The morning light bled through the massive windows, casting golden streaks over the silk sheets tangled around Nirvana’s legs. She stretched, muscles still thrumming with the memory of last night’s tension. RAyNe had played his game well, but so had she.A sharp knock on her door interrupted her thoughts.Before she could respond, Gianni stepped in, holding a sleek black box with a satin ribbon. He set it on the bed beside her."From RAyNe," he said.Nirvana arched a brow. "Should I be flattered or concerned?"Gianni smirked but didn’t answer. He turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.Curious, she pulled the ribbon loose and lifted the lid.Her breath hitched.Inside lay a dress…a deep crimson masterpiece, cut low in the front and scandalously high on the thigh. Delicate chains draped across the open sides, held together by gold clasps. The silk fabric felt sinful against her fingers.She chuckled to herself.He thinks this will unsettle me?No. She'd wear it. And she'd m
The tension hung thick in the air, charged with an energy that neither Nirvana nor RAyNe could ignore. His fingers hovered at the curve of her waist, barely touching, yet she felt the heat of his presence sear through the thin fabric of her dress.“You might just get burned,” he warned, voice dangerously low.She tilted her head slightly, a teasing smirk gracing her lips. “Then make it worth the scars.”Before RAyNe could respond, Siara’s voice cut through the moment like a blade.“There you are,” she said, stepping between them with a smile too forced to be genuine. “RAyNe, come dance with me.”Nirvana suppressed a laugh, stepping back smoothly as Siara latched onto RAyNe’s arm.RAyNe didn’t move, his gaze locked onto Nirvana’s as if silently daring her to react. She didn’t. Instead, she turned to Gianni, who had been watching with a smirk of his own.“Dance?” she asked, her tone light, almost mocking.Gianni chuckled and extended his arm. “With pleasure.”As she walked away, she cou
Nirvana leaned back against the leather seat, her legs crossed, fingers lightly tracing the hem of her dress. "Let's go to High City Condos," she said, her voice dripping with something unspoken.Gianni nodded in the driver’s seat without question.RayNe, however, wasn’t so easily convinced. He studied her, the way she smirked like she was up to something. His instincts had never failed him before, and right now, they told him she was playing a game.He leaned in, watching her eyes flicker with something he couldn’t quite place. She turned, and their lips almost collided."What the hell are you doing?" she asked, pulling back, her breath slightly unsteady.RayNe didn’t answer. He just looked at her..long, deep, penetrating. Like he was peeling away every layer of her mind with his gaze alone.Then, in one swift movement, he grabbed her, pulling her onto his lap."You pervert! Let me go!" she squirmed, trying to push off his chest.But the sudden shade of red on her face betrayed her.
Nirvana tapped her manicured fingers against the phone, the sharp click echoing in the dimly lit room. She smirked as Clement Holt finally picked up."Clement Darling, you've got what I want and I wasn't able to get it back at the banquet” Nirvana smirked like he could see her.“you sly little bitch,” Clement growled over the phone“Careful now,I've got the upper hand here at the moment.” She chuckles.“If you fuck with me, I'll make sure you never see Olivia again.”Her voice was smooth but threatening and laced with danger. A beat of silence followed before Clement exhaled sharply.“What do you want?”“Your presence. At your daughter's place. And come alone.”The line went dead before he could respond.Thirty minutes later, Clement arrived. But he wasn’t alone.Nirvana’s lips curled upward as Adrian stepped in beside him. Instead of irritation, amusement danced in her eyes. She leaned back elegantly, legs crossed, her posture exuding power.“Hello, Mr. Ex-Fiancé.” Her voice dripped
"It’s even more beautiful in person," Noel whispered, taking in the stunning view before him. Santorini. The sky burned with streaks of pink and gold, melting into the endless blue sea. The waves crashed against the shore, a steady rhythm that should have been calming. But Noel wasn’t calm. He stood beside Vincenzo, nerves coiling in his stomach. The private beach house was breathtaking…modern, luxurious, and already prepped for their arrival. Gianni was inside, making final arrangements, but outside, under the open sky, there was tension thick enough to suffocate Noel. Vincenzo stood a few feet away, arms folded, staring at the ocean like it held all the answers. He hadn’t spoken much since the plane. Noel hesitated, biting his lip. Then, slowly, he reached out. His fingers were just inches from Vincenzo’s arm… Then a phone rang. Noel flinched. Vincenzo pulled his phone from his pocket. The screen lit up. Papa. Noel’s breath hitched. Oh, shit. Don Ramon. He swallowed,
Nirvana pushed RAyNe away slightly then without warning spun around and gently pushed him against the window. His eyes gleamed with interest. She buried her face in his neck and gently laid kisses along the nook of it.RAyNe was pleasantly surprised,a low impatient groan escaped from his lips.His grip on her waist tightened slightly.Her lips trailed his jaw and captured his lips. She moaned Into his mouth as his fingers trailed behind her squeezing her perfectly round butt with impatience.RAyNe broke the kiss and stared at her with complete lust in his eyes then without warning....Nirvana went down on her knees and unzipped his pants.RAyNe's eyes widened. There was an amused smile tugging the corner of his lips. Had she forgotten she was a virgin? He didn't stop her, he wanted to see what she would do.Nirvana's fingers grabbed the band of RAyNe's boxers and pulled them down a little. His c*ck sprang out like it had been painfully waiting to be set free, her eyes widened in surpri
The wind howled through the pier, sending ripples across the dark water. Adrian exhaled, the tip of his cigarette glowing red in the night. His fingers curled around the stick, tightening as his mind wandered back to her…Nirvana. He despised the way she carried herself now, all confidence and defiance, no longer the naive little doll he had once manipulated so easily. It was infuriating."That bastard..." he muttered, smoke curling from his lips as he thought of RAyNe St. Trinity. The man was a menace, a force no one dared to trifle with. And yet Nirvana had somehow slipped under his protection. How had she managed that? It was laughable.Footsteps approached from behind, and Adrian turned slightly, casting a glance over his shoulder."Mr. Holt..." the man addressed him, voice low, cautious. He was a wiry figure, not particularly tall, but sharp-eyed and efficient. The type Adrian paid well to do his dirty work.Adrian flicked his cigarette into the water. "You took your time."The ma
Nirvana stepped out of her room cautiously, her eyes darting around the hallway. The last thing she wanted was to run into RAyNe. She was still reeling from last night. The sex had been... wild. The sounds that had escaped her lips made her cringe just thinking about it. Embarrassment burned in her chest.She had woken up alone.RAyNe had left without a word, and she hated how that made her feel."You little slut."Siara’s voice sliced through the air like a dagger. Nirvana sighed in relief."Ugh, what do you want? It’s too early for your screeching, birdbrain." She folded her arms, leveling Siara with a bored look."You slept with my man! You shameless…""Oh please," Nirvana cut her off, rolling her eyes. "Your man slept with me. And honestly? It was average at best."Lies.The truth was, she could barely walk straight. Her body still ached in places she never knew existed. She had given away her virginity to RAyNe St. Trinity..the man who bought her like an object, the man she was t
The morning light filtered in like a damn spotlight, too sharp, too bright, highlighting every detail of the disaster that was the bedroom. Nirvana blinked awake, slowly, groggily, her cheek pressed to something warm and firm.She tilted her head and stared. RAyNe.Naked.Asleep.The calm rise and fall of his chest looked deceivingly innocent, lips parted just a little, lashes so long they almost dusted his cheeks. She should punch him in the face, but her fingers betrayed her. They reached out, brushing over the deep frown between his brows. Gently, she massaged the tension out.He didn't stir.She turned her head and surveyed the room. Holy hell. Clothes scattered like they'd been in a brawl with gravity. The sheets twisted on the bed like a crime scene. There were handprints on the floor-length mirror. And... was that a bra hanging from the ceiling fan?"Ugh... fuck my head..." she muttered, sitting up slightly.RAyNe's eyes opened. Green and wicked.She froze.Slowly, carefully, s
RAyNe kicked open the double doors to his room, still carrying Nirvana over his shoulder like she was nothing more than a stubborn little package that had pushed every one of his damn buttons."Put me down! RAyNe! You psycho! Put me the hell down!" Nirvana shouted, pounding her fists against his back, her heels long discarded during the chaos."Be quiet, wild rose," he muttered darkly, voice low and dangerously calm.He walked into the grand bedroom…floor-to-ceiling windows, low lighting, the scent of leather and cologne clinging to the air. The heavy door slammed shut behind them.He finally tossed her onto the massive bed. She bounced slightly, hair splaying out over the pillows, chest rising and falling with her anger."You’ve really lost your fucking mind," she spat, crawling backward on the bed, her eyes flashing.RAyNe's blazer was already off. His shirt was halfway unbuttoned, revealing a hint of his chest, tattoos peeking out like dangerous secrets."Maybe," he said, stalking
The chandeliers dripped light like gold melting from the ceiling. Crystal flutes clinked against manicured nails, laughter trilled through the air like champagne bubbles, and soft classical music rose beneath the rich murmurs of elite society.Nirvana stepped into the grand hall, her arm looped with her uncle Darius Voltaire's, her presence enough to steal the breath from the room. She wore deep emerald silk that hugged her curves in reverence, her red hair cascading in sleek waves down her back, a sapphire pendant resting just above the swell of her collarbone."You look more like your mother every day," Darius said, his voice warm.She glanced up at him, the barest smile tugging her lips. "That’s the fifth time you’ve said that tonight. Are you trying to make me cry in the middle of a ballroom?"He chuckled. "Just trying to remind you who you come from. She’d be proud of you tonight. And so am I."Nirvana’s smile softened. "I hope so.""Now," Darius said, pausing as he glanced acros
The conference room shimmered with polished marble floors and high glass windows, sunlight slicing through like judgment. Nirvana stepped into the lion's den with fire in her eyes and vengeance pumping through her blood. She wore tailored black…power draped across her curves like it belonged there, like she’d never fallen, like the empire had never been stolen.Whispers swirled. Board members leaned in, startled. She didn’t flinch.“She’s back.”“Didn’t she vanish?”“Looks exactly like her mother.”Adrian sat at the head of the long mahogany table, leaning back in the leather chair with a smug grin and a sharp Armani suit that matched the venom in his voice.“Well, if it isn’t the runaway bride of the Castillo legacy,” he drawled. “Nirvana, dear, I thought you were dead.”Nirvana didn’t blink. “And I thought you were a man.”Gasps rippled. Adrian’s smile twitched.She moved to the seat directly opposite him. “Let’s begin.”The air grew taut as her uncle, Darius, stepped inside and nod
The days since the elevator incident passed like smoke.Nirvana tried to shove it all into the furthest recess of her mind: RAyNe’s kiss, the haunting familiarity of his eyes, the twist in her chest that had nothing to do with fear. She spent more time with Darius, and even more time planning.But the scars of her life…the ones memory hadn't erased…burned hotter than ever.And so, when the invitation came, handwritten and sealed in black wax with a familiar sigil, she didn’t hesitate.A charity gala.Held by none other than Castillo Enterprises.Hosted by Adrian Holt.And sponsored anonymously by someone Darius called "a benefactor from the old circle." Someone who wanted Nirvana to attend. Someone who claimed to have answers.Darius was suspicious. Nirvana was curious. She wore blood-red silk and a knife hidden in the slit of her dress.She walked into that ballroom like a queen reclaiming her throne.The chandelier dripped with crystal. The air hummed with wealth and secrets.And at
The envelope sat on RAyNe’s desk like a cursed artifact.The letter inside was worse.A formal white page. A signature at the bottom. And a check.Fifteen million dollars.Lucian stood by the window, arms crossed. Gianni leaned against the bookshelf. Sienna sat quietly in the corner of the room, still pale but watching.RAyNe read it again."To Mr. RAyNe St. Trinity,This check is a settlement for the sum you paid in acquiring my niece, Nirvana Castillo, nearly a year ago. Her life no longer belongs to your world, and it is my wish to sever all remaining ties.Respectfully,Darius Voltaire."RAyNe’s jaw clenched as he gripped the check."He’s trying to buy her away from me," he growled.Lucian stepped forward. "Boss. It’s a settlement. Not a war."RAyNe’s hand tightened. "Why can’t any of you understand? I’ll never let her go. I can’t. She’s mine."He made to rip the check in two, but Lucian strode forward and snatched it out of his grip."This is madness, boss."RAyNe’s eyes burned r
“She doesn’t remember me.”RAyNe’s voice was quiet. Unstable. Wrung with something that bordered on disbelief and madness.The car rolled into the estate’s driveway, tires crunching against the stone. Nobody in the car said a word.He had been silent all the way home from the Paris event. Silent… but trembling. A storm with no outlet. A man who’d just watched the only person that had ever truly touched him look through him like he didn’t exist.When the car stopped, he was the first to move. He burst out like a fuse lit at both ends, unbuttoning his suit jacket in harsh jerks, tossing it to the floor the second they walked into the house.The silence was broken by the crash of a vase shattering against the wall.His tie followed. Yanked off, flung somewhere into the darkness.“She looked through me,” he said hoarsely. “Like I wasn’t even there.”Elias was next to enter. His calm, unreadable presence only made RAyNe more unstable.“You wanted the truth?” Elias said. “Here it is: I warn
It had been three months since Nirvana vanished.Three months since RAyNe had left her breakfast in the confined room, glancing once at the closed door before heading out to visit Sienna at the hospital.Three months since he came back to the bloodied pavement, Siara’s stammering lies, and the devastation of a girl who had jumped from a balcony just to escape the life he'd built around her.Three months of silence.Three months of rage.Three months of searching like a man possessed.And now, in the city of Paris, in the middle of a polished ballroom gilded with marble and diamonds, RAyNe stood at the edge of the grand chandelier-lit floor, staring at the woman he had bled for.She was laughing softly, her lips painted wine red. Her dress was black, silky, plunging dangerously low in the back and hugging every curve he remembered. But what crushed him wasn’t her beauty. It was the emptiness in her eyes when she glanced at him.No flicker of recognition.No anger. No pain. Nothing.She
The door to the black car shut with a solid slam.RAyNe exhaled sharply, blood still drying beneath the fresh bandage on his arm.Gianni glanced at him through the rearview mirror."Begin the search," RAyNe muttered. "Whoever took her... it has to be someone who knows me. Or someone who knows her.""Yes, boss," Gianni replied, already tapping into the secure satellite interface wired through the dashboard. "I'll mobilize all local trackers. If she's breathing, we'll find her."RAyNe leaned back, knuckles whitening.He wasn’t going to wait for fate to be kind.He was going to force its hand.The estate gates groaned open, and RAyNe stormed into the mansion with the rage of a god on the brink of destruction.Guards stepped aside.Siara was descending the stairs in a silky robe, holding a wine glass with her usual arrogance.She didn’t even flinch as he approached.Until his hand wrapped around her throat."RAy…!" she choked, glass dropping and shattering against the marble.He slammed h