Blake POV
I wake up around five, feeling strangely off balance, like I’m living someone else’s life. I’ve always been on my own, handling everything myself, so this is a different rhythm altogether. After getting ready, I walk out, set up my laptops, and then head to the elevator.
Being inside Demitri’s system has shown me a lot of things, like the fact he doesn’t even have a functional kitchen—not even for coffee. Instead, he orders it, and someone brings it up. It’s ridiculous.
In the restaurant kitchen on a lower floor, I grab two coffees, ignoring the curious stares of a few onlookers. A woman eyes me as I’m putting on the lids, and I give her a quick, “I’m with Demitri—ask him.” No way am I paying for coffee; if he expects people to live in his place, he should have a basic setup.
Once I’m back upstairs, I settle in with my laptops. Yesterday, I didn’
Blake POVI find her in her room, muttering under her breath as she digs through the closet, tossing clothes everywhere.“Everything okay?” I ask, leaning against the doorframe. She spins around, her expression a mix of annoyance and confusion.“Not really. Everything here costs a fortune. I’m looking for something normal, comfortable, but it’s all high-end designer nonsense.” She tosses a dress onto the pile, looking more frustrated by the second.“Relax,” I say, moving closer to her. “We’ve worked out a solution, and you don’t have to leave. If you want to walk around however you want, go for it.”She pauses, taking this in. “It’s not just that,” she sighs. “If Demitri’s already struggling with this, what’s it going to look like long-term?”“Look, Alissia,” I say, wrapping my arms around her. “Think about it&m
AlissiaI linger, staring at the wall of monitors. Blake’s words echo through my mind, and the weight of them settles heavy in my chest. When I saw his setup, it felt so clear—he was watching other people live while he remained in the shadows, an observer in his own life. I’d blurted it out without thinking, but his response hit a nerve I didn’t know I had.“Your reason for not living was that living means giving up some power? Getting a job would mean giving up control. Making real friends again? That would be surrendering more power. And a relationship? That’s the ultimate surrender of control, even in the little moments.” He watches me, a question lurking in his gaze, one I don’t want to answer.The frustration rises, prickling beneath my skin. “And what about you?” I ask, maybe a bit too sharply. “What was your reason for never really living?”His gaze slides away, distant. “I never got the chance,” he says quietly, his voice a mixture of resignation
Alissia POVWhen we step out of the lift, I’m struck by the luxury of the penthouse, something I hadn’t fully appreciated before. The ceilings soar high above, giving the impression of a private world separated from the chaos below. Enormous floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the city like a painting. Everything gleams—rich hardwood floors, marble accents, plush furniture arranged with an effortless elegance that somehow still feels imposing. Each corner holds some piece of art or sculpted furniture, giving it a sense of timelessness and opulence.“We’re going out tonight,” Demitri’s voice pulls me from my observations, and I turn to see him watching me from the other side of the room.“Out? Like out where?” I walk over and settle onto the sofa beside him, waiting for an answer.“I have a few business connections to meet. You’ll be accompanying me.” His tone is matter-of-fact, as thoug
Alissia POVAs we start wandering through Demitri’s penthouse, I feel a thrill of curiosity mixed with anticipation. Blake follows close behind, smirking at my eagerness as we explore each room. The sheer luxury of it all is almost surreal.The first door we open reveals a private cinema room, complete with plush velvet recliners and a massive screen. The low ambient lighting and a mini bar stocked with high-end liquors add a touch of exclusivity, making it clear this isn’t an ordinary home theater.Moving on, we discover a jacuzzi room with a stunning view of the city skyline. The room’s entire wall is made of glass, and as we step inside, the glimmering lights of the city beyond feel almost close enough to touch. The air is warm and humid, with an earthy scent from the indoor plants scattered around, creating a private oasis in the middle of the penthouse.In a cozy library, shelves line the walls from floor to ceiling, filled with har
AlissaBlake’s smirk widens, dark and satisfied. “Oh, Alissia, you’re making this way too easy.” He runs his thumb slowly along my jaw, his touch a teasing contrast to the tension pulsing through my body. “You know, the more you resist, the more fun it is to break you down.”Demitri’s grip on my hair loosens just slightly, his other hand trailing along my shoulder, leaving goosebumps in its wake. “See, kisa, this is exactly why you’re in trouble.” His voice is a low, mocking murmur, slipping under my skin. “You think holding out gives you power, but all it’s doing is giving us time. And trust me, we’re very patient.”Blake’s hand slides down my throat, his fingers pressing just enough to make my breath catch. His eyes never leave mine, his gaze hold
Alissia POVFinally, the blindfold is loosened, and as my vision clears, I see Blake’s wicked grin hovering close, eyes gleaming with unmasked amusement. He leans in, his breath warm against my skin. Demitri moves one of the ear buds. “Ready to beg yet?” Blake questions.I narrow my eyes, refusing to give him that satisfaction. A defiant shake of my head is all he gets, though I can’t ignore the flush of heat surging through me, my body betraying my resolve.Demitri appears from behind, his hand slipping under my chin to tilt my head back as he leans in, voice a dark, tempting whisper. “You’re holding out well, kisa, but how much longer before that defiance crumbles?”His words wrap around me, insidious and coaxing, filling the space that silence left. It’s a twisted game they&rs
LucasIn the quiet aftermath of telling her about my past, a weight still lingers in my chest. It’s like speaking the truth out loud made it even more real, dredging up old wounds I’d prefer to keep buried. But her presence, her warmth against me as I carry her toward the bathroom, brings a strange kind of comfort too. It’s twisted, really—how much I want her here and how much that want terrifies me.Setting her down gently, I move to the tub, filling it with warm water and adding a faintly scented oil I found in one of Demitri’s cabinets. Well hers now, as this is her room. She watches me, her eyes soft, and the sight of her looking so tired yet trusting does something to me I can’t explain. I step out of my own clothes and reach out, helping her into the bath and settling in behind her, wrapping her up against my chest. She relaxes, leaning into me, and for a moment, the fear eases.But as I let the silence stretch, my mind
Lucas POVBlake looks over at me from across the room, noticing my intense focus. He raises an eyebrow. “Going over the details of a new hit?” He walks over and leans in reading the screen.“Yeah. The guy’s paranoid as hell, but he’s got weak spots,” I reply, still scanning the screen. “Tomorrow, I’ll go by the place, do some on-the-ground recon. If it all goes to plan, I’ll be in and out before they know what happened.”He nods, his gaze drifting momentarily. “Be careful. With Volkov, things rarely go according to plan.”“Always am,” I say, though my mind flashes back to Alissia for a second. This job has no mercy for hesitation, for divided focus, and with her, things are becoming complicated.Blake glances at me, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You know, I could help with the tech side—security feeds, camera interference, the works. If this guy’s
Lucaa POVThe minutes stretch out, an hour slipping by before Demitri finally reemerges, his face a mask of contained anger as he stalks to the table and sits down heavily.“Marco confirmed the links I suspected. Volkov, Ryan, and Kozlov are all tangled up together,” he says, his voice cold. “Turns out, the shot wasn’t intended for Alissia—it was for me, but Volkov is a shit shot. But Kozlov wanted her taken too. Volkov missed his mark, but if things had gone according to plan, I’d be out, and Marco would’ve delivered her to Kozlov.”A chill runs through me, and I tighten my jaw, feeling the weight of it settle in. “So it was her past coming back all along…none of us brought this to her.”Demitri’s glare darkens. “It goes deeper than that. Marco knew she was with us, but it’s no secret to anyone now. They know she’s involved with all three of us, and that makes her
LucasAs I sit with Alissia, bundled under the thick throw from the sofa, I can’t shake the growing tension in my gut. Demitri and Blake are at the table with blueprints sprawled out, finalizing plans for tonight’s hit. My patience is running thin—sitting this one out feels wrong, but leaving Alissia alone, or worse, trusting her safety to anyone else, isn’t an option.Alissia’s still, bundled tightly, her face pale and silent as if frozen in that moment at the casino. Since it happened, she hasn’t spoken a single word, and there’s a weight in the silence between us that eats at me, adding to the creeping guilt. She’d laughed it off when I’d warned her before, shrugging off my caution, but now… I know what she’ll decide once she processes everything. No one in their right mind would stay if they knew they were a target. And it feels like my fault—Demitri never had issues with Volkov before, and th
Demitri POVI step closer, reaching out to her, my hands gentle as they cup her face. Her skin is cold under my touch, and her gaze shifts to mine, but there’s a hollow look in her eyes.“Alissia,” I say softly, keeping my voice low, “look at me.”My thumb strokes her cheek, and she blinks slowly, her eyes just barely focusing on mine. The fragile silence hangs between us, her expression lost and haunted. She’s not entirely here; her mind is still tangled in the chaos of that shot, still reliving the fear.“It’s okay, Alissia,” I murmur, my hands staying firm, my voice steady. “You’re safe. I’ve got you.”Blake narrows his eyes at me. “What exactly happened?”I exhale, frustration and adrenaline making my words feel like lead. “Everything was going smoothly. Then I saw him. Volkov, with a gun. I was too slow. Axel saw it at the same moment, and he
DemitriEverything happened too fast. I barely had time to register Volkov’s face and the glint of his gun before my instincts kicked in. I turned, intent on taking the shot myself, but Axel moved at the same time, pulling Alissia with him. The force of it all threw us to the floor, a chaotic mess of bodies and momentum.Pain flares in my arm, a sharp, hot burn where the bullet grazed me. But I can’t afford to check the damage now. My focus sharpens on Alissia, on the fact that Axel’s quick thinking saved her from taking that hit. If he hadn’t reacted, if he hadn’t dragged her down when he did… My hands tighten around her protectively as I lift her off the floor, cradling her close as we make our way out of the building with Axel covering us.I keep her head shielded, pressing her face into my chest to keep her hidden from everyone. My grip tightens with every tremor I feel from her body. The way she clings to me, makes every
Alissia POVEverything before now felt like a warm-up compared to this—like child’s play. These men aren’t just dealers or associates. They exude a power that’s deep-rooted, the kind that demands respect and evokes fear in equal measure. Their conversations drift into my ears, dense with cryptic language and undertones of authority. Every word seems to carry a hidden weight, an implication that would take years in this world to fully understand.I’m trying to keep up, my mind racing to piece together fragments of meaning when I feel Demitri’s fingers graze my exposed thigh. It’s a simple, almost absentminded touch, yet it grounds me in an instant. His fingers trace gentle patterns on my skin, moving slowly along the inside of my thigh. His touch is possessive but soothing, a reminder that, to him, I’m not just an accessory in this world of shadows and deals.Across the table, one of the men, a tall, middle-aged fig
AlissiaI slowly come to as a gentle nudge stirs me from sleep, and I blink my eyes open to find Demitri’s face hovering above me. His eyes are warm but intent, and he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.“You’ve got two hours to get ready,” he murmurs, his voice low and smooth.“Two hours?” I sit up, groggy and surprised. “That’s way more than I need,” I laugh, brushing my hair back. “I can be ready in half an hour.”Demitri’s mouth quirks up slightly, but his expression remains determined. “It would be enough time if you were getting ready on your own. But tonight, I have a team to help,” he says, voice firm but teasing. “Now, go on, shower, and throw something on for now. Meet me back out here when you’re done.” He kisses me again and walks out, leaving me both curious and a bit wary of what’s to come.I shuffle out of bed, stretch
Lucas POVBlake looks over at me from across the room, noticing my intense focus. He raises an eyebrow. “Going over the details of a new hit?” He walks over and leans in reading the screen.“Yeah. The guy’s paranoid as hell, but he’s got weak spots,” I reply, still scanning the screen. “Tomorrow, I’ll go by the place, do some on-the-ground recon. If it all goes to plan, I’ll be in and out before they know what happened.”He nods, his gaze drifting momentarily. “Be careful. With Volkov, things rarely go according to plan.”“Always am,” I say, though my mind flashes back to Alissia for a second. This job has no mercy for hesitation, for divided focus, and with her, things are becoming complicated.Blake glances at me, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You know, I could help with the tech side—security feeds, camera interference, the works. If this guy’s
LucasIn the quiet aftermath of telling her about my past, a weight still lingers in my chest. It’s like speaking the truth out loud made it even more real, dredging up old wounds I’d prefer to keep buried. But her presence, her warmth against me as I carry her toward the bathroom, brings a strange kind of comfort too. It’s twisted, really—how much I want her here and how much that want terrifies me.Setting her down gently, I move to the tub, filling it with warm water and adding a faintly scented oil I found in one of Demitri’s cabinets. Well hers now, as this is her room. She watches me, her eyes soft, and the sight of her looking so tired yet trusting does something to me I can’t explain. I step out of my own clothes and reach out, helping her into the bath and settling in behind her, wrapping her up against my chest. She relaxes, leaning into me, and for a moment, the fear eases.But as I let the silence stretch, my mind
Alissia POVFinally, the blindfold is loosened, and as my vision clears, I see Blake’s wicked grin hovering close, eyes gleaming with unmasked amusement. He leans in, his breath warm against my skin. Demitri moves one of the ear buds. “Ready to beg yet?” Blake questions.I narrow my eyes, refusing to give him that satisfaction. A defiant shake of my head is all he gets, though I can’t ignore the flush of heat surging through me, my body betraying my resolve.Demitri appears from behind, his hand slipping under my chin to tilt my head back as he leans in, voice a dark, tempting whisper. “You’re holding out well, kisa, but how much longer before that defiance crumbles?”His words wrap around me, insidious and coaxing, filling the space that silence left. It’s a twisted game they&rs