Aurora Gray has always lived under the control of her cunning stepmother, Joanne, and is now forced into an engagement with the ruthless Patrick Hayes. But when Patrick's enigmatic elder brother, Dominic, enters the picture, Aurora finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of forbidden love. In a web of deceit and betrayal, Aurora uncovers secrets about her family's past, including the truth about Leo Levine-a man intent on vengeance upon the Grays. Danger draws near, and Aurora must make a choice between love, loyalty, or survival before the truth destroys them all.
Lihat lebih banyakThat was not an option. He had made sure there were no loose ends left behind. If that woman was alive at all, someone had kept her in hiding for years."Who are you?" Leo snarled, his low, menacing tone promising nothing good.The voice chuckled. "I invited you to meet me, but you sent someone else to the place. That is not how one does this, Mr. Levine."Leo's eyes turned black as he leaned back in his seat. "You expect me to go into a trap based on the testimony of a phone call?""Quick thinking," the voice came back. "But you don't have an option. If you truly wish to finish what you started, come alone. Midnight. Old Harbor."Leo couldn't get another word out before the line went dead.He stared at the phone, his mind whirling.Franco's voice burst abruptly into Leo's earpiece. "Boss, there's nobody here. It's an empty lot."Leo's smile was icy. Of course it is."Get out of there," he ordered. "We have more important matters.".He set his phone down, staring out the city skyline
Leo Levine held the pictured frame of his daughter in his arms, his hand sweeping over the outline of her beaming face. His heart constricted. The pain never left, no matter how many years passed."Oh, my sweet daughter," he breathed. His tone was harsh, filled with grief and anger. "By the time I am through with Amber Raven, the daughter of your killer, I believe you will be at peace wherever you are."Franco came into the room with a knock on the door."Come in," he said him without looking up.Franco entered, his face stern. "Sir, we have a lead. A good one this time."Leo pushed the photograph back onto his desk and turned to his right-hand man. "Talk.""She's been seen in the city," Franco said. "But that is not all, she has someone watching her. Someone with power."Leo's eyes darkened. "Who?"Franco hesitated before speaking. "Dominic."The room was silent.Leo let out a slow, ominous laugh. "Dominic?" His fingers tapped on the desk as he deliberated. "So, he's the one who's be
Joanna's POVI stepped forward to Patrick, my voice low but sharp. "I want Aurora with her mother. Don't let this pass you by. Make sure we get her just as we got her mother."Patrick slowly nodded, stirring the whiskey in his glass. "It's already in motion, Joanna. She won't be leaving here."But before we could take a step, something changed.Where is she?" Isabella's voice cut through the noise of the party.I turned around. Aurora had been standing by the bar a second ago. Now, she was nowhere to be found.Eva's eyes scanned the room, her expression twisting in frustration. "She was just there!"Patrick cursed and picked up his phone. "Find her. Now."And then, the terror hit me like a punch to the gut.Dominic. I curled my fists. The son of a gun had abducted her. He was always one step ahead, too damned good at keeping her safe. This time, I wasn't going to let him get away with it."We have to move," I snarled. "If he gets her out of here, we've lost our leverage."Patrick was
Dominic's POVI pressed the gun to Patrick's head, my finger tight on the trigger."I will kill you right here if you don't play the game." My voice was cold, deadly.Patrick snarled, but I saw the flicker of fear in his eyes. He was not expecting this.Then Aurora screamed. "Stop, Dominic! Please stop! No one deserves to die!"I did not lower the gun. "Aurora, say nothing. I have to shoot him.""If you do, how are you going to know where he's keeping Julie—my mother?" she replied, her voice full of desperation.An uneasy silence engulfed the room.Leo, who had been watching from the sidelines, furrowed his brow. "Wait… I thought her adoptive mother was Joanna, like you said?"Everybody turned to look at Joanna, who just smiled.Leo frowned. "So whose mother are they talking about?"Patrick chuckled menacingly. "Oh, Dominic, you don't know, do you?"I tightened my grip on the gun, my anger thinning. "Know what?"Joanna finally spoke up, her voice soft but tinged with amusement. "Her r
Aurora's POVThe party was extravagant, filled with guests from the Big Four clans. The laughter and ringing glasses echoed down the hall. I was stuck in a corner, watching Dominic as he had intense conversations with powerful men. I did not wish to interrupt him.Something was bothering me, though.My mom's phone number wasn't going through. I didn't text her all that much, so it was strange that she had a message, answering something I never even sent.Shivers ran down my spine.Could it be… Eva and Isabella?They already planted me with that necklace, so it looked like I had stolen it. What if they even messed with my phone? What if they texted my mom, pretending to be me?I gulped. What if something did happen to her?I had to get out of here. I had to go check on my mom.Dominic's POV"I can guarantee you I have the finest distributor channel in all of New York City. Perfecto. And I assure you, my product is first class," Lucca Saviano said with assurance, twirling the whiskey in
Aurora's POV Could it be that the same man who had once sworn to protect me was also hiding an ugly secret? My fingers trembled on the keyboard as I cut and pasted text into my paper. I knew I was playing with fire. But I had no other option. I had to know.The note on the door, the names on the list, the anonymous letter, each one hinted that there was a conspiracy so much larger than I could ever have imagined. And with each piece of evidence that I gathered, the more sinister the image became. I was very angry, and sad, and I was determined. I had to find out the truth about this secret no matter what it may cost me.In the quiet of my room, with nothing but the gentle hum of my laptop and the distant noises of the city outside my window, I swore silently. I would not allow these lost voices to fade into oblivion. I would learn the truth about them, even if it meant challenging the very authorities that had controlled my life.I couldn't help but wonder if someone, quite possibly
Chapter : The Leo Levine CallDOMINIC POV “Leo,” I said, keeping my tone measured, though a quiet urgency simmered beneath.“Dominic,” Leo’s voice crackled through, low and insistent. “I need you to come over to my estate later today. we need to conclusions about the matters I mentioned last time you visited, you no how urgent the matters are.”I frowned slightly. Leo’s summons were never casual. I closed my eyes briefly and replied, “I’m on my way. I’ll leave shortly.” I ended the call and sat back, my mind already churning with possibilities. Leo’s tone hinted at a brewing storm, something was amiss, and it was connected to all Patrick mess up.I looked around my spacious office, a modern sanctuary of power and precision. I looked at the table, files and papers on my desk, I need to go through them before I leave. I looked at the digital screens flashing confidential data, and the quiet hum of the air conditioner were all part of the daily ritual. But today, a sense of foreboding
Dominic's POV After breakfast, I returned to the muted elegance of our home, my mind reeling from the morning's persistent ringing and stealthy whispers. I entered the dining room to find Aurora's mother standing by the window, her face serene but with an undercurrent of suppressed disapproval. Her tone was measured when she finally spoke.You got in late last night, Dominic. We had all gone to bed well before that," she said to me, her eyes searching mine for an explanation I wasn't sure I wanted, or could give.I met her eyes calmly, knowing well enough not to let sentiment get in the way of the delicate balance of our arrangements. "I had business to attend to," I replied curtly, concealing the truth behind a mask of tranquility. There was little room for explanation in our business, where every minute had its own significance.Her eyes tightened slightly as she continued, "I have to discuss something… about Joanna. She threatened last time that she would tell Leo Levine that Auro
Dominic's POV Later that day, on my way back to my private office in my skyscraper headquarters, a peculiar envelope caught my eye on the gleaming mahogany desk. The embossed crest was unmistakable, a symbol of one of the most influential families in our universe , and the stylish calligraphy inside read like a proclamation. an invitation to a birthday party attended by all the Big Four families. I clutched it delicately, a shiver of anticipation running through me as I realized that this evening's gathering was more than a social function. It was a stage for power plays, allegiances to be re-made, and old scores to be settled.I folded the invitation into my pocket, already planning in advance on how I would capitalize on this. However, I did not have long to indulge myself in scheming, as there was another problem that had to be taken care of, Aurora's health. Last night's actions had finally gotten to her, and I could not risk risking the life that we had built together.I found A
Aurora POV The dark room was thick with sultry tension; the faint glow from the bedside lamp cast long shadows. I lay sprawled on the bed, defenseless in the heady mix of alcohol and forbidden emotions.The man standing by the edge of the bed unbuttoned his shirt, piercing eyes fixed on me. My vision blurred, but I knew him—my brother-in-law. The very thought should have stopped me, but it didn't.He leaned down, his lips warm and gentle against mine. My breath caught as his kisses became more passionate, his hands leaving trails of fire up and down my arms. Instinctively, my fingers made their way around his back, skimming along skin as I drew him near. His weight leaned against mine, a low sigh escaping from me at his nearness.Six Hours Earlier"I miss you, Dad," I whispered to the void, my hands clamped on the edge of the vanity as silent sobs fell down my cheeks. My hollow, defeated reflection stared back. Before I could wipe them away, clear footsteps sounded from the hall, fol...
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