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
Serena’s POV“How could my father drag you into this?” Matt’s voice is tight with frustration, the anger clear in his eyes. He’s pacing, running a hand through his hair like he’s trying to piece it all together.I cross my arms, feeling the tension coil tighter in my chest. “Matt, I’m already deep i
Serena’s POVThis is bad. Really bad.I sit in the corner of a quiet cafe, my hands wrapped around a warm cup of coffee, but it doesn’t bring me any comfort. Across from me, Bill is fuming, his jaw clenched so tight I’m surprised he hasn’t cracked a tooth. James, calm as ever, is sitting next to him
Serena’s POVDamn, I need to focus.We’re in the middle of another sparring session, Bill and I, and every time he moves, my mind betrays me, focusing more on the way his muscles ripple than on his punches. The tension between us has been building for weeks, and now, it feels like it’s about to boil
Serena’s POVI can’t think. I can barely breathe.Bill’s lips crash against mine again, hungrier this time, more demanding. His body is pressed so tightly against mine that I feel like I’m melting into him. Every part of me is on fire, burning with a need I’ve been pushing down for so long, but now
Serena’s POVI’m lying on the mat, staring at the ceiling. For a moment, I’m out of breath. My pulse is still racing, and every nerve feels like it’s been reset. I barely even feel the coolness of the mat beneath me. Bill lies next to me. Neither of us says anything and I feel the warmth of his arm
Serena’s POVBill’s mansion feels different tonight like the walls are holding secrets. I can sense it even as I sit on the edge of the leather couch, scrolling through the same cryptic message over and over.He’s closer than you think. Just five words, but they keep me up half the night.Bill paces
Bill’s POVI ignore the pain in my ribs as I push through the doors of Calvin’s office. Every step sends a dull, burning ache through my side, but I don’t slow down. I don’t have the patience for weakness right now.Calvin and James are already at the table, hunched over a laptop, deep in discussion
Stevie’s POVThe house is quiet, the kind of quiet that feels rare lately.I rock Elijah gently, his tiny body curled against my chest, his breath warm and steady. His little fingers twitch slightly, grasping onto the fabric of my sweater in his sleep. I close my eyes for a moment, listening to the
Calvin’s POVThe study smells like coffee, old paper, and exhaustion. The kind of exhaustion that doesn’t just sit in your bones but in your mind, making every thought feel heavier than it should. The desk lamp flickers slightly, casting uneven light over the chaos of blueprints, files, and scattere
Serena’s POVThe house is finally quiet.I stand by the twins’ crib, watching their small chests rise and fall in slow, steady breaths. Their room is dimly lit by the soft glow of the nightlight, casting gentle shadows along the walls. For the first time in what feels like forever, they’re both asle
Bill’s POVPain.That’s the first thing I register. A deep, dull ache pulsing through my ribs, spreading through my chest like a slow burn. It’s not unbearable, but it’s enough to remind me that I’m not at full strength. Not even close.I blink against the morning light filtering through the curtain
Stevie’s POVThe four of us sit in Bill and Serena’s living room, the weight of everything pressing down like a storm cloud.No one speaks at first.Bill is in a wheelchair, recovering from the gunshot wound that was meant for Calvin. His face is pale, drawn tight with exhaustion, but his eyes are s
Calvin’s POVI should’ve done this sooner.For months, I’ve been playing defense, trying to keep my family safe while Sterling takes shot after shot. I’ve been reacting, scrambling to patch the holes he punches in our lives.But that ends now.Bill is in a hospital bed because of him.My son was nea
Serena’s POVI don’t move from Bill’s side.The hospital room is dim, the only light coming from the monitors next to his bed, casting a soft glow over his face. His breathing is steady, but the sound of it isn’t enough to calm me. The machines beep in slow, measured rhythms, a reminder that he’s st
Stevie’s POVThe call comes in just after midnight.I almost don’t answer.Elijah finally went down an hour ago, and I was hoping for maybe one solid stretch of sleep. But my phone vibrating on the nightstand sends a jolt through my system.No one calls this late unless it’s bad news.I grab my phon