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
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
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
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
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
Sky I hold my mouth shut with my hands as I shiver watching the horror unfold in front of me. Secluded in such a dark area had hidden me from participating in the trauma of my life but my eyes were not shielded from it as I watched it all unfold. Standing in the room was five men, four of them dressed in black while one of them, tall and husky wore a grey pant and a black shirt, his build was bigger despite being hidden under that oversized shirt. A couple of inches taller than all the men in the room, it was easy to know he was the leader of the group. Right in the middle of them was the Klaus family, his wife and his 24 year old daughter who was the same age as me. “Do you have any idea who I am?” Mr Klaus demanded, his breathing heaved. His eyes daring as he stared at the men before him. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t” the man replied, he leaned on the wall with his left leg raised up. A smug look on his face as he flicked through his fingers. “How dare you co
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