Serena’s POVI’m dragged into the backseat of a sleek black car, and before I can even process what’s happening, the door slams shut behind me.I struggle against the hands gripping my arms, the guards seated in front of me holding me down with a roughness that makes my skin crawl. My breath comes i
Serena’s POVI can’t stop shaking, but I keep the gun steady, aiming it between the guard and the man sitting across from me.My heart’s racing, every nerve in my body screaming at me to stay alert, to keep control. But the man — this calm, polished stranger — just looks at me with that unsettling s
Bill’s POVThe contract I’m staring at might as well be written in a foreign language.I’m in my study, supposedly reviewing some final agreements for Pinnacle AI, but my mind keeps wandering. The numbers blur together, and I rub my temples, trying to force myself to focus. But then, my phone rings.
Bill’s POV“Calvin might be telling the truth,” Serena says.I grip the steering wheel tighter, my jaw clenching. It takes everything in me not to snap back. “Maybe,” I mutter, barely able to keep my voice calm. “But I’m going to find out for sure. One way or another.”Serena doesn’t say anything af
Bill’s POVThe smell of fresh coffee fills the kitchen as I set the last of the breakfast plates on the table, trying to keep my hands busy. Any minute now, Serena will wake up.I’ve been up for hours, mind racing, planning, worrying. But I figured the least I could do was make her breakfast. Eggs,
Bill’s POV“It was years ago,” I begin, leaning back in my chair as I let the memories flood back. Serena watches me with a quiet curiosity, her eyes flicking between mine, waiting for me to continue."Back when I thought I had everything figured out. Turns out, I didn’t know a damn thing."I pause,
Serena’s POVWe finally met.I’m sitting across from James at a small, quiet café, the kind of place where no one looks twice at you, and the noise level hovers just below a low hum. Bill is beside me, but James is the one I’m focused on. He’s not exactly what I expected. For someone with a past in
Serena’s POVThe last few weeks pass in a blur.Business has exploded in ways I didn’t see coming, and I can barely keep up with the demand. Stevie and I are practically running on fumes, but there’s this undercurrent of excitement, like we’re on the verge of something big. The kind of big that chan
Bill’s POVThe second day of the trial feels heavier than the first. I sit at the stand, every eye in the courtroom on me. Kevin sits across the room, leaning back in his chair, his face as blank as ever. But I’ve known him long enough to spot the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers tap rh
Serena’s POVEvan Carter steps up to the stand, his posture rigid but his face set with a kind of quiet determination. He’s nervous — I can see it in the way his hands grip the edges of the chair, his knuckles white — but he doesn’t hesitate when the prosecutor starts her questioning.“Mr. Carter,”
Serena’s POVThe courtroom feels like it’s holding its breath. Kevin sits across the room, calm and collected, as if he isn’t facing the weight of his crimes being read aloud. Arson. Money laundering. Drug trafficking. Arms dealing. Conspiracy. Each charge is like a hammer falling, but Kevin doesn’t
Bill’s POVThe flashing red and blue lights from the police cars paint everything in sharp. Kevin’s hunched figure disappears into the back of a cruiser, his hands cuffed tightly behind his back. But even as he’s being taken away, he still manages to twist the knife with his parting words.“This isn
Serena’s POVKevin strides toward me, his expression dark and twisted. I don’t move. I plant my feet, keeping my stance steady, just like Bill taught me. My heart races, but my mind is sharp, clear. I’m not afraid — not anymore.He lunges, fast and aggressive, the blade in his hand aiming straight f
Serena’s POVKevin raises the knife, and my breath catches. For a split second, time seems to slow, the glint of the blade catching the faint light like a silent threat. Before I can react, Bill charges in from the side, slamming into Kevin with the full force of his body. They hit the ground hard,
Serena’s POVKevin steps toward me. His twisted grin grows wider with each deliberate step. He thinks he has this in the bag. He thinks I’m scared, that I’ll back down the second he closes the gap. He doesn’t realize he’s underestimating me.My feet stay planted firmly on the ground, my hands steady
Bill’s POVKevin and his men approach slowly, scanning every corner. They’re trying to catch even the smallest hint of movement. They’re wary but not afraid, at least not yet. Kevin’s confidence radiates off him like a bad cologne, seeping into the minds of the men with him. Serena is crouched besi
Serena’s POVBill, Matt, James, and I go over every detail of the plan again and again. I sit at the table, watching as they discuss the best routes in and out of the location, debating whether we’ll have enough cover.It’s late, and all of us are tired. But I shake it off. There’s no time for being