Victor’s POVStanding here, looking at Aria and Jessica with that fierce resolve blazing in their eyes, I realized that stopping them was no longer an option. They wanted to face this danger directly, on their own terms.“Alright,” I said finally, my voice heavy with reluctance. “But if you’re going
Aria’s POVI rang the doorbell, feeling an unexpected rush of nerves as I waited. It had been a long time since I’d been to Victor’s home, and even though I told myself it was just the thought of the training that unsettled me, I knew it was more than that.One of Victor’s staff opened the door with
Aria’s POV“Alright,” Victor said, moving closer to adjust my stance. His hands found my shoulders, gently shifting them back, and then he stepped even closer, his hands grazing down my arms to place them correctly, his body rubbing against mine at one point. Shit. “Keep your elbows in,” he murmur
Aria’s POVThe silence between us thickened, filled with all the things we hadn’t said. I could still feel the echoes of his words—I was going crazy thinking about you. The admission lingered, like a raw wound exposed, and I couldn’t look away from him, couldn’t ignore the way my heart raced, each b
Aria’s POV“Alright, Aria,” the trainer said, clapping his hands with a nod of encouragement. “Ready to show us what you’ve got?”“Let’s do it,” I replied, trying to hide the quickening of my pulse as I glanced at Victor. This was our second training session, and he’d gone all out, hiring a professi
Aria’s POVThe session finally wrapped up, and the trainer clapped his hands one last time, beaming at us. “Great job, everyone. You’re picking this up quickly—maybe you guys are really naturals, or it’s just that you’re all already in good shape.”Jessica grinned at me, nudging my shoulder. “Guess
Aria’s POVTonight is the night.The thought ran through my mind, sending a shiver down my spine as I wrapped up the last of my work at Velvet Vibe. I glanced at Jessica, who was just as focused, her brow furrowed as she assigned tasks to our team members. We’d both worked late to ensure everything
Victor’s POVThe car came to a halt, and I stared out the window, taking in the scene before us. The Mirage Casino’s entrance was unmarked, nestled between two anonymous buildings in a part of town that would have seemed nondescript to anyone else. But thanks to Dr. Levine’s directions, we’d found i
Aria’s POVThe laughter in the room was easy, flowing like music that hadn’t been played in far too long. It was the kind of afternoon I had only dreamed of during those long, uncertain nights. One filled with light, warmth, and peace.But what caught my eye most wasn’t the cake or the wine or even
Aria’s POVThe sun filtered gently through the sheer curtains, casting golden stripes across the kitchen floor. Outside, the wind rustled the trees in soft waves, the kind of quiet that used to feel like a luxury—but now, it felt like a miracle.I stood barefoot by the open window, sipping tea, watc
Aria’s POV"There they are! By the dock!"The shout tore through the air like a whipcrack. My heart jumped."Get down, Jasmine!" I hissed, pulling her low into the hull of the boat.More frenzied shouts followed, echoing from behind the locked boathouse door. Then came the unmistakable sound of spli
Aria’s POVThe tunnel walls closed in the farther we ran, the air thick with dust and something ancient, something forgotten. The flickering light from my phone barely illuminated the path ahead as Jasmine and I rushed forward, our footsteps echoing off the stone.We had no idea where we were going—
Victor’s POVThe moment Greco grabbed my mother’s arm, I saw red.Alicia struggled against Greco’s grasp, her body twisting as she tried to wrench herself free. But his grip was unyielding—ironclad. His smirk darkened, turning into something twisted, dangerous."You always were stubborn," Greco murm
Aria’s POVI grabbed Jasmine’s hand and pulled her close, my pulse hammering as I ran toward the secret door. My fingers fumbled with the hidden latch, my breath short and uneven. Come on, come on—Click.I shoved the door open just enough for us to slip inside before sealing it shut behind us. The
Victor’s POVThe moment the man at the far table shifted, my entire body went rigid. One second, he was still, the next, his hand dipped into his jacket.A gun? A knife?I was ready to move. One wrong twitch from him, and I’d take him down before he could even stand. My pulse pounded in my ears as I
Aria’s POV"Are Jasmine and I the real targets?" I whispered to myself, the thought chilling me to my core.No. That was silly. I was being paranoid.I shook my head, trying to dismiss the fear that had settled like ice in my veins. The bodyguards said they needed to secure the cabin, and logically,
Aria’s POVI stared at my phone, my fingers gripping it so tightly that my knuckles ached. Still nothing. No calls. No messages. The meeting had to be happening now, but I had no idea what was going on.I tried dialing Victor again. Straight to voicemail. Samuel? No response either.A pit of dread s