,” I say, watching her eyes light up.“Wait, really? All three of them?”I nod, feeling
Alissia POVAs I step into the room, all three of them turn to face me, eyes sharp and expectant.“Where do you think you’re going?” Demitri’s voice is calm but curious.“To grab something to eat,” I say, unable to hold back a grin. “Jenni and I are going to have some food, maybe a few drinks, just to relax.”Demitri raises an eyebrow. “Go to La Dolce.” Demitri looks at me.“We will, so is that a yes?” I ask.“Fine. Just promise me you’re not getting wasted.” Demitri laughs.I hold up my pinky finger, giving him my most innocent smile. “Pinky promise. I’ll keep it classy.”He nods, though his gaze is still assessing. “Alright. Axel will drive you both there and pick you up. You don’t leave that restaurant, understood? If you need anything, call.”“I won’t leave. I promise,” I ass
Alissia POVJenni relaxes a bit more, then looks over at my laptop. “So, how’s the story coming along?” she asks, a hint of curiosity brightening her eyes. “Did you get much done today?”I glance at the screen and let out a small laugh. “It’s coming along, I think. A lot of it is inspired by what’s happened recently—though I’m definitely taking some liberties.” I tap the keys absentmindedly, thinking of the fictional twists I’ve added, but there’s a thread of reality that I know she can pick up on.“Is it still about that reckless author who dives into the criminal world to experience it for her book?” she teases. “Trying to understand those three mysterious men?”I chuckle. “Absolutely. She just keeps digging herself in deeper and deeper. It’s more complicated now, though. She’s starting to realize that it’s not just her career on
Alissia POVAfter a long soak in the bath, I slip into something comfortable, letting the warmth linger as I step into the main room. Demitri and Axel are seated, heads close together, clearly engrossed in some business matter. I grab my laptop, determined to finally make progress on my story. Writing has been an uphill climb lately, but with a deep breath, I settle in, knowing I can’t put it off any longer.About ten minutes in, I feel restless, my fingers drumming against the keyboard. I close the laptop, needing a small break. “Coffee?” I offer, needing one myself, Demitri’s eyes lift, a soft smile forming.“Sure,” he replies, nodding. I move to the kitchen, pulling out the cups and setting up the coffeemaker. A moment later, strong arms slide around my waist, pulling me back against a familiar chest. My body instantly relaxes, a smile tugging at my lips as Demitri’s hand traces a slow path up the inside of my top, hi
Blake POVOdell leans back in his cell, putting on an exaggerated pout. “Aw, come on, Lucas. I was really looking forward to having a new toy in here. You can’t just dangle the possibility and take it away. Can’t you work a little magic and get the cutie locked up anyway?”Lucas chuckles, shaking his head. “Who knows, Odell. If he slips up again, he just might end up right where you want him.” With that, he ends the call, slipping his phone back into his pocket.Jake is staring at Lucas with a sickened expression, the reality of what just happened settling heavily on his face. Lucas smirks, a glint of dark amusement in his eyes. “All the best underground men have connections, Jake. Consider this a guarantee—if you go back on the deal, you’ll find yourself kept nice and warm every night by Odell. And he’ll be waiting.”Jake swallows, his face pale as he nods, finally underst
Blake POVI’ve been at this for well over an hour, digging through every piece of information on Jake with Lucas by my side. We’ve uncovered bits and pieces, small incriminating details here and there, but nothing substantial enough to send him running from Jenni for good. Every promising lead fizzles out, and frustration gnaws at me. Without the option to kill him—since Jenni would inevitably blame Alissia for any “mysterious disappearance”—we’re left with blackmail or some other way to scare him off.Lucas mutters under his breath, frustration clearly getting to him as well. Then, out of nowhere, he chuckles, the sound low and amused. I look up from my screen, curious.“You found something?” I ask, hopeful.“No, but I’d bet anything that, based on how long they’ve been quiet, she’s probably got Demitri under her thumb,” he smirks, eyes glinting with amusement.I g
Alissia POVWith a playful smirk, I slip off his lap, stepping back to let his anticipation build, and turn to the wall where the riding crop hangs. I take my time reaching for it, letting him see exactly what’s coming next, his eyes narrowing as I turn back to him with the crop in hand."Alissia," he growls. I smile, the leather handle feels warm and familiar in my grip, and I run it slowly up his thigh, watching the way his muscles tense with each inch it travels. He’s trying to hide his reaction, but the light in his eyes betrays him.I stroke the crop up his chest, tracing a path along his abs, letting it dance over his collarbone, teasing him as he breathes a little faster. Without warning, I flick my wrist, letting the crop tap his shoulder lightly. He stiffens, but there’s a spark in his gaze, his lips pressing into a tight line as he suppresses the smirk I know is fighting to surface.I climb back onto his lap, feeling the heat r
Alissia POVTurning to my closet, I run my fingers over the rows of carefully chosen outfits, my eyes settling on a pair of towering black heels. I slip them on, the extra height adding a confidence that makes me grin. I glance across the shelves lined with lingerie, eyeing the sets, each more daring than the last.If I’m going to break him tonight, I’ll need to make it worth his while. A lap dance, perhaps? Slowly stripping, just to watch him squirm in that perfect combination of lust and restraint? The thought makes me smirk, and I reach for a set of black lace that leaves little to the imagination, with thin straps and delicate material that hugs in all the right places.I study myself in the mirror for a second. The reflection staring back at me is both fierce and playful, fully aware of the power she holds tonight. I give my hair a slight tousle, running a finger along my lower lip as I consider my next move. Then, slipping on a
Alissia POVI make my way down the hall and slip into the hidden room that Demitri calls his “sanctuary,” but I’ve taken to calling it what it truly is—his personal dungeon. Dark, luxurious walls lined with velvet and leather greet me, along with the faint scent of musk and rich wood. It’s a place where he’s always been in control, where every inch of it has been arranged to cater to his dominance. But today, I want to turn that on its head. I know when he's in this room, Axel knows not to try contact him. It's where he hides from things even if he's not using it.I let my fingers trail over the variety of implements he’s neatly arranged on a sideboard. There’s an artistry to how he’s laid them out, like they’re his favorite tools. The leather cuffs, the ropes, the paddle, each placed with deliberate care. I pick up one of the silk scarves, running the soft material between my fingers as a small grin plays on