Alyssa After a fun day at the park and eating a delicious dinner prepared by Sebastian, I give Zuri a bath, and she passes out an hour earlier than her bedtime. Hopefully, that means she won't wake up even earlier. I can already feel a sleep regression coming on, but at least I won't have to face it alone like I did when she was four months old. That was hell. After I kiss her forehead and double-check that the baby monitor is on, I slip into King's room and drop to my knees at the end of the bed, just as he instructed. Damn. This is so fucking hot. I can feel a thrill of anticipation mingling with fear and excitement as I wonder what King has in store for Niko and me. My hands tremble slightly as I rest them on my thighs, trying to keep my breathing steady. I bite my lip, feeling just how wet I am. My panties are practically glued to me, clinging to my skin with evidence of how badly I want this. When King and Niko finally enter the room, closing the door behind them, the
Nikolai Alyssa is sprawled out on the bed, trembling like a fucking leaf. I want to help her, give her the relief she so desperately needs, but I already know King won't let me. He's going to drag this out for as long as he can—because she needs it. He wants her desperate, pliant, and begging. I crawl between her legs, claiming her lips with a desperate kiss. "You're such a mess, sweet girl," I murmur, my voice a low rasp as I slip a finger through her wetness. "Look at how much your pussy is weeping for us." I shift my hips, sliding my cock between her slick folds, teasing both her and myself. Each time I pull back, the ridge of my head catches on her clit, making her moan louder, needier. "Niko, please," she whispers, her voice breaking. "Please make me come." Fuck. My whole body thrums with the need to give in to her plea, to push her over that edge and watch her fall apart. "I want to, baby. So fucking badly," I whisper back, the guilt of her suffering gnawing at me. "B
King "What the hell happened to you?" Gray asks, staring at the healing mouth-sized hickeys I left on Niko's neck the other night. Niko's face reddens, and he rubs the back of his neck. "Uh, had a wild night with some chick I met at a bar," he lies smoothly, his eyes flickering to me. My lips twitch at how easily he covers our tracks, how we keep this tangled web of ours tightly wound. These are the secrets that we protect, not only for our own safety, but Alyssa's as well. Shit is getting more intense between us every day, and we don't need Gray finding out and fucking everything up. Earlier, we all went to the park again and got ice cream after. I'm not even a fan of ice cream, but after watching Alyssa wrap her naughty tongue around the spoon over and over again, I couldn't resist sharing with her. Once we got back, Gray dropped the news that Bones finally agreed to meet with us. There was no hiding the tension that immediately filled the air. The Iron Serpents are
TW: Child abuse, suicide, emotional distress Mason With King and Niko gone for the meeting with the Iron Serpents, and Zuri finally asleep upstairs, Alyssa and I are alone. She's watching "Enchanted" for what has to be the millionth time. I've never actually watched the damn movie. That's usually something she does with Niko, but I swear I could recite it word for word if someone held a gun to my head. I should be reading the book in my hands, but I find myself reading the same lines over and over again, the words refusing to stick. Instead, my focus keeps drifting to Alyssa—the way she smiles at the cheesy parts of the movie, how she curls her legs up on the couch, hugging herself. She looks like she wants to be held, and I want to be the one to hold her, but I'm still too much of a fucking coward. I've been sleeping in what used to be her room for the past week. Close enough to feel like I'm in her orbit, but never close enough to actually touch her. Never close enoug
Alyssa My chest is tight as I sit beside Mason, thinking about his story, replaying every heartbreaking detail. No wonder he's so guarded, so closed off. He's been through so much, and all I want to do is hold him longer, like somehow my touch could chase away all the pain he's been carrying for so long. Gaining the trust of these guys, hearing their stories, their secrets, things that I'm absolutely sure they wouldn't share with anyone else—it means the world to me. I glance down at his lips, wanting to kiss him. Is it crazy that I've realized in the past week that I might be catching feelings for him too? I want him to be mine, in the same way King and Niko are. It sounds insane, even to me—I've already got two men I can't claim in public, and now I'm thinking about adding another to that mess? Would Mason even be okay with that? Being another one of them? King and Niko are into group sex, but I can't see Mason being into something like that. He's different. I can see him want
Alyssa The next morning, Zuri and I are moved into our "temporary" room in the clubhouse. It's bigger than I expected, more like a mini-apartment with a bedroom, kitchen, and attached bathroom. They didn't skimp on making it feel comfortable, bringing in new furniture since Zuri's room is still intact at King's house. But despite the effort, it's not home. Or at least, what was starting to feel like home. I've barely spoken a word to the guys since they decided to bring me to Gray's version of Fort Knox. I'm too upset to say anything nice, so I just don't say anything at all. Niko tried explaining in the car that they'd see me every day, that, no matter what, I wouldn't be alone. But the words feel like empty promises now. I was safe with them. How could they let Gray convince them otherwise? Once everything is set up Gray's smug satisfaction radiates off him as he pushes the keys into my hands. My eyes meet his, but there's no gratitude—just daggers. He raises a bro
Nikolai "Your employee...Isaac Carter, where is he?" I ask, the question sharp and cutting through the silence in the room. The man tied to the chair shifts uncomfortably, sweat already breaking out on his forehead. He clearly wasn't expecting anyone to break into his office, not after it was locked up for the night. I bet he feels unlucky as shit right now. Across the room, King sits on a worn leather sofa, his expression a menacing mask of fury and resolve. It's been that way since we had to leave Alyssa behind, and though the same simmering rage courses through me, he has less control over himself than I do. If this guy doesn't give us some answers soon, King won't hesitate to jab his knife right into his throat. We told Gray we were spending tonight looking for leads on Isaac's location, and what better place to search than his workplace? Where his boss was conveniently staying late, all alone. "Look, I don't know what shit Isaac's involved in, but it has nothing to
Alyssa After finally putting Zuri to bed, though it felt like a battle considering how long she fought, I find myself in the dark, wide awake. I understand now why Zuri struggled so much. This place is new, unfamiliar. I miss our beds at King's place. The silence of the room feels oppressive without any of the guys here. Mason left soon after Zuri fell asleep, even though I almost asked him to stay. But he'd already made it clear he didn't want Gray getting the wrong idea. I'm alone. The heavy feeling in my chest presses harder as I turn over in the bed for what feels like the hundredth time. I'm reminded of those many nights when Isaac and I were under the same roof, and yet he refused to cuddle with me. I feel just as fucking lonely now as I did then. Damn it. Why did I have to get so attached to them? I should hate them for bringing me here, for deciding what's best for us without asking what I wanted. But I can't. When I finally do drift off, I wake up to the famili
Alyssa I wake up at 5 a.m., my nerves already prickling with anticipation. Marina will be here soon, and even though I'm not entirely sure what this meeting will entail, I know I need to look presentable. The weight of what's ahead presses down on me, making the early hour feel even heavier. The warm water steams over me as I lather soap on my washcloth, trying to clear my mind. What questions will Marina ask? How much does she already know? Gray must have filled her in on some of the mess that is my marriage, but will she look at me differently once she knows everything? Will she see me as just another broken, naive woman who made bad decisions, or will she understand the depths of Isaac's cruelty? The thought twists my stomach in knots. When I met her yesterday, her piercing gaze made me feel both small and seen at the same time. She exudes confidence and control—the kind of person who could break someone with just a word. But will she really be able to stop Isaac's plan
Alyssa After a few hours of sleep, I wake up to find Niko and Mason's bodies pressed against me, but King is nowhere to be found. For a moment, I wonder if he had a job or something, but I'm sure he would've woken me up to tell me before he left. I slip out of bed and check on Zuri, my feet light on the floor as I move through the quiet house. After a quick trip to the bathroom, I head downstairs. The low glow of the lamp in the living room casts long shadows. That's when I see him—King. His tall, solid silhouette sits in his chair, a drink in hand. By the tension in his posture, I can tell that something's wrong. Wrapping my silk black robe tighter around me, I cross the room silently and sink into his lap. My arms slip around his neck, and I bury my face in the warmth of his neck, inhaling the scent of him. He hums softly, the low, gravelly rumble of his voice breaking the silence. "What are you doing awake, kitten?" I let my fingers trace the curve of his jaw, th
King I gaze at Alyssa's ass in awe. It's bright red, covered in tiny welts and marks from the flogger, but neither Niko nor I broke the skin. Good. She should heal fast. With fifteen strokes to go, I've decided these final ones will break her—not physically, but emotionally. She needs it. Not just because of the shit she pulled today, but because I can see it in her eyes, in the way she's holding herself together too tightly. She's ready to shatter, and she's trusting us to help her do it. Bent over Mason's lap with the side of her face pressed to the couch, she waits patiently for the sting of the flogger to come. She breathes in shallow gasps, her body arching just enough to beckon the next strike, a silent plea written in the curve of her spine. I drop the flogger on the coffee table and trail my hand from the nape of her neck all the way down to her reddened ass. Her entire body shivers, and my chest constricts. In moments like this, I feel most in control—of myself and t
Alyssa I can't believe this. I'm draped over Mason's lap, my ass bared and stinging as King flogs me, while Niko brushes his fingers lightly up and down my back. I've never been this scared and aroused with them before. Maybe because I never expected them to actually spank me. Even with my safe word perched on the tip of my tongue, ready to end this all, I don't stop them. Instead, I count each strike of the flogger, gripping onto the steady rhythm to keep myself grounded. King moves with deliberate control, his strokes confident and precise, alternating between my cheeks. Each hit is delivered with escalating intensity, forcing me to toe the delicious line between pain and pleasure. The next strike shatters through me, a bolt of heat that sizzles across my skin and settles like molten lava between my legs. I can tell my body doesn't know whether to resist it or chase this sensation. "Twelve," I whimper, my legs shaking and sweat slicking my skin. "I'm about to come, Da
Mason Alyssa gazes at me, her eyes wide and trusting. The sight hits me hard, a wave of protectiveness washing over me. If today had gone differently, she wouldn't be here right now. She'd be dead. Beaten to death by her husband. I was so upset I couldn't even speak to her when King and Niko told me she was going to leave with Isaac. Then, after Gray got arrested, she ran off without telling any of us. I know King's chastising himself, thinking that if he had been more in control of his own emotions, if Niko and he had been out to stop her, they could've prevented this. But the truth is, there was no way in hell any of us would've kept our cool around that asshole without getting arrested ourselves. Even Gray couldn't keep it together. But it's not like I can say I'm not glad he defended Alyssa—for fucking once since she's been back. It was a long time coming. In King's office, we discussed how we should punish her. King was adamant that he wanted to make sure we don't ca
Alyssa My pulse skyrockets as Niko reaches for the sharp knife on the table, kneeling down in front of me. I remain perfectly still as he brings the blade to my shirt, slicing it open in one swift movement. The sound of fabric tearing echoes in the room. He rips it from my shoulders like it's made of paper, leaving my chest exposed to the cool air. "Fuck," he hisses under his breath. His hands knead my breasts, thumbs brushing over my hardening nipples. The sensation makes my breath hitch, and I bite my lip to stifle a needy moan. This is a punishment—I'm not supposed to show that I like it. Still, the thought crosses my mind that maybe he'll push further, just to test me. His sea-blue eyes glimmer with wicked amusement as they rake over my body. Without hesitation, he grabs the waistband of my shorts and panties, removing them with another precise slice of the blade. Fully naked and on my knees, the tension in the room shifts dramatically. I can feel their gaze burning
Alyssa The rumble of engines fades, leaving behind an almost deafening silence. The second everyone else is gone, Niko steps forward and pulls me into his arms. His grip is tight, almost crushing, as though he's afraid I might slip away. "What the fuck were you thinking, sweet girl?" His voice cracks, low and raw with emotion. His fingers tremble as they comb through my hair. "He would've killed you." He plants a kiss on my forehead, as if he's trying to anchor himself, though his next words are steel-sharp. "I swear, If I ever call you and you don't answer again, I'll spank your ass raw. Right in front of your brother." Before I can answer, King's deep hum slices through the air. "Maybe I should've done that. Is that what you wanted, kitten? For me to humiliate you in front of your brother?" His large hand suddenly grips the back of my hair, snapping my head back. His eyes are amber flames that burn me from the inside out. "Answer me." "No, Daddy," I whisper, my voice t
Alyssa King's boots thud heavily against the asphalt as he stalks towards me, his expression carved from stone. The tension in the air is palpable, coiling tighter with each step he takes. Niko follows closely behind, his face a shade darker but no less intimidating. My breath catches in my chest, and my fingers fidget at my sides as I brace for their wrath. They're both lions stalking a prey that's cornered. Me. A paralyzed little gazelle. I try to gather bravado, but my legs tremble, threatening to give out. King's silence as he closes the distance is somehow worse than words. Beside him, Niko's mouth twists into a cruel smile. "Alyssa." His gravelly voice sends a warning that's impossible to ignore. I plaster on the sweetest, most innocent smile I can muster. "Nikolai." His pupils dilate at the sound of his full name. Point one for me. Maybe I can seduce my way out of this. "Does your phone not work?" he asks, his voice sharp, his eyes daring me to lie. "I bel
Alyssa I can't believe I'm doing this. I took the car after Gray was arrested, not bothering to tell the guys. Now Logan's in the passenger seat, and Christine's sitting quietly behind him. I've pulled the seat in close, gripping the wheel tight as I weave through traffic like a woman possessed. I know I shouldn't have taken off the way I did, but something inside me needed to feel in control again. Especially after the day I've had. I haven't driven since the day I escaped Isaac, and...it just feels good. Besides, I shouldn't feel guilty anyway. I'm a grown-ass woman, and technically, King bought this car for me, so really, I'm not doing anything wrong, right? But even as I tell myself that, the guilt gnaws at me. I know the guys are going to be furious with me anyway. I'm in serious trouble, and the thought fills me with a mix of apprehension and a strange thrill. I still can't believe Gray punched Isaac in the face, and I'm pretty sure he broke his nose. There was blood ev