Jonathan watched his brother dance with a lady, a stunning woman in an emerald gown. For a moment, he thought he was seeing things, but no—Ethan was indeed dancing with her. Jonathan was genuinely surprised. Ethan wasn’t the type to dance with anyone publicly, let alone at a social gathering like this. Most people at the party didn’t know who Ethan was, which is probably why no one reacted when he was dancing with the woman. They clearly didn’t realize that "The Ethan Leo," also known as the “Living King of Hell,” was at the Brooks dinner party. He wondered if the guest knew about his brother being there, would they carry on doing what they are doing now? He really was chuckling and holding himself from exposing his brother to these crowd of business elite who want to love swan him with business proposals.He observed as the two separated and his brother exited the party. This puzzled him even more. Ethan despised these kinds of events—so who was this woman? Why was she able to pull E
Charles Brooks stood quietly at the far end of one of the grand halls in his mansion, his eyes fixed on Sasha and Jonathan. They seemed engrossed in an intense conversation, and he couldn't help but wonder if they had known each other before tonight. The way they spoke, it seemed like they shared a history, but then again, it could just be the magnetic charm that Jonathan Leo carried wherever he went. His gaze shifted momentarily to Hue, who stood not far off, his expression dark with irritation. Charles knew that look all too well—Hue was seething with anger. He had always been quick to anger, just like his mother. Charles frowned; his soon-to-be son-in-law would need to learn to control his temper if he ever hoped to lead a household, let alone marry someone as strong-willed as Sasha. Amanda, on the other hand, looked utterly humiliated. She stood beside Hue, still reeling from her embarrassing encounter with Jonathan. Charles made a mental note to talk to her later about her behavi
Hue's mood was black as coal as he watched Sasha glide across the dance floor with Jonathan Leo. The actor's hand rested on her waist, pulling her close as they moved in perfect harmony to the music. The sight made Hue's blood boil. He clenched his fists at his sides, resisting the urge to storm over and drag Sasha away from Jonathan. How could she dance so effortlessly with another man? It infuriated him, especially when he considered that she was his fiancée. Yet, she seemed to be enjoying herself far too much with Jonathan.And now, to make matters worse, Sasha was deep in conversation with some older man. Hue couldn't make out who he was, but how Sasha was engaged in the discussion only fueled his irritation. He fumed silently, wondering what they could possibly be talking about. Was she discussing their future? Or worse, was she complaining about him?As Hue's thoughts churned with jealousy, he suddenly felt a hand on his chest. The touch was soft, teasing, as fingers lightly bru
As they stood side by side, Sasha felt a tiny flicker of hope ignite within her. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way out of this mess that didn't involve sacrificing her happiness. Maybe, with some help, she could find a way to secure her future without losing herself in the process.As the evening wore on, Sasha couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong. She remembered she hadn't seen Hue for quite a while. A sudden thought crossed her mind, and she glanced around the room, her eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of him or Amanda. Neither was in sight, which only deepened her unease.Sasha's heart began to race as a thought struck her—where were they? She knew the two of them had a connection, but surely they wouldn't be so brazen as to sneak away together during such a public event. Would they? A cold dread settled in the pit of her stomach, and she knew she had to find out.She turned to Lily, who was still beside her. "I'm going to look for Hue," Sasha said, tryi
Ethan Leo sat in the backseat of his black SUV, the soft hum of the engine the only sound breaking the silence. The vehicle was parked discreetly in front of an abandoned fuel station in Tempa, the notorious part of town where shadows ruled and secrets were traded like currency. Tempa had always been fertile ground for the mafia's business ventures, where desperation and desire fed the underworld's endless hunger for power and profit. It was here that fortunes were made and lives were lost, and tonight was no different.Ethan wore a black mask, a symbol of the persona he embodied when he became Hades—the feared and ruthless leader of Hell's Gang. The mask was not just a cover but a mantle of authority that separated him from the man he was behind closed doors. In Tempa, he was not Ethan Leo, the heir to the Leo empire, but the enigmatic and unforgiving king of the underworld.A sharp, double knock on his car window distracted him. It was the signal he'd been waiting for. He pressed th
At the Brooks mansion, Sasha could hardly believe what she had just witnessed. She had known about Hue and Amanda's betrayal for some time, but seeing it with her own eyes was a different kind of pain—sharp, immediate, and unbearable. The image of them together, entwined in a passionate embrace, was seared into her mind, a constant reminder of the treachery she was now fully confronted with.Her legs moved on instinct, carrying her away from Amanda's room and the scene of betrayal. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she stumbled down the hallway, her vision blurred by tears. She needed to get out of there, needed to escape the suffocating weight of it all.Just as she rounded the corner, she nearly collided with her father, Charles Brooks. His face was a mask of anger, his eyes narrowing as he took in her disheveled appearance."I want to speak to you, young lady," Charles demanded, his voice harsh and filled with authority."I'm sorry, Dad," Sasha managed to choke out, her voice trem
Ethan Leo was taken aback by the intensity of Sasha's kiss. The warmth of her lips, the desperation in her embrace—it stirred something deep within him, a mix of passion and confusion. But he quickly pushed her away, holding her at arm's length. Her body trembled, not just from the cold, but from something more—a deep, gnawing hurt that had driven her into his arms."What are you doing, Sasha?" he asked, his voice a mixture of concern and restraint. He fought the overwhelming urge to kiss her again, to give in to the desire that simmered just beneath the surface.She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't you want me?"Ethan's heart twisted at the sight of her like this. She looked so small, so vulnerable, and it made his blood boil with anger. Who had hurt her? Who had made his woman feel this way? The possessiveness he felt for her surged to the forefront, but he knew he had to tread carefully. She was fragile right now, and
Sasha woke up the next morning to Ethan's bedroom's unfamiliar but luxurious surroundings. The events of the night before came rushing back, and she couldn't help but smile as she remembered how their bodies had moved together in perfect sync. She had never experienced anything like it before—Ethan had made her forget about everything, even Hue.As the sunlight filtered through the curtains, she heard a voice—Siri, integrated into the room's smart technology. "Good morning, Sasha," the digital assistant greeted her cheerfully.Sasha smiled as she looked around the room, taking in the modern technology that surrounded her. The room was breathtaking, a mix of sleek design and comfort. The curtains moved automatically, revealing a stunning view of the estate's sprawling grounds. The lighting was a soft blend of blue, yellow, and light pink, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.She sat up in bed, realizing she was naked, the sheets wrapped loosely around her. A blush crept up her chee
The lights of Ethan's mansion shone dimly in the misty night as Sasha drove up the long driveway. Her hands gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white, her heart pounding as she replayed the events of the evening. Rico’s dying words echoed in her mind, haunting her with every breath. She could still feel the coldness of the gun in her hand, the heaviness of the glass she had forced him to drink. Her best friend, the person who had once shared her innocence, was gone, and it was by her own doing.Trembling, she stepped out of the car and approached the door. It was late, but Ethan had always told her that she was welcome at any hour. She barely noticed the warmth of his mansion as she stumbled through the doors, a shivering mess of guilt and sorrow. One of his guards led her to his study, where Ethan was waiting, his expression immediately darkening as he saw the tears streaking down her cheeks."Sasha," he said, standing up quickly, his voice filled with concern. "What happened?"She
The night was cold as Sasha drove down the empty streets, the city lights flickering in her rearview mirror like fading stars. She had always been careful, had always walked the line between who she once was and the life she’d been pulled into. But Rico was closing in, his relentless pursuit drawing closer to truths that could ruin everything she’d built with Ethan. And now, she was at a crossroads she never imagined she’d face: she would have to kill him.As she reached the Miller mansion, her mind was clear, cold as steel. She pulled on a pair of black gloves, knowing every step would need to be precise, leaving nothing behind. She climbed the stairs to her bedroom, opened the hidden compartment in her closet, and retrieved a small vial of poison. She had kept it for years, a tool she hoped she’d never need. But Rico had left her no choice.Her fingers grazed over the gun in the drawer. It felt heavy, both in weight and in purpose. Rico was her friend—a part of her past, her childh
The morning sun was filtering through the high windows of her office when Sasha’s phone buzzed on her desk. She reached for it, glancing at the unfamiliar number on the screen. Frowning, she answered. “Sasha Brooks.”“Miss Brooks,” the voice on the other end was firm and professional. “This is Agent Wyatt with the Secret Service. We need you to come down to our office for questioning.”Sasha felt a wave of unease wash over her. “Questioning?” she asked, forcing her voice to stay steady. “Can you tell me what this is about?”“I’m afraid we can’t discuss the details over the phone,” Agent Wyatt replied. “Please come in at your earliest convenience.”The line went dead before she could ask anything more. Sasha lowered the phone, her heart pounding. She’d known that Rico’s investigation wasn’t over, but she hadn’t expected him to summon her like this. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. If Rico wanted answers, she’d give them—but only what she wanted him to know.An hour later, Sas
Ethan was still savoring the aftermath of his election victory as he reclined on the leather sofa in his penthouse office. The city stretched out before him through the glass wall, lights glittering like stars. The high of winning still coursed through him, though Sasha’s words kept gnawing at the edges of his mind. But before he could dwell on her warning, his phone buzzed in his pocket. The number on the screen made him sit up instantly—one of his contacts at the SSS.He answered, keeping his voice low. “What’s going on?”The voice on the other end was brisk and to the point. “Mr. Leo, we just received word that Rico Morales obtained a warrant to search the Vegas Casino. He’s on his way there with his team.”Ethan’s heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he stared out the window, feeling a cold, creeping dread settle in. If Rico was coming after the Vegas Casino, it wasn’t a casual inspection. Rico had been investigating Jack and Carlos’s deaths for months, desperate to connect the dot
Rico leaned back in his office chair, rubbing his tired eyes. It had been over six months since he began his relentless pursuit of the shadows that haunted the city—the figures known only as Nyx and Hades. Six months of dead ends, sleepless nights, and watching blurry surveillance footage. Jack and Carlos were dead, their bodies leaving behind a silence that demanded justice. Yet every lead felt like sand slipping through his fingers.Jack had been his friend, someone he’d trusted. And Carlos, despite his flaws, had once been a key figure in the city’s underworld. Both men were gone now, and Rico knew that somewhere out there, someone was responsible. Someone powerful, calculating, and ruthless enough to cover their tracks perfectly.He switched on his laptop and resumed scrolling through the mountain of footage. Security footage from street corners, ATMs, storefronts—anything that might reveal even the faintest hint of Nyx or Hades. He was chasing ghosts, but his gut told him that pe
Ethan’s words hung in the air, a confession raw and vulnerable, stripped bare of any pretense. Sasha’s breath hitched, her mind racing to process what he had just said. She searched his face, seeing the weight of years of torment etched into his eyes.“Bipolar?” she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if saying it too loud would shatter the fragile honesty between them.Ethan nodded, looking away, unable to meet her gaze. “I didn’t know for a long time,” he admitted, his hands clenching and unclenching as he tried to steady himself. “There were… signs. But I didn’t want to believe it. I thought I was just… intense. Driven. I’ve always felt this… voice inside me, pushing me to take control, to act without thinking.” He paused, his voice trembling. “It’s not just a voice. It’s me. It’s a part of me that I can’t seem to silence.”Sasha felt her heart break for him, realizing how much he’d been struggling, even before they’d met. She wanted to reach out, to hold him, but she knew he n
Sasha leaned against her car, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she waited outside the police station. The last few hours had been a blur of emotions she could barely process—anger, sadness, and betrayal. Ethan’s confession replayed in her mind over and over, a loop that tightened her chest with every repetition. She wasn’t ready to face Chris. Not after what she’d learned about Ethan, about the accident that had torn her family apart without her even knowing it. But her brother needed her, and right now, he was all she had. She had promised him he wouldn’t be alone, and she intended to keep that promise. When Chris finally stepped out of the station, his expression softened as he saw her. For a moment, they just stood there, the weight of everything unspoken pressing down on them. Sasha took a shaky breath, then walked toward him, her eyes filling with tears she hadn’t even realized she was holding back. it felt good, it felt good to have him out of cell. She could not be
The world came back to Ethan slowly, like rising from the depths of a dark ocean. His eyelids felt heavy, and his entire body ached as if he’d been hit by a train. He blinked, trying to focus, and the sterile white walls of a hospital room gradually came into view. The dim light of early morning filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows across the room. He turned his head, wincing as a sharp pain shot through him. But when he looked to his left, his heart softened. There, slumped over in a chair by his bedside, was Sasha. Her face was pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes, evidence of sleepless nights. She had one hand resting near his on the bed, as if she’d fallen asleep holding it but eventually drifted off from sheer exhaustion. He gently reached out, brushing his fingers against her hand, too weak to do more. Sasha stirred, blinking her eyes open as she processed what she was seeing. When she realized he was awake, her eyes went wide with relief and joy. “
Sasha stormed into the police station, her mind a storm of fear, fury, and confusion. She hadn’t even had time to process Ethan’s condition at the hospital before she found herself here, chasing the need for answers, for justice. She marched up to the front desk, trying to keep her voice steady.“I need to see the person you arrested for the hit-and-run on Ethan Leo,” she said, her tone as firm as steel.The officer behind the desk looked up, recognizing her from media appearances as well as from the sheer power of her name. He gave her a nod. “Right this way, Miss Brooks.”Sasha followed him through a dimly lit corridor, her heart pounding harder with every step. She felt an almost dizzying mix of dread and anger as she walked, but she pushed it down. She had to stay focused. Whoever this was… she needed to see them, to understand why they would do something so reckless, so cruel.When the officer finally stopped outside a cell, Sasha’s breath caught in her throat. Her whole world ti