Tatiana felt a rush of excitement strike her core. She moaned when the man grazed his teeth on her neck and then used his tongue to soothe it."Such a bad girl, making Daddy fucking hard." His husky voice and dirty words made her core throb with desire. Her breath was uneven, and her body ignited."I'm not sorry, Daddy," she whispered, wanting the man to go crazy, and he did. Like a vice, he took her neck into his hold and slammed his lips on hers. The kiss didn't start slow; instead, it was wild, demanding, and crazy.Tatiana couldn't keep up. His mouth was ravishing hers like she was his last meal. His tongue thrust in, diving deep into her mouth, tasting all of her. Tatiana moaned at his rough side. Cassius had never kissed her this hard before, and she loved it. She wanted more. But she needed to breathe, yet the man wasn't releasing her.When she reached for him, he took her hand and pinned it behind her back. Tatiana felt her mind thrill. Oh, yeah. She loved this.Her lungs bu
[BRAINSTORM HIGH SCHOOL]During class, Rafael's gaze was hard. His leg kept fidgeting under his desk. He watched the teacher's lips moving but wasn't hearing a thing.The bell-that was the only thing he was waiting for."Is your brother okay?" one of Leonard's girlfriends who sat beside him asked. Leonard's gaze shifted to Rafael, who seemed unsettled.Rafael had been acting weird lately. Always locking himself up and trying to avoid him at school. He didn't even appear during lunch and returned late to the mansion.Was he running away from him? He'd find out where he always went today.Finally, the bell rang. Rafael was the first to grab his bag and leave the class.Leonard stood and rushed to follow him. But when they got to the hall, swarmed with students, Leonard lost sight of Rafael.He kept searching for minutes until he spotted a door open. Rafael and the male teacher stepped out. Their gazes met, and Leonard swallowed at the man's cold blue eyes.He composed himself, raising h
"My father fell sick last night. Rosa called to say he had a fever. I had to rush back home. I'm sorry for not telling you. I thought you might need some rest after your return," Jolene's voice sounded over the phone, and Tatiana smiled."It's alright. I... I was just worried you left so late. How is your father's health now?" Tatiana asked."Here, talk to him," Jolene said, and Rowan's voice replaced hers."Hello, Tatiana. I'm sorry I stole Jo away. I had called her to find out where she keeps the first aid, and she came running here. Such a fragile heart she has," Rowan's voice sounded weak. He cleared his throat."It's fine. I hope the fever isn't serious?""No, it isn't. After some rest and medication, I'm as good as new," Rowan chuckled weakly."How's Rosa?" Tatiana asked."She's out," Jolene answered instead. "She went to get some appliances. The kitchen sink had a problem, and she said she could fix it... I'll head back to the mansion tomorrow. I'll see you soon, Tatie," Jolene
Rafael was called down for dinner, and as he headed there, his eyes met his so-called family. His mother gave him a small smile, but he ignored it. Leonard glared at him, and he smirked, noticing the small bandage on his cheek. Tristan wasn't present, probably off on some mission. As Rafael walked to his chair, he felt his father's gaze following his every movement. With an unreadable expression, he stabbed one of his steaks and began eating. "I got a message from school that you hurt your brother with a cutter," Maximus said, his voice low and thick. "Yes," Rafael replied as he continued eating. He noticed his brother shift uncomfortably beside him. "He was wounded because of you," his father said again, and Rafael paused to look at him. "Yes, he was wounded because of me, and I do not regret my actions," he stated firmly, his cold gaze locking with Maximus's. "Rafael," Odessa called his name in a scolding manner. Rafael gave her a disgusted look. "See, Mother? Thi
Jolene's eyes widened as she slowly retreated from his hold and stepped back."Isn't that what he calls you?" Jaxon asked."How did you-""When Cassius's mother had an accident, I drove to the Wallington mansion. I was beyond angry, and all I wanted was to end him. I stopped driving when I saw his car leaving the mansion, and for a fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of you with him. I knew you looked familiar the day we first met, but I ignored the fact that you were with him on the same day Tatiana was betrayed by Nathan...""Stop," Jolene's voice cracked."What did he tell you to do?" Jaxon asked, stepping forward."Don't come closer," she said, her voice barely a whisper."Why did you do it?""You wouldn't understand. None of you would..." She shook her head."That night of Tatiana's welcome party-I was down because I realized you were the woman in that car, and yet, I kissed you. Because I love you, okay? I'll understand no matter what, so tell me, Jo," Jaxon demanded.Suddenly,
Silence hung between the two figures, Jolene's words lingering in the air, thick with tension. Tatiana's gaze was filled with disbelief, her mind reeling from what she had just heard.She stared at the woman before her, questioning if this was still the same person she once considered a sister-the girl she had helped when she had nowhere else to turn.Tatiana had met Jolene at a function, where she was desperately trying to please a small-time artist who abused her. Though Jolene was more than capable, her efforts went unappreciated.Tatiana saw potential in Jolene and immediately felt drawn to her. The small-time artist scoffed when Tatiana stepped in to help.Tatiana vividly remembered the bruises on Jolene, the stench of sour milk clinging to her, and the defeated look in her eyes."I'll take her as my assistant from now on," Tatiana had declared."What? Are you crazy? Taking this good-for-nothing as your assistant? Maybe you're not as smart as everyone says," the artist sneered."
The steady beep of the life-supporting machine filled the small ward. Indigo's face was covered by an oxygen mask, and tubes were connected to her body. A huge bandage was wrapped around her chest. Hudson was seated in the corner, his eyes fixed on the steady rise and fall of her chest. He had been with her for several days. The doctor informed him that she had passed the critical stage and would recover with treatment. Hudson was glad she made it alive, but his blood boiled at her condition. He hadn't been sleeping well, watching her day and night just to make sure nothing went wrong. Any little sound would make his eyes snap open, and he would go straight to her. The moment when her body went limp in his arms was the scariest moment of his life, and he was going to destroy whoever caused her pain. Tristan Wallington must have shot her that night. He was the Wallingtons' dog and psycho, carrying out jobs like this. He would make him suffer once he got his hands on him. "Mr. Hu
Cassius wrapped his large arms around her waist and kissed her neck. "How do you feel?" he asked softly, his amazing scent invading her nose."I feel..." Tatiana paused and smiled. "I feel free.""You two are all over the news," Aurora said from the entrance, carrying Dylan. "Don't let your parents distract you. You're resuming school soon, so you need to get prepared."As Aurora took Dylan with her, Tatiana's phone rang, and the name she had been expecting flashed on the screen. She exchanged a brief look with Cassius."Are you sure you want to drag her into this?" he asked."Hm, she'll be a great help in stopping my father," Tatiana said, her eyes fixed on the phone as she swiped green.Placing the phone in her ear, she greeted, "Hello, Auntie Catelyn."___Maximus stared blankly at the news displaying on his screen. His eyes flickering with something dangerous."They announced the marriage before we could, boss," his assistant's voice sounded through his earpiece.Maximus didn't r
“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