Red! That was all I saw when she hit me. How dare she?She had no right to hit me! The car flew along the highway as I drove at full speed.The emotions brewing inside my head were infuriating. I was angry at myself for dropping my guard and allowing her to break my walls.That first encounter back at the hotel should have been the last. I should have known better than to forgive her actions. She would have lost her fucking job on that day.Calm, sweet—those were never my style. I was the devil himself, with all the vile things I've done. She was never supposed to be in my chaotic world in the first place.Yet here I was, drowning in pain and guilt. I had eventually arrived at one of my buildings in town. The thought of leaving her behind was never in my mind—until she pulled her stupid stunt.The harsh liquid hit my throat as I gulped down the entire bottle of whiskey, wishing to drown the pain.Last night, when I received the emergency call from Diego, I had to leave town immediatel
The ride was silent, with us stealing glances at one another. The tension in the car was so palpable, I bet he could hear the sound of my racing heart.Lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t realized the car had come to a stop. Before I could register anything, strong hands grasped me, pulling me out of my seat. A wail escaped my lips as he settled me on his lap.“Stay still,” he ordered as I kept wiggling against him. His actions took me by surprise.We were in the middle of a dark, empty road, just the two of us in his car. My heartbeat increased with every breath I took.He positioned me so I straddled him. Our eyes met, and emotions began to take over.Clyde instantly claimed my lips in a kiss. He sucked on my mouth roughly, tasting every inch of me.With my eyes closed, I kissed him back, my fingers tangling in his hair. The hunger in us consumed everything.“What are you doing to me?” he murmured against my lips as he finally let go.“Clyde…” I whispered.“You’re in my every thought. I
Of course, I lied about my identity and what I do for a living. She would entirely freak out if she knew who the fuck I was.At least I had solved one problem and also gained her trust again. That was all that mattered now.As the night dragged on, we discussed numerous fortes concerning our lives, making us lose track of time."It's time for me to leave, Clyde.""Stay with me tonight… please," I begged softly. There was no way I'd let her leave tonight.We sat by the fireplace, settled on a mat. I pushed closer into her warmth before taking her hands in mine."I don't think that's a good idea," she whispered, mixed-up emotions circling inside her head.Our eyes stayed locked on one another."What are you scared of, baby?" I asked in a low voice, the sadness in her eyes screaming her worries.After much hesitation, she finally lets it out. "I'm scared you'll leave… probably because I am way out of your league and status.""Don't you ever feel that way… If I wanted to leave, I'd never
Allison's POV I woke up to sweet touches on my body. I blinked open, and those green orbs stared into mine, shining brightly with a smile on his lips. Last night's activities replayed in my head, the sweet ache between my legs proof of what we now shared. It was the best night of my life. Clyde had been extra gentle, making sure to satisfy me first before himself. Immediately, a smile formed on my lips as well. "I'd be glad to know I’m the reason for that smile…" His words made me blush hard. Despite us doing it more than four times last night, I could feel my body reacting to him again. Oh, Alli! "Of course, it's you," I retorted, now laughing. He quickly yanked me over. "Last night was amazing, Alli," he murmured into my ear. Our eyes met, and I was lost in his. Truly, this man had become my addiction—one I could never have imagined. "Come on, I'll make us breakfast." I hauled him into the bathroom for a bath before we moved downstairs. Surprisingly, his housekee
"Go faster, Diego!" I yell. The tension is high as we drive at full speed.We have to arrive as soon as possible. fuck! We should have taken the private jet for this mission.Our intel sent word of Rence's whereabouts a few hours ago, the bastard was hiding in a small town outside the city. My men would have gladly brought him to me, yet I decided to go myself with a few troops. The news came unexpectedly, but in this game, we always have to be prepared for anything.As we approach the borders of this mysterious town, a certain chill runs through me, not fear, but a wave of uncertainty about what’s to come.Quickly, my men exit the trucks behind us, while Diego and I remain in our car, watching closely.The informant had led us to a farmhouse, insisting that Rence was in there somewhere."Why the fuck would he come here?" The words leave my lips abruptly. Diego shares a knowing glance with me, just as perplexed by the situation."Boss, you need to see this." One of my men knocks on t
I checked my phone for the hundredth time tonight, desperately hoping and wishing he’d make it before dinner got cold.Yet, nothing popped up, no notifications from him. At the very least, I deserved a short text if he wasn’t going to make it, rather than keeping us all waiting.My reflection stared back at me. I was already crying off my makeup for the evening. The only thing I could do was hide in my bathroom, away from my family."Hey, Alli, we should eat already," Willy said after knocking on the door for the fifth time.It was already past 8 p.m., and still no news from Clyde. The feeling of his disappointment was heart-wrenching.Finally, I unlocked the door with shaky hands. Will sprinted in that second, his eyes full of worry."Will..." My voice broke into pieces as I sobbed. He pulled me into his arms, comforting my tired ass."Hush now, it's alright."My sobs grew louder as I poured my heart out in his arms."He promised me… then why?" I cried, my voice cracking. My eyes wer
“She is indeed a precious little thing.” His cold voice echoed in the moving car.“I told you so, Boss. She is special to him.”Both men conversed heatedly as the car sped through the night. The old man grumbled a few words to himself, a cold smile flashing across his face at his thoughts.Alaric Butch—the biological father of Clyde, his own son's nightmare, and perhaps his worst enemy.He smirked at the events unfolding. Maybe his son could finally be redeemed by the innocent girl he'd found. Or perhaps they could both have some fun with her?A loud roar of laughter escaped his mouth. The old man laughed for minutes at his own thoughts.“Boss, do you think inviting them to the party is a good idea?” Tobias asked after the old man’s laughter had died down.“The odds will definitely be against my hotheaded son. I want to watch the drama this causes—it will be fun,” he said.Tobias stared, confused, at the man he had seen as a father since his own biological one had died saving him. He
Anxious was more than what I felt as we arrived at the hotel, my mind in a frenzy over her reaction after a whole week of being away.My injuries needed time to heal; otherwise, with Allison being the stubborn ass she was, it would be hard to table the lies I had in store for her.The entire time Diego did the texting with her, I wasn’t sure what to say, especially after my father’s stunt. I read the messages over and over, the pain laced in her words showed just how much my disappearance had hurt her.Today, after the doctor confirmed me fit, I headed straight to the hotel where she worked, the place where the heavens blessed me with her.“We arrived over ten minutes ago, boss.”The tall building in front confirmed Diego’s words. I had never felt so nervous in ages. This little blonde innocence brought out a part of me I thought was dead.My heart accelerated as we stepped into the building, Diego following closely behind me as we proceeded. Ignoring the remarks of those who knew m
Clyde’s POV The mart stank of blood, gasoline, and fear. A single overhead bulb flickered weakly, casting a yellowish hue over the bruised man kneeling at my feet. One of his eyes was swollen shut—a gift from Diego’s fists—and his cracked lips trembled with desperation.“Where is she?” I asked, my voice a low snarl that slithered through the room like venom. Cold. Controlled. Lethal.The old man’s breath came in short gasps. “Please… I only lent her a phone. That’s all, I swear—God knows I don’t know where she went.”Wrong answer.Without needing to speak, I tilted my chin at Diego. The crack of bone followed. The man crumpled to the ground with a strangled cry, fingers scrambling to clutch my legs like a dying prayer.“Please… spare me,” he whimpered, voice thick with phlegm and regret. “Sir… I beg of you.”I kicked him off with a slow, merciless motion, my boot slamming into his chest. My rage was a living thing now—black, hot, and crawling beneath my skin.Grabbing his collar, I y
The room echoed with the loud shot, the crack of it splitting the air like a lightning strike. My ears rang for seconds, sharp and shrill, as if the sound itself had buried into my skull.Fear gripped me in a stranglehold. My heart stopped—just stopped—as the moment stilled, suspended in a nightmare. The chandelier above quivered, then came crashing down with a heavy, jarring thud, shards scattering across the floor like glittering knives.When I open my eyes, they meet Saida’s—and what I see there sends a shiver down my spine. Fear. Real, gut-deep fear. For a second, I don’t know if it’s hers or mine. Then his voice slices through the tension like a blade, cold and cruel, dragging us back into the horror. He made the shot. Of course, he did."I swear the next bullet will be piercing through your skull, Saida," he gritted out, voice low and sharp like gravel. His hand didn’t flinch. The gun was still pressed into her head, the metal digging into her skin like a promise."Do not spoi
Allison’s POVThe darkness stretched deeper than I could imagine—thick and suffocating. My weary mind drifted through it, lost in the endless struggle between myself and the world. Between reality and madness.If a person could sit still for this long, tied up and barely breathing, without losing their mind… it would be considered magic. If that kind of shit was even real. But I was still here. Still breathing. Barely.And even in this void of silence and cold, all I could think about—was him.Clyde.The images came uninvited, sharp and vivid. Him with blood on his hands. Him orchestrating a drug empire with that calm, lethal stare. It didn’t have to make sense. The stories weren’t supposed to rhyme. But they did. They rhymed too well. Too perfectly. Like a puzzle I hadn’t meant to solve.Now here I was. Shackled. Nearly naked. Freezing. Bones aching and bruised, skin raw against the stone floor—but none of it compared to the pain burning in my stupid heart.And then—footsteps.Echoes
Clyde’s POVThe harshness of the alcohol burned my skin as I rode through the city at speed, darkness wrapping around me like an old friend. That familiar numbness, that rage-filled silence, swallowed me whole. I stared hard at the latest picture on my phone. That same damn number. A new set of photos. This time, she was clad in only her underwear, chained to a bed. She looked smaller than she had this morning. And my cold, cursed heart ached beyond words. “We’ll get her back, Clyde. I promise you.” Diego’s voice rang out inside the car. I was holding the phone so tight it might snap in half. Too late. I was fucking too late. Now I had even bigger problems than before. The warehouse had been three hours out of the city. When we got to the cafeteria they were both gone. Will and my girl. And just when I tried to figure out where the hell they’d gone, my phone beeped again. That same number. That sick, twisted image of my precious lamb. Caught in bondage. And a m
Allison’s POV Every part of me burned with worry as I made my way across the street. The cafeteria's light spilled into the dark alley, but it did nothing to lighten my mood. It was a blur—this moment of weakness. Accepting this invitation even when I knew, deep down, that this single meeting could destroy everything. Fortes worth saving. Or not? My eyes landed on him as I strolled into the cafeteria. It’s always been our favorite spot from when we were teenagers, a place etched with too many memories to count. He smiled and waved at me as I approached. But when I got close, I realized—his bruises had darkened. Clyde definitely hit him hard. A sharp pang filled my chest, tight and unforgiving. All this was my fault. "I can't say how proud I am of you for coming." "Get to the fucking point." I snapped. He smirked, but he must have expected that. He shrugged it off like it didn’t sting. His gaze dragged over my body, definitely laughing at my outfit for the
The gates slid open to the warehouse compound—my other face of business. A laundry façade out front for anyone stupid enough to get curious, but the real shit was buried in the belly of the building. Drugs. Guns. Power.My men stood tall at the gates, weapons strapped, eyes alert. The moment they saw me, they straightened up. I was the king in my fucking empire—and tonight, I wasn’t in the mood for delays.“Is everything in order?” I snapped as we stepped out.“Yes, Boss,” one answered immediately. “This way.”I walked past rows of tables stacked with wrapped bricks of cocaine, watched by trusted hands who wouldn’t dare skim a gram. It reeked of power, of money, of a life soaked in blood and secrets. This was me. This was who I fucking was.Scar met us near the back, his face grim.Scar nodded and motioned us to the surveillance room. My boots echoed hard against the concrete floor as I followed.The screen showed him—Rence—tied to a chair, bloodied, breathing heavy through a busted n
Clyde’s POVThe hum of the engine was the only thing that filled the silence.I sat in the backseat, elbows braced on my knees, fingers laced together so tight my knuckles had turned white. My jaw was locked, muscles ticking. I hadn't said a word since we left the house. Not because I had nothing to say—but because if I opened my mouth, I'd probably tear the fucking world apart.Will.That name alone made the blood in my veins sizzle.I could still see them—Allison and that bastard—in my mind like it was branded behind my eyelids. Him leaning too damn close. Whispering something into her ear, like he had a right. His hand… grazing her arm. Bare skin. Her skin.And she let him. Fuck.She didn’t move. Didn’t shove him away. Didn’t scream. Just stood there and let him breathe her in like she belonged to him.If she wasn’t guilty, then why the fuck did she let him touch her?My lungs were tight. Breathing hurt. My thoughts were a mess—raw, jagged pieces cutting through what little contr
So without thinking, I ran between them, heart thundering, body trembling, barely able to catch his raised fist before it slammed into Will’s jaw. “Please…” My voice cracked, the word hanging in the air like a plea to God. My tears streamed freely down my face, burning hot trails across my skin. “Let. Go.” Clyde’s voice was low and rough—no longer the man who had made love to me just minutes ago, who’d kissed my lips like he worshipped me. This voice was cold. Controlled. Lethal. “Please don’t.” I sobbed again, wrapping my hand tighter around his, but he yanked it free with terrifying force and landed a brutal punch on Will. The sickening sound of knuckles meeting flesh rang out through the room. My lips quivered. I pressed my palm to my mouth to stifle the scream clawing its way up my throat. “How fucking dare you?!” Clyde roared, voice thick with fury, slamming his fist into Will again. And again. “No! Please stop!” I cried, voice raw, almost unrecognizable. I was shakin
Allison’s POVThe worst part of loving someone is knowing you hurt—yet deep down, you still can’t let go.Just like always, he’d done unimaginable things to my body. The kind of pleasure only he could offer. And I’d taken all of it—willingly, shamelessly, with every part of me that still ached from loving him.Even as my heart throbbed beneath the weight of his secrets, I found myself curling deeper into his arms. Those strong arms that feel like home. That shield me from the bitter, cruel world. That hold me like I’m something precious—when everything else feels like it’s falling apart.Our naked bodies were tangled in the sheets of my bed, skin against skin, warmth against warmth. His soft, steady breathing fanned across my face as he slept, lips parted, lashes casting faint shadows over his cheeks. I couldn’t help but stare. God, he was beautiful. Even with the slight gauntness in his cheeks, even with the weight he’d lost… he was still breathtaking. Still mine. “I’m up for anot