Sasha’s heart pounded as she ran out of Ethan’s office building, her vision blurred by tears. The image of Ethan kissing Grace was burned into her mind, a painful reminder of the reality she had been trying so hard to avoid. She had known about Grace, known that she was part of Ethan’s past, but seeing them together like that shattered her. She had felt like she was finally finding her place in his life, but now it seemed like she was just a temporary distraction.She barely made it to the sidewalk before she felt Ethan’s presence behind her. He caught up to her, grabbing her arm as she tried to walk away.“Sasha, wait!” Ethan’s voice was desperate, but she didn’t want to hear it. Not now.“Let go of me, Ethan!” Sasha snapped, pulling her arm free from his grip.“Sasha, please, let me explain,” Ethan pleaded, stepping in front of her to block her path. His eyes were filled with regret, but Sasha couldn’t bring herself to care. All she could think about was how stupid she felt for lett
Rico had been at the Secret Service training camp for almost a year now, and he had made a name for himself as the top student in his class. Every drill, every mission simulation—he had excelled. The instructors were impressed with his precision, his focus, and his unyielding determination. But still, he hadn’t expected to be summoned by John Clarkson, the head of the division, for a private meeting.As Rico made his way to Clerkson’s office, he couldn’t help but wonder what this was about. He had a feeling it wasn’t just a casual chat about his progress.When he entered the office, John was already seated behind his desk, a serious expression on his face. "Come in, Rico," he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him. "Have a seat."Rico sat down, feeling a slight tension in the air. John leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface of the desk. "You’ve been doing well, Rico. Very well. In fact, you’re at the top of your class, and that’s why I’ve asked to see you tod
Ethan stood in the kitchen, frying eggs and flipping pancakes, the smell of coffee filling the air. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he wanted to make an effort for Sasha. He had to win her back, no matter what it took. Ever since that argument, things had been tense between them, and it tore him up inside. He missed her warmth, her smile, and the way she made him feel grounded. He was so jealous to see her with another man yesterday. He hated that she even spoke to the man and hated that he was holding her when he saw them, nobody holds his woman, and this “man” better stay away from her. He hoped she would not wake up with a hangover and that she had an appetite for food. He set the table neatly, making sure everything was perfect. Sasha was still asleep upstairs, and he wanted her to wake up to something nice. He couldn’t stand the thought of losing her over a misunderstanding with Grace. Yes, Grace had kissed him, but it meant nothing—he just needed Sasha to believe him.He glanced
Sasha stood at the entrance of the Vegas Casino, her Nyx mask firmly in place. The neon lights of the casino flickered overhead, casting an eerie glow on the sidewalk, but her mind was sharp and focused. Tonight wasn’t just about business—it was about power. She was about to meet with the seven leaders of the gangs that operated under the Hell’s Gang in the area, and she needed to show them exactly who was in charge. There was no room for weakness.Ivy, standing beside her, whispered nervously, "They’re waiting for you in the secret office. Seven leaders."Sasha gave a small nod and adjusted the mask on her face, the cold metal pressing against her skin like a reminder of who she had become. She wasn’t just Sasha Brooks anymore—tonight, she was Nyx. And Nyx didn’t bow to anyone.As they moved toward the hidden office at the back of the casino, Big Tom fell into step beside her, his heavy footsteps echoing down the dimly lit hallway. "Let me give you a rundown of who you’re dealing wit
Ethan sat in his office, trying to focus on the business proposal in front of him, it was already dead in the night and he was still in the office. He needed to get his work done but his mind was elsewhere. His phone buzzed, breaking his concentration. It was **Jon**, one of his trusted informants. “Ethan, we have a situation,” Jon’s voice was tense.“What is it?” Ethan asked, already feeling a sense of dread.“It’s Nyx. She... well, she made an example out of **Jimmy**, one of the loan sharks. Had him killed right in front of the other leaders.”Ethan’s heart sank. He had been afraid of this. Sasha—or rather, Nyx—was slipping deeper into the underworld, becoming someone he never wanted her to be. The darkness he had fought so hard to control within himself was now consuming her. “Damn it,” Ethan muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Rowan, pull up Sasha’s address. I’m going over there.”Rowan, who was sitting across from him, raised an eyebrow. “You sure you want to go now, b
Hue sat at the table, swirling the drink in his glass as the media anniversary dinner buzzed around him. But his mind wasn’t on the conversations or the speeches happening around the room. His attention was focused solely on Sasha,who had just walked in with another man. The sight of her laughing and smiling with someone else made something twist inside him—jealousy, anger, confusion.He had spent weeks trying to reach out to Sasha, to explain himself, but she had blocked his calls and ignored him completely. Seeing her now, looking happy with another man, felt like a slap in the face. Why couldn't she give him the chance to explain? He clenched his fists under the table, his jaw tightening.Amanda,sitting beside him, noticed where his eyes were fixed. She sighed and leaned in closer, her voice low but filled with irritation. "Hue, stop staring at her."Hue barely heard Amanda. His eyes were still locked on Sasha and the man she was with. He couldn't help but wonder if this man was th
Sasha couldn’t believe what she had heard. Ethan had been publicly introduced as someone else’s boyfriend—Grace’s boyfriend. It was as if the ground had been pulled out from under her. The pain surged through her chest, her heart pounding in her ears as she tried to make sense of the situation. Wasn't she Ethan’s girlfriend? She had thought so. But now, everyone saw him as Grace’s. How could this be happening?Immediately after Ethan’s speech, Sasha excused herself, telling Nicholas that she needed to use the bathroom. She needed to get away from the party, from all the people, from the confusion that was suffocating her.In the bathroom, Sasha stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were swollen from holding back tears. Her lips trembled. She applied makeup, trying to mask the traces of the hurt she was feeling. She didn’t want to fall apart—not here, not now. She had to look composed, even if she didn’t feel it. Once she was done, she took a deep breath and decided to head
Sasha felt a wave of guilt wash over her as she thought about Grace being in the hospital. She couldn’t forget the moment in the shower with Ethan, when his phone had rung and she had kissed him to keep him from answering Grace’s call. Now, Grace was in the hospital, and Sasha couldn’t shake the feeling that her actions had played a part in the situation.Determined to make amends, Sasha picked up her phone and called Ivy, asking her to find out which hospital Grace was in. A few minutes later, Ivy called back, informing her that it was City Hospital. Sasha quickly dressed, went to the closet mall to buy a bouquet of flowers, and headed straight to the hospital. Once she arrived, she approached the front desk and asked for Grace Cringe’s room. The nurse pointed her in the right direction, and Sasha made her way down the hall, her heart pounding with every step. She stopped in front of Grace’s door, took a deep breath, and knocked.When the door opened, it wasn’t Grace—it was Ethan.