The tension in the room was suffocating. Olivia sat across from Marco Ricci, one of Victor’s most dangerous enemies, trying to steady her breathing as she made her proposal.“I’m not here as Victor’s pawn,” she said, keeping her voice firm. “I came on my own. To negotiate.”Marco leaned back in his chair, a cruel smirk curling on his lips. His dark eyes studied her, filled with amusement and something dangerous.“You must think highly of yourself,” he murmured. “Walking into a lion’s den without your master’s leash.”Olivia clenched her fists under the table. “Victor doesn’t own me.”Marco chuckled, swirling the glass of alcohol in his hand. “No? Then why does he tear the world apart for you?”She had no answer for that.Marco leaned forward. “So, tell me, sweetheart. What do you think you can offer me that would make me reconsider my war with Victor?”Olivia swallowed. This was the moment that could change everything.“A deal,” she said. “A ceasefire. I know you want Victor’s world,
The ride back to Victor’s estate was silent.Olivia was sitting in the passenger seat of his black SUV, staring out at the passing city lights. Her body ached from the fight, her wrists sore from where Marco had grabbed her, but none of that compared to the storm inside her.Victor’s fingers drummed against the steering wheel; his knuckles still bruised from the fight. He hadn’t said a word since they left the warehouse. His jaw was locked tight.But she knew him well enough by now.He was furious.Not just at Marco. Not just at his enemies.At her.She exhaled sharply and turned to face him. “Say something.”Victor didn’t respond.“Victor.”His grip tightened on the wheel. “You could have died.”Olivia bit her lip. “So could you.”He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “That’s different.”“No, it’s not.” She clenched her fists. “You act like you’re the only one allowed to make sacrifices. But I chose to do that. Just like you always do.”Victor suddenly pulled the car over, the
The air inside Victor’s office was unspeakable. A large map of the city was spread across the table, red markings and hastily scribbled notes covering its surface. His men stood around, speaking in low, urgent voices, but Olivia’s focus was only on Victor.He looked more dangerous than she had ever seen him. His suit jacket was draped over the chair, sleeves rolled up to reveal his powerful forearms. His jaw was clenched, his dark eyes scanning the map with deadly eyes.“This isn’t just another power move,” Victor finally said. “They’re coming for everything. My business. My territory. And you.”A chill ran down, but she forced herself to stand firm. She wasn’t the same woman who had fought to escape him.Now, she was fighting to survive with him.“So what’s the plan?” she asked.Victor’s gaze flickered to her, studying her reaction. “You want to fight? You’ll fight.”Olivia barely had time to react before Victor turned to his men. “Get her a gun. And prepare the car.”Her heart pound
The air smelled of smoke and blood. The echoes of gunfire had finally faded, leaving only a suffocating silence in their wake.Olivia stood beside Victor, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the gun still warm from the final shot she had fired. Around them, the bodies of their enemies lay motionless, the last remnants of a threat that had haunted them for too long.It was over.Or at least, it should have been.Victor exhaled, running a hand through his bloodied hair. His dark eyes scanned the scene, ensuring there were no survivors. His entire body was tense, shoulders tensed, fists clenched. He wasn’t celebrating. He never did.“This was their last move,” he muttered. “They had no backup plan. No one else is coming.”Olivia swallows hard. “Then why don’t you look relieved?”Victor’s eyes flickered to her. “Because peace never lasts in this world.”She knew he was right. Even as they stood victorious, Olivia could feel the weight of everything they had lost, of everything the
The morning light filters through the window, casting a warm glow over the safehouse. Olivia sat at the kitchen table, absentmindedly tracing patterns on the wooden surface. She felt the quiet peace of the moment, but the weight of the past weeks lingered in the back of her mind… a constant reminder of the danger they had barely escaped.Victor was uncharacteristically silent as he moved around the kitchen, his movements purposeful. The tension in his shoulders was less pronounced, but his eyes remained guarded. Olivia could sense he was lost in his thoughts, and she wondered if he was considering the same thing she was: their future.“What’s on your mind?” she finally asked, breaking the silence.Victor paused, setting a mug of coffee in front of her.“Everything,” he replied, his voice low. He leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest as he regarded her. “Our lives. What comes next.”Olivia met his gaze steadily, her fingers tightening around the warm mug. “We’ve talke
Victor Husley stood at the of bustling art gallery, his sharp eyes were scanning the room with his predatory gaze. The clinking of glasses and low conversations were filling the air, but his mind was somewhere else. Events like these were more of an obligation than a pleasure, a place to rub shoulders with other wealthy people and nod at the approval of overpriced paintings. His tailor suit fit him perfectly, seeing his broad shoulders and powerful build, while his expression was cold which keeps strangers at a safe distance.Tonight, however, something was different. His attention had been drawn, quite unexpectedly, to the art of piece in the far corner. It wasn't the art itself that attract him, but rather the artist who was standing near it, engaged in a conversation with a small group of admirers.She was striking, to say the least. Long, dark hair cascaded down her back, and her bright green eyes sparkles with a passion that seemed to light the entire room. She was young, probabl
Olivia left the restaurant with a mixture of emotions boiling inside her, anger, fear, and a sensation that she couldn't quite place. Victor's proposition replayed in her mind, the possessive tone of his voice and the way he looked at her as though she were already his. It was maddening and crazy, but a tiny voice in her head reminded her of her financial situation that had pushed her to accept the meeting in the first place.Her father’s health was changing rapidly, and the medical bills were suffocating her. She had poured every penny into his treatment, sacrificing her art to take on freelance work that barely kept her stable. The thought of Victor’s offer disgusted her, yet the security he promised was something she desperately needed. The idea of accepting such terms, however, was unthinkable. She was no one’s possession, and she refused to be bought, no matter how her circumstances were.Back in her tiny studio apartment, Olivia sat at her desk, her hands were trembling slightly
The days passed slowly, each one like a reminder of Olivia’s trembling situation. Victor's words haunted her thoughts, whenever she tried to push them away. She went through working her freelance jobs, visiting her father in the hospital, and painting late into the night, hoping that distraction would drive out the unease in her heart. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t escape the growing pressure.Her father’s condition took a sudden turn to the worse, and the doctors were now recommending a high-risk surgery that would give him a fighting chance. But it came with an even higher price. Olivia listened to the doctor as he explained the situation, the numbers going through her eyes. It was more than she could ever hope to come up with on her own.That night, as she lay on her bed, Olivia found herself reaching out for the letter she had thrown across the room few days ago. She looked it out, staring at the address Victor had provided. Her heart pounded as she it. Every fiber
The morning light filters through the window, casting a warm glow over the safehouse. Olivia sat at the kitchen table, absentmindedly tracing patterns on the wooden surface. She felt the quiet peace of the moment, but the weight of the past weeks lingered in the back of her mind… a constant reminder of the danger they had barely escaped.Victor was uncharacteristically silent as he moved around the kitchen, his movements purposeful. The tension in his shoulders was less pronounced, but his eyes remained guarded. Olivia could sense he was lost in his thoughts, and she wondered if he was considering the same thing she was: their future.“What’s on your mind?” she finally asked, breaking the silence.Victor paused, setting a mug of coffee in front of her.“Everything,” he replied, his voice low. He leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest as he regarded her. “Our lives. What comes next.”Olivia met his gaze steadily, her fingers tightening around the warm mug. “We’ve talke
The air smelled of smoke and blood. The echoes of gunfire had finally faded, leaving only a suffocating silence in their wake.Olivia stood beside Victor, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the gun still warm from the final shot she had fired. Around them, the bodies of their enemies lay motionless, the last remnants of a threat that had haunted them for too long.It was over.Or at least, it should have been.Victor exhaled, running a hand through his bloodied hair. His dark eyes scanned the scene, ensuring there were no survivors. His entire body was tense, shoulders tensed, fists clenched. He wasn’t celebrating. He never did.“This was their last move,” he muttered. “They had no backup plan. No one else is coming.”Olivia swallows hard. “Then why don’t you look relieved?”Victor’s eyes flickered to her. “Because peace never lasts in this world.”She knew he was right. Even as they stood victorious, Olivia could feel the weight of everything they had lost, of everything the
The air inside Victor’s office was unspeakable. A large map of the city was spread across the table, red markings and hastily scribbled notes covering its surface. His men stood around, speaking in low, urgent voices, but Olivia’s focus was only on Victor.He looked more dangerous than she had ever seen him. His suit jacket was draped over the chair, sleeves rolled up to reveal his powerful forearms. His jaw was clenched, his dark eyes scanning the map with deadly eyes.“This isn’t just another power move,” Victor finally said. “They’re coming for everything. My business. My territory. And you.”A chill ran down, but she forced herself to stand firm. She wasn’t the same woman who had fought to escape him.Now, she was fighting to survive with him.“So what’s the plan?” she asked.Victor’s gaze flickered to her, studying her reaction. “You want to fight? You’ll fight.”Olivia barely had time to react before Victor turned to his men. “Get her a gun. And prepare the car.”Her heart pound
The ride back to Victor’s estate was silent.Olivia was sitting in the passenger seat of his black SUV, staring out at the passing city lights. Her body ached from the fight, her wrists sore from where Marco had grabbed her, but none of that compared to the storm inside her.Victor’s fingers drummed against the steering wheel; his knuckles still bruised from the fight. He hadn’t said a word since they left the warehouse. His jaw was locked tight.But she knew him well enough by now.He was furious.Not just at Marco. Not just at his enemies.At her.She exhaled sharply and turned to face him. “Say something.”Victor didn’t respond.“Victor.”His grip tightened on the wheel. “You could have died.”Olivia bit her lip. “So could you.”He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “That’s different.”“No, it’s not.” She clenched her fists. “You act like you’re the only one allowed to make sacrifices. But I chose to do that. Just like you always do.”Victor suddenly pulled the car over, the
The tension in the room was suffocating. Olivia sat across from Marco Ricci, one of Victor’s most dangerous enemies, trying to steady her breathing as she made her proposal.“I’m not here as Victor’s pawn,” she said, keeping her voice firm. “I came on my own. To negotiate.”Marco leaned back in his chair, a cruel smirk curling on his lips. His dark eyes studied her, filled with amusement and something dangerous.“You must think highly of yourself,” he murmured. “Walking into a lion’s den without your master’s leash.”Olivia clenched her fists under the table. “Victor doesn’t own me.”Marco chuckled, swirling the glass of alcohol in his hand. “No? Then why does he tear the world apart for you?”She had no answer for that.Marco leaned forward. “So, tell me, sweetheart. What do you think you can offer me that would make me reconsider my war with Victor?”Olivia swallowed. This was the moment that could change everything.“A deal,” she said. “A ceasefire. I know you want Victor’s world,
The silence between them was suffocating.Victor was standing in front of Olivia; his piercing eyes were locked onto hers.Her body still ached from the suffering of being kidnapped, her mind still reeling from the fear of almost losing herself again. And yet, here she was, face to face with the man who had burned himself into her heart, despite all the things he had done.She swallowed hard before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper but carrying the weight of everything she felt.“If I asked you to let me go… would you?”Victor’s entire body tensed.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took a slow step toward her, his movements deliberate, controlled. But Olivia didn’t back away this time.His jaw clenched. “Why are you asking me this?”Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. “Because I need to know.”Victor exhaled sharply, his hand running through his dark hair in frustration. “Olivia, after everything… after what they did to you… you’re asking me if I would let you
The air inside the estate was cold. Victor stood in the center of his study, his jaw clenched, fingers twitching over the handle of his gun. The message had been clear. Someone from his past had come again, and they had done the one thing he could never forgive… targeting Olivia.“Boss,” one of his men, Marco, spoke cautiously. “We confirmed it. The enemy knows her location. They sent a message to the rival families.”Victor’s grip on his gun tightened. His worst fear was unfolding before him. Olivia was no longer just caught in his world… she was the bait, the weakness his enemies had been waiting to exploit.“Who gave them her location?” Victor’s voice was deadly calm.Marco hesitated. “We’re still tracking the source. But it had to be someone close.”Victor’s mind raced. He had been careful, always ensuring that Olivia was safe. The only ones who knew her exact whereabouts were those in his inner circle. Which meant someone had betrayed him.A knock at the door made Victor snap his
The night air was cold. Olivia’s heart pounded as she pressed her back against the cold brick wall of the alleyway. Gunfire echoed in the distance, the sharp sound cutting through the darkness. She could hear Victor’s men engaging in a brutal firefight with their enemies, but she had only one thought racing through her mind…. Victor.He had shoved her out of the way when the ambush began, shielding her with his own body before ordering her to run. But running was the last thing on her mind.She needed to get back to him.She had to know he was alive.Taking a deep breath, Olivia gripped the small pistol Victor had insisted she carry. Her fingers trembled as she moved towards the chaos.The moment she stepped out of the alley; she saw him.Victor stood in the center of the bloodshed, his black coat whipping in the wind, his gun raised as he fired with deadly precision. His men surrounded him, covering his side, but it was clear they were outnumbered.And then, Olivia saw the assassin.
The weight of the discovery settled heavily in Olivia’s chest.She was sitting alone in the study, the glow of the computer screen casting shadows across her face. The files in front of her revealed something she wasn’t supposed to see… something that could shake the very foundation of Victor’s world.Someone within his inner circle was betraying him.The evidence was hidden, buried deep within encrypted messages and financial transactions. But Olivia had seen enough in her time with Victor to recognize the patterns. Money was being funneled out of his businesses, secrets were being sold to his enemies, and worst of all… someone close to him was leaking information about her.Her hands trembled as she scrolled through the emails. The betrayal wasn’t just about power. Whoever was doing this wanted Victor’s world to crumble. They wanted him dead.And they wanted her gone.A Dangerous DecisionOlivia shut the laptop and leaned back in the chair, her heart pounding.She should tell Victor