[Kendall]"Just close your eyes," he says. His voice sounds thick, wet, almost dripping with blood. "It'll be over soon.”~~~I wake up screaming bloody murder, the sound tearing out of my throat, raw and jagged. This time, I can’t hide it from Camden—he has to pull me into his arms, holding me tight, calming me down with his warmth, his touch.I’m trembling all over, my skin cold and clammy despite being wrapped in Camden’s strong arms. My breath is shallow, each inhale sharp and shaky as if I can’t quite pull enough air into my lungs.“What happened? Principessa, what’s wrong?” he asks, his voice urgent, rough with worry. His hands rub my back in slow, soothing circles, grounding me. Each circle is like a reminder that I’m here, with him, safe.“A dream,” I breathe, forcing the words out as I struggle to catch my breath. “Just a bad dream.”Camden’s brow furrows, shadows deepening the worry in his eyes as he studies me, scanning my face with a mix of concern and something else—somet
[Camden]It’s becoming more and more clear to me that Marco isn’t going to get himself caught, and that I’m going to have to go after him. The realization is heavy, a deep ache that settles in my gut, twisting uncomfortably. I tell myself it’s because I don’t want to be stuck in safehouses or looking over my shoulder when I get home, but I know, deep down, that it’s not that.I want to kill him myself for what he’s done to Kendall. The anger is a sharp, electric pulse under my skin, coursing through my veins with every heartbeat. He’s broken her in many ways, and she seems dimmer after those nightmares—her face pale and damp with sweat in the dim morning light, her eyes darkened by the shadows of memories she shouldn’t have to carry.He’s taken a bright young girl and handed her something to be afraid of, a constant, lingering fear. I hate him for it with a depth that surprises me.It’s not because I have feelings for Kendall. That’s not possible. I don’t get feelings for women, but I
“Fuck,” I curse again, running a hand through my hair, watching her walk out onto the terrace where the pool glistens under the midday sun, the water casting faint, rippling shadows across the patio. She clearly needs some space, and I know I have to give it to her, even if my chest tightens as she walks away.I head out to the car and pull my guns from under the seat of the truck, feeling the cool weight of them in my hands. Back in the quiet of the living room, I set everything down on the coffee table and begin cleaning them, the sharp, metallic scent mixing with the faint smell of coffee and the fresh citrus from Kendall’s shampoo that still lingers in the air.The rhythmic motion of wiping and reassembling the guns steadies me, lets me focus on something other than the lingering ache of our earlier argument.But really, what do I expect? She heard me say that I’m stuck with her.Anyone’s feelings would be hurt.After about half an hour, I let out a groan, putting down the guns an
[Kendall]“Elora ?” I ask when Dante puts her on the phone.“Kendall! God, it’s so good to hear your voice,” Elora says, almost in a high-pitched squeal.I wince and move the phone from my face, laughing a little. “It has been a while,” I say.“Are you dying having to hang out with my boring, stupid brother all this time?” she asks.I think about the night before, Camden biting my neck as he thrust into me, and I blush. “He’s not so bad.”Elora scoffs. “You don’t have to lie to me. All he talks about is pussy and crime. It’s annoying.”I swallow hard at her words. Camden hasn’t said anything to me about other women, but I know his reputation. Is it possible that he’s still in contact with some of these women? Surely not, right?“Does he have a girlfriend?” I ask, looking around for Camden. He’s trailed inside, so I can speak freely.Elora snorts. “A girlfriend? Are you crazy? Camden wouldn’t be caught dead in any kind of real commitment.”“Ah,” I say dumbly, not knowing how to resp
[Camden]It’s been two weeks since the call with my sister, and Kendall is still haunted by nightmares, her sleep haunted by the lingering shadows of fear. Tonight, though, felt different—her nightmare was worse, as if it had sunk its claws in deeper. We’d both drifted off on the couch, tangled up in the shared warmth and the gentle rise and fall of each other’s breaths, but she woke gasping, her eyes wide, struggling for air as though drowning in invisible waters.“Principessa?” I murmur, my voice low, trying not to startle her. Her gaze locks onto mine, her brown eyes deep and desperate, glistening with a wild panic that claws at my chest. “Breathe, baby.” I keep my voice steady, soft, and deliberate, hoping she'll mirror me as I draw a slow breath in through my nose, then let it out. It takes a beat, but she catches on, her breaths finally syncing with mine. Her fingers dig into my arms as if I’m the only anchor keeping her from slipping away. “It’s okay, just breathe.”She le
[Camden]“Kendall,” I call, my voice steady but with a touch of urgency. “We need to talk about this. You’ll be safer there.”“I’m safe here!” she insists, her voice defiant, with a hint of desperation. “You take care of me, Camden. You’ve been there since day one.” There’s a weight to her words, an unspoken trust that makes my chest tighten. I watch her, standing a few feet away, the morning light casting a warm glow around her damp hair, the faint scent of her shampoo mingling with the coolness in the room. “I’ll still be around, Kendall,” I say, though the lie tastes bitter. I reach for her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin against my palm. “But I can do a lot more in terms of finding him if I’m not locked down here.”To be honest, I haven’t been doing much in the way of looking for Marco. It’s been a while since I called around, reaching out to the guys I used to know, the ones who still run in those circles. My fists clench. Maybe I don’t want this to end. Maybe I don’t want
[Kendall]I’m straightening up and vacuuming inside while Camden cleans out the pool, and I think to myself how domestic we are. The hum of the vacuum fills the room, but underneath, there's a comfortable stillness—a kind of warmth that echoes the quiet intimacy we share. Camden usually makes dinner because I’m simply not that good of a cook, but sometimes I bake cookies or cakes. The smell of vanilla and sugar often lingers in the kitchen, mingling with whatever dish he’s prepared. We watch reality television every week, a show that we both like, and we usually fall asleep on the couch those nights. The weight of his arm draped over me, his warmth against my back, is the last thing I feel before I drift off. If we don’t fall asleep there, we fall asleep after making love, curled into each other, his hand resting possessively on my hip.It’s been three weeks since Camden mentioned taking me to Dante’s, and about six weeks since we went on the run, and I can’t help but wonder what ha
[Kendall]“Don’t leave so soon, fatty,” he mumbles against my ear, his breath hot and sour on my neck, sending a shiver of revulsion through me. His hand moves up, rough fingers grazing my skin before his forearm presses against my throat. My vision darkens at the edges, and panic explodes inside me. He’s going to strangle me, and the realization hits like ice in my veins.I do the only thing I can think of. I bite him, sinking my teeth into his skin until I taste iron, bitter and metallic. He yelps, his grip loosening just enough for me to stumble forward, the world spinning as I barely manage to keep my balance. I feel something hot streak past my cheek, a sharp sting flaring as it slices my skin, but I don’t have time to think about it. I just need to get out of here. Now.I yank the sliding door open, heart pounding, my breath coming in panicked gasps. I hear his heavy footsteps right behind me, and just as I’m about to scream, a cold, unyielding metal presses against my cheek.I
HazelI Lie Awake in bed for a long while, wondering if Xavier will sneak in at some point. I’m alternately hopeful and despairing. Last night, it felt like nothing could ever come between us, but tonight, watching my mother flirt so overtly with him at dinner, I’m not so certain. It made me hotly jealous to find out they had sex on their second date. More than that, it was the fond smile the memory evoked in Xavier. What if my mother has somehow weaved her web around him again?I text Christine to chat but she seems standoffish and aloof.Are you just trying to chat or is something up? she eventually asks.Just chatting, I answer. Wanted to see how you are.I’m fine, she answers. Now you know. Why aren’t you chatting with your secret older boyfriend?I sigh and don’t answer. I don’t know how to. After staring at my phone blankly for a while, I put it down and stare at the ceiling instead.So Xavier and Melanie had sex on their second date. It’s painful to think of them being together
Every Daddy is a reference, a hidden threat to her mother. She’s feeling brave enough to flirt with danger, but I act like it’s perfectly natural. Like she’s always called me Daddy.The card is simple: ‘You’re the very best father I ever could have imagined. Thank you so much for everything you do for me.’ The book is a small coffee table book about architecture in Switzerland, not the most inspired gift, but I’m touched by the sentiment. “Thank you so much, sweetie,” I say, giving her shoulder an affectionate squeeze.“My turn,” grins Melanie, lifting a gift bag up from her feet and sliding it over to me. It appears to contain a bottle of wine. Better be a five-hundred dollar bottle of wine, I think to myself.But when I open it up, it’s not. It’s a seven dollar wine at best, but one that surprises me with the warm memories it brings up. I laugh with genuine mirth as I pull it out of the bag.“Almaden!” I exclaim, chuckling. “Oh my God. How did you ever find this?”Melanie laughs too
Mon dieu. “I thought you said you were sore.”She nods. “I don’t care. If I have to sit through dinner with Melanie pretending that everything is perfectly normal between us, I at least want the pain to remind me that you secretly fucked me in the bathroom.”It’s hopeless. My dick is hard already, throbbing in my pants. How has Hazel become such a filthy little girl so quickly? I’m equally shocked and turned on at the forbidden scenario she’s imagining. The one thing I can’t bring myself to tell her is that her mother has already guessed it—and doesn’t care. That, more than anything, is something I never want Hazel to know.“Turn around and put your hands on the counter,” I say in a low voice, turning off the water and unzipping my pants. I stand behind her, lining my cock up with her entrance and lean forward to murmur in her ear. “You’re a dirty little girl, aren’t you? You want me to fuck you while Mommy’s downstairs?”“Yes, Daddy,” she whispers. I squeeze a hand around her hip as
Xavier when we get home on Sunday, I haven’t given a second’s thought to Melanie. It hasn’t occurred to me to wonder if there might be some sign of her left behind, if she could have maybe forgotten something—maybe even left a note. I’ve been so completely transported by the events of the past twenty-four hours that I’ve practically forgotten about her.So it’s a shock when I unlock the door and walk in to find Melanie waiting in the kitchen.“Hello!” she trills from a stool at the kitchen island, lifting both hands and one foot in an overly-exuberant greeting, as if we’d be happy to see her. Her phone and a glass of wine are on the island in front of her.“Melanie,” I say, stunned. “What are you doing here?” My lawyer was supposed to have her escorted off the premises. It occurs to me I haven’t even looked at my phone since last night, I’ve been so utterly consumed by Hazel, fucking her again and again over the course of the night and this morning until she complained that her pussy
“Yes.”“And you’re on the pill?”Understanding dawns in her eyes. “Yes.”“When I come, I want it to be inside of you, Hazel.”She pauses. “Okay, Daddy.”I can’t help but smile. “That’s good, baby. That’s very good.” I press the head of my cock harder against her hole, until I can feel her resistance. “I’m not going to wear a condom, because it’s different with us, okay? I’m not some boy doing God knows what. I’m your daddy who’s going to take care of you.”“Yes, Daddy,” she breathes again.“That’s good,” I murmur, caressing her cheek with one hand. “You’re such a good girl, Hazel. You’re so good to your daddy.”I push against her entrance, feeling the squeeze of her pussy as I slide into her slowly. She pinches her eyebrows together, looking strained, and I slow down. Grown women with lots of experience sometimes have trouble taking my cock. It’s something that I’m used to.“It’s okay,” I reassure her. “I’m going to go really slowly. Just relax.” I push in a little deeper, the tight b
“Yes.” My voice is almost a whisper. I can hardly hear it over the pounding of my heart. “Yes, Daddy.”He smiles slowly. “That’s good. What I really want is to be your daddy in every way, Hazel. I want to comfort and care for you, and love you, and I want to play games with you, games I think we will both enjoy, things we’ve tried out a little already. I want to be your daddy in bed, and I want you to be my little girl. Do you want that, too?”“Yes,” I breathe.“That’s good.” He takes another sip of his drink and then places the glass on the nightstand between us. “Then in that case,” he says. “You’re going to be a good little girl for me tonight.”#Xavier #it’s a relief to let go, to drop the burden of self-control. To lay down the mantle of responsibility and honour and just say, fuck it.Hazel’s safety and wellbeing comes first. I will always care for her and protect her, but knowing that she wants what I want, that she’s as eager to be my willing little girl as I am to be her b
“Hazel.” His voice is soft but censorious, a father gently correcting a child, but something inside me is breaking open; something that can’t be contained. I love him. I love him with a kind of fierceness that can’t be locked up or tamed.“Xavier.” I match his tone. “Don’t you know everything’s different between us? I can’t pretend we’re the same as we were before. I can’t pretend I don’t love you, and I don’t want to. What if it…what if it wasn’t a secret anymore?”He closes his eyes for a second and takes a breath. “Sweetheart. You know how I feel about you, but look around. We don’t live in a world where this is okay. And with your mother gone, I want you to know that I will always be there for you, okay? As…as a father.”“I know, Dad.” I tighten my arms around him, squeezing him before I ask the question that might make him pull away from me. “I know you will always be there for me. But I don’t want to stop what we’re doing. I…want you. Even if we have to do it in secret, then fin
The wedding is a short Uber ride from our hotel at a winery. Guests in their finery are milling all over the place, inside and out, and it’s clear the entire space is rented out just for the wedding. White ribbons billow from every post, and strings of Edison bulbs sway in the wind above us. Xavier doesn’t wait for a server, and walks right into the main room, ordering a scotch from the bar. When the bartender offers me a glass of wine, Xavier answers for me. “She’ll have a Coke.”We head outside, towards the back where white wooden chairs have been set out in neat rows below a makeshift ceiling of string lights, and I trail after Xavier as he circulates among the guests, introducing me to the people I don’t know and reminding me about the people I do. It feels a little like a game of make-believe, and I wonder if anyone would believe I’m Xavier’s date—except that he keeps introducing me to people as his daughter.When a woman in a headset with a clipboard starts telling us to take ou
“Babe,” she resists, blinking nervously. She knows me well enough to know when I won’t back down.I take a step forward. “I’ll call Patrick to take you to a hotel tonight.” Our family lawyer, Patrick, is well known to Melanie. “Tomorrow you’ll find accommodations for yourself. You will not speak to Hazel, you will not show up on our doorstep, and any future communication will go through Patrick.”She twists her mouth, furrowing her brow. Frustration is etched all over her face. “You could have had it all and now you’re going to throw it away?”I take another step forward, dwarfing her with my full height. “Could have had what?” I ask menacingly. “You and your daughter? She’s not yours to sell, Melanie.”“I’ll use it against you,” she threatens. “I’ll destroy you!”“I don’t care what you do. You think you can send any storm my way that I can’t weather? Do your worst. But don’t you dare try to use Hazel as a pawn.”She steps back. “You’ll have to pay me more alimony to shut me up!”“The