SkyI went up to my room, dropped the dress on the bed, and stepped into the shower. The water was cold against my skin, clearing my thoughts. When I stepped out, I tried on the dress. It fit perfectly, almost like it had been tailored just for me.I stared at myself in the mirror, running my hands down the fabric. Something about it felt familiar, tugging at a distant memory. Then it hit me. This was the dress. The one I begged my father for last winter. Limited edition, only available for pre-order months in advance. He’d promised to order it for my birthday.“No way,” I muttered, shaking my head.It couldn’t be real. It had to be a knockoff. Dare wasn’t rich enough to get his hands on something like this. Even if he was, there was no way he was wealthier than my father—the mayor of the country.I inspected the dress closer. Every detail was perfect. The black lace along the bodice, the pearls delicately adorning the edges, the cinched waist accentuating my curves. My breath hitched
DareThe room reeked of whiskey and smoke, the kind of atmosphere that suffocated but promised danger. I didn’t bother knocking as I pushed the door open, guiding Sky by the wrist like a lamb to slaughter. Her steps faltered, but I didn’t slow down. The first room on the left—it’s where they always were.Inside, the air felt heavier, laced with tension and secrets no one dared to write down. Five men sat scattered around, the predators in their lair. Three were alone, their eyes predatory even without focus. One man leaned back in his chair, a woman perched on his thigh like an accessory. Another sat beside him, delicate fingers wrapped around the stem of a wine glass. He plucked it from her hand, barely sparing her a glance as he set it on the table, an afterthought.I didn’t stop until I reached the couch pressed against the far wall, the center of their attention. I sank into it, pulling Sky down beside me. Just I sat down with Sky by my side, the discussion continued.“Have you h
Dare“Dare, my man,” a voice called from behind me. I kept walking, pretending not to hear. Turning around would confirm it—would tell him it was me. And that was the last thing I wanted.“I know you can hear me, Dare. Stop pretending. I know your figure like the back of my hand,” he pressed, his voice closing the distance between us.I picked up my pace, my focus narrowing to Sky. I needed to get to her and get out before this turned into something messier than it already was.But three men stepped out of the corridor on the right, blocking my path—and hers. Two of them grabbed her arms. She screamed, struggling against their grip.“Get your hands off her,” I growled, my voice low and lethal.The man on the right didn’t even have time to flinch before my fist slammed into his jaw. He staggered back, but before I could move, something sharp and unforgiving cracked against the top of my head. Pain exploded, white-hot and blinding.A sharp, screeching sound filled my ears as I turned, m
SkyMen. Men. Men. Just the thought of them turns my stomach, makes my skin crawl. The things they do, the way they talk, as if the world is theirs for the taking.I used to think life was a fairy tale—school, parties, love. But this world? It’s a rotting pit, and once you’re in, there’s no crawling out.My mess? It’s Dare.For a moment, I thought those men might save me from him. Maybe there was hope. Maybe someone would care. But no. They’re all the same. Cowards, spineless cowards, who see women as nothing more than pawns in their twisted game of control.I sat there, listening to them brag about their power, their influence, their egos spilling out like poison. And Dare? He basked in it. Not a single man in that room dared to challenge him.I sit now, trapped in his car, wishing I’d let that short man—Christoph—take me instead. At least he looked like he had something to prove. But when I remember how he stared at me with lust in his eyes, I knew I was better off with Dare than hi
SkyI replayed Dare’s words in my mind, over and over. And as much as I hated admitting it, he was right. Despite being his prisoner, I’d never been harmed—not physically, at least. That alone was a strange comfort, considering the bounty on my head. The thought that some of these men might just want to use me to extort my father chilled me. Maybe, just maybe, Dare deserved some credit for keeping me alive.I shut the door behind me and found him on the couch. The first aid kit was open on the table, his shirt tossed carelessly to the floor. He rummaged through the kit with a focus that only made me realize just how injured he was.“You really should go to the hospital for that,” I told him, my voice softer now.“No need,” he muttered, glancing briefly at me. “I blocked the knife with my hand.”Only then did I notice the gash running across his left palm, dried blood caked around the wound. The antiseptic bottle in his hand hovered over the stab wound on his abdomen, and without flinc
Dare“Hello,” I answered, my tone sharp and short. Pissed didn’t even begin to cover it, but Theo wouldn’t call twice unless it was something critical.I heard the door slam shut and turned my head, realizing she wasn’t by my side anymore.“I’m sorry, boss,” Theo’s voice wavered, a hint of fear slipping through.“What’s going on?” I demanded, leaning back into the couch.“I got information—Mark’s found some clues,” he said quickly.My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”Theo hesitated, then delivered the blow. “He found Sky’s DNA. A hair strand at the scene.”My hand tightened into a fist. “Damn it.”“I’m sorry, boss. We didn’t do a good enough job,” he stammered, guilt dripping from his words.“This isn’t on you,” I said coldly. “She practically grew up with the girl. Her DNA being there was inevitable.” The blame rested squarely on my shoulders. I should’ve burned the place to ash when I had the chance.“And the Pact?” I asked, voice low. “What are they saying about this?”“Everythin
SkyA week had passed since the kiss, and I’d done everything I could to avoid Dare. Every time I thought about it, my cheeks burned with embarrassment. What had I been thinking, letting myself get swept up in a moment like that with him of all people? It wasn’t just the kiss—it was the fact that I’d enjoyed it. I hated that I kept replaying it in my mind, the way his lips had felt against mine, the heat of his touch.Dare, to his credit, hadn’t brought it up. He’d been unusually quiet all week, careful not to invade my space. It was like we’d come to some unspoken agreement to pretend it never happened.This morning, though, something was different. The sound of clanging plates and the faint smell of something sweet woke me from sleep. For a moment, I lay there, confused, until I heard my name being called.I climbed out of bed, slipping on a robe over my pajamas, and made my way downstairs. The closer I got to the kitchen, the stronger the smell became—vanilla, syrup, and something
DareI had gained access to St. Mary’s hospital’s live feed, on my laptop. My fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, bypassing security measures and locking in on the camera feeds. The hospital’s corridors flashed to life on my laptop screen, a grid of moving bodies and white walls. It didn’t take long to locate the Mayor’s room on the east wing. Two guards stood outside the door,, hands behind their back.I tapped into the mic. “Theo, you’re clear. Proceed.”“On it, boss,” Theo’s voice came through, prepared for this just as I was.The feed shifted as I pulled up the camera nearest the elevator. Theo entered, blending effortlessly with the hospital staff in a plain gray hoodie and jeans. His head was low, and his hands were tucked into his pockets.He stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the floor where the Mayor’s room was located. I tracked his progress on another screen, noting the security cameras’ blind spots he slipped through.“The guards outside his room,” I
SkyI can’t stop trembling. My body feels frozen, my legs still curled up beneath me on the bed. The echo of the gunshot rings in my ears, and every muscle in my body screams for me to run, but I can’t. I can barely breathe.Outside the room, heavy footsteps grow louder, hurried. A series of gunshots ring out in rapid succession, each one louder than the last. My heart races. Something is happening. Someone is coming.The door slams open, and my head jerks toward it. It’s Mr. M. He storms into the room, his expression dark and unhinged. For a second, he freezes. His eyes land on the lifeless body sprawled on the floor, blood pooling around it. His gaze shifts to me, still sitting on the bed like a statue.The disbelief on his face is almost laughable. He doesn’t think I’m capable of this.“Did you…?” he starts to say, but his voice falters.Without a word, he storms over and grabs me by the arm, yanking me off the bed like I’m nothing but a rag doll. The sudden movement sends a sharp
DareThe frustration was boiling under my skin. We’d gone through every one of those damned addresses, and still, Moscow wasn’t there. With each empty building, each fruitless search, my anger built, bubbling until I felt like I’d explode. But I refused to call him. No, Moscow didn’t deserve the courtesy of a warning or the satisfaction of knowing I was coming. When I found him—and I would find him—I wanted the element of surprise to hit him like a bullet between the eyes.We were down to the last address. It was further out than the others, tucked away on the outskirts of town, isolated. It was the kind of place you’d pick if you wanted to stay hidden, away from prying eyes. My instincts screamed that this was the one, that Sky was there. Still, I had needed to check the others first—needed to eliminate every possibility so I wouldn’t second-guess myself.The helicopter was prepped and waiting, its blades already spinning and slicing through the air. My men, loading up gear and weapo
Dare “Move in,” I ordered, through the comms. Like a ripple in the water, my men moved. Armed to the teeth, dressed in black. The first wave hit the perimeter. Twelve men were stationed outside—some lounging near the front gate, a few patrolling the grounds, and others lingering near the back door smoking cigarettes, unaware. At the front, Marco and Theo led the charge. Marco tackled the first guard, slamming his head against the stone wall so hard he crumpled to the ground unconscious. Theo followed, pulling his silenced pistol from his hip and putting two guards down before they even realized what was happening. Behind the house, two of my best snipers, Ivan and Rick, took position on the neighboring rooftop. The faint glint of their scopes caught the moonlight just before two muffled shots rang out. The two guards by the back entrance dropped without a sound, their bodies slumping to the ground. A guard near the garage heard the thud and turned, his hand going for his g
Dare “Move in,” I ordered, through the comms. Like a ripple in the water, my men moved. Armed to the teeth, dressed in black. The first wave hit the perimeter. Twelve men were stationed outside—some lounging near the front gate, a few patrolling the grounds, and others lingering near the back door smoking cigarettes, unaware. At the front, Marco and Theo led the charge. Marco tackled the first guard, slamming his head against the stone wall so hard he crumpled to the ground unconscious. Theo followed, pulling his silenced pistol from his hip and putting two guards down before they even realized what was happening. Behind the house, two of my best snipers, Ivan and Rick, took position on the neighboring rooftop. The faint glint of their scopes caught the moonlight just before two muffled shots rang out. The two guards by the back entrance dropped without a sound, their bodies slumping to the ground. A guard near the garage heard the thud and turned, his hand going for his gun. Bu
Dare“Move in,” I ordered, through the comms.Like a ripple in the water, my men moved. Armed to the teeth, dressed in black.The first wave hit the perimeter. Twelve men were stationed outside—some lounging near the front gate, a few patrolling the grounds, and others lingering near the back door smoking cigarettes, unaware.At the front, Marco and Theo led the charge. Marco tackled the first guard, slamming his head against the stone wall so hard he crumpled to the ground unconscious. Theo followed, pulling his silenced pistol from his hip and putting two guards down before they even realized what was happening.Behind the house, two of my best snipers, Ivan and Rick, took position on the neighboring rooftop. The faint glint of their scopes caught the moonlight just before two muffled shots rang out. The two guards by the back entrance dropped without a sound, their bodies slumping to the ground.A guard near the garage heard the thud and turned, his hand going for his gun. But Chri
SkyHe pauses mid-step, turning back toward me with slowness, his cane clutched tightly in his hand. My breath catches as he raises the cane to my neck. The cold tip presses against my skin, sharp and unyielding, making me flinch. Then, with a simple flick of his finger on a hidden button, a blade extends from the end of the cane. The tip now rests against my throat, its edge sharp enough to slice with the slightest pressure.“Come for you,” he says, His eyes—dark, and utterly devoid of mercy—bore into mine. I freeze, my body trembling despite my attempts to remain strong. He pushes the blade slightly into my neck. A warm trickle slides down my skin, and I know it’s blood. A drop falls to the floor, the sound barely audible but deafening in my ears.“What makes you think you’re so important to him?” he continues, his tone mocking, as if my very existence is some sort of cruel joke to him. “What makes you believe that, in a world filled with women far more valuable, he would choose you
Sky The door creaked open late in the afternoon, and a woman stepped inside. She was of average height, wearing a crisp white apron over simple clothes, her dark hair pulled back into a neat bun. “Come, my dear,” she said softly, stretching out a hand toward me. I hesitated for a moment, but then I reached out and took her hand. My legs felt weak as I stood, my body stiff from hours—or was it days?—of sitting in the cold, dark room. I had no idea where she was taking me, but the heavy footsteps behind us reminded me I didn’t have a choice. The guard from earlier was following silently, his gaze boring into my back, a reminder that I wasn’t free. The building was larger than I realized, and the more we walked, the more disoriented I became. Instead of stairs, we entered an elevator, the sterile silver walls reflecting my pale, frightened face. I tried to memorize the path we were taking, but every hallway looked the same—long, dimly lit, and lined with doors that seemed to hold mor
SkyThe door creaked open late in the afternoon, and a woman stepped inside. She was of average height, wearing a crisp white apron over simple clothes, her dark hair pulled back into a neat bun.“Come, my dear,” she said softly, stretching out a hand toward me.I hesitated for a moment, but then I reached out and took her hand. My legs felt weak as I stood, my body stiff from hours—or was it days?—of sitting in the cold, dark room. I had no idea where she was taking me, but the heavy footsteps behind us reminded me I didn’t have a choice. The guard from earlier was following silently, his gaze boring into my back, a reminder that I wasn’t free.The building was larger than I realized, and the more we walked, the more disoriented I became. Instead of stairs, we entered an elevator, the sterile silver walls reflecting my pale, frightened face. I tried to memorize the path we were taking, but every hallway looked the same—long, dimly lit, and lined with doors that seemed to hold more se
SkyThe man’s grip on me tightened, his hands moving possessively over my body as if he had the right. His fingers trailed down my thighs, and I felt my stomach churn with disgust. I tried to push him away, my voice breaking as I screamed, “Let me go!” But he didn’t listen—he didn’t even flinch.He spread my legs, pinning them between his, his weight trapping me in place. Every muscle in my body screamed to fight, to claw my way free, but his strength overpowered mine.“How is it possible to get a girl like this?” he asked casually, his tone light as if discussing fine wine or art. He looked at Mr. M with a smirk. “It must’ve been tough for you, Mr. M.”My eyes darted to Mr. M, silently pleading for him to intervene, but he simply leaned back in his chair.“I don’t mind taking her off your hands,” the man continued, his lips curling into a grin. “How much are you willing to accept for her?”Mr. M’s voice was calm but firm when he replied. “She’s not for sale.”The man chuckled, ignori