Allison’s POV The first thing I became aware of was warmth. The kind that seeped into my bones, wrapping me in a cocoon of safety. My eyelids felt heavy, my body sore, but none of it mattered the moment I peeled my eyes open and found him. Clyde. He sat in the chair beside the bed, his broad frame slouched slightly, a glass of whiskey hanging lazily from his fingers. His eyes—dark, unreadable—watched me intently, as if he had been doing so for hours. The morning sun streamed in through the windows, casting golden light over him, softening the sharp lines of his face. But despite the warm glow, exhaustion clung to him. How long had he been sitting there? "Clyde?" My voice was hoarse, barely a whisper, but it was enough to make him blink. I swallowed, my throat dry, and reached out weakly. "Come to bed…" For a moment, he didn’t move. He only exhaled slowly, setting his glass down on the nightstand before standing. And then he was there, towering over me, his presence ove
When the heart craves solace, yet the mind fears the outcome of that comfort, what happens when a love so dark consumes your entire being, leaving you in the deep emptiness of regret and pain? And yet, despite everything, your heart longs for that dark and dangerous love.The heavy sound of running footsteps echoed through the still night, audible from miles away. Two figures dressed in black darted through the shadows, their pace relentless.One of them, her breath labored and body exhausted from the chase, pushed herself to keep moving. It wasn’t just her life on the line, it was the life of the tiny one growing within her.“Allison, quick! We have to hurry!” the other figure called out urgently.“I’m trying… please!” she shouted back, her voice raw with desperation.“He’ll catch up with us soon, we need to move faster!”Allison knew the stakes. This was a matter of life and death. If he caught her, everything would be over.She couldn’t bear the thought of returning to him. She
Clyde’s POV“Turn back. I forgot an important document,” I said lazily, my eyes glued to my iPad.Without a word, my driver quickly turned the car back toward the hotel.“You know we’re already late,” Diego muttered, but I ignored him.He, of all people, knows my moods and should know better than to push me.The city looked different from the last time I was here. Ten years away had changed everything, yet returning brought back memories, some good, some bad.The penthouse was on the top floor, so I took the private elevator. Usually, I’d send someone else for things like this, but for some reason, I decided to go up myself.The moment I unlocked the door, an uneasy feeling washed over me. I knew instantly I wasn’t alone. This sensation wasn’t new to me, and I knew exactly how to handle it.I stepped into the room, my hand already on my pistol, ready for anything. Then I noticed the hotel cleaning cart pushed to one side, with freshly changed sheets on the bed.I chuckled at my ima
Allison’s POVMy eyes were squeezed shut, as if that could somehow shield me from the overwhelming presence of the man in front of me. He was intimidating beyond words, and I couldn’t do anything but obey. His strong hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer. In that moment, it felt like my soul had left my body. His fingers trailed down my thigh, sending shivers racing across my skin. I couldn’t believe this was happening.How did I go from wanting a warm bath to standing naked in front of a stranger, letting him touch me like this?Goosebumps prickled my flesh as his fingers moved upward, tracing the curve of my belly and then my chest. A soft moan slipped from my lips when he pinched my nipple. My body betrayed me, trembling at his touch.This was wrong. So, so wrong. It broke every rule of the hotel, every boundary I’d ever set for myself. But how could I stop him? His touch was electric, lighting up parts of me I didn’t even know existed.“Do you like it?” he asked, his deep
My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about the gorgeous man I encountered in the penthouse. The entire time at work, I could barely focus. It had only been a few hours since our encounter, but I already knew my world would never be the same. No man had ever seen my body until today, and the feeling was more intense than I’d ever imagined. I found myself grinning as I thought about him. But my joy didn’t last long. Zach, our supervisor, approached me with his usual stern expression. “We pay you to work, not to get lost in your thoughts, Miss Gray,” he snapped. “I’m sorry, sir,” I replied quickly. “You should be. Now get back to work,” he said before walking away. I sighed as I hurried away, eager to escape his presence. The harsh rays of the sun shone on my face, pulling me from my thoughts. Morning had arrived, and my shift had finally come to an end. I quickly made my way to the bathroom to freshen up before heading home. The hotel provided rest quarters for staff wor
CLYDE'S POV Throughout the meeting, Diego kept stealing glances my way. The idiot even had the audacity to send me a message. My best friend could be infuriating. If he weren’t my right-hand man, I swear I would’ve cut him loose years ago. Finally, the gathering ended. This was one of the main reasons I’d returned. “Thank you, Butch. It’s an honor to be in the same room as a king like yourself. My team and I promise to deliver,” Scar said, nodding in my direction. “No, Scar, I should be the one thanking you. I’ll see you around.” I watched as Scar and his men cleared the room, leaving me alone with my crew. Lighting a cigarette, I took a long puff before signaling everyone to leave, except Diego. “Well, at least this one’s over,” I muttered, blowing out a cloud of smoke. “Now that it is, can we finally talk about the woman in your bathroom?” Diego leaned casually against the wall, a smug grin plastered on his face. I groaned internally. Diego could be a real p
That night, Allison couldn’t sleep. Tossing from one end of her bed to the other, she couldn’t believe the stars had granted her wish of seeing Mr. Gorgeous again—and so soon at that.The next morning, she woke up brighter than the morning sun.“Alli, has something happened?” her mother, Rachael, asked.“Mama, what do you mean?”“You look so delighted this morning. I couldn’t help but wonder if something happened.”“Mama, you’ve always taught us to create our own joy and happiness without waiting for someone else to do it for us, and that’s what I’m doing,” Allison explained as they worked together in the kitchen preparing breakfast.Rachael smiled warmly at her daughter. “How did you grow up so fast?” she asked, making Allison giggle.Allison had the night shift at the hotel that day, so by 5 p.m., she left for work. A part of her felt sad for not hearing from Mr. Gorgeous all day. He had promised to call, but until now, nothing. Then again, how would he have her number? she wondere
Allison’s POVClyde held my hand firmly as we walked through the dimly lit corridors, stopping in front of a door. I watched him pull a key from his pocket, my heart racing with anticipation. With a quick turn, the door creaked open, and we stepped into the dark room. He gestured for me to wait by the doorway before walking in confidently and switching on the lights.“This will be your room for tonight,” he said smoothly, his voice warm and inviting.The space was beautiful, but it didn’t feel right. A part of me longed to be in his arms, sharing not just the night but the intimacy of his bed. Sleeping apart under the same roof felt wrong, like it went against the connection we had.“If it’s not to your liking, you can switch to another room. I really don’t mind,” he added, noticing the flicker of disappointment on my face.“No, this is beautiful! I love it,” I replied, forcing a smile to hide my true feelings.“I’ll get you some towels and clothes,” he said before leaving the room
Allison’s POV The first thing I became aware of was warmth. The kind that seeped into my bones, wrapping me in a cocoon of safety. My eyelids felt heavy, my body sore, but none of it mattered the moment I peeled my eyes open and found him. Clyde. He sat in the chair beside the bed, his broad frame slouched slightly, a glass of whiskey hanging lazily from his fingers. His eyes—dark, unreadable—watched me intently, as if he had been doing so for hours. The morning sun streamed in through the windows, casting golden light over him, softening the sharp lines of his face. But despite the warm glow, exhaustion clung to him. How long had he been sitting there? "Clyde?" My voice was hoarse, barely a whisper, but it was enough to make him blink. I swallowed, my throat dry, and reached out weakly. "Come to bed…" For a moment, he didn’t move. He only exhaled slowly, setting his glass down on the nightstand before standing. And then he was there, towering over me, his presence ove
Clyde’s POV The entire room fell silent the moment Diego dropped the news. A tension so thick it choked the air, leaving me in a state of quiet rage. For starters, we had no fucking idea who might have taken her. Dozens of names came to mind, enemies I’d made just by existing. Being the drug lord of one of the largest cartels on the continent came with its pitfalls, and this—this was a fucking nightmare. My body was numb through the flight, my fingers curled into fists on my lap, eyes fixed out the window. I wasn’t thinking about the bloodshed that might follow. I wasn’t thinking about the repercussions. I was thinking about *her.* How scared she must be. If she was crying. If she was hurt. And if she was—if she so much as had a fucking scratch on her—I'd burn the city to the ground. Hours of painstaking work later, my tech team finally restored the CCTV footage from the hotel’s parking lot. The damn thing had been sabotaged—shut down for just a few minutes, right when s
Allison’s POVDarkness. That was all I could see. I tried to move, but my limbs wouldn’t respond. My head throbbed, my body ached, and as I struggled against the numbness creeping through my muscles, a flood of memories rushed back. The parking lot. A hand clamping over my mouth. A sharp sting at the back of my head. And then… nothing. Panic clawed its way up my throat as I tried to cry out, only to realize my mouth was gagged with cloth. My breathing grew ragged. How long had I been here? Where the hell *was* here? A creak echoed in the silence. My stomach twisted as heavy footsteps approached, each step deliberate, slow, like they were enjoying the fear crawling beneath my skin. “My, my… the princess has awakened.” That voice. My blood turned to ice. It was familiar, yet dripping with something sinister. Before I could process it, rough fingers yanked the gag from my mouth. I gasped, sucking in desperate lungfuls of air, my throat dry and burning. “Who are you?
Allison’s POVThe sharp glare of sunlight cut through the curtains, burning through my closed lids. A groan escaped my lips as I shifted, stretching out against the cool sheets. My body ached—not in exhaustion but in the sweetest reminder of last night. My skin still tingled with the ghost of Clyde’s touch. Heat rushed to my face as memories flooded in. The way he had taken me against the glass, the rough possessiveness in his voice, the way he worshiped me like I was his last breath of air. And then the humiliation. I buried my face in my hands. *God, how do I ever face Diego and the others again?* I forced myself up, glancing around the vast bedroom. The space was eerily quiet. No hushed murmurs, no deep voice telling me to come closer, no strong arms pulling me back into bed. He was gone. Again. A sharp pang twisted in my chest, annoyance curling hot in my gut. He always did this—disappearing in the mornings, slipping away like a shadow in the dark. He never woke me.
Allison’s POV"Ahhh, mmm yes! Oh, Clyde… yes, harder! Please!""Take all of this cock, baby… yes, it’s all yours!”Our cries of pleasure filled the penthouse, echoing through the vast glass walls that overlooked the glittering city below. I was pressed up against them, my breath fogging the cold surface, my body feverish from the relentless way he drove into me. My heels helped me keep up with his towering height, but the force of his thrusts made it near impossible to stay upright. The night had unraveled into this frenzy the moment he ordered me to take my panties off in the car, his wicked smirk promising ruin. And ruin me he did. His mouth was on me in seconds, his head buried between my legs as the car sped through the streets. The driver had turned crimson when we finally stepped out, and so had I. But Clyde? He didn’t care. He never cared about anything but what he wanted. And what he wanted was me. The second the elevator doors slid open, he had me against the wall, hi
Clyde's POV The glances she shot my way were pure fire, her rage simmering beneath those sharp eyes. She wasn’t hiding it, not even trying. For a second, the voice of the young man speaking at the far end of the room faded into background noise. My attention was elsewhere—on the way her lips twitched, the way her fingers clenched against the table. Allison was beyond pissed. What the fuck did I do now? The meeting wrapped up, and everyone rose from their seats, filing toward the door. "Miss Gray, stay back." My voice boomed through the boardroom, halting her in place. A ripple of tension spread through the room, eyes darting between us before people hurried out, sensing the storm brewing. She didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. The second the last person left, she turned on me. "What the fuck, Clyde?" she exploded. I smirked. "I love it when you cuss, baby." "This is not the time for jokes!" Her voice was sharp, edged with frustration. "You bought the company I work for
Allison's POVLost in my thoughts, I barely heard my name being called. I veer around to see Willy standing by my chair. His chocolate eyes observe me intently before he drops down next to me. "You don't look well." "I'm fine." Seconds pass before he speaks up again, eyeing me. "Ever since you returned from the party, you've been off. Did something happen?" I understand Will's intentions are pure—he only cares for me—yet it's getting irritating. Whatever happened is something I never want to speak of. The shock of that night is still fresh in my memory. It haunts my sleep. Without saying a word, I turn my gaze to the window. The beautiful scenery of the clouds helps soothe my aching heart. Vacation is over. Right now, we're all seated in Clyde's private plane, heading back home. Yet, a certain ache looms inside me. "Baby, I don't want you to worry, please," his voice echoes in the moving car. Diego had to drop off my family at the house. Of course, Clyde insisted I com
By the time we arrived at my cottage, she had fallen asleep. Quickly, I moved her to my room before cleaning her up. By the time I was done, the doctor arranged by Diego had arrived to check on her. We waited patiently until he was done with the check-up, my heart racing the entire time. What if something happened to her because of me? “She’s lucky you arrived in time. Otherwise, the drug would have stopped her heart from beating.” “I fucking know! Just—how is she?” I growled, shocking the middle-aged man. He trembled at my sight. “For now, she’s stable, but…” “But what?” I cut him off, my patience already running low. “The amount of drug in her system is too high. Whoever spiked her drink must have used a lethal dose—enough to kill a human in hours.” Fuck! “So, doctor, is she going to be alright?” Diego asked since I was too furious to speak, my fist clenched in a tight punch. “For now, I’ve sedated her, and the IV drip will help flush out the drug. However, for t
Clyde's POVThe sole aim of attending this fucked-up party was to prove to my old man that he doesn't scare me. Not anymore.I remember the gift box he received a few days ago—his beloved dog, chopped into pieces. Tonight, I plan to deliver the head myself. My father knows better than to cross my path.He knows how deadly I can be when it comes to what's mine. I'm glad he received a befitting gift for his stupid plan of visiting my lamb. He wanted her family here—well, I've brought them myself, and I'm certain he's stunned by this act.A few minutes after we stepped in, Scar motioned to speak with me. It was urgent, he said."We busted a few of Rence’s locations the other night.""What did you find?""It was gruesome, but we were able to save up to fifty children and twenty young teenagers.""That fucking bastard!"Rence had still not been caught. His ability to slip through every pursuit surprised me. The bastard had a lot to pay for.I have the streets searching for his ass with a b