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,
Lucas POVTime ticks on, and I can hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears as we wait for her to make contact. I catch a glimpse of Ryan as he opens the door on the camera—cool, collected, and completely unaware of what’s about to happen.But he will. Soon.“Here we go,” Demitri mutters, eyes narrowing as Alissia begins to speak. Ryan’s face shifts into a smirk, and I feel my gut twist. This is it.“Stay sharp,” I murmur, my body ready to run in if needed.And then, just like that, the game begins.“Alissia?” Ryan’s voice comes through the comms, trying to sound surprised, but the look on his face says otherwise. Smug bastard.“I heard you lived here. Didn’t think it was real,” Alissia replies, her voice light, almost playful. I know she’s smiling, playing her part perfectly.Ryan tilts his head, feigning innocence. “How’d you figure out where I live?”“It wasn’t hard. I was chasing down some people who knew my uncle, and they mentioned you’d moved. One of them gave me your address,
AlissiaWhen I wake, everything feels foggy. Ryan’s face flashes in my mind—the last thing I remember before everything went dark. My body feels heavy, but I force myself to sit up. I know I screwed up. They warned me not to drink anything, and I didn’t listen.Blake is next to me, his shoulder solid and warm beneath my head. I lean into him, drawing comfort from the quiet strength he offers. I hear Ryan’s screams in the background, the sickening sound of flesh tearing. I know I should be horrified, maybe even disgusted, but I’m not. It’s strange. The sight of blood splattering across the floor, the broken, mangled pieces of Ryan scattered about it doesn’t faze me.Lucas steps forward, his presence as menacing as ever. His hand wraps around Ryan’s hair, yanking his head back with brutal force. The blade in Lucas’s hand gleams under the dim light, and he presses it to Ryan’s neck, his grip unwavering.“Listen carefully, Ryan,” Lucas growls, his voice low and dangerous. “Before the sun
Alissia POVDemitri’s stare is fierce, as if he’s trying to burn through me with his gaze alone, but I don’t flinch. I refuse to back down, even with the weight of his anger bearing down on me. I can see the war in his eyes—he’s used to having control, to owning whatever he wants. But I’m not something to be owned.“Alissia,” he growls, stepping closer, his voice lowering dangerously. “You can’t just walk away from this. We fucked, and that means something.”I roll my eyes, standing up and squaring my shoulders as I face him. “We fucked, Demitri. It was sex, not some kind of binding contract. I’m not yours to control just because we had one night.”His lips curl into a sneer, his frustration boiling over. “You think it’s just about sex? It’s more than that, and you know it.”Blake, still smirking, chimes in from behind Demitri. “She’s not a prize, Demitri. You don’t get to claim her like some trophy. Besides, you’re not the only one she’s interested in.”Demitri’s glare snaps to Blake
BlakeWe pull up outside a small café, the early morning light just starting to filter through the buildings. It’s quiet, almost serene—completely different from the chaos we’ve just left behind. It’s almost seven now, an early breakfast, but this is more than just food. Things need to be sorted, and I’ve got a feeling it’s not going to be easy. Alissia, for all her stubbornness and control, has been brushing everything off like none of this is serious, like she’s untouchable.We order, then sit at a table near the window. I watch her, the way she casually smiles, like the weight of the past few days hasn’t affected her. It’s like she’s built this wall, one that even danger can’t crack. And I get it—she’s stuck in her ways, doesn’t want to admit she’s vulnerable. But this? This is different.“Look,” I start, careful not to sound like I’m about to lecture her. Alissia doesn’t respond well to that. “You like to think everything’s a game, and I get that. But this isn’t just a game, Aliss
Blake POVEven if Lucas and Demitri agree to play nice, how do we navigate this? She’s essentially dating all three of us, and while that might fly in certain circles, in the real world? That’s complicated as hell.We sit and eat in comfortable silence, one of those rare moments where there’s no tension, no need to fill the air with words. But the question still lingers at the back of my mind. Why? Why is she so obsessed with control? Demitri needs it because he’s the Don; it’s expected of him. He’s in charge of everyone and everything in his world. But Alissia? Her need for control goes beyond simple independence. There’s something deeper, something that makes her afraid to give it up.When we finish eating, I lean back in my chair and glance at her. “Let’s head back to your place for a bit,” I suggest, keeping my tone casual. “I think it’s time we talked.”She raises an eyebrow but doesn’t argue, which surprises me. A quick cab ride later, we’re back at her apartment. The city is st
AlissiaI don’t know if I actually remember the lullaby or if it’s just the fragments my mind has clung to. My uncle always sang it in Russian, and I never thought much of it at the time. But something about Blake mentioning it, triggers something in me.“Wait!” I leap up, rushing to my bedroom. I crawl under the bed, reaching for an old box I kept hidden away.Blake laughs behind me. “If you’re trying to hide, you’re doing a pretty shit job. Your legs are out,” he jokes, and I laugh despite the intensity of the moment. I grab the items inside the box, but when I try to wiggle out, I realize I’m stuck.“Drag me out. I’m stuck!” I call out, wiggling helplessly. His hands grasp my knees, and with a swift tug, he pulls me free. I flip onto my back, breathless and laughing.He kneels over me, grinning. “Having fun under there?” His voice dips low as he leans in, his lips brushing mine. For a second, I lose myself in the kiss. That familiar warmth spreads through me, threatening to cloud m
Alissia POVAs our bodies press against each other, his lips leave mine and start trailing down my neck, igniting a trail of goosebumps in their wake. A soft moan escapes my lips when he reaches the curve of my shoulder, his breath sending shivers down my spine.I arch my back as Blake kisses lower and lower, his touch setting every nerve on fire. When he finally reaches between my thighs, I gasp at the anticipation of what’s to come. He teases me with feather-light kisses, driving me wild with desire.Blake’s voice drips with desire as he growls, “You’re so fucking beautiful,” against my skin, his breath hot and intoxicating. He kneels between my parted legs, his eyes roaming over every inch of me like he’s savoring the sight. The intensity of his gaze sends a shiver down my spine, and a moan escapes my lips before I can stop it.He smirks, lowering his head to plant a kiss on the inside of my thigh. “I bet you taste even better than you look, little birdie. Want me to prove it?” His
Alissia POVLeaning in, I press my lips against his, feeling the heat between us ignite instantly. Lucas’s hands slide along my bare thighs, fingers digging into my flesh as he pulls me closer. His mouth moves urgently against mine, and his tongue slides past my lips, claiming my mouth as I grind against him, drawing a low groan from his throat. The scent of him—woodsy with a hint of metal—fills my senses, deepening my craving.My fingers fumble to unfasten his trousers, feeling the heat and strength under my touch. Without hesitation, he grabs the waistband of my underwear, tearing them away with a swift pull. I whimper in anticipation, my hand wrapping around his hard length, feeling the pulse of need between us as I stroke him slowly.He holds my hips, lifting me just enough so I’m kneeling over him. Then, lowe
AlissiaI woke up with a slight ache from my toe and hobbled out to find Blake and Lucas, who were comfortably lounging around. They told me Demitri’s busy working, so I settled in with ice on my foot. When Demitri came back, he had my laptop.Saying a quick thanks I fire up my laptop. It feels great to have it back; I need to dive back into my story and make some serious changes. Hours slip by as I get lost in my writing, adjusting each scene with renewed inspiration, aware of the occasional glances from both Blake and Lucas. They’re watching me; I can practically feel their eyes on me.“Food’s here,” Blake announces, breaking my focus. I stretch and close the laptop, realizing how much time has flown by.“I’ll take some down to grumpy,” I say, grabbing two plates and standing up, a bit wobbly on my injured foot.Blake smirks. “You sure you can manage?”I roll my e
DemitriI stand, gathering my things. “Alright, you two stay here with her,” I say, already moving toward the door.Lucas straightens, arms crossed. “Excuse me?”I stop, barely glancing back. “What? I’ve got things to handle. Just stay here, keep an eye on her.”He doesn’t budge. “I thought we agreed to work on this together, not with you throwing orders around and expecting us to nod along.”I grit my teeth, realizing quickly that this whole “working together” idea is going to be more complicated than I’d hoped. “Fine,” I say, trying to rein in my tone. “Could you please stay here with her and make sure she doesn’t get any ideas, like raiding this place for a gun?”Blake smirks. “She won’t find them. Never mind been clever enough to crack the safe.”I glare at him. “How long have you been in my system?&r
Demitri POVBlake considers this, and then, with a calculating gleam, he sits back, tapping his fingers against the arm of his chair. “If we rearrange the lyrics or analyze any embedded patterns, it might reveal something. I’ve got a decryption program we could run this through, see if there’s anything coded in it.”Lucas, sprawled on the couch with his legs stretched out, chuckles and shoots me an amused look. “So, let me get this straight – this month isn’t just going to be about dealing with each other, but a treasure hunt too? And let me guess, half the time we’ll be reeling her back in whenever she’s caught up in her own messes?”I smirk, glancing at the hallway toward Alissia’s room. “She’s probably holding back more than she’s letting on. If we’re going to keep her safe – and in one place – we’ll need to figure this out.”Blake crosses
DemitriWatching Lucas lounge around, casually amused by the situation, I feel the tension coil even tighter. Every part of me wants to throw them out, lock the doors, and keep Alissia to myself. But I agreed to this ridiculous arrangement, so here we are, all trying to make sense of a damn lullaby while balancing on the edge of a fragile truce.Lucas breaks my thoughts, giving me that lazy, observant look of his. “You know,” he starts, voice low and deliberate. “Have you ever considered that Alissia might have ADHD or something? I mean, think about it—she’s all about keeping control, always shifting her focus, diving into everything at full speed…”I groan, rubbing my temples. “Lucas, now’s not the time for an armchair diagnosis,” I snap. “We’ve got bigger issues&m
Lucas POVAlissia rolls her eyes. “So, what’s the big discussion? You’ve already told me my toe is fractured and that I need ice. Done, right?”Demitri narrows his eyes. “Stop acting like a brat, Alissia. I’m talking about us—this,” he gestures between the three of us. “This isn’t nothing.”She crosses her arms. “This is nothing, Demitri. It can never be anything. That’s why I keep saying I’m staying single.”He groans in frustration, rubbing his temples as if she’s giving him a headache. “You can’t keep saying you’re staying single.”“Why not?” she challenges. “You’re not willing to share unless I push you too far. You three are completely different, constantly battling each other. It won’t work. I’ll stay single.”She’s not entirely wrong, but she’s not entirely right either. I decide to speak up. “We can work through our differences, Alissia. Yeah, we’re different, but that’s what makes this interesting. I enjoy the chase, Blake thrives i
Lucas Alissia sits sulking in the back, and I can’t help but chuckle at the irony of her breaking her toe. Of all the ways to end her little game, kicking a door barefoot was a bit anticlimactic. Demitri had to carry her out of her apartment without shoes after she refused to go out and talk to him, which made it even funnier. The fact she forgot she didn't have shoes on. She had been running around and didn't notice she was barefoot. “Are you more upset over the broken toe or that your fun in tormenting us got cut short?” I ask, smirking. Her glare could melt ice. “I’m more upset that he called for backup!” She shoots a heated look at Demitri. “So much for making me choose, that changed fast.” Yeah, that threw me too. Demitri had been acting like a possessive maniac, determined
Alissia POVI’m taking a leap, hoping Lucas is telling the truth. My arms wrap around his neck as he lifts me effortlessly, our lips crashing together. I let my hands drop, unfastening his trousers with quick, urgent movements. Before I can even fully process it, his hands are on me, positioning me just right, and he thrusts into me without hesitation. The sensation of the cold metal piercings sends a jolt through my body, making me moan against his mouth. His hips slam into me, each movement rough and unrelenting. I scream, but his hand immediately covers my mouth, muffling the sound.“Shh...” He chuckles, thrusting into me harder. “Unless you want them to hear and come running.”His hips move in a steady rhythm at first, slowly building intensity, each thrust deeper than the last. His free hand snakes into my hair, tugging hard and pulling my head back, though the wall behind me prevents him from getting the angle he wants. Not satisfied, he shifts, turning us
AlissiaI can’t stop laughing as I sprint away from Demitri. Axel’s amused expression follows me as I dash past the looming warehouses. My plan is simple—hide in one, wait until Demitri starts searching the closest, then sneak back out and make a break for the road. Easy, right? Well, it would be if I wasn’t entirely lost. I’ve never even noticed this place before, and now I have no idea where I am, only that I’m running blindly.I slip into one of the warehouses, crouching by a dusty window, heart pounding. I peek out, scanning the area for any sign of Demitri. Nothing. Has he given up? Doubtful. I’m about to step out, convinced maybe I’ve shaken him, when I catch a glimpse of him entering the building next door. Crap.With a burst of adrenaline, I move quickly, ready to sprint back towards the road, but then I freeze. Blake. Standing right in my path. Double crap. I spin on my heel and take off in the opposite direction, praying there’s another exit or some kind of hidden alley I ca