The cold night air felt like ice against Ashley’s skin as she crouched beneath the shattered window, her body pressed low to the floor. The gunfire had stopped, replaced by an eerie silence that seemed to stretch on forever. Her heart raced as the sinister laugh echoed through the night—a sound she knew all too well.Adonis was out there. His men were closing in. And she had no idea how long they could hold out.Victor, his face a mask of grim determination, shifted closer to her, his eyes scanning the treeline for any sign of movement. Jackson crouched near the door, gripping his rifle tightly, ready for the next wave. They were outnumbered, that much was clear. Adonis’s men were moving with precision, like hunters circling their prey.“We don’t have much time,” Victor muttered under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper. “We need to fall back, regroup, and figure out a way to flank them. If we stay pinned here, it’s only a matter of time before they overrun us.”Ashley nodded
Ashley’s pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out every sound around her. Her finger rested against the cold steel of the trigger, trembling with a mix of rage and hesitation. Adonis stood in front of her, the smirk on his lips infuriating, challenging. Every instinct screamed at her to end it now, to pull the trigger and finish what he had started all those years ago.But she couldn’t. Not yet.“Ashley,” his voice was low, smooth, a predator taunting its prey. “What are you waiting for? You’ve wanted this moment for so long. So, do it. Shoot me.”Her hand shook, and the weight of the gun seemed heavier than ever before. Her body was rigid, every muscle tensed as though waiting for permission to release the fury burning inside her. But beneath the anger, there was something else—a deep, confusing ache that kept her from pulling the trigger.“You deserve this,” she hissed, her voice tight, choking on the emotion swelling in her chest. “After everything you’ve done to me, after what you
The blood on Ashley’s hands seemed to mock her, bright and vibrant against her trembling fingers. Victor’s body lay cold beside her, a hollow echo of everything she had lost. Her mind was a storm of grief, rage, and unbearable confusion. The weight of the moment crushed her, but it was the look in Adonis’s eyes that pierced her deeper than any bullet ever could.Adonis remained silent, his gun still at his side, his face shadowed by the aftermath of what had just transpired. He wasn’t gloating or smirking. There was no triumph in his stance. His eyes were fixed on the body of Victor, and for a moment, he seemed… human.Ashley couldn’t take it anymore.“Why?” she choked out between sobs, her voice hoarse and broken. “Why did it have to be like this? Why does everything around you end in blood?”Adonis slowly lowered his gun, his gaze shifting from Victor’s body to Ashley’s tear-streaked face. He took a deep breath as if trying to find the right words but knowing none would suffice. His
Ashley sat on the worn couch in the dimly lit apartment, her body still trembling from the weight of everything that had transpired. The sound of her own heartbeat echoed in her ears, a constant reminder that she was still alive, still breathing. But it didn't feel like living. Not yet.The weight of the room pressed down on her, but more than that, it was the silence that gnawed at her soul. For so long, chaos had been her constant companion—Adonis, his cruel affection, the manipulation, the violence, and the whirlwind of emotions he stirred in her. Now, with the stillness around her, she was left alone with her thoughts, and they were far from comforting.She glanced at her phone, the only link to her sister Amelia, but there were no new messages. Amelia had gone off the grid with Demon, and though Ashley trusted her sister's judgment, she couldn't shake the gnawing fear in her gut. Demon was Adonis’s right-hand man, his best friend, and now, Amelia had placed her heart and her trus
The next morning, the weight of Victor's letter still lingered in Ashley’s chest like a heavy stone. She barely slept, the words echoing in her mind, reminding her of the fight she could no longer avoid. Adonis had taken too much already—her baby, her trust, and now Victor—but she had one thing left to protect: her sister.She sat at the small kitchen table, staring blankly at the half-eaten toast in front of her, her stomach churning with anxiety. Chloe had stayed the night, sleeping fitfully on the couch, but Ashley knew their moment of peace would soon be shattered. Adonis wouldn’t wait long before making his next move.As if on cue, Ashley's phone buzzed on the table, pulling her out of her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the message. It was from Amelia.We need to talk. Meet me at the café near the old church. Alone.The knot of fear tightened in Ashley’s stomach. She hadn’t heard from Amelia in days, not since she had run off with Demon. She wanted to believe her
Demon stood at the entrance of the café, his tall frame casting a dark shadow over the table where Ashley and Amelia sat. His expression was unreadable, his intense gaze fixed on Amelia. Ashley’s pulse quickened as tension built in the small space, the air thick with uncertainty and unease.Amelia’s eyes flickered with a mix of relief and fear as she locked eyes with Demon. There was no denying the love between them, but the danger that surrounded their relationship loomed like a dark cloud. Ashley could sense it too—an unspoken weight hanging between the three of them.Demon finally broke the silence, his voice low but steady. “We need to talk.”Ashley’s muscles tensed. She wasn’t sure if Demon was here as their protector or if he was still bound by his loyalty to Adonis. She didn’t trust him—not completely. But Amelia’s life, and now her own, was entangled with his.“What’s going on, Demon?” Amelia asked, her voice barely above a whisper, fear lacing every word.Demon took a step cl
The drive away from the café was tense and silent, the only sound being the dull hum of the car engine and the occasional clicking of Demon’s fingers tapping the steering wheel. Ashley sat in the backseat with Amelia, her heart pounding in her chest, every muscle in her body wound tight with anxiety. They were speeding toward an unknown future, running from a man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Ashley’s mind raced, trying to grasp the gravity of the situation. Demon had made a bold move by standing up to Anton, and now they were out of time. Anton had seen her, and he knew about the baby. Whether Demon believed Anton would keep quiet or not, Ashley knew better. Adonis would find out, and when he did, he’d come for her with everything he had.Amelia’s trembling hand squeezed Ashley’s, pulling her from her thoughts. “What if he already knows?” Amelia whispered, her voice laced with fear. “What if Anton told him?”“We don’t have time to think about that right now,” Ashl
The forest surrounding the clearing was eerily silent, the only sound being the crunch of leaves and twigs beneath their feet as Ashley, Amelia, and Demon hurried through the darkness. The adrenaline still coursed through Ashley’s veins, her body on high alert as she glanced behind her, half expecting more of Adonis’s men to appear out of the shadows.Demon moved quickly ahead of them, his gun drawn and eyes sharp as he navigated the dense trees. The tension in his body was palpable, and Ashley couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that lingered in the air. They had survived the attack, but the danger was far from over.Amelia’s hand tightened around Ashley’s arm, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to keep up. “How much longer?” she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.Demon’s voice cut through the silence. “Not far. There’s an old cabin deeper in the woods. We’ll be safe there for the night.”Ashley frowned, her mind racing. A cabin in the woods? It sounded too good