SkyI woke up early, feeling a rare burst of energy. I stretched, letting out a small yawn, and decided today was the perfect day to do something nice for Dare.He had been taking care of me in so many ways—protecting me, making me feel safe. I wanted to give back in the simplest way I could. Breakfast.The kitchen had been stocked the night before, so I had everything I needed. Padding down the stairs, I tied my hair back and rolled up the sleeves of Dare’s oversized hoodie I had stolen to wear. It smelled like him—clean and comforting.As I entered the kitchen, I scanned the counters and began gathering the ingredients for Eggs Benedict, fluffy pancakes, and crispy bacon. I even grabbed a bottle of grape wine for something a little fancy.First, I started with the hollandaise sauce. I melted butter over low heat, whisking it gently until it became golden and smooth. Then, in a small bowl, I whisked together egg yolks, lemon juice, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Slowly, I added the m
DareBright orange and red licked the night sky, the acrid stench of smoke filling the air. The sound of the ambulance was far behind, might take them a couple of minutes before they get here.I parked my car a safe distance away and surveyed the scene. The front was an inferno, so I circled to the back, where the flames were weaker. The heat still radiated fiercely, but I had no intention of turning back. Kicking down the back door, I stepped inside, coughing as smoke filled my lungs.I covered my mouty with a wet handkerchief.The warehouse was barely recognizable. Shelves were crumbling, goods reduced to ashes, and the crackling of the fire echoed in the space. Wonderimg how the fire had begun in the first place.There was no sign of Theo anywhere not even his car was parked outside.Then I saw him. At first, I thought it was debris, a pile of burned material caught in the fire. But as I moved closer, my stomach sank. A man was tied to a metal pole, his body charred beyond recogni
Dare The moment I burst through the front door, my voice echoed through the house. “Sky!” I yelled, my heart pounding as I scanned the empty living room. Panic clawed at my chest. No response. I darted into the kitchen, then the hallway, calling her name louder this time. “Sky!” Finally, I heard the soft sound of a door creaking open upstairs. I froze, my breath caught in my throat as her voice reached me. “Dare?” She stepped into view at the top of the staircase, her face filled with confusion and concern. Relief crashed over me, so strong it nearly brought me to my knees. “Sky,” I said, exhaling sharply. I rushed up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and pulled her into my arms the moment I reached her. She let out a surprised sound as I held her tightly, like I might lose her if I let go. “You’re okay,” I whispered, more to myself than her. “Of course I am,” she said softly, pulling back slightly to look at me. “What’s going on, Dare? What happened?” I stared at her.
In one swift motion, I grabbed his arm, yanked him forward, and twisted his body in front of mine. The first gunshot rang out, but it hit the man I held instead of me.Several gunshots followed after.Knowing Mark, he must have given them the order to bring me to him dead or alive.Using the man as a shield, I pushed forward, forcing the others to hesitate as they adjusted their aim. Bullets buzzed past me, piercing the walls and furniture. I didn’t give them the chance to regroup. Spotting the dining table, I shoved the man’s limp body toward them, throwing them off balance, and dove toward the table.With a grunt, I flipped the table on its side, using it as cover. The wood fractured as bullets slammed into it, but it held for now.Peeking out from behind the edge, I fired back. My first shot caught one of them in the shoulder, knocking him down. The second man dropped as my bullet hit him square in the chest.The third man was more cautious, taking cover behind the couch. He popped
DareI could see the men stepping out, guns drawn and ready. Sky stood frozen beside me, her grip on my hand tightening with fear. I pushed her behind me, shielding her with my body.The door of the black car in the end opened, and a man stepped out. Dressed in a black jacket and jeans, hands in his pockets.It was Mark.“Long time no see, brother,” he said, spreading his arms wide like he was welcoming me to some twisted reunion.He walked closer, making sure his voice was louder with each pace. “I told you that I was going to find you, you fucking bastard.”I tightened my grip on Sky’s hand, feeling her trembling. Her breaths came out shallow and quick, and I knew she was panicking.Mark kept advancing. His eyes locked on mine, his expression dark and full of hatred. “You had the nerve to hide from me? Your own brother?” he spat. Without warning, his fist slammed into my stomach.The pain shot through me, forcing me to take a step back, but I held my ground.Before I could retaliate
DareMy vision narrowed to the three men holding me down. I twisted sharply, slamming the back of my head into the nose of the man behind me. The sickening crunch was satisfying, but I didn’t have time to relish it. Blood poured from his face as he stumbled backward, his hands flying up to steady himself.The man on my left lunged, but I was faster. My boot connected with his jaw in a brutal upward kick. His head snapped back, and before he could recover, I drove my heel into his knee, the joint giving way with a sickening pop.The third man tried to grab me, his hands reaching for my throat, but I ducked and slammed my fist into his face. The blow sent him staggering, and I didn’t hesitate. I turned to the first man still writhing on the floor, his breath ragged, and wrapped my hands around his neck. A quick, brutal twist ended him.I spun back just in time to see the man on my right recovering. He lunged at me, but I sidestepped and caught him by the neck, my elbow locking around hi
SkyWe arrived at the building, and my heart felt like it would beat out of my chest. My hands were tied tightly behind my back, the ropes biting into my skin as Mark shoved me forward. I tried my best to walk as fast as my timid legs could take me. All I could think about was Dare. Did he make it out alive? Was he hurt? The questions clawed at my mind, but I was too terrified to ask.No one would answer me even if I did.Mark walked ahead of me, his broad shoulders cutting through the dim corridor, flanked by two of his men. There was silence everywhere as if there was a death sentence to anyone who talked. I knew better than to speak; he wouldn’t answer me anyway. He enjoyed seeing me scared and on my toes.They didn’t even bother to blindfold me, and that scared me more than anything. It wasn’t because they trusted me or thought I wouldn’t see anything. No, it was because they knew it didn’t matter. Even if I memorized every crack in the walls, I’d never make it out alive.The corr
SkyIt’s been three days. Three long, agonizing days since they locked me in this dark, stinking room. The chains around my wrists and ankles bite into my skin, leaving red, angry marks, but the pain has become a dull throb. I’ve been strapped to this cold metal chair like a statue, unable to move, unable to fight.I haven’t eaten anything in three days. My stomach growls occasionally, but the hunger feels distant now, replaced by a bone-deep weakness that makes it hard to keep my head up. The only thing they’ve given me is water, and even that is lukewarm and tastes metallic. They bring food, but it’s inedible, like cow shit disguised as a meal. I force down the water because I have to survive, even if every part of me is screaming to give up.I think about him constantly. Dare. His face is burned into my mind, and every time I close my eyes, I see him bleeding, collapsing to the ground as Mark’s gun fired. My chest tightens, and tears slip down my cheeks no matter how hard I try to
DarePain is a funny thing. It’s loud and quiet all at once. It roars through my body, twisting and burning, but at the same time, there’s a stillness, a numbness creeping in. My chest feels heavy, the warm wetness of blood soaking into my shirt, the scent thick in the air. But none of that really registers—not the pain, not the blood, not the dizziness creeping in.Because the only thing I can focus on is the fact that she pulled the trigger.Sky shot me.The realization hits harder than the bullet.I keep replaying the moment in my head—the way her eyes darkened with something I couldn’t recognize, the way she raised the gun without a hint of hesitation. She had aimed straight at me, her hands steady, her breathing even.She knew exactly what she was doing.She wanted to hurt me.And then she left.She didn’t look back.She stormed out of the room, the sound of the gunshot still echoing in the walls, and I couldn’t move, couldn’t even call out to her. Maybe I was too stunned. Maybe
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
SkyThe warmth of the bed tempts me to stay wrapped up in it a little longer, but the soft weight of someone’s gaze pulls me from sleep. My lashes flutter open, and for a moment, I’m caught between dreams and reality. Then, I see him—Dare, lying next to me, his dark eyes watching me with an intensity that makes my heart stutter.He’s never here when I wake up. He’s always in his study, working before the sun even fully rises. But today, he’s here, his arm resting on the pillow, his head propped up slightly as he watches me.I blink at him in sleepy confusion before a small smile tugs at my lips. “Good morning.” My voice is soft, still thick with sleep.“Good morning,” he murmurs, his lips curving into a small smile.I stretch, my body still sluggish from sleep, and let my fingers brush against his arm. “Were you watching me sleep?” I tease, tilting my head at him.He smirks slightly but doesn’t deny it. “Didn’t notice I was until now.”I roll my eyes but can’t help the way my chest w
SkyThe warmth of the bed tempts me to stay wrapped up in it a little longer, but the soft weight of someone’s gaze pulls me from sleep. My lashes flutter open, and for a moment, I’m caught between dreams and reality. Then, I see him—Dare, lying next to me, his dark eyes watching me with an intensity that makes my heart stutter.He’s never here when I wake up. He’s always in his study, working before the sun even fully rises. But today, he’s here, his arm resting on the pillow, his head propped up slightly as he watches me.I blink at him in sleepy confusion before a small smile tugs at my lips. “Good morning.” My voice is soft, still thick with sleep.“Good morning,” he murmurs, his lips curving into a small smile.I stretch, my body still sluggish from sleep, and let my fingers brush against his arm. “Were you watching me sleep?” I tease, tilting my head at him.He smirks slightly but doesn’t deny it. “Didn’t notice I was until now.”I roll my eyes but can’t help the way my chest w
SkyThe warmth of the bed tempts me to stay wrapped up in it a little longer, but the soft weight of someone’s gaze pulls me from sleep. My lashes flutter open, and for a moment, I’m caught between dreams and reality. Then, I see him—Dare, lying next to me, his dark eyes watching me with an intensity that makes my heart stutter.He’s never here when I wake up. He’s always in his study, working before the sun even fully rises. But today, he’s here, his arm resting on the pillow, his head propped up slightly as he watches me.I blink at him in sleepy confusion before a small smile tugs at my lips. “Good morning.” My voice is soft, still thick with sleep.“Good morning,” he murmurs, his lips curving into a small smile.I stretch, my body still sluggish from sleep, and let my fingers brush against his arm. “Were you watching me sleep?” I tease, tilting my head at him.He smirks slightly but doesn’t deny it. “Didn’t notice I was until now.”I roll my eyes but can’t help the way my chest w
DareI get a direct order from Agent Mikhail to return to the Pact after taking Moscow down. I hesitate for a moment before leaving—I don’t want to be away from Sky, not even for a second. But I know I have to deal with this.When I arrive at the office, I walk in. The place still feels the same—the dim lighting, the sharp scent of gun oil and papers, the faint hum of machines running in the background. It used to feel like home. Now, it just feels like another part of my past trying to drag me back in.“Dare, back so soon? Were you able to find him?” Mikhail asks, leaning back in his chair, fingers tapping lazily on the desk. His eyes flicker with curiosity.I nod, stepping forward. “Yeah. It’s done.” My voice is clipped, straight to the point. “Thanks for the intel. It helped.”Mikhail scoffs, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You think I did that just to get a thank-you?” He shakes his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “No, Dare. I helped you because of the deal we made. You remembe
SkyI open my eyes slowly, my body sinking into the softness beneath me, warmth cocooning me in a way I hadn’t felt in so long. For a moment, I don’t move—I just breathe. The air smells different, cleaner, familiar. Not the damp, cold scent of fear that clung to me for what felt like an eternity.I blink, adjusting to the soft light filtering into the room. And then I realize where I am.Dare’s room.A place I never thought I’d see again.I haven’t slept this peacefully in what feels like forever. My body wants to surrender to it, to close my eyes and drift back into the safety of this warmth, but before I can, the door creaks open.“You’re awake,” Dare’s deep voice greets me, pulling me fully into the present.I sit upright, my heart swelling at the sight of him. He looks different—less guarded, but still every bit the man who had torn through fire and blood to bring me back. In his hands, he carries a tray, the rich aroma of food wafting through the air.I blink down at it, my stoma
SkyHis hands were warm as they cupped my face, his touch firm yet gentle, like he was afraid I would disappear if he let go. His dark eyes searched mine, flickering with worry, deeper that I couldn’t quite place.“Are you hurt anywhere? Did he touch you?” His voice was rough, edged with barely restrained fury, but there was something else in it too—desperation. Like he needed to hear me say I was okay just as much as I needed to believe it myself.I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out at first. My throat was thick with emotion, my chest tight. The reality of everything that had just happened crashed over me. I was safe. He was here. He had really come for me.Tears spilled freely down my cheeks, uncontrollably.“I’m okay,” I finally managed, my voice breaking slightly. “He didn’t—he didn’t get the chance.”He exhaled sharply, his shoulders loosening as relief flooded his face. Before I could say anything else, he pulled me closer, his lips crashing against mine in a desp
SkyI stood frozen, trying to process everything unraveling in front of me.“How about Klaus?” Dare’s voice was low and sharp, I was reminded of a family that I had once seen as mine. What really was the reason behind their death? Was it really Dare's fault that they are dead or it was Moscow all along. “Was it really the Pact?”I turned my head slightly, my eyes darting between Dare and Moscow. The mention of Klaus sent a shiver through me, a name tied to a family I once called friends, a family that no longer existed.Moscow smirked, his grip on me still firm. “Klaus? Oh no, that was personal,” he said casually, as if he were talking about the weather. “He found out about my business with Mark. Threatened to expose me. I couldn’t allow that, could I? So I took him out.”My heart clenched, and I felt a sickening wave roll through my stomach. My knees threatened to give out beneath me, but Moscow’s grip held me steady. Klaus’s family—their lives—gone because of… this?Moscow continued