Hazel sat leisurely on the couch, sipping her coffee, her gaze occasionally drifting toward the maids working diligently under Lily’s instructions. All her new dresses had arrived, and the maids were carefully arranging them in the closet. Hazel’s legs swung lazily over the edge of the table, her mood light, though her mind was elsewhere.Lily, standing by the closet, glanced over at Hazel. "Ma'am, we have arranged everything," she said politely.Hazel raised an eyebrow but didn’t bother replying. She continued sipping her coffee, her eyes following Lily’s every move as she picked up a pair of scissors from the dresser and left the chamber silently.The moment the door clicked shut, Hazel let out a deep breath, the casual facade dropping. She got up slowly, her bare feet padding across the floor toward the closet. Opening it, she ran her fingers across the fine fabrics, feeling the textures beneath her fingertips.Her thoughts were a mix of frustration and anticipation. She sighed, pu
Hazel tilted her head, trying to catch the conversation, but Francisco had already turned away, stepping out of the room to avoid her curious gaze. He didn’t want her to hear what was being discussed. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Hazel alone in the room, her thoughts swirling.She remained seated, her eyes still fixed on the door. Something had shifted in Francisco’s demeanor, and it wasn’t hard for Hazel to guess that this call was related to the problems brewing from earlier that morning.Hazel smirked slightly to herself, crossing her arms as she settled back onto the bed.Outside the room, Francisco’s expression hardened as he pressed the phone to his ear. "Dimitri," he spoke, his voice calm but laced with underlying tension.On the other side, Dimitri’s cold, calm tone responded, "Francisco. I didn’t expect this from you."Francisco’s lips tightened. He knew exactly why Dimitri had called. The men he had killed belonged to the Lion clan, but Francisco had not anticip
Dimitri's tone shifted abruptly, becoming colder, more threatening. "I know all your activities, even the ones you think you’ve hidden."Francisco’s expression remained stoic, but inside, a cold fury was beginning to churn. Dimitri’s game was dangerous, and he was treading on sensitive ground. But Francisco knew better than to let his emotions slip now. He couldn’t give Dimitri the satisfaction of seeing him break."Dimitri," Francisco finally responded, his voice calm but edged with a warning. "You’re walking a very thin line. Be careful how far you push."Dimitri chuckled once more, but there was a tension beneath it now."We’ll see about that, Francisco.""And," Dimitri had paused deliberately before delivering the final blow, "about your beautiful prisoner, I will meet her soon."The line went dead.Francisco stood there, jaw clenched, seething with rage. He could still hear Dimitri’s mocking voice echoing in his mind.He could feel his control slipping, his rage boiling over. Wit
“Let’s get this over with,” Lucas muttered, his hand resting on the gun beneath his jacket.Max scanned the area with a quick, calculating glance. His gaze lingered on the shadows stretching under the skeletal beams of the half-constructed building. He nodded to the men they’d brought along. “Time to make this quick. We’ve got another job lined up after this.”They climbed the stairs in silence, the distant hum of machinery barely muffling the echo of their footsteps. The building rose fifteen stories high, though most floors were little more than concrete and rebar. On the third floor, they found a dimly lit corner where a yellowish bulb cast a sickly glow over a makeshift table. Around it stood four men, their faces shadowed, expressions hidden. One man, however, sat in the center, his face partially obscured by the dark.Max and Lucas walked to the table. Max took the empty chair across from the man, settling in with a practiced ease, crossing one leg over the other. Lucas remaine
“Are you having a meeting?” Hazel’s voice was light, feigning innocence as she tilted her head and looked at Francisco.Francisco’s grip on the edge of the laptop tightened, his knuckles whitening. His expression was steely, though he nodded curtly, lips pressed together. “Yes,” he replied, his tone clipped. “But I think it’s best I end it.”Hazel’s hand slipped over his, her fingers tracing gentle patterns as she let out a low, teasing laugh. “Oh, no need,” she murmured, her eyes gleaming with mischief. Leaning in, her lips barely an inch from his ear, she whispered, “We can pick up where we left off… after your meeting, honey.”Then, without warning, she brushed her lips across his jaw, lingering there before flicking her tongue against his neck in a swift, provocative gesture. Her breath was warm against his skin, leaving him stunned. She straightened, smiling at his speechless expression, and sauntered off without a backward glance.The meeting room on the laptop had fallen int
Francisco stood behind the sofa, watching Hazel as she lounged comfortably, legs stretched out to claim the entire space. Her silent message was clear—she wasn’t giving him any room, and she wasn’t going to make this easy.He took a slow, steadying breath. Hazel’s defiance was like a game to her, a dance of control and challenge, and while it was often silly, it sometimes gnawed at his patience.Without a word, he stepped around the sofa, his presence looming close, yet she didn’t so much as glance his way. Instead, her attention remained fixed on the TV, as if he were merely part of the scenery.With a firm but gentle grip, Francisco took hold of her legs, the unexpected touch finally drawing her gaze up to him. He didn’t hesitate, lowering himself onto the sofa and placing her legs across his lap, his fingers grazing over her skin, smooth and warm beneath his touch.Hazel took a deep breath, keeping it measured, as if not wanting to reveal any reaction. They sat in silence, the soft
Francisco and Hazel were close, their breaths mingling in the quiet room. Hazel traced her fingers along his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin. She moved with confidence, leaning in to press her lips to his earlobe and then sliding her hands down to his abs, pushing his shirt aside. Francisco let her take the lead.Settling onto his lap, Hazel wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips pressing softly along his jaw and then his neck. She took her time, her fingers exploring his chest, tracing lines along his muscles as though savoring every detail. Francisco watched her, feeling his heart race as she kissed him, giving him a playful bite on his lower lip. She was in control, and he was okay with it.Francisco closed his eyes, exhaling a low sigh as she brushed her hand over his chest, her fingers teasing against his skin. He threaded his fingers through her hair, guiding her closer, a silent invitation for her to continue.She moved slowly, her kisses trailing down his chest as sh
Francisco seemed to hesitate, just for a moment, before his face softened, and an almost imperceptible shift took place in his demeanor. He touched her cheek with his nose, slowly, gently.Then, he moved closer, pressing his lips against her skin in a slow, almost tender gesture.The moment was brief. As quickly as it began, Francisco released his grip, pulling away from her body. He stood there, staring down at her, his chest still rising and falling with quick breaths.Hazel took a steadying breath, shifting her gaze away from Francisco as she wrestled with the storm inside her. His words, his actions—everything about him sickened her, and she knew she could never forgive him. He had taken everything from her, shattering the life she once had. Now, she was nothing more than a prisoner in his world, bound by his relentless will.He wanted her to bear his child, to lock her in this prison forever. That, she vowed, would never happen. She would find a way, at any cost, to make sure she