So, do you all think Viviane is starting to fall for Alessandro? And Ghost is here? Who else missed him? Don't forget to leave a comment and vote—I’d love to hear your thoughts! XOXO 💋
Ghost ☩═☠︎︎═☩ I grabbed her arm, rougher than I should have, my fingers digging in as she tried to jerk back. She had no idea how much she was messing with my head. I slipped my gloved hand into her soaked hair, yanking her head back until her neck was arched, exposed. Her breath hitched, and for a second, I wanted to rip the damn glove off, feel the heat of her skin against mine. But I didn’t. No, that would give her too much. I adjusted the voice modulator under the mask, staring down at her. She looked up at me, one wrong move, and she’d figure it all out. No, I needed her nice and compliant, bound, blindfolded, stripped of that attitude and maybe even gagged before I even thought of slipping off this mask. With one rough pull, the towel slipped from her body, falling to the floor and pooling around her feet, leaving her bare, her skin flushed under my hands. Every place I touched turned a deeper shade of red, against her pale skin. I let go of her hair, my other hand sti
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ Francesca’s eyes searched mine, and the moment she realized I wasn’t going to hug her back, she pulled away, her expression shifting as hurt flashed across her face. “How long are you going to punish me?” she asked, her voice cracking, barely holding it together. I just shook my head, walked past her into the living room, and sank onto her couch, stretching out like I owned the place. “I’m not punishing you. I’m here, aren’t I?” I replied coolly, giving her that detached, unreadable look I knew drove her crazy. She followed me, standing there, still wrapped in her silk robe, “Yeah, you’re here, after I begged you for a year to come. A year, Alessandro.” I leaned back, resting one arm on the couch’s headrest, legs stretched out, “It wasn’t exactly easy to look at you after what you did.” She took a step closer, right into my space, standing between my legs, “It was a mistake, Alessandro, a huge mistake. I don’t even know what I was thinking.” My eyes loc
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ Have you ever stood in a room and felt that every set of eyes was waiting for you to slip up, to give them some reason to tear you down? That's exactly what it felt like standing there, surrounded, with all of them staring me down. Their looks weren’t normal—they were filled with accusations and suspicions, as if they were all in on some shared vendetta against me. My gut was screaming that they didn’t just want me gone—they wanted to see me dead. Everyone in this room was the kind who played mental chess with their eyes closed. And I knew I had to be two moves ahead, outthink them before they even made their first play. I took a step back, searching Alessandro’s eyes. No—he wouldn’t just take their word for it, would he? They thought I’d stolen two damn laptops. It took everything I had not to laugh at the absurdity of it. As if I’d be careless enough to get caught over something as amateur as that. Alessandro already knew about the sensitive data I printed
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ Nikolai stood close to the vast windows of my office, his gaze slicing through the city skyline. Hands deep in his pockets, as he took in every word I said.. After a pause, he turned just slightly, a sliver of impatience in his eyes. “What’s your take about this?” I leaned back, feeling the familiar tension twist in my gut, “If there’s a problem on my side, I’ll take care of it.” A muscle in his jaw flexed. “It’s not you I’m concerned about,” he let the words hang in the air, “It’s that girl. There’s something… off. She’s not what she seems.” My grip tightened around the pen, rolling it between my fingers as I stared ahead, “I told you, she’ll be dealt with. You have my word.” He didn’t respond, just gave a brief nod. We both knew what that promise meant, and it wouldn’t end with Viviane walking away like she had done a few hours ago. Frankie stepped into my office, his face lost all its color when he saw Nikolai, he clasped his hands tightly behind his b
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ It felt like my body had been steamrolled. Or, well, almost. Technically, I hadn’t been steamrolled, just hit by a car, but every cell in my body protested like it had been. Pain radiated everywhere, like I’d been stretched thin and dragged over gravel. Breathing hurt. Blinking hurt. Even thinking hurt. The doctor leaned over me, his face a blur that slowly sharpened as I blinked and tried to focus. “Let’s run through a few things, okay? Can you tell me your name?” he looked at me, pen poised. I blinked, fighting through the haze. “Viviane Kane, unfortunately still very alive.” He raised an eyebrow, “Can you tell me where you are?” I glanced around, taking in the too-bright lights and sterile smell. I wasn't in my home or in Alessandro's torture chamber, “Either a hospital, or someone with an incredibly clean fetish dungeon.” A smile almost escaped him, but he held it back, “Good sense of humor, seems like your brain is working just fine. Now, how many fin
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ “Son, you know she’s been watching you for a while now,” his father murmured, eyes cutting to a young woman across the club, who was throwing suggestive glances at Alessandro. Alessandro barely looked her direction, he was more focused on his conversation with Scott. He was twenty, and he'd only come tonight because it was his birthday and his father, Vito, insisted on throwing a party. He didn't know that it would be the last one they’d celebrate together or he would have been nicer to him. “I don’t care, let her look,” Alessandro replied casually, sipping his whiskey and keeping his attention on Scott, one of the few people who understood his tech obsession. Vito gave a frustrated sigh, “Alessandro, I’ve been noticing something,” he said, “In all these years, not once have I seen you with a woman. Not once. Even at your initiation, you turned down every opportunity to fuck. It’s unnatural.” he raised an eyebrow, “Your cock works alright? Or should I be wo
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I’d never had anyone take care of me like this before. Growing up, Brandon and Stella did what they could, but life pulled them in other directions too early. College, jobs, and other stuff that kept them busy. They tried, but there was only so much they could do before they were gone. With my parents...well, I learned young that if I didn’t look after myself, no one else would. I practically raised myself. Then there were the men I dated. I’d picked one narcissist after another, guys who saw caring for anyone as something beneath them, or worse, as a woman’s job. My last ex wasn’t just self-absorbed—he was the type who thought cooking, cleaning, and even basic decency belonged on my side of the line, no matter what I had on my plate. So, sitting here now, watching him in my tiny kitchen compared to the spacious and luxurious ones he was used to, it was like seeing something out of place but so right. He was supposed to be untouchable Costello, all danger and c
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ The past 24 hours had been a blur—a storm of panic, decisions, and a speed I wasn’t prepared for. No time to think, no time to tell Brandon. I knew exactly what his reaction would be—he’d lose his mind, try to put a stop to it, argue about Alessandro’s influence and the strings he’d pulled. But I couldn’t afford that argument, not now. Not when Fliss’s life was hanging in the balance. Everything moved at a breakneck pace. By the time we got to the hospital, the donor—some poor child closer to Felicity's age, who’d just lost their life—was already prepped. I didn’t even have a moment to process what that meant, what we were really doing here. Alessandro didn’t give me a chance; he had it all under control, every detail. He took over, directing doctors and nurses, smoothing over paperwork while I just stood back. He made me feel that again—soft femininity, seen, and safe in a way that made me forget I ever had to stand alone. I should have felt gratitude, but the p
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩I ignored Viviane like my goddamn life depended on it, like she didn’t exist, and she returned the favor like a pro. Every other day, she showed up with something new to hand over, evidence, a strategy, or another clever way to make the FBI and the Cartel bleed. And every single time, Nikolai gave her just one name of a cartel member, leading her back to the bastards responsible for her sister’s death. It was a deal between them, a trade of trust. She didn’t hang around my family like someone looking for forgiveness. No, Viviane Kane walked in like she’d already claimed it. She was making herself indispensable, carving her space back into our world. Sometimes, I’d catch her on the couch with the girls, sharing a drink, laughing at one of their jokes, her guard down just enough to make her seem human again. Other times, she’d be in the corner with Nikolai and the other men, throwing back sarcastic words like they’d been friends for years. It fucked with my h
Viviane☩═✦═☩“What the fuck is she doing here?” Alessandro barked, his finger stabbing the air in my direction, though his eyes stayed locked on Nikolai. Nikolai shot me a brief look before turning back to him. “This is what I wanted to talk to you about.” I stayed by the door, forcing myself to stay calm as every memory of him came rushing back, hot and biting, like a wound torn open too soon. Ghost. “Talk about what?” Alessandro’s voice dropped an octave. Nikolai hesitated, and that was a first. He glanced between us before sighing. “She works for me now.” Alessandro laughed incredulously. “You’ve got to be kidding me. What the fuck does that mean, Niko?” I’d had enough. My patience had already been stretched thin, and I wasn’t about to let him bulldoze me again. Stepping forward, I slapped a file onto the table in front of Nikolai, the sound echoing through the room. “It means exactly what he said,” I cut in, turning to face Alessandro, “I work for Nikolai Costello
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩Nikolai was calm today, like a man who already knew the end of the story and was just here to watch it play out. My attention snapped to the front of the courtroom the second she walked in and approached the stand.She raised her hand to take the oath, and I felt everything catch in my chest. The words were routine, the same for every witness, but hearing them from her, seeing her there... it hit differently. Nikolai glanced at me, like he knew something I didn't but I ignored him, my focus locked on her as the questioning began. Viviane Kane was on the stand, and I was in hell.She sat there, like none of this was a big deal, like she wasn’t sitting at the center of the storm she created. That fiery red hair of hers was slicked back into one of those tight buns. That grey pantsuit was just another lie. It made her look like she had her shit together, like she wasn’t the same woman who’d been crying in my bed a few nights ago, clutching me like I was her lifeli
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ No one spoke, but I could feel their anger, their doubt, their fear, all of it swirling together. They weren’t just suspicious of me anymore. They were starting to understand. I didn’t have time to waste. I pulled out my phone, unlocking it with a few swipes, and slid it across the table toward Nikolai. “Here. See for yourself.” He hesitated, his piercing blue eyes narrowing as if the device was something that would ruin him of he touched it. Slowly, he picked it up, scrolling through the photos and documents I’d taken from the FBI records room. Screenshots of classified files, pictures of handwritten notes, meeting logs, operational blueprints, it was all there. The others shifted uncomfortably, their eyes flickering between him and the screen, trying to gauge his reaction. Scott finally snapped, pushing back his chair and striding over to Nikolai. He leaned in, his jaw tight as he scanned the evidence, his eyes flicking between the screen and Nikolai like he w
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I dragged my gaze across the room, meeting each of their stares one by one. Every single one of them looked like they were debating the best way to get rid of me. Prolonged torture? A quick bullet to the head? The way Lorenzo’s fingers twitched against his thigh, I’d bet he was leaning toward something messier. Nikolai broke the silence, "Talk." It was an order that got on my nerves and for a split second, the idea of walking out crossed my mind. Turning my back on these people and never looking over my shoulder again but I wasn’t that naive. So I straightened up, “You know,” I started, “I half expected a thank you for saving all of your asses.” I tilted my head, “But then again, I know gratitude isn’t exactly your strong suit.” Scott’s lips twitched like he wanted to say something, but even that felt dangerous. Lorenzo’s glare darkened, his jaw ticking like he was ready to lunge at me. Nikolai just kept watching. "Speak fast," Marco snapped, "
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ Viviane stood in the corner of the FBI breakroom, clutching a folder close to her chest. The news still buzzed in her veins. The Costello case. She’d been handpicked to assist. It was the kind of opportunity rookies could only dream of. Her cheeks ached from holding back a smile, but this wasn’t just personal excitement; it was validation. The kind of validation she’d never been given before. Logan was across the room, leaning back in his chair, his arm draped lazily over the backrest, laughing too loud at a joke one of his buddies had told. He was the golden boy of the bureau, always surrounded by a pack of equally smug agents and he’d set his sights on Viviane the moment she walked through the door. At first, it seemed harmless, his charming smiles, the way he stayed near her desk. Viviane had brushed it off as standard office flirtation, nothing she couldn’t handle. But Logan Barlowe had a way of making himself unavoidable. He’d always be there, offering
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I leaned against the edge of the cot, hands gripping the fraying blanket as if holding on to something real could keep me from losing it completely. The old clock on the wall ticked louder with every second. My window...always locked, always barred reflected back the worst version of myself. Midnight was close. Two more minutes, tops. I knew all the guards, their routines: the same steps, same timing, the same coffee break that would leave my hall unguarded for exactly seven minutes. Seven minutes to slip out. Slipping out during the evening, when agents moved freely, was manageable but once night fell, the security tightened considerably. I grabbed my hoodie from the chair, tugging it on and flipping the hood up. I glanced at myself in the mirror and only saw tired eyes, tight jaw, mouth pressed into a line. I carefully arranged the blankets on my bed, pillows propped just right to mimic a sleeping body. My phone stayed on the bedside table, screen dark but pr
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ We stood outside the courthouse, my FBI badge clipped to my belt. I forced myself to appear calm. The world was watching, even if I couldn’t see the cameras. Logan stood beside me. The faint smell of coffee clinging to him like always. “Viv,” Logan said softly, leaning closer so only I could hear. “We’re going to find her. You know that, right?” “I know,” I replied. “You’re not alone in this. We’ve got everyone on it, Viv. We’ll get her back.” I nodded stiffly, though I avoided looking at him. He meant well, but his words scraped against the rawness inside me. If only he knew. I didn’t need them to find Felicity, I’d made sure she was out of their reach. I needed them to believe me. And if I cracked, even for a second, it would all come crashing down. The faint rumble of engines pulled my attention, and Logan turned his head, squinting down the street. A line of sleek black SUVs rolled up, gleaming under the harsh midday sun. “Costello,” Logan muttered, his
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ The front door slammed behind him, the sound echoing in the silence of the room. My whole body flinched, and I gripped the sheets tighter, holding onto them like they were the only thing that was real around me. My chest felt hollow, like he’d ripped something out of me on his way out. And no, it wasn’t the physical part...I could live with that. It was the words he’d left behind, cutting me open and leaving me bleeding in ways I couldn’t see. I still smelled like him—whiskey and his cologne. I let out a shaky breath, but it felt like it wasn’t enough, like I couldn’t get enough air. He was gone. My throat burned. I thought I was done crying, but the tears were there again, stinging my eyes. I looked around the room—his room. The bed was a mess, the black sheets wrapped around me. His glass was still on the nightstand, empty now, just like the bottle beside it. The faint morning light from the window stretched across the floor. I ran a hand through my hair, m