Sasha sat in stunned silence, her heart pounding in her chest. The words that had just been spoken seemed to echo endlessly in her mind. Amanda was pregnant with Hue's child, and everyone in the room seemed to think that this automatically meant Sasha should step aside. It was as if her feelings didn't matter—as if she was just a pawn in a game they were all playing.She felt the sting of tears behind her eyes, but she fought them back. How could they do this to her? How could they just decide her fate without even considering what she wanted? She had been thinking about breaking things off with Hue for a while now, but no one knew that. No one seemed to care about what she wanted. Why couldn't anyone fight for her? Why was nobody standing up to Anna Conner, who had always treated her like she was less than nothing?Sasha's thoughts were interrupted by a voice that startled her. "Anna, you need to watch how you speak to Sasha," Lily Brooks said sharply, her tone filled with a surpris
Ethan stood in his kitchen, absentmindedly spreading mustard on a slice of bread as he tried to wrap his mind around the day's events. He couldn't believe that Jonathan, his own brother, was willing to fight him over Sasha. Jonathan, who had always been the easygoing one and never took anything too seriously, was now ready to go head-to-head with him for the woman Ethan had claimed as his own. He is adding that to him, fighting him for his company. It was infuriating, and yet, it was also oddly unsettling. Ethan wasn't used to being challenged, especially not by his own blood. But Jonathan had made it clear—he wasn't going to back down. Ethan clenched his jaw, his frustration boiling over as he slapped another slice of bread onto his sandwich. What was it about Sasha that had gotten under his brother's skin? Was it her beauty, her strength, or the way she carried herself with a quiet confidence that drew people in? Or maybe it was something deeper, something Ethan hadn't fully grasp
The loud, thumping bass of the nightclub reverberated through Amanda’s body as she pushed her way through the crowd, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room for Hue. She had heard he was here, drowning his sorrows in alcohol, and she wasn’t surprised. Everything had spiraled out of control since that night at the Conner mansion, and she knew Hue wasn’t handling it well.Finally, she spotted him slumped over at the bar, a half-empty bottle of whiskey in front of him, and his eyes glazed over with anger and despair. He was drunk—more drunk than she’d ever seen him—and yet, he continued to drink as if the alcohol could somehow wash away all his problems.“Hue,” Amanda called out as she approached him, but he didn’t seem to hear her over the pounding music. She reached out to touch his arm, trying to get his attention. “Hue, it’s me, Amanda.”Hue slowly turned to look at her, and for a moment, there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by a look of pure conte
The darkened alley outside the grand event venue was eerily quiet, the only sound being the occasional hum of passing cars. Ethan sat in the backseat of a nondescript taxi, his heart pounding with a cold, calculated rhythm. The streets were empty, save for a few wandering souls who paid no attention to the plain-looking vehicle parked in the shadows. Rowan was behind the wheel, his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror, waiting for the signal they both knew would come.Ethan adjusted the black mask in his lap, his fingers tracing the smooth surface. The mask wasn’t just a piece of cloth—it was a symbol, a representation of the darkness he wielded, the fear he inspired. As Hades, he had built an empire, one that demanded respect and instilled terror in those who dared cross him. And tonight, Ian Cruise would be the latest to feel the wrath of Hades.The plan had been set into motion days ago. Ethan had placed his most trusted members as staff at Ian’s event, ensuring that when the time cam
Sasha sat outside, the cool night air brushing against her skin as she stared into the darkness. The events of the past few hours had shaken her, but as the initial shock wore off, she began to think more clearly. The image of Ethan—no, Hades—on live television, pulling the trigger without hesitation, still lingered in her mind. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized she had no right to judge him.After all, she, too, had blood on her hands.It wasn’t so long ago that she had orchestrated the death of Dean Hooper. Big Tom may have been the one to physically snuff out Dean’s life, but it was Sasha who had put the plan into motion. She was the one who had lured Dean to his doom, driven by a thirst for revenge that had clouded her judgment. In that moment, she hadn’t hesitated; she hadn’t questioned whether it was right or wrong. All she knew was that Dean had hurt Ethan, and he had to pay for it.Sasha clenched her fists, the cold metal of the chair digging into her pa
Ethan sighed as he leaned back in the taxi, the dull hum of the engine a steady backdrop to his thoughts. The city lights blurred past the window, a cacophony of neon signs and streetlamps casting an otherworldly glow on the wet pavement. Rowan, who was driving, remained silent, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, the tension between them palpable.They had been driving for hours, zigzagging through the maze of city streets to throw off any potential tails. Ethan’s mind replayed the events of the evening over and over, the image of Ian Cruise’s lifeless body still fresh in his mind. He hadn’t wanted to kill Ian, not really. But he had to. It was the only way to send a message, to make it clear that Hades was not someone to be toyed with.Now, they were heading back to the SUV they had parked in a dark alley on the outskirts of the city. The taxi served its purpose as a decoy, a way to move through the city without drawing suspicion. They couldn’t afford to be caught now, not with the en
Carlos Cruise stared at the bloodied walls of the abandoned warehouse, his face a mask of barely-contained rage. The words “Nyx was here, don’t mess with the Hell’s Gang” were smeared across the wall in crimson, the letters dripping with the lifeblood of his fallen friend. The smell of iron and death hung heavy in the air, a grim reminder of the ruthless underworld he was now thrust into.It had been a terrible day, the worst of his life. First, he lost his father to Hades, the man who had single-handedly dismantled his father’s empire and taken his life without a second thought. Now, one of his best friends was dead, murdered by this Nyx—whoever she was. Carlos clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he felt the anger bubbling up inside him.He had vowed to avenge his father, and now that vow extended to his friend as well. Carlos was determined to take down Hades and everyone associated with him, and he wouldn’t rest until he had wiped the Hell’s Gang off the face of
Ethan sat in his sleek, modern office, staring out the window at the cityscape below. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the skyline, but his mind was far from the picturesque view. His thoughts were still tangled in the events of the past few days. Sasha’s revelation had hit him harder than he cared to admit. Nyx. The woman who had been shaking up the underworld with her audacious moves was none other than Sasha. The woman he had vowed to protect had thrown herself into the darkest depths of his world, and he couldn’t decide whether to be proud of her or terrified for her.His internal battle was interrupted by a knock on the door. Peter, his ever-efficient assistant, stepped into the room, holding a tablet in one hand and a file in the other that required Ethan’s attention.“Good afternoon, sir,” Peter began, his tone respectful yet businesslike. “I have some news and updates for you.”Ethan nodded, gesturing for Peter to continue as he leaned back in his chair, trying to
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