Serena’s POVWhen I walk into the café, I spot Adam immediately. He’s seated by the window, the soft afternoon light casting a warm glow on him as he scrolls through his phone. His casual confidence is still there, the same Adam I remember, but there’s something different about him. As I approach t
Bill’s POVThe car hums beneath us as Sarah and I head toward the Étoile de Collin launch. My suit is sharp, perfectly tailored — black with a hint of sheen in the fabric, a nod to the event’s high-end nature. I’ve kept the tie sleek, silver, and simple, knowing this isn’t the kind of night for bol
Serena’s POVThe lights from the chandeliers above twinkle as I make my way through the sea of elegant masks and glittering gowns. The masquerade theme is in full effect, and everything about this night is perfect. This is the grand launch of Étoile de Collin, a moment I’ve dreamed of for so long.
Bill’s POVThe room swarms with people congratulating Serena after her speech, but I can’t focus on any of it. My eyes are locked on her as she moves through the crowd, trying to stay out of my reach. I weave between the guests, barely acknowledging the ones who greet me. I need to talk to her — no
Serena’s POVBill saved my life?The thought is so surreal it feels like a lie. Yet here he is, standing in front of me, saying those words. Everything about this moment feels wrong. I should hate him, despise him for everything he’s done, for leaving me when I needed him the most. How could he be t
Bill’s POVI pace back and forth in my living room, the weight of everything hanging heavy over my head. The frustration building inside me feels like it's about to explode, and no matter how many times I circle the room, it doesn't ease the tension. Sarah sits on the couch, watching me, her eyes fo
Serena’s POV The morning sun streams through the large front windows of the shop on Rodeo Drive, casting long rays of light onto the pristine, empty display cases. I’m kneeling on the floor, carefully unpacking delicate pieces of jewelry that will soon fill this space. My hands are steady, but my
Serena’s POVThe sun is setting over Rodeo Drive, casting a soft, golden light across the high-end storefronts. Matt walks beside me, his presence relaxed, and I can’t help but enjoy the change of pace. The energy of Rodeo is different from the intensity of last night. It’s easy to get lost in the
Bill’s POVSerena is beneath me, breathless, skin flushed, her eyes dark with something wild and unrestrained. She’s still catching up to the shift in control, the way I’ve pinned her to the mattress, keeping her right where I want her. Her wrists are locked in my grip above her head, fingers curlin
Serena’s POVI stand in the doorway of our bedroom, watching Bill move carefully, peeling his shirt off like every muscle in his body aches. The bruises are worse than I thought—deep purples and sickening reds blooming across his ribs, stretching over his side like reminders of how close we came to
Stevie’s POVI don’t know if I want to kiss him or kill him.Probably both.Calvin Lancaster has a death wish, and he drags me down with him every single time. I should be furious. I am furious. But my hands are already on his chest, fingers pressing into his skin, tracing over the steady rise and f
Calvin’s POVThe steady beep of a heart monitor pulls me out of the thick, foggy darkness. My body feels heavy, my limbs sluggish. There’s a dull ache in my ribs, a sharp pain in my side, and a slow throbbing in my head. For a second, I don’t remember where I am.Then it all comes back.The explosio
Bill’s POVCollin doesn’t let go of me.His tiny hands fist into my shirt, his small body pressed so tight against mine it’s like he’s trying to disappear inside me. His breath is uneven, shaky, catching on little silent sobs. Every few seconds, I feel him tremble, his body still reacting even thoug
Bill’s POVSterling smirks, his grip steady on the gun, his expression calm. Too calm. His finger rests lightly on the trigger, like he has all the time in the world. He enjoys this. The fear. The tension. The power.“If I can’t win,” he says, slow and deliberate, “then neither do you.”Collin is fr
Calvin’s POVTime is slipping through my fingers.I can feel it. Every second Collin is gone is a second closer to Sterling disappearing for good.I grip the edge of my desk, staring at the screen James pulled up. The last trace of Sterling’s location blinks in red—just outside the city. He’s on the
Serena’s POVCollin’s name is already tearing out of my throat before I realize I’m screaming.I run through the house, heart pounding, breath sharp and uneven. The walls blur past me as I shove open doors, check under tables, search every possible place he could be hiding.Nothing.His toys are sca
Bill’s POVThe world tilts violently when I open my eyes.The air is thick with dust and smoke, curling through the wreckage, filling my lungs with something acrid. My ears are ringing so loud that I can’t hear anything else—no sirens, no voices, nothing but that high-pitched whine drilling into my