Milena was exhausted, her fingers aching and her head throbbing with a splitting headache. Her eyes felt heavy, and all she missed was the comfort of the bed in the room she was confined in.Rosa had taught her many things: how the clan works and how to polish her skills.Milena noticed the others didn’t seem pleased to see her. They stared at her with weariness and skepticism.Rosa mentioned she would get used to meeting them, and they were just worried that Milena might, perhaps, hurt the family.“Joining the clan isn't easy. Everyone here has their own story, one that has made the underworld a better place for them. But knowing the fact that Rafael brought you here from the mission… they wonder if you are an enemy or not. You’ll get used to it… but you have to prove to them that you're one of us now.”Milena sighed and greeted them as they finished their training for the day. None of them replied; they simply walked past her, ignoring her.Milena understood how they felt. She admir
Milena swallowed the bile that rose in her throat, feeling vulnerable before him. Her fingers trembled as they gripped the towel tighter, her nails digging into the damp fabric. She willed herself to stay strong, to not let him see how much he affected her. But Rafael was a predator, and she was trapped in his sights.“Are you still scared of me?” he asked softly, his thumb caressing her cheek. He seemed to have noticed that she was trembling slightly.Milena stayed silent, her eyes locked with his. The grip on her towel remained firm.Rafael tilted his head. “You know I promise not to hurt you, right?”“Only if I obey your command,” Milena completed his words. “That's what you said.” Now that she thought of it, she didn't know what to call him.Calling him by his name might upset him. For a fleeting moment, she thought of hurling his name at him to see his reaction.Maybe she should do it… but he interrupted.“That doesn't mean you should be scared. You only need to follow my command
Milena woke up alone in the bed today. There was no sign of Rafael. Didn't he come back last night?She got down from the bed, preparing herself for the day. This time she used the bathroom quicker and was out.Milena dressed in a simple black tank top and loose joggers, the most comfortable dress she could find in the closet, one that Rafeal had set for her.Her hair was still damp from the quick shower, and she ran a hand through it, pushing the strands back as she stepped out of the room.Exhaling, she nodded at her reflection and stepped out. Today, she was going to have gun training with Rafael.The thought of it created a knot in her stomach. Why did he always have this effect on her whenever she thought of him?She made her way to the ground where she slowly heard chatter and laughter.Her palms met nervously as she stepped out, meeting the others' gazes.They all suddenly stopped what they were doing. Those smiling faces suddenly dropped, becoming expressionless.Milena felt o
Rafael caught up with Milena, walked past her, and led her through the passage.Milena stared at his back, the words she had said last night lingering in her head. Should she apologize for it?She couldn't help the unsettled feeling growing inside her.Up ahead, Milena could hear gunshots, indicating they were close to the training ground. The sounds grew louder, and it took all of Milena's will not to hold her ears to block out the noise.They reached the training ground, the sharp sounds of gunshots filling the air. The atmosphere was tense, with men scattered around, either practicing with weapons or sparring with each other.Milena's palms turned sweaty as she tried to focus, but it was hard not to feel the weight of their eyes on her.Rafael moved toward the table stacked with weapons, grabbing a handgun.“Put this on,” he said, pointing to the protective gear hanging nearby.Milena nodded, feeling the familiar knot in her stomach as she grabbed the vest and helmet. Her fingers f
Rafael stepped into his personal gym, stripping down his upper clothing, revealing his thick muscles that rippled beneath the surface.He wore his bouncer gloves and faced the punching bag with a hard look on his face.His jaw was tight, his muscles tense. Without hesitation, he threw the first punch, the impact making the bag jerk violently.Another punch. Then another. His knuckles ached, but he didn’t stop. The frustration boiling inside him needed an outlet, and this was the only way he knew how to deal with it.It was happening again... the stupid nightmare of him killing his twin brother years ago was beginning to mess with his brain. The fact that they still haunted him was driving him mad.Rafael kept hitting the bag as if his life depended on it. Each punch was brutal and full of anger and frustration.Silence had left for the mission to gather more information about the hidden alliance of the Wallington… he wanted it to be his own mission, but Silence had left refusing to le
Milena asked around, tracing Angie but found herself at the gate of a new place. She hadn’t seen much of the Deathroll's confinement yet, only the training grounds, the common halls, and gym. But this… this was different.The pathway was made up of smooth stones, leading her to a garden.The sight brought a smile to her face. Oh, she loved the garden. The smell of fresh flowers filled her nostrils, and the rooftop was made of transparent glass that revealed the night sky above.The place was a breath of fresh air, an aura of tranquility she didn't want to leave.She spotted a pool—it was crystal clear, beautiful. Who would have thought a place like this existed in a clan?The fancy light in the room cast a soft glow, accentuating its beauty.In awe, Milena absorbed all the amazing features in the room. Her lips parted in wonder, but she gasped as a deep voice sounded behind her."What are you doing here?"Rafael stood a little distance from her with his hands tucked into his pockets.
Angie delivered a punch to a man's face. He staggered back with a bleeding lip. Just as he was about to fall, Angie held his collar, pulling him closer with a glare.“How could you let her in when you clearly know the rules? Rafael never lets anyone in.”The man with the bleeding lip gasped in fear. “I'm sorry, madam, but she mentioned you had summoned her and that Rafael needed to see her for an important reason.”Angie frowned at his words. What a tricky little girl she was.“And you believed her?” Angie questioned, her eyes growing colder.The man hesitated before speaking. “Well... I heard she sleeps in the Boss’s room, so I thought she might be special and wasn't lying. So I let her in... I'm sorry,” he said, his words tumbling out quickly.Angie shut her eyes, taking a deep breath to ease the anger in her chest before finally letting go of him.“You're very lucky that I'm in a good mood today because I badly want to gouge out your eyes right now,” she threatened, and the man bow
Fuck!Fuck!She did it! He wanted her to be the one to submit, and she did. Rafeal's mind went wild but he kept them in check.Her lips remained pressed against his, unmoved. She was inexperienced. It was her first time.Why was she so pure? So pure and trapped with a devil like him. Trapped in his own world. His domain. His hell.He wanted to spoil her… to feel every inch of her. Milena was inexperienced, waiting for his reaction, but he did nothing. She made to pull away, but he slammed his lips back on hers, this time taking the lead.He nibbled her soft lips one after the other, taking each turn to savor the sweetness of them.It was good. Too good. How the fuck did she taste this good? Slowly, she got the hang of it, moving her lips against his and mimicking his movements. She was a fast learner, and… damn! Why the hell was it driving him so crazy?He could kiss her all day.Addictive. He wanted more. Rafeal reached to hold her face in place; his tongue shot out, parting her l
“Rosa,” Zade approached her quietly. She sat alone on the hotel rooftop, gazing up at the night sky.“How did you find me?” Rosa asked, her expression blank.“I figured you'd be somewhere quiet, probably with a nice view and fresh air. The rooftop seemed like the best bet,” Zade explained. “Care if I join you?”“As long as you don’t become a burden, help yourself.”Rosa had always been the one who smiled the most in the clan. She was cheerful, helpful, talkative—everyone loved her. Talented. Beauty with brains.But after Viktor’s death...Zade hadn’t seen even a glimpse of a smile on her face.It had been over a week since the war ended. Leonard was now being held in a psychiatric facility known as the Phantom Cell, secured with high-tech restraints. That guy would be tortured until his last breath.Not the violent kind of torture, but the kind that would haunt him. Trapped between walls, injected with things that would slowly drive him insane.Rafeal had said Leonard was saved agains
Angie Hales. That name was carved into the gravestone. The yard was the place where all the dead mobsters were buried. Rafeal approached, placing a bunch of flowers on the stone, his expression blank, but inside he was breaking. He hadn't seen her death coming. Even though she had made a grave mistake that caused the clan to suffer, Angie had been his friend ever since he joined the clan. She was brave, smart, and always there to calm him with her words. Even now, he still found it hard to believe Angie was truly behind it… Rosa walked to stand beside Rafeal, her face unreadable, but she was breaking inside too. “I shouldn’t have told her to die after the mission,” Rosa said, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. “I regret my words that day.” “It’s not your fault,” Rafeal said. Rosa nodded, understanding what Rafeal meant. “She was my best friend.” “She paid her debt,” Rafeal mumbled. Memories of Angie surfaced, striking Rosa’s heart. “Still… I hope she fin
Several days passed, and Milena didn't leave Rafeal’s side for a second. She watch the doctor feed and treat him occasionally, read him stories and watched him sleep until her own eyes shut.Three days had passed, and Milena grew worried, missing him so badly. She missed his voice, his smile, his touch, and the way he made her feel.Wake up soon, Rafeal.The doctor mentioned his body was still healing and that it would take time before he regains consciousness.Milena rested her head beside him, taking his hand into hers and falling asleep like that. She loved doing so—she could sense even the slightest movement from him.The sun rose from its horizon, casting a warm glow over the city.Milena stirred in her sleep, releasing a light moan. She looked up, and shock rippled through her.She was lying on the couch, and the bed was empty."Rafeal!" she gasped, shoving off the sheet that covered her one side of her and bolting to the bed. "Where did he go? He can't be up! Did the doctor tra
Milena blinked in shock, still frozen in place as her limbs refused to listen to her.Finally met her? Why would the great Tatiana Wallington be anticipating meeting her?As if reading her thoughts, Tatiana spoke again in that smooth voice.“We've heard about you, dear.”Milena’s legs wobbled. “Good things, I hope,” she muttered under her breath. She glanced at Cassius, who still had his sharp gaze fixed on her.Then she bowed deeply, her head almost touching her knees.“Nice to really meet you too, Mr. and Mrs. King,” she straightened up and flashed them a nervous smile as Cassius gave her an acknowledging nod.“Rafeal told me about you guys too,” Milena added.The Ward's door slid open, and Zade walked in as well, standing beside her. Milena flashed him a glare as if asking, *Why didn't you tell me they were here?*Zade gave her a replying look too. *You didn't give me a chance; how am I supposed to do that?*Milena sighed defeatedly, knowing he was right. Tatiana offered the empty
Milena snapped awake with a gasp, her eyes meeting an unfamiliar room. She was surrounded by white walls—too bright, too sterile. The ceiling spun above her for a moment before everything began to settle.Her heart pounded in her chest as she pushed herself up, the hospital sheets sliding off her trembling body. Her hands instinctively clutched the fabric at her chest, panic crawling up her throat as her eyes darted around the place.“Rafeal…”Her voice came out as a whisper, hoarse and broken.Memories surged in—his limp body in her arms, the flatline sound, the doctors shouting.She swung her legs off the bed, nearly collapsing from the dizziness that hit her. But she didn’t care. Her feet touched the cold floor, and she forced herself up, dragging her weak body to the door.She yanked it open.A nurse turned at the sound, startled. “Ma’am, please—you need to lie down, you’re not—”“Where is he?” Milena demanded, voice trembling but full of desperation. “Where is Rafeal?”"Ma’am, yo
While Milena cradled Rafael's unconscious body, Angie ran to Rosa's side and saw the scene. Just like Rosa, her body froze in place, but she quickly recovered, pulling out an injection from her gear and running towards them.She shoved it onto Rafael's lap and injected him, then checked on his state."He is not breathing," Milena sobbed, her whole body trembling. "Rafael is not breathing!"Angie immediately lifted him despite the exhaustion from searching for the antidote clouding her senses. She carried him out, and Milena struggled to follow.She was drained, her bones threatening to give up, darkness slipping into her mind, and she almost fell, but Rosa caught her.Zade appeared too, shocked at the scene. He was covered in blood and sweat; it seemed they had been fighting off the men outside.He rushed to help Milena, taking her from Rosa and leading her out.However, Rosa paused and glanced at unconscious Leonard, her eyes dangerously cold as deadly intent rose within them.Angie
Milena watched them clash like two storms colliding.No hesitation. No holding back.Rafael was a blur—faster than Leonard remembered. Every strike was brutal, precise, like he’d been waiting for this fight his entire life.Their fists met, their bones cracked, and their snarls echoed like monsters in a cage.Both were skilled; no one would know who was stronger among the brothers.Leonard went for Rafael’s throat with a wild hook, but Rafael ducked and slammed his elbow into Leonard’s ribs, sending him staggering back and coughing blood.Leonard smirked, wiping the blood off his face with the back of his hand. “That all you’ve got, little brother?”Rafael didn’t answer. He spun low and swept Leonard’s legs, sending him crashing to the floor. Rafael pounced, fists flying, hammering into Leonard’s jaw over and over.Blood splattered across the floor, warm and slick. Leonard twisted, caught Rafael’s arm, and flipped him—hard.Rafael slammed onto his back with a groan but rolled to his f
Oxford’s fingers flew over his keyboard, trying to find a way to connect with his allies. He needed someone to back him up.Gunshots echoed everywhere. It was no longer just one man with a sniper—more had come to attack them.He already sensed that Leonard and his men were cornered. But no matter how many times Oxford tried, he couldn’t get through.He had another method of connecting with his allies and requesting help, but access kept being denied. Were his allies under attack too?Each time he tried to reach them, someone—or something—kept blocking him out. A hacker? Fuck. He wasn’t that good at this stuff.“Where’s Zinnia?!” Oxford barked at X. Zinnia was the head of hacking.“She—” That was the only word X could manage before the van door swung open—no, it was ripped open.Before X could react, a dire wolf pounced on him. X shot aimlessly, hitting even the equipment in the van, as the wolf tore off his arm.Oxford cursed under his breath, watching X fight for his life. A large fi
Oxford’s van arrived at the port first. The ship was ready, and his men had already begun unloading the illegal drugs, weapons, and poison into it.He knew staying in a country dominated by Silence was a deadly risk, but he had to come. After all, one can't defeat an enemy without getting a little close.More importantly, there was his little daughter—she might have something that could help him bring Silence down. Once he got what he wanted from her, he would kill her… and if she insisted on keeping quiet, she would be tortured until death.Oxford snickered as he took a drag from his cigarette. Who would’ve thought he’d manage to break into the territory of the most dangerous man in the mafia world?And even kill one of his best men…Ha! Silence is getting old, after all. It was bound to happen. No one stays king forever.If it hadn’t been for Silence, he and Maximus would have had the entire world beneath their feet.“Rest well, brother,” Oxford muttered. That was one of the reasons