Author POV:Iris stood at the stove, her hands busy with the morning's breakfast preparations, but her mind was far from focused. She could feel the curious and slightly bewildered gazes of the men around her, and it made her stomach twist with nerves."Tell me you're joking because nowhere in the world does this seem real," Su murmured, rolling her eyes dramatically as she leaned against the kitchen counter.Iris managed a small, unsure smile and nodded her head, letting out a quiet sigh. She had always been the quiet one, the one who stayed out of the spotlight, but ever since the kiss with Ace, things had changed. And now, she was the center of a conversation that made her feel both exposed and confused.Felix raised an eyebrow as he leaned in closer. "Did you kiss someone?" he asked, his tone a mixture of surprise and curiosity.Iris quickly shook her head, resuming her work with a newfound intensity. "No," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper. She stirred the pot in fro
Ace POV:Mesmerizing.That was the only word that fit as I watched her. She looked different tonight, though in a way that was both alluring and unsettling. There was a dangerous edge to her beauty, something that made my pulse quicken despite my efforts to remain indifferent.I handed her the flowers. Jasmine, of course. The delicate scent seemed to fill the air around us as she took them from my hands. Her eyes widened slightly as she brought the flowers to her nose, inhaling deeply. A smile spread across her face, gentle and genuine. “Thank you,” she said, her voice a soft, soothing melody that seemed to calm the chaos in my mind.“My pleasure, sweet Mini,” I murmured, as I reached out to open the car door for her. She deserves courtesy.I watched as she slid into the passenger seat, her movements graceful yet tinged with an apprehensive excitement.I settled into my seat, starting the engine with a practiced motion. The car roared to life, and the hum of the engine seemed to c
Author POV:Iris trudged through the restaurant, her exhaustion visible in her slumped shoulders and the weariness in her eyes. The hotel’s low popularity meant her workload was consistently heavy, and tonight was no exception. The limited staff made her duties— washing dishes, mopping floors, and cleaning tables— seem endless. Each task felt like a mountain, and every time she thought she might finally be finished, another chore was added to her list.The head chef, a man who lacked both culinary skill and managerial aptitude, handed her a small wad of cash. His face was expressionless as he counted the money, hardly acknowledging the exhaustion etched into Iris’s features. "That’s all, Iris. You can leave now."Her heart sank at the casual dismissal. She was grateful for the small amount of money but wished she could have been given a bit more consideration for the effort she put in. She mumbled a quiet "OK" and shuffled out of the kitchen, her head hung low. She left the resta
Iris POV:The thrill of anticipation bubbled up inside me as Ace drove us through the bustling streets of Manhattan. Today was special— it had been far too long since I last saw my brother, and the prospect of reuniting with him filled me with joy. Ace’s willingness to bring me here meant so much.But every time I glanced at Ace, my gaze inevitably drifted to his lips, and I recalled the events of this morning. A memory that made my cheeks flush with heat every time I glanced at him. It felt almost sinful to let my mind drift back to those moments, especially when we were on our way to something as important as seeing my brother.TGosh, it was such a dirty thing to do.Do all people feel this way? But Ace didn’t seem awkward about it, not in the slightest. He carried himself with that same confident, composed demeanor, as if nothing had happened.“Mini,” Ace’s deep, velvety voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.“Yes?” I responded quickly, biting my lower lip
Ace POV:Seducing.That’s what she’s doing to me, and she doesn’t even realize it.Every detail about her is driving me wild— the way her eyes light up with curiosity, the way her smile melts my resolve, and especially the way her little body molds perfectly against mine. The way she whines when I don’t sleep beside her— it’s like she’s pulling me into her world, and I’m helpless to resist.But her eyes… those damn eyes of hers— they’re going to be the end of me someday. They hold a depth that’s both inviting and terrifying, and they pierce through every defense I’ve ever had.It’s 5 in the morning.I’m sitting beside her, my gaze locked on her serene form. She’s sprawled out in the center of the bed, sleeping so peacefully. My heart aches with the desire to wake her, but she looks so content and tranquil that I can’t bring myself to disturb her.She’s wearing one of my shirts, the fabric barely covering her. It’s unbuttoned, revealing the soft curves of her body, and a skirt that a
Ace POV:She’s bleeding.The realization hit me like a ton of bricks as I stared at her peaceful face, nestled so close to mine. I wanted to wake her, to tell her what was happening, but she was sleeping so soundly, so undisturbed. It was as if the pain hadn't caught up to her yet.It was 2 in the morning when I stirred from sleep, my throat parched, and reached for the glass of water on the nightstand. But as I moved, something caught my eye—dark spots on the side of my waist. Blood. My first instinct was to check myself, but then I noticed more on her inner thighs.My gaze drifted back to her, a wave of concern washing over me. This girl doesn’t even know she’s having her period. Her head rested on my shoulder, but it kept slipping into the curve of my neck.So yeah, her neck was awkwardly propped against my collarbone, and her face was half-buried into the crook of my neck. I couldn’t bring myself to feel disgusted by the blood. I mean, why would I? It’s just blood. I’ve see
Ivan POV:"I know it's been a long time, I am sorry, kiddo," I whispered, my voice trembling with the weight of my grief. The gravestone before me felt cold and unyielding, a stark reminder of the life that had been stolen from me. My heart burned with a mixture of sorrow and fury, and I struggled to keep my emotions in check as I wiped away the tears that threatened to overwhelm me.I took a deep breath, my vision blurring as I blinked rapidly. "Just a little more, Laurie. I’ve gathered almost everything that can ruin his life just like he ruined ours," I said, my voice strained but resolute. I gently placed the flowers on the grave, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere. The act was both a tribute and a promise— a vow to my brother that I would avenge him.Laurie was the only one who had truly loved me, besides my family. But Ace had taken that away from me. He had shattered my world, torn apart everything I had held dear. The rage inside me simmered,
Iris POV:Tick. Tick. Tick.The relentless ticking of the clock seemed to amplify the chill in the room. The cold breeze sneaked through the slightly open windows, sending shivers through me despite the warm blankets I had wrapped around myself. I stood up from the chair that had become my makeshift desk, peering outside through the partially closed window.The spring was coming to an end. I closed the windows with a soft click, the familiar sound of the latch locking into place adding to the eerie quiet.Flopping back onto the bed, I rolled myself snugly into the blankets, hoping the warmth would chase away the growing sense of unease. The restaurant was undergoing construction, and though the break was a much-needed reprieve, it came with the bitter reality of not having my salary. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position while my mind swirled with worries. Jeremy had been my savior before, helping me land the restaurant job, bu
*MATURE* Without another thought, I slid down from the counter, the movement quick and precise, my eyes never leaving hers. She took a step back, startled by the sudden intensity in my movements.“I have to cook,” she stammered, her wide eyes locking with mine. She could see it— darkness, lust, raw and unfiltered, burning in my gaze. She knew exactly what she had done to me, temptation and hunger, a need so deep it felt like it might consume me.“Oh~ you should have thought about that before you started that little show of yours,” I growled, my voice thick with desire as I advanced on her, my steps quick and purposeful.She tried to run away, but there was nowhere to go. In a matter of seconds, her back hit the counter, and she stumbled slightly, regaining her balance by gripping the counter’s edge. Before she could react further, I was there, looming over her, trapping her between the solid counter and my body, so close that our chests brushed together with every breath. I lea
Ace POV:Even with the tension building in the room, my focus stayed on the phone in my hand.The screen lit up, displaying the contact details of the one person who made me rethink everything.Iris. Her name seemed to burn into my mind.For the past half hour, my finger hovered over the dial button, hesitating, refusing to move forward.Yesterday morning, I'd been a fucking dick to her.The way I treated her, the words I spat out—they still gnawed at me, but nothing haunted me more than the look in her eyes. The hurt. The disbelief.She'd always been the one person I never lashed out at, the one I protected from the ugliness of my world.And in one moment of misplaced anger at Agostino, I'd turned that ugliness on her.She had always looked at me like I was more than the monster everyone else saw.I hated how her pain lingered in the back of my mind.I deserved it, every bit of it, but now... I was afraid to call her.What if she taunted me?What if she threw those same words back in
Ace POV:"I mean, really?" I muttered, driving the knife into the table with a heavy thud, the sound echoing through the dimly lit basement.My chest heaved as I caught my breath, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away.The man lying on the floor, once so full of defiance, now barely had the strength to whimper."That eyepop literally looked me in the eyes and then turned around, snuggled into her cheeks like it was nothing!" I exclaimed, the disbelief in my voice masking the seething anger that still simmered beneath the surface.I turned to the lifeless form on the floor, eyes narrowing in frustration.His screams had subsided into faint, muffled groans, his life slipping away with every shallow breath."Shh... Can you like keep your fucking voice down? I'm talking," I snapped, as if he could still hear or care.His head lolled to the side, the last traces of life fading from his bloodshot eyes."Snacks knows he makes me jealous," I muttered to myself, pacing back and forth as I recounte
Ace POV:The door creaked open with a suddenness that made Mini jump in surprise.Hudson strode in, carrying a file, his face set in an expression that could only be described as serious.Mini, perched on my lap just moments before, scrambled to her feet with a haste that betrayed her flustered state.Her cheeks were a bright pink, a mix of embarrassment and shyness flushing her face as she quickly buttoned up her shirt.She offered Hudson a shy, somewhat awkward smile, her eyes darting to the floor as if unsure where to look.Hudson's gaze swept the room, and his eyes fell upon Snack, the tiny gerbil who was now perched on the edge of the table, his little feet twitching with curiosity.Hudson's face twisted into an expression of disbelief, mingled with a hint of amusement."What the fuck is this?" Hudson's voice cut through the room, carrying a blend of incredulity and faint humor. He stared at Snack, clearly not expecting to find a eyepop in the middle of whatever business he had w
Ace POV:I took a final glance in the mirror, scrutinizing every detail of my reflection.The fight had been brutal, and the adrenaline still pulsed faintly in my veins, but I couldn't let Iris see any of it.With a deep breath, I again sprayed more cologne, hoping the scent would mask the faint, metallic odor of blood that clung to my skin."Boss," a voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see one of the guards standing behind me, breathing heavily like he'd sprinted to find me.His chest heaved, but he maintained his posture, extending a pendant and my phone towards me.I nodded, a small smile forming as I took the pendant. Without it, I always felt off-balance, like something essential was missing.Clasping it around my neck, I met Ares' eyes and gave him a curt nod.With one last adjustment to my shirt, I picked up the bouquet of flowers and ran a hand through my hair, trying to tame the mess it had become."Mini," I called out as I stepped into the hall, my voice echoing throu
Ace POV:There was a thud beside me, followed by a collective gasp from everyone in the shop.I straightened slowly, my hand instinctively moving towards my concealed weapon.The man who had been standing beside me was now sprawled on the floor, blood pooling around his head.In one fluid motion, I gripped Edrick by his collar and started to drag him deeper into the shop."Move!" I hissed, shoving him ahead of me. His eyes were wide with terror, all his earlier bravado evaporating in the face of real danger.The air erupted with gunfire. Screams filled the shop as customers and staff alike scrambled for cover.Bodies fell, some diving for safety, others crumpling lifelessly to the ground.The sweet scent of flowers was quickly overpowered by the acrid smell of gunpowder and fear.We took cover behind a table stacked high with flowers, the blooms now a flimsy barrier between us and whoever was trying to kill us.I scanned the shop, looking for any avenue of escape.The front was out of
Ace POV:"Liam!" we both exclaimed, frustration evident in our voices.He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and flopped down on the couch, looking completely unconcerned.We both laid there, breathing heavily. I backed away from her and we sat up on the couch as she adjusted her dress, pouting.Within moments, all my friends had gathered around the couch.Felix, Aiden, and Alex had clearly been roused from their beds, evident by the fact that they were only wearing pajama pants. The others were dressed but looked just as groggy.They all looked like they might fall asleep here if I let them."Why the hell did you call us?" Susan asked, laying her head on Aiden's lap, her eyes half-closed with sleepiness."I specifically told everyone to meet me here at 9 sharp, and it's already past 11. Motherfuckers!" I snapped, gritting my teeth in frustration.I noticed Iris glancing around at everyone with concern as she sat beside me. Her cheeks were flushed with shyness while Liam alternated b
Iris POV:I got off the bike with a sense of urgency and swiftly reached for the cake from Leo. My movements were precise and careful."You're really dramatic," Leo said with a puzzled expression as he removed my helmet, his fingers brushing my hair away from my face."No. The way you drive the bike is disapproving," I said, my tone laced with concern. "The cake could have easily fallen off and been ruined if you hadn't been careful."I took a quick peek into the box to ensure that the cake was still intact.Thankfully, it appeared to be unharmed, its frosting and decorations still perfectly in place."Sweetie, I do bike stunts all the time," Leo replied with a playful smirk, his confidence evident. "You think I can't handle a cake that was literally placed in the gas tank of the bike?""A cake is like a fragile newborn baby," I said with exaggerated seriousness. "We have to handle it with the utmost care. You wouldn't be doing stunts if you had a newborn baby with you, would you?"Le
Iris POV:We both jolted at the sudden sound of a voice from outside the door."Iris!" Aiden's voice cut through the silence, causing Liam to let out a weary sigh."This boy," Liam muttered under his breath, "is such a brat. He'll bicker with you like a stray dog but can't stay away for even a moment."I couldn't help but giggle at his words. "I suppose today has been eventful enough. I'll fill you in on the rest of the story later," Liam said, rising from his seat to open the door.I sighed deeply, giving my cheeks a few quick smacks to wake myself from the flashback.The door swung open, revealing Aiden with a mischievous smirk, followed by Susan, Felix, and Hudson as they filed into the room.Susan immediately flopped onto the bed, resting her head on my lap as she cheerfully munched on a chocolate bar.The group's curious eyes darted between Liam and me, their expressions laced with suspicion."...What happened?" I asked, trying to clear the dryness from my throat as I addressed t