[KING'S COMPANY] Indigo halted in her tracks when she saw Hudson talking with Lily. She hardly saw him these days because of his busy schedule, and now here he was, chatting and smiling with an artist."Ma'am, we..." Indigo's assistant's voice trailed off as Indigo approached Hudson."Dee," Hudson smiled when he spotted her."Let's talk," Indigo said calmly before turning to leave.Hudson followed her to a quiet place."Uhm... I..." Indigo struggled to find the right words. "I've missed you," she confessed.Hudson stared at her for a long while before responding. "I missed you too."She bit down on her lip and nodded. "I... Gosh, I don't know how to say this, but may I ask... How do you see me?"Hudson stepped forward. "Someone I want."Indigo's heart raced as he approached her."What about you? How do you see me?" he asked, his sweet cologne filling the air.Indigo took a deep breath before reaching out to his shirt. She pulled him close and claimed his lips. Her heart almost explod
Jemima dashed into her apartment, her breath ragged and her face covered in sweat. She grabbed the water from her desk and downed it in one gulp.Once she calmed down, she sat on her bed, recalling what had happened to her.The hounds.They had scared the hell out of her. After she had agreed to Tatiana's request, someone in the dark whistled, and the hounds left her. Jemima had tried to find the person, but he was gone along with the hounds.Jemima clenched her jaw. Apologize? Her ass. She would never apologize to a mere assistant!She took her phone and called Daniel."Hey, why are you crying?" Daniel asked on the other end, his voice filled with concern.Jemima explained everything to him."She did all that?""Yes. I was so scared I thought I was going to die. I really need your help to destroy her. She might kill me soon.""Don't worry. I'll do something about it. If she wants to play dirty, I'll play dirty."---"Do you think she'll apologize?" Jolene asked Tatiana as she played
"Don’t let her out of your sight," Jemima ordered."Yes, ma’am," the guard replied. Jemima smiled and then dialed another number.It was one of the judges."Hello, my love," Judge Alex said on the other end."I hope you haven’t forgotten about our deal.""Of course not. You’re definitely getting the award today," the judge replied."All set," Jemima smiled and returned to her seat. Her eyes settled on Mr. King—the man who dominates the entire industry.Her deepest desire was to have this man’s attention, even for a moment. His eyes suddenly met hers for a few seconds before shifting back to the crowd, and her heart skipped a beat. Gosh! His aura.Jemima found herself smiling from ear to ear. He was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. Jemima’s smile slowly dropped a little as she noticed the familiar design on Mr. King’s wine suit.Tatiana’s dress.She glanced over at Tatiana’s dress and saw the same design. She even saw how Tatiana gave Mr. King a smile.How cheap of her
[HOSPITAL]The steady beep of the machine and the soft hiss of the oxygen tank filled the ward as a young nurse jotted down the condition of the woman lying on the bed.The machine monitored every heartbeat and breath of the woman as her chest heaved slowly.The nurse sighed and paused for a moment to stare at the woman. The doctor had said she would be waking up soon, but it had already been a month. She slowly turned to leave but halted when she heard a soft moan.With wide eyes, her head snapped back to the woman.The woman’s eyelids fluttered and slowly opened. The nurse gasped; the book in her hand fell. She dashed out of the ward to inform the doctor.After more than six years, she finally woke up."Cassius," the woman mumbled.-Daniel weakened on his knees. Sweat cascaded down his face as he watched Cassius stand before him.Cassius faced the audience, and shocking news left his lips."Tatiana Karen is signed with the King Company."What the heck!...Did I just hear the Kings?
"How long was I in a coma?" Aurora asked Hudson. Hudson had received the information first and arrived before informing Cassius."Almost seven years, Auntie," Hudson responded, his eyes teary. Joy coursed through every part of his being.Though Aurora looked weak and lean, it seemed she was forcing herself to stay awake for Cassius."He'll be here soon," Hudson said, and just after his words, fast footsteps could be heard.Cassius appeared at the entrance. His hair was a bit messy, his breath ragged as his eyes widened upon spotting her."Cash. My boy," Aurora called, her eyes crinkling on one side as she smiled."Mom," Cassius sighed in relief. He approached her, hoping it wasn't a dream. He knelt before her, and her hand reached for his face."My king, you’ve grown so well," she muttered, and he immediately hugged her, not too tight because of her condition."Thank you, Mom. Thank you for surviving," he whispered, tears welling up in his eyes."I am the strongest woman, remember? Th
Divorce?Cassius's blood boiled at the thought of letting Tatiana go. His eyes darkened."Cassius, I know what you might be thinking..." His grandfather tried to speak, but Cassius cut in coldly."You once told me how you fought till the end just to be with Grandma. Now you're telling me to give up on the woman who pulled me out of the dark?" he asked, his voice as cold as ice."Fighting them would mean endangering your loved ones. Your mother almost died because..." his grandfather said."And you asked me not to chase them. I would have burned the fucking Wallingtons alive. I had a plan, but you stopped me. I'll destroy their chain and be with her, even if it means burning down the world. You did that for Grandma, then why are you stopping me?"A sigh came from the other side, indicating his grandfather's surrender. Everything Cassius said was right. The Wallington family would always be in their way.The only way to stop this was to destroy them. Mr. Holden, Cassius's grandfather, h
The Kings' hall was filled with numerous artists clad in their various attires. They all had cheerful smiles on their faces. Musicians, actors, models, directors, producers, and others chatted with each other."Dee, Cash will be here soon..." Hudson's words were cut short as Indigo claimed his lips. He forgot his remaining words and kissed her back hard, gently pinning her against the wall.Indigo reached for his hand and placed it on her backside."Dee," he whispered."Shh," Indigo bit down on his lower lip and whispered, "Just a little play won’t hurt."Hudson kissed her passionately, his hand groping her ass, and she moaned."Oh, Huds."Jaxon was seated around the corner with other female artists who kept trying to gain his attention. His eyes were fixed on the entrance. She had yet to arrive.He grabbed a cup of wine, drank from it, and left the hall to make a call.It was his grandfather.After hearing all that Cassius planned to do, his face dropped.-Tatiana finally appeared b
A clash echoed through the hall as one of the artists dropped her glass of wine. Every artists jaw dropped, and their eyes widened in shock.Tatiana was no exception; her entire body froze at Cassius's actions. His lips were on hers, one arm possessively holding her waist close, while the other rested on her face.His lips moved slowly as his tongue slid out, forcing her mouth to open for him. As if under a spell, Tatiana found herself closing her eyes and opening her mouth to respond.The only sound she could hear was her fast-beating heart and the sound of their lips moving against each other. Her mind went haywire.She slid her arms around his neck, wrapping them tightly, while he pulled her waist closer. A light, soft moan escaped her throat.As they broke the kiss, Tatiana noticed the smirk on his lips, and then she realized they were still in the King's hall. She had responded to the kiss in front of everyone.One of the artists choked on her saliva and began to cough.Her face
“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