(ELISE)The drive back to the apartment felt suffocating. The silence between us was almost oppressive, pressing down on my chest with each passing mile. Dominic sat next to me, his face pale and drawn, his jaw locked tight. I could feel the weight of Victor’s accusations, the sting of the chilling message on my phone—each one a reminder of the danger creeping closer. Neither of us spoke, but the unspoken tension between us was palpable, filling the car and making the air thick with unease.I couldn’t stand it anymore.“Who would send that message?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper, but loud enough to break the silence that had swallowed us whole.Dominic’s eyes were fixed on the road, but his fingers gripped the armrest, his knuckles white. “It could be anyone connected to my father’s past, or one of the people Victor mentioned,” he replied, his voice taut with something I couldn’t quite place. “I don’t know.”“No.” I turned to him, catching his glance for just a moment.
I stood frozen, the phone still clutched in my hand, its cold surface pressing against my damp palm. The man's chilling voice echoed in my mind, and my heartbeat thundered in my ears. Dominic was in danger, and every instinct in my body screamed at me to do something.I paced the apartment, the walls closing in around me. The security guards stationed at the door would never let me leave alone, not after the recent threats. But waiting wasn’t an option. I had to act, and I had to act now.Taking a deep breath, I glanced at the package the deliveryman had brought earlier—the ominous note lying discarded on the coffee table. Its words felt like a taunt, a reminder that I was being watched.I couldn’t involve anyone else. Whoever this man was, he wanted me alone, and any deviation from that would only put Dominic in greater danger.I grabbed my coat and slipped on a pair of boots, trying to steady my trembling hands. Quietly, I opened the closet and retrieved the pepper spray Dominic had
(ELISE)The room seemed to vibrate with tension as Creed’s cruel smile twisted into a smirk of amusement. Dominic was slumped in the chair, his face pale but his eyes sharp, tracking every movement in the room. I could feel the weight of his stare on me, but I didn’t dare meet his gaze. Not yet.Creed stepped closer, the gun in his hand casually dangling as though he wasn’t holding my entire world in his palm. The two men blocking the exit were armed, their broad shoulders and menacing glares making them appear like immovable statues.“You know,” Creed said, his voice almost conversational, “I have to admit, I didn’t expect you to show up this quickly. Dominic always said you were resourceful, but I assumed you’d at least hesitate. Shows how little I know.”I forced myself to hold his gaze, hiding the fear simmering beneath my surface. “If you wanted me here so badly, you’ve got me. Now let him go.”Creed chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Oh, Elise. It’s not that simple. Dominic her
Dominic moved like a force of nature, his body a blur of precise, lethal motion. Creed barely had time to react before Dominic was on him, knocking the gun from his hand with a sharp twist of his wrist. The weapon skittered across the floor, disappearing into the shadows.Creed staggered backward, his smug composure finally breaking. “You think this changes anything?” he spat, his voice tinged with panic. “You can’t outrun me, Dominic! I own this city!”Dominic didn’t respond. He grabbed Creed by the collar, slamming him against the wall with enough force to rattle the shelves lining the room. Creed let out a strangled grunt, his bravado melting into fear.I wanted to move, to help, but the adrenaline coursing through my veins left me frozen, my pulse pounding in my ears. One of Creed’s men was still conscious, clutching his injured shoulder as he reached for a gun.I acted on instinct. Grabbing a nearby bottle from a cluttered table, I hurled it with all my strength. It shattered aga
The next few hours were a blur of activity. Dominic, Dante, and I worked in sync, piecing together a plan that felt both daring and borderline suicidal. The docks were Creed’s stronghold, a sprawling maze of warehouses and shipping containers guarded by his most loyal enforcers. If we were going to take him down, we had to be precise.Dominic laid out a crude map on the desk, his finger tracing potential entry points and vulnerabilities. “Creed will have men posted here, here, and here,” he said, pointing to the main gates and key vantage points. “But the real action will be in Warehouse 12. That’s where they’ll load the shipment.”“And that’s where we’ll hit him?” I asked, leaning over the map.Dominic shook his head. “Not directly. We’ll divide their attention. Dante and I will draw their focus here”—he pointed to a side entrance near the east gate—“while you create a diversion near the south docks.”I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him correctly. “You want me to create a diversion? H
The moment the door closed behind Dominic and Dante, silence filled the safe house. It wasn’t comforting silence; it was heavy, suffocating, and full of unspoken fears. I paced the small living room, trying to distract myself from the growing sense of dread clawing at my chest.The events of the last twenty-four hours replayed in my mind like a broken record. Dominic’s cold, calculating demeanor. Dante’s smug confidence. The chaos at the docks. The idea that Creed had already retaliated left a bitter taste in my mouth.I glanced at the duffel bag Dominic had left on the table earlier. Curiosity gnawed at me. Maybe there was something in there that could make me feel more prepared—more useful. I hesitated for a moment before unzipping it.Inside was an assortment of items: spare clothes, ammunition, a couple of burner phones, and a sleek black handgun. My hand hovered over the weapon, unsure whether I should even touch it.“You’re not going to learn by staring at it.”I jumped at the v
Dante's words echoed in my mind as I packed a small bag with essentials. The weight of what we were about to do bore down on me, but alongside it came a sense of resolve. This wasn’t just about Creed anymore—it was about reclaiming my life, my freedom.Dante stood by the door, his phone in hand as he coordinated with someone on the other end. His voice was low, authoritative, and steady. Even in the chaos, he exuded control.When he finally ended the call, he looked at me, his expression grave. “We’ll need to leave within the hour. Creed’s staying in a secured location, but Dominic’s contacts say the window to catch him vulnerable is closing.”I swallowed hard, nodding. “Do we have a plan?”“We do,” Dante said. “It’s risky, but it’s the best shot we’ve got.”The drive to Creed’s hideout was tense, every passing mile charged with anticipation. Dante’s eyes flicked between the road and the rearview mirror, his instincts on high alert.“Tell me,” I said, breaking the silence. “What happe
The quiet that enveloped our lives in the months that followed felt earned, as if we’d clawed it from the jaws of chaos itself. The house Dante found was perched on the edge of a quiet forest, its wide windows inviting sunlight to flood every corner. It was the kind of place I’d once dreamed about when the noise and danger of Creed’s world had made peace feel like a distant fairy tale.But even here, where life had finally slowed, the past had a way of whispering in the dark.One evening, as I was unpacking a box of books I hadn’t touched in years, I came across a journal I’d kept before my life unraveled. Its leather cover was worn, the pages inside filled with scribbled dreams and plans for a future I barely recognized anymore.Flipping through, I saw the person I used to be—the one who believed in simple joys, who thought nothing was beyond reach if she worked hard enough. That person felt so far removed from who I was now. I wasn’t sure if she would recognize me.“What’s that?” Da
Callum lunged at me again, his knife flashing in the storm’s light. I twisted, barely dodging his attack, feeling the rush of air as his blade sliced past my cheek. The sting came a second later, warm blood mixing with the rain. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.Dante fired another shot, taking down one of Callum’s men who had been closing in on us. Creed had disappeared into the trees, picking them off one by one, silent and efficient. But Callum was mine.I ducked under his next strike, driving my knee up into his gut. He grunted, stumbling back. I pressed forward, slashing at his arm, drawing another line of crimson. His face twisted in fury, but there was something else there—something I hadn’t seen before.Fear.“Not so confident now, are you?” I taunted, circling him.Callum let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “You think you’ve won?” he sneered. “You’re still that scared little girl, Elise. And deep down, you know it.”I ignored his words. He was trying to get inside my head, to make
The storm howled in my ears, but it couldn't drown out the pounding of my heart. There was no going back now. The wind whipped around us, cold and biting, but the warmth of Dante’s presence beside me grounded me. The rifle in his hands was steady, his eyes sharp as they scanned the shadows. Creed was to the side, his every move calculated, waiting for the right moment.We were surrounded.I could hear their footsteps on the wet earth, the crunch of leaves and dirt under their boots. Six figures, maybe more, closing in with a purpose. Callum was at the center of it all, standing tall with that sickening grin on his face. It made my blood boil.I couldn’t let them take me again. Not after everything I had fought for.Dante’s hand brushed against mine, a quick reassurance. "Stay behind me," he whispered, but there was no fear in his voice—only resolve.But I couldn’t hide behind him forever."I’m done running," I said, my voice barely audible over the storm. My grip tightened on the knif
Dante stepped closer, his dark eyes searching mine. The weight of unspoken words pressed between us, thick as the storm outside. I could feel the tension in his grip, the demand for answers."Tell me the truth, Elise," he said, voice low but firm. "Who are they? What do they want?"I exhaled, dragging a trembling hand through my damp hair. The truth was a wound I had kept stitched shut for too long, but now the stitches were unraveling."They’re the ones I escaped from," I admitted. "I thought I was free. I thought I could start over." I looked away, swallowing hard. "But no one ever really escapes them."Creed leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching me with an expression I couldn’t decipher."They were never going to stop looking for you," he muttered. "I warned you."Dante’s jaw tightened. "You knew?""I suspected," Creed admitted. "Didn’t have proof until now."Dante turned to me, his hands gripping my arms, grounding me. "Why didn’t you tell me?"My throat tightened. "Beca
Dante stepped closer, his dark eyes searching mine. The weight of unspoken words pressed between us, thick as the storm outside. I could feel the tension in his grip, the demand for answers."Tell me the truth, Elise," he said, voice low but firm. "Who are they? What do they want?"I exhaled, dragging a trembling hand through my damp hair. The truth was a wound I had kept stitched shut for too long, but now the stitches were unraveling."They’re the ones I escaped from," I admitted. "I thought I was free. I thought I could start over." I looked away, swallowing hard. "But no one ever really escapes them."Creed leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching me with an expression I couldn’t decipher."They were never going to stop looking for you," he muttered. "I warned you."Dante’s jaw tightened. "You knew?""I suspected," Creed admitted. "Didn’t have proof until now."Dante turned to me, his hands gripping my arms, grounding me. "Why didn’t you tell me?"My throat tightened. "Beca
The storm raged outside, but the tension inside was even heavier. Creed stood in the doorway, dripping water onto the wooden floor, his breath coming fast and uneven. His eyes darted between me and Dante, as if measuring how much he could say in front of him."Who’s coming?" I asked, forcing my voice to be steady.Creed wiped a hand down his soaked face, his fingers shaking slightly. "The ones who never stopped looking for you. You think you left it all behind, but they never forgot. And now they know where you are."Dante’s grip on my hand tightened. "She’s not alone," he said, his tone edged with steel. "And she’s not running."Creed let out a humorless laugh. "You think you can just stand your ground? You don’t understand who you’re up against. They don’t knock on doors. They don’t send warnings. If they know where you are, it’s already too late."A crack of thunder rattled the windows, making me flinch. I hated how much Creed’s words unsettled me. He wasn’t someone who scared easi
The days began to pass with a rhythm I hadn't known in years—quiet, steady, and filled with purpose. Each morning, I woke with a sense of anticipation, not of fear or dread but of something simple and grounding. The garden grew under our care, rows of green bursting with life. The townsfolk had started to visit, their curiosity turning into admiration as they saw what we were creating.But more than the garden, it was the connection with Dante that seemed to bloom most vividly.One afternoon, as I tied stakes for the tomato vines, I caught Dante watching me. His shirt was smudged with dirt, his hands calloused from work, but he looked more at ease than I’d ever seen him.“What?” I asked, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face.“You,” he said, with a faint smile. “You look happy.”I blinked at the honesty in his voice, caught off guard by how deeply it resonated. “I think I am,” I admitted softly, the words feeling foreign but true.He stepped closer, his gaze steady. “You deserv
The quiet that enveloped our lives in the months that followed felt earned, as if we’d clawed it from the jaws of chaos itself. The house Dante found was perched on the edge of a quiet forest, its wide windows inviting sunlight to flood every corner. It was the kind of place I’d once dreamed about when the noise and danger of Creed’s world had made peace feel like a distant fairy tale.But even here, where life had finally slowed, the past had a way of whispering in the dark.One evening, as I was unpacking a box of books I hadn’t touched in years, I came across a journal I’d kept before my life unraveled. Its leather cover was worn, the pages inside filled with scribbled dreams and plans for a future I barely recognized anymore.Flipping through, I saw the person I used to be—the one who believed in simple joys, who thought nothing was beyond reach if she worked hard enough. That person felt so far removed from who I was now. I wasn’t sure if she would recognize me.“What’s that?” Da
Dante's words echoed in my mind as I packed a small bag with essentials. The weight of what we were about to do bore down on me, but alongside it came a sense of resolve. This wasn’t just about Creed anymore—it was about reclaiming my life, my freedom.Dante stood by the door, his phone in hand as he coordinated with someone on the other end. His voice was low, authoritative, and steady. Even in the chaos, he exuded control.When he finally ended the call, he looked at me, his expression grave. “We’ll need to leave within the hour. Creed’s staying in a secured location, but Dominic’s contacts say the window to catch him vulnerable is closing.”I swallowed hard, nodding. “Do we have a plan?”“We do,” Dante said. “It’s risky, but it’s the best shot we’ve got.”The drive to Creed’s hideout was tense, every passing mile charged with anticipation. Dante’s eyes flicked between the road and the rearview mirror, his instincts on high alert.“Tell me,” I said, breaking the silence. “What happe
The moment the door closed behind Dominic and Dante, silence filled the safe house. It wasn’t comforting silence; it was heavy, suffocating, and full of unspoken fears. I paced the small living room, trying to distract myself from the growing sense of dread clawing at my chest.The events of the last twenty-four hours replayed in my mind like a broken record. Dominic’s cold, calculating demeanor. Dante’s smug confidence. The chaos at the docks. The idea that Creed had already retaliated left a bitter taste in my mouth.I glanced at the duffel bag Dominic had left on the table earlier. Curiosity gnawed at me. Maybe there was something in there that could make me feel more prepared—more useful. I hesitated for a moment before unzipping it.Inside was an assortment of items: spare clothes, ammunition, a couple of burner phones, and a sleek black handgun. My hand hovered over the weapon, unsure whether I should even touch it.“You’re not going to learn by staring at it.”I jumped at the v