Amy POV"Maybe we need to collide more often." I smiled seductively, images of him backing me into the bathroom playing in my head. A little pleasure would be a nice adventure to get the tiredness to rest for a bit. Sex always had a way of easing all my discomforts. "I would like that." His fingers brushed my face, green eyes locking onto mine, like I was something he needed to own for a few hours. God, I wanted to kiss him, just get lost in his large hands and tall body. But this was wrong. I can't do that now, here at my little cousin's birthday. "I should get back. We're about to do the cake. But maybe..." I gestured vaguely toward the party."Or," he leaned in slightly as he held up a tray of champagne flutes, "we could sneak off and have our own dessert."His teasing tone wrapped around me like silk, smooth but edged with command.I should say no. Something about this moment felt off. But the thrill of it was intoxicating.I bit the side of my lip. "Maybe just one drink," I mur
Lucy POV"Can I have my keys now?"I had spent the whole night avoiding him, but I finally gathered enough nerve to confront Michael. The second his dark blue eyes flicked to mine, my confidence completely disappeared. Why did he have to be so intimidating?"The night isn't over. Cake is about to be served." His voice was dismissive, and posture tense, like he'd rather be anywhere but here.I sighed in frustration just as Marie stepped onto the patio, balancing the enormous rocket-shaped cake. I stepped closer to the crowd, excitement bubbling inside me. Everyone began erupting into song, and I moved closer, smiling at Mikie's wide-eyed amazement.Amy should be here. She would love this.I scanned the yard, singing along with everyone else, but something felt off. My stomach twisted in discomfort. Where was Amy? Movement from the back patio caught my eye. It was Zander shoving his way through the crowd, his face twisted in panic.My brows knitted together. What in the world was he do
Michael POVSmoke curled through the air, thick and suffocating, the heat of the explosions still searing my skin. I barely stumbled back to my feet before the chaos truly set in. Screams. Gunfire. The acrid scent of burning flesh.Lucy had run inside, slipping through the smoke before I could catch her, but Amy, where the fuck was Amy? I couldn't remember the last time I saw her. I had been distracted, caught off guard, and now I was lost, unsure of my surroundings and who was accounted for.My eyes darted to Niko, who was struggling to extinguish the flames on his arm. Panic started to crawl up my spine, but I shoved it down, forcing myself to focus. Viv was on the ground, her kids huddled beneath her, half her face burned.I grabbed her chin, not the injured side, and forced her to look at me. "You good?""I'll live," she rasped, her wild eyes locked on Niko. "Where's Amy?"My gut twisted as I scanned the wreckage. "I don't know." I admitted with fury. It was like I was in a haze
Michael POV All my blood rushed to my head, pounding my skull and demanding someone's death. The car ride was a blur of suffocating heat and clattering metal, the trunk a tomb I could barely breathe in. As the minutes dragged on, I listened to the men up front talk about the so-called "fun" they would be having tonight, including the twisted plans they had for the girls they'd taken. Every vile word sent a shiver through me, but it was the sharp intake of breath from the other captive that made my rage boil over. The sound was small, weak, pathetic. I clenched my fists, resisting the brief, irrational urge to silence her myself. It seemed easier than listening to her cry. The voices around me blended together, Irish accents thick with mockery, and Italian tones that made my stomach churn. A few of the voices were even familiar. This wasn't just the Irish attacking Niko. It was a joint effort from the Irish gang that had set up shop here a few years ago, and men from my own blo
Lucy POVI thought I was brave, running after my best friend, trying to save her life. I was just stupid though. My face stung from being punched by a large man, my eyes burned from crying for so long, my heart ached both from the fear inside me and the fear I had for Amy. To top it all off, my savior in this horrible mess, was Michael. The one man I feared more than anything else in this world.Michael searched the dead men that took us, the men he killed. He flipped their bodies like they were just piles of blankets, pocketing their cash and credit cards. "Find me and pick me up!" Michael barked into one of the phones then dropped it on the floor."Are we going home?" I asked shakily. Michael seemed to be in the zone. It was like I could actually see his mind weaving his next move, and it terrified me."No speaking!" He ordered, grabbing my wrist to head out the only door this dark cold place had. For a brief moment my body relaxed. His large hand wrapped around me, tightening to
Amy POVI woke to a pounding skull, my limbs sluggish, my tongue thick in my mouth. A chemical taste clung to my throat.My eyes blurred in and out of focus, a soft leather beneath me, the scent of wood and whiskey in the air. Memories hit me like a slap to the face. The party. The Irishman. The rag over my mouth.My stomach twisted. I wasn't home. I wasn't safe. Why was I so reckless?"You're awake... finally." Kyle mumbled as he ruffled through papers on a dark oak desk. "How long have I been asleep?" I glanced at the window, the sun hidden in the sky. I needed to get a grip of what was happening. I didn't feel in danger, but I wasn't stupid either. This wasn't my house and I was drugged and dragged away in the middle of the night. Kyle glanced at his watch. "Almost 5 hours."I took a moment to take in my surroundings. Michael always taught me to know all possibilities. My mind tried playing out different scenarios, different approaches and outcomes, but I was too impatient for ga
Michael POV "Holy crap! We are actually alive." Lucy's hands carefully touched every little detail of the dashboard.I let out a slow breath, my grip tightening on her waist before I even realized it. It wasn't intentional, I just needed to feel something solid.She was solid. Alive. I hated how much relief that gave me."Who's the chick?" Vinnie chuckled, amusement in his eyes as he watched Lucy drool over his pride and joy. "No one important. Drive!" I ordered him, sliding my hands off Lucy and grabbed his phone from the middle console and began typing away. I needed answers, and I needed the location of my sister."Are you going to fill me in?" Vinnie questioned after ten minutes of suffocating silence."My Uncles aligned with Declan. They attacked Niko's mansion and took Amy." My grip tightened around his phone. "We need to move fast." The phone rang through with five messages, giving me a moment to relax the homicidal rage I fought to hold back. One of my contacts replied that
Lucy POV My stomach twisted the second we pulled up to some building that was barely standing, the streetlights flickering like they were moments from dying, and the eyes. Too many eyes. People on the sidewalk slowed as they passed. Some whispered. Some just stared, their faces unreadable. We didn't belong here. I sucked in a breath. "Michael, this... this doesn't feel safe." He didn't even look at me. "We're fine." "Are we?" My fingers tightened around my dress. "Because everyone out there is staring at us like they want us dead." "That sounds racist," Vinnie chuckled, unbothered. He popped open the door like we were in some friendly neighborhood. I grabbed Michael's wrist before he could move. "Don't. Please. We should go home." Finally, he looked at me. A smirk played on his lips. "Jesus, Lucy. You shake like a leaf every time you step outside your gated life." "This isn't paranoia," I hissed. "It's common sense!" He exhaled, glancing out the window. A few men had stoppe
Amy POVA deep hum vibrated beneath me, rattling in my bones.My skin was warm, my body sore in ways that made me shiver. Last night flashed through my mind, Killian's hands, his weight, the way he owned every inch of my body.I inhaled sharply, blinking awake. My vision cleared and face twisted. Clouds? What the fuck? My stomach dropped and pulse lurched. I was in the air. I was on a fucking plane. I sat up too fast, gripping the armrests. The cabin was dimly lit, sleek leather seats and polished wood lining the space. A private jet.And across from me, Killian sat, calm as ever, sleeves rolled up, scrolling through his laptop like this was any other day for him."Where are we?" My voice was hoarse, my heart still pounding.He didn't look up. "Not your concern. Eat." My hands curled into fists. "Excuse me?"This time, he did look up. Slow. Measured. Unbothered."Eat, Amy. Don't make me repeat myself."I was thousands of feet in the air. On a fucking plane.Panic rose in my throat.
Michael POV"You ready?" Vinnie asked. Everyone was waiting next to an oversized SUV. I looked over the car and regretted my decision for us all to travel together. My main focus had to be on getting Amy back, then killing every Irishman, then killing my Uncles, and lastly, taking down my greatest enemy: Niko. But we had a lot of land to cross over, and time to waste in a large car. It could be spent in a more pleasurable way."Michael!" Vinnie tapped my shoulder when I didn't respond. My head was definitely not in the game. I needed to change that."Yeah, almost. Lucy is changing." I opened the door and began setting up my laptop. Ariel plopped down beside me and I shook my head at her. That girl didn't know when to quit, but it would probably be better having her next to me than Lucy. Whenever her body was touching mine, I just wanted to feel her. This fucked up crush, or whatever I had with her, was becoming too much of a distraction."Are we really taking her to Texas? She's go
Lucy POVWhispered arguments filled my ears as I moaned into the pillow. My body was heavy with exhaustion, but I felt... peaceful. That was weird."The so-called innocent Scarlet is awake," Ariel sneered.I stiffened at the sound of her voice. The second we met, she made it clear she hated me."Don't test me," Michael snapped, his voice edged with warning.Ariel rolled her eyes, slamming her laptop shut. "Oh, relax. I'm just saying...""What is everyone doing?" I cut her off, stretching under the covers. My muscles ached, but it was nothing compared to the mental exhaustion of last night."Waiting for the princess to wake up so we can actually get shit done," Ariel muttered, stuffing her laptop into her bag.Michael shot her a look, the kind that could shut down a grown man. "Ariel," he warned.Her smirk widened, but she backed off.I yawned and tossed the blanket off me, only to freeze when I saw what I was wearing. A silky pair of shorts and a loose button-up shirt. Not my clothes.
Amy POVAfter hours of watching the man that lied and kidnapped me, Killian finally moved from his desk to get me a large plate of food. The tension between us was getting to be unbearable, but I found it amusing. I had no idea where I was or what intentions this man had for me, but the mystery and danger spark something inside. "Is there any chance I will be going home anytime soon?" I asked, breaking the awkward silence once I finished my meal. "I haven't decided." Killian suddenly stood and nodded to the door for me to follow."When or if, I will be going home?" I asked coyly."More like where your home will be." His eyes narrowed at me, making me swallow hard. His hand slowly wrapped around my arm as if he was testing my reaction. My tongue licked my lips, eyes watching his thick fingers completely cover my skin. Probably not a good idea to make him think I liked this, but I was always a bit reckless.His lips cracked a sly grin and he moved us out of his office."This is your
Michael POV"Any leads?" I asked Vinnie, walking into his room that was across from mine. "I think you're right about your Uncle in Texas. He has been hosting a few Irish at his house the past few months. And get this," he turned his computer to me. "Killian arrived here months before you met with him, and guess where he flew into?" "Texas." I clenched my jaw. Every move I made was one my Uncles pushed me to make. I was so focused on killing Niko that I lost sight of everything else. I had never imagined Amy to be alive this whole time though. I was so fucking blind. I let them guide me, let my own thirst for revenge cloud every instinct I had. And now? Now my sister is gone, and I have no one to blame but myself."Yup!" He spun the computer back around and began clicking away. "We will be there in three days and he will tell me everything." I shook my head, pissed I missed all this. "I'm not sure if Amy is there though. My gut is telling me Killian has her." Vinnie eyes were sc
Lucy POV My stomach twisted the second we pulled up to some building that was barely standing, the streetlights flickering like they were moments from dying, and the eyes. Too many eyes. People on the sidewalk slowed as they passed. Some whispered. Some just stared, their faces unreadable. We didn't belong here. I sucked in a breath. "Michael, this... this doesn't feel safe." He didn't even look at me. "We're fine." "Are we?" My fingers tightened around my dress. "Because everyone out there is staring at us like they want us dead." "That sounds racist," Vinnie chuckled, unbothered. He popped open the door like we were in some friendly neighborhood. I grabbed Michael's wrist before he could move. "Don't. Please. We should go home." Finally, he looked at me. A smirk played on his lips. "Jesus, Lucy. You shake like a leaf every time you step outside your gated life." "This isn't paranoia," I hissed. "It's common sense!" He exhaled, glancing out the window. A few men had stoppe
Michael POV "Holy crap! We are actually alive." Lucy's hands carefully touched every little detail of the dashboard.I let out a slow breath, my grip tightening on her waist before I even realized it. It wasn't intentional, I just needed to feel something solid.She was solid. Alive. I hated how much relief that gave me."Who's the chick?" Vinnie chuckled, amusement in his eyes as he watched Lucy drool over his pride and joy. "No one important. Drive!" I ordered him, sliding my hands off Lucy and grabbed his phone from the middle console and began typing away. I needed answers, and I needed the location of my sister."Are you going to fill me in?" Vinnie questioned after ten minutes of suffocating silence."My Uncles aligned with Declan. They attacked Niko's mansion and took Amy." My grip tightened around his phone. "We need to move fast." The phone rang through with five messages, giving me a moment to relax the homicidal rage I fought to hold back. One of my contacts replied that
Amy POVI woke to a pounding skull, my limbs sluggish, my tongue thick in my mouth. A chemical taste clung to my throat.My eyes blurred in and out of focus, a soft leather beneath me, the scent of wood and whiskey in the air. Memories hit me like a slap to the face. The party. The Irishman. The rag over my mouth.My stomach twisted. I wasn't home. I wasn't safe. Why was I so reckless?"You're awake... finally." Kyle mumbled as he ruffled through papers on a dark oak desk. "How long have I been asleep?" I glanced at the window, the sun hidden in the sky. I needed to get a grip of what was happening. I didn't feel in danger, but I wasn't stupid either. This wasn't my house and I was drugged and dragged away in the middle of the night. Kyle glanced at his watch. "Almost 5 hours."I took a moment to take in my surroundings. Michael always taught me to know all possibilities. My mind tried playing out different scenarios, different approaches and outcomes, but I was too impatient for ga
Lucy POVI thought I was brave, running after my best friend, trying to save her life. I was just stupid though. My face stung from being punched by a large man, my eyes burned from crying for so long, my heart ached both from the fear inside me and the fear I had for Amy. To top it all off, my savior in this horrible mess, was Michael. The one man I feared more than anything else in this world.Michael searched the dead men that took us, the men he killed. He flipped their bodies like they were just piles of blankets, pocketing their cash and credit cards. "Find me and pick me up!" Michael barked into one of the phones then dropped it on the floor."Are we going home?" I asked shakily. Michael seemed to be in the zone. It was like I could actually see his mind weaving his next move, and it terrified me."No speaking!" He ordered, grabbing my wrist to head out the only door this dark cold place had. For a brief moment my body relaxed. His large hand wrapped around me, tightening to