Ryan hurried down the passageway toward the stage, hugging the wall and keeping his steps quick and light. He doubted anyone would hear him coming over the noise of the party, but he didn’t plan on leaving it to chance.The passageway widened at the back of the stage. A retractable metal security gate spanned the stage to prevent anyone from moving the festivities to the backstage area. The blackout curtain hung just beyond the security gate. He wrapped his hand around a slat and gave the gate a shake, testing it. Fully secure, with very little give. No one had slipped into or out of the backstage area through there. He worked his fingers between the slats, moved the curtain aside, and looked out. A sea of zombies, ghouls, princesses, and pirate wenches danced under flashing purple lights. Nothing unusual.His phone vibrated. He pulled it from his pocket and checked the screen. A text from Tommy read, At the back door. Wait for me. For a nanosecond, he considered waiting, because, pro
The light hum of female voices registered first, followed by the smell of roses and lilies. Annabelle lay still for a moment, kept her eyes closed, and did a quick physical inventory. Toes? Check. Fingers? Check. Head still attached to the shoulders? Check.Best she could tell, all parts were present and accounted for. She felt stiff and groggy like she’d been asleep for a week, but nothing too alarming. A vague impression of Ryan holding her hand and telling her not to worry about anything danced through her mind, but she couldn’t say for sure whether that was memory or wishful thinking. She racked her brain for something more. Other images formed—a nurse with a short brunette bob offering her water. Anaisse smiling through tears while helping brush her teeth and hair—but no Ryan Ferrer.Deciding to chance a look around, she opened her eyes and blinked a few times to adjust to the sudden brightness. Sunlight streamed through an unfamiliar window, below which sat a metal cabinet holdi
He slipped the ring on her finger, climbed onto the bed, and swept her into a kiss. By the time he was done, her head spun more than a little, and there was a strange clapping sound assaulting her ears. “Ignore them,” he whispered, cupped her jaw, and lowered his head for another kiss.Confused, she looked beyond him, toward the door. Val, Ginger, Ariana, Lee Anne, Anaisse, and Tommy gathered just beyond the threshold, clapping.“About time, Snowflake,” Ginger called.“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Ryan called, never taking his eyes off her. His smile held wicked intent.The door whooshed closed.“I’m injured,” she warned as he moved in.“I’m careful.” He traced the front opening of her hospital gown, barely grazing her flesh.“I guess you are,” she managed, as his fingers parted the gown.“And creative.” As proof, he tapped the bed-adjust button and eased her into a more reclined position.She raised a brow at him. “A nurse could walk in here at any moment to check on me
The Triplets“I love you. Ryan, I love you.” A dam broke inside her and she reached for him as the words poured out. He wrapped his arm around her and brought her the rest of the way home. And then she was there, snug against him, kissing his mouth, his chin, his jaw, anywhere she could reach while saying “I love you” over and over again.“Every day,” he said between kisses. “I need to hear you say it every damn day for the rest of our lives. Think you can handle me?”She eased back, put her hands on his cheeks, and stared into his eyes. “I can handle you, Ian. It’s being without you that I can’t handle.”He rested his forehead against hers. “Good, because you’re never going to get rid of me again.” Double Wedding Day “You sure you’re ready to do this?”Annabelle met Anaisse’s eyes in the mirror. “Hell yes. We’ve rehearsed and everything. Aren’t you?”“Me? Yes. I can’t wait. But I know this whole thing was kind of my idea.” She bit her lip and gave Annabelle the big, blue-eyed Bambi
Alexander Vittorio POV(Twenty years old…)The aroma hangs heavy in the air, the delicious bread smells luring me to the kitchen where I find Mama and Tanya admiring the pineapple honey cake they just baked.It’s my favorite smell in the world – Mama baking in the kitchen. It’s home.The moment Mama spots me, she gives me a stern scowl. “Don’t you dare try to steal a slice young man, it’s for after dinner.”It’s Marc Vincent’s birthday today. My brother is three years older than me. We haven’t seen much of him over the past years as he’s been training in Palawan Island to take his place in the Filipino Mafia called Demonyo Gang. With my father being a boss, it’s only natural that we follow in his footsteps.I take a seat at the table, eyeing the cake like it’s my last meal.“Do you want coffee?” Tanya asks me.“Please.” I smile at the girl who’s like a little sister to me.My parents adopted Maryo and Tanya Peters, and even though things were rocky at first, Maryo is now my best frien
Anya Santini De Luna POV(Eighteen years old...)Glancing around me, it’s still hard to believe I’m in Metro Manila.I was supposed to take this trip with my father – Rocky Ace De Luna, the Italian Mafia Boss but he died in a car accident on New Year's Eve.Next month will be a year since he passed away. The grief still comes in waves, especially when I see one of the sights Papa always talked about. Besides, Papa named me – Anya Santini De Luna – I don’t know why. Papa did not tell me the name of my mother.We planned this trip for over a year, and it was meant to be my graduation gift. With he’s gone, I decided to honor his memory by going ahead with the vacation; the Philippines, Scotland, and Hawaii. We each chose a destination, and right now, I’m on the first leg of the trip.Sometimes I’m struck by a wave of panic. Honestly, it’s a little terrifying exploring a foreign country alone. But Papa Rocky Ace told me that the Philippines are great for tourists. It’s terrifying being alo
Xander Vittorio POVPapa pointed out Olga as she entered the club, and I memorized her outfit because I didn’t get a good look at her face. It all happened a little too fast.Sitting in a car that’s parked by the side of the building, I watch as Marc Vincent lights a cigarette.“Mama’s going to lose her shit when we come home with the girl,” I state the obvious.“Luckily, that’s not my problem,” my brother mutters. “I’m going back to Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan Island’s as soon as we’re done with this job.”I let out a sigh while scanning our surroundings. “I wish I could go with you.”Princess Coastal Entertainment is a training school slash resort in Palawan for anyone in the criminal world. It’s the only neutral ground on the planet where we’re taught how to be assassins, smugglers, and anything else crime-related. Marc Vincent is learning everything regarding torturing, fighting, and shooting. I’ll go through the same course as him once I turn twenty-one.“Just one more year.” Exhali
Anya de Luna's POV Terrified, I stare at Xander.He looks a hell of a lot calmer than I feel.In a matter of hours, I’ve gone from swapping clothes with Olga to being grabbed off the street to a car accident to being kidnapped.It’s surreal.God.Panic flares hot through my chest, and a hysterical breakdown threatens to overwhelm me.If I weren’t scared out of my mind, I’d actually appreciate how attractive Xander is. He has longish, dark brown hair, and strands fall over his forehead, making him look like one of the bad boys Papa Rocky Ace always warned me about. His eyes are brown with golden flecks giving me the impression he’s a jokester. He’s not dressed in a suit like Olga’s other guards but is wearing black cargo pants, a black t-shirt, and boots.There are tattoos on the back of his hands running all the way up his forearms, where I can see his veins snaking beneath his skin.I have an overwhelming need to get to know him because he’s locked in this tiny room with me. Without