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
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,
AlissiaI storm away from Demitri, refusing to give him the control he craves so desperately. I know, deep down, I’ll have to give in eventually, but not now. Right now, I’m holding the reins, and it feels damn good. Besides, it’s one less obstacle for me to handle tomorrow night while I’m dancing.As I put more distance between myself and the warehouse, I wave down a taxi. By the time I climb inside and tell the driver my address, I’m already trying to shake off the encounter. It’s barely eight in the morning, and Demitri’s little power play with Salazar lasted only half an hour. It felt more like a rushed visit than anything substantial.I wonder... if I told them all that I’ve had enough, would they back off? At least for tomorrow night? Let me breathe, let me dance without them hovering over my shoulder. I know they’ll be back after that, but a little freedom for one night would make everything so much easier.Months have passed since I submitted that video to dance at Saints and
Alissia POVAs I sit down, I glance at the screen where the live feeds are playing, and something catches my eye. “Wait... did you actually get inside their house?” I point at the screen, where a dress is hung on the back of the door.Blake smirks, clearly pleased with himself. “Yup. Wife’s at work, so I snuck in, tapped into their cameras. Oh, and I may have sent the boss a little gift.” His grin widens, and I groan.“What did you do now?” I ask, trying to suppress a laugh as I lean in closer to the screen.“Just watch.” He gestures toward the office camera, his eyes glinting with mischief. I lean in, staring at the screen as the boss sits at his desk, typing away. Then, right on cue, the guy he’s having an affair with walks in.“Same time, like clockwork,” Blake says, sounding way too smug.I watch the scene unfold, feeling like a voyeur in someone else’s dirty secret. They don’t waste time. Clothes start hitting the floor, and before I know it, I’m watching what can only be describ
Blake POVI’m staying tonight to watch over her. Lucas is out gathering more intel on Jenkins, her ex, and Demitri just messaged me with a vague update. He said she’s making her own way home, but something feels off. Did Demitri send her away, or did she leave on her own?“Fun date with Demitri?” I ask, smirking, but she groans in response.“If by fun you mean him telling me what to do, and me refusing, then sure, it was a blast,” she says, rolling her eyes.I chuckle. “Sounds like a real joy. You’ve got some serious issues with giving up control, don’t you?”Her glare could cut glass, but I just raise my hands defensively. “Hey, just an observation, Kitten. And your words kinda confirm it.”“He’ll learn,” she mutters, more to herself than to me.I laugh, leaning back. “He’ll learn? Pretty sure he said it’s you who needs to learn,” I tease, throwing in a wink.Her eyes narrow. “He can’t always have control. Something will make him give it up.”I arch a brow. “Oh, you’ve got a plan, do
Blake POVAlissia leans forward, eyes narrowed in thought. I can practically see the wheels turning in her head, and I know she’s going to come up with something twisted—she’s got that fire in her now.“We could start small,” she begins, her voice cold and calculating. “Something subtle, like anonymous messages. He thinks he’s in control, that his secrets are safe, but we’ll slowly make him doubt that. We let him feel the pressure build. Just little hints at first. A picture of him with one of his lovers, left somewhere his wife could find it, but we ensure he finds it first. Maybe a cryptic message sent to his personal email—‘I know your secret.’ That’ll freak him out.”I nod, letting her continue.“Once he starts to spiral, we up the ante,” she says, her voice growing more confident. “We send something to his work. A letter addressed to his CEO, or a colleague, implying that he’s been using company time and resources for personal... activities. Maybe a snippet of the sex tape, with
AlissiaBlake’s always been strange, but then again, all three of them are caught up in some twisted competition to win me over. What they don’t realize is—I’m staying single. I’ll fight this to the end if I have to. None of them are going to win because none of them seem to get it. They’re all obsessed with control, and that’s not something I can give up.I refuse to be with anyone who needs to control everything. That’s just not me.Last night with Blake was quiet. We barely spoke, aside from a few plans about the boss we’re stalking. It felt like we were two strangers on the same mission. When it was over, I went to bed, woke up, and the day dragged on in a heavy silence. I spent most of the day writing, diving into my story, while Blake tinkered with my laptop, making sure the tracking issues were sorted.By midday, Blake left, and Lucas showed up. But even with him, things were quiet. There wasn’t much conversation, just him focusing on Jenkins—the guy who, I now know for sure, i
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