The heavy door slammed shut, the sound reverberating through the dimly lit penthouse suite.Elena’s heartbeat pounded in her ears as she turned to face the man who had just locked them inside. Killian stood in front of the door, his broad frame blocking any exit, his dark eyes burning with uncontrolled fury."You think this is a game, sweetheart?" His voice was low, dangerously calm—the calm before a storm.Elena crossed her arms, refusing to be intimidated. "Everything is a game to you, Killian. I’m just playing by your rules."A smirk tugged at his lips, but there was no amusement in his eyes. In a flash, he closed the distance between them, backing her against the floor-to-ceiling window. The city lights flickered behind him, but all she could focus on was the sheer power radiating off him."You wanted my attention?" he murmured, his breath ghosting over her lips. "Now you have all of it."Elena refused to look away. "And what are you going to do with
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of Killian’s penthouse, casting a golden glow over the silk sheets that wrapped around Elena. She stirred, her body aching from the emotional and physical battle of the previous night. As her mind cleared, realization hit—she wasn’t in her own room.Her breath hitched.She pushed herself up, finding herself alone in the massive bed. The air smelled of Killian—his intoxicating cologne lingering in the sheets. Panic surged through her.Before she could scramble out of bed, the door creaked open.Killian.Dressed only in black sweatpants, his sculpted chest bare, he leaned casually against the doorframe, watching her with a smirk. His dark eyes roamed over her, taking in the way the sheet clung to her curves."Leaving so soon?" His voice was rough from sleep, yet sharp with amusement.Elena's fingers clenched the sheets. "How did I get here?"Killian strolled closer, the air between them thickening w
Elena woke up with a heavy weight against her body. Warm. Possessive. Unyielding.Killian.Her eyes fluttered open, finding herself tangled in his embrace. His arm was draped over her waist, his grip firm even in sleep, as if he feared she would slip away. The events of the previous night burned in her mind—his hands, his lips, the way he had claimed her as if he owned every inch of her.Her heart hammered in her chest. This wasn’t part of the plan.She had promised herself she would use him, seduce him, make him believe he held the power—only to shatter him in the end. But now, she was the one caught in his web.Carefully, she shifted beneath his grip, attempting to slip out of bed without waking him. Killian stirred slightly but didn’t wake. She exhaled in relief, sliding out from under the covers and grabbing her discarded dress. She needed space. She needed clarity.But as she stepped into the bathroom, her breath hitched.A message was scrawled
The night was thick with tension, the air suffocating in its stillness. Killian stood in front of the massive screen in his private office, his jaw clenched as the video played.Dante was on his knees, his face swollen and bloodied, his hands bound behind his back. The dim lighting of the warehouse cast eerie shadows over his features, making him look almost unrecognizable.Then, a familiar voice—deep, cold, and full of malice—cut through the silence."If you want him alive, come alone. No security. No tricks."The message ended, leaving only darkness on the screen.Elena’s heart pounded as she turned to Killian, her throat dry. His face remained unreadable, but she could feel the storm raging beneath the surface."Victor isn’t stupid," she murmured, breaking the silence. "He knows you’ll come for Dante, and he’ll use it to take you down."Killian exhaled sharply, tilting his head as he studied the frozen frame of Dante’s battered face."Of cours
The soft glow of city lights flickered through the penthouse windows, casting elongated shadows across the polished marble floors. The scent of expensive whiskey and lingering gunpowder still clung to the air, remnants of the war they had fought mere hours ago. Elena sat stiffly on the edge of the leather couch, her hands clasped tightly together as she watched Dante’s unconscious form resting in the guest suite.Killian leaned against the doorframe, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, revealing the hard lines of his chest. He watched her in silence, his stormy gray eyes calculating, unreadable.“You’re reckless,” Elena finally muttered, breaking the heavy silence.Killian’s lips curled into a smirk. “I saved your brother’s life. You’re welcome.”Elena’s jaw tightened. “That’s not the point. You went in there like a damn lunatic! If Victor had planned this as a trap—”“But he didn’t.” Killian pushed off the wall and stalked toward her, his every movement oozing c
The city lights flickered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Killian’s penthouse, casting long shadows over the luxurious suite. The silence was thick, heavy with the weight of secrets. Elena Romano, or rather, Raven Black, stood frozen in the dimly lit hallway, her heart hammering against her ribs.She had been careful—silent as a ghost, slipping through the penthouse to uncover what Killian Graves was hiding. But she hadn’t been careful enough.A deep voice cut through the darkness.“You shouldn’t be here.”Elena turned sharply, her pulse spiking. A man emerged from the shadows—Damian Cross, Killian’s right-hand man. His piercing eyes locked onto hers, unreadable yet sharp enough to slice through any excuse she could conjure.She straightened, masking her nerves with a smirk. "I got lost on my way to the kitchen. This place is a damn maze."Damian didn’t buy it. He stepped closer, the weight of his authority pressing down on her like an unspoken t
The war had begun.Elena sat in her office at Graves Enterprises, staring at the encrypted message on her phone."Watch your back. The next hit is yours."Her fingers tightened around the device, the weight of the threat settling in her chest like a slow-burning fire. She didn't need to guess who it was from. Victor DeLuca was making his move, and he was making sure she knew it.She exhaled slowly, her mind racing. The attack was coming. The only question was—when?A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Killian strode in, his towering presence instantly filling the room. He looked like he hadn’t slept, his dark suit slightly undone, his usual control slipping beneath the surface."You’re thinking too much," he said, closing the door behind him."And you’re underestimating the situation," Elena shot back, lifting her phone. "DeLuca just made it clear—I’m next."Killian’s jaw tightened as he took the phone from her hand, scanning the mes
The city never slept, but tonight, Elena Romano was awake for a different reason.From the penthouse balcony of the Grand Royale Hotel, she stood with a glass of champagne, staring at the glittering skyline of New York—the city that had witnessed her family’s downfall.The city that had once been her home… and her grave.Six years ago, she had been buried under the weight of betrayal.She had lost everything. Her family. Her name. Her love.And now, she was back.Not as Elena Romano. That girl was dead.Now, she was Raven Black—a billionaire, a queen in her own right, and a woman with only one purpose.Revenge.And the man she had come for was standing just across the room.Him.Killian Graves.Her first love. Her greatest mistake. The man who had once held her heart and then shattered it into a million pieces.Dressed in a perfectly tailored black Armani suit, he was the center of attention, towering over everyone in the ballroom. His presence demanded respect, his sharp jawline, pie
The war had begun.Elena sat in her office at Graves Enterprises, staring at the encrypted message on her phone."Watch your back. The next hit is yours."Her fingers tightened around the device, the weight of the threat settling in her chest like a slow-burning fire. She didn't need to guess who it was from. Victor DeLuca was making his move, and he was making sure she knew it.She exhaled slowly, her mind racing. The attack was coming. The only question was—when?A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Killian strode in, his towering presence instantly filling the room. He looked like he hadn’t slept, his dark suit slightly undone, his usual control slipping beneath the surface."You’re thinking too much," he said, closing the door behind him."And you’re underestimating the situation," Elena shot back, lifting her phone. "DeLuca just made it clear—I’m next."Killian’s jaw tightened as he took the phone from her hand, scanning the mes
The city lights flickered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Killian’s penthouse, casting long shadows over the luxurious suite. The silence was thick, heavy with the weight of secrets. Elena Romano, or rather, Raven Black, stood frozen in the dimly lit hallway, her heart hammering against her ribs.She had been careful—silent as a ghost, slipping through the penthouse to uncover what Killian Graves was hiding. But she hadn’t been careful enough.A deep voice cut through the darkness.“You shouldn’t be here.”Elena turned sharply, her pulse spiking. A man emerged from the shadows—Damian Cross, Killian’s right-hand man. His piercing eyes locked onto hers, unreadable yet sharp enough to slice through any excuse she could conjure.She straightened, masking her nerves with a smirk. "I got lost on my way to the kitchen. This place is a damn maze."Damian didn’t buy it. He stepped closer, the weight of his authority pressing down on her like an unspoken t
The soft glow of city lights flickered through the penthouse windows, casting elongated shadows across the polished marble floors. The scent of expensive whiskey and lingering gunpowder still clung to the air, remnants of the war they had fought mere hours ago. Elena sat stiffly on the edge of the leather couch, her hands clasped tightly together as she watched Dante’s unconscious form resting in the guest suite.Killian leaned against the doorframe, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, revealing the hard lines of his chest. He watched her in silence, his stormy gray eyes calculating, unreadable.“You’re reckless,” Elena finally muttered, breaking the heavy silence.Killian’s lips curled into a smirk. “I saved your brother’s life. You’re welcome.”Elena’s jaw tightened. “That’s not the point. You went in there like a damn lunatic! If Victor had planned this as a trap—”“But he didn’t.” Killian pushed off the wall and stalked toward her, his every movement oozing c
The night was thick with tension, the air suffocating in its stillness. Killian stood in front of the massive screen in his private office, his jaw clenched as the video played.Dante was on his knees, his face swollen and bloodied, his hands bound behind his back. The dim lighting of the warehouse cast eerie shadows over his features, making him look almost unrecognizable.Then, a familiar voice—deep, cold, and full of malice—cut through the silence."If you want him alive, come alone. No security. No tricks."The message ended, leaving only darkness on the screen.Elena’s heart pounded as she turned to Killian, her throat dry. His face remained unreadable, but she could feel the storm raging beneath the surface."Victor isn’t stupid," she murmured, breaking the silence. "He knows you’ll come for Dante, and he’ll use it to take you down."Killian exhaled sharply, tilting his head as he studied the frozen frame of Dante’s battered face."Of cours
Elena woke up with a heavy weight against her body. Warm. Possessive. Unyielding.Killian.Her eyes fluttered open, finding herself tangled in his embrace. His arm was draped over her waist, his grip firm even in sleep, as if he feared she would slip away. The events of the previous night burned in her mind—his hands, his lips, the way he had claimed her as if he owned every inch of her.Her heart hammered in her chest. This wasn’t part of the plan.She had promised herself she would use him, seduce him, make him believe he held the power—only to shatter him in the end. But now, she was the one caught in his web.Carefully, she shifted beneath his grip, attempting to slip out of bed without waking him. Killian stirred slightly but didn’t wake. She exhaled in relief, sliding out from under the covers and grabbing her discarded dress. She needed space. She needed clarity.But as she stepped into the bathroom, her breath hitched.A message was scrawled
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of Killian’s penthouse, casting a golden glow over the silk sheets that wrapped around Elena. She stirred, her body aching from the emotional and physical battle of the previous night. As her mind cleared, realization hit—she wasn’t in her own room.Her breath hitched.She pushed herself up, finding herself alone in the massive bed. The air smelled of Killian—his intoxicating cologne lingering in the sheets. Panic surged through her.Before she could scramble out of bed, the door creaked open.Killian.Dressed only in black sweatpants, his sculpted chest bare, he leaned casually against the doorframe, watching her with a smirk. His dark eyes roamed over her, taking in the way the sheet clung to her curves."Leaving so soon?" His voice was rough from sleep, yet sharp with amusement.Elena's fingers clenched the sheets. "How did I get here?"Killian strolled closer, the air between them thickening w
The heavy door slammed shut, the sound reverberating through the dimly lit penthouse suite.Elena’s heartbeat pounded in her ears as she turned to face the man who had just locked them inside. Killian stood in front of the door, his broad frame blocking any exit, his dark eyes burning with uncontrolled fury."You think this is a game, sweetheart?" His voice was low, dangerously calm—the calm before a storm.Elena crossed her arms, refusing to be intimidated. "Everything is a game to you, Killian. I’m just playing by your rules."A smirk tugged at his lips, but there was no amusement in his eyes. In a flash, he closed the distance between them, backing her against the floor-to-ceiling window. The city lights flickered behind him, but all she could focus on was the sheer power radiating off him."You wanted my attention?" he murmured, his breath ghosting over her lips. "Now you have all of it."Elena refused to look away. "And what are you going to do with
Elena Romano had always known that revenge was a patient game. But tonight, she wasn’t going to be patient. Tonight, she would step into the lion’s den and remind Killian Graves exactly who he had underestimated.Standing before the mirror in her penthouse, she slid her hands over the silk of her deep crimson gown. It clung to her curves like a second skin, the dangerously high slit revealing just enough to be tempting. The plunging neckline and open back left little to the imagination—but that was the point.If Killian thought he could parade his engagement in front of her and she would simply watch, he was dead wrong.A knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned to see Elias Carter, the man she had chosen as her perfect distraction for the night.“Damn, Raven.” His voice held appreciation as his sharp gaze raked over her. “You do know that showing up like this will drive him insane, right?”She smirked. “That’s exactly what I want.”E
Elena stepped into Graves Enterprises, her heels clicking sharply against the polished marble floors. The air inside the towering skyscraper was thick with authority, power, and the unmistakable presence of Killian Graves.She had spent the entire night strategizing her next move, mapping out ways to take him down, piece by piece. Yet now, standing here, she felt his presence before she even saw him.A shiver danced along her spine.Then, a deep voice cut through the silence."Ms. Black."She turned slowly.Killian stood near the elevator, his broad frame clad in an impeccably tailored black suit. His silver cufflinks gleamed under the bright lobby lights, but it was his storm-gray eyes that held her captive—piercing, cold, and calculating.A slow, almost lazy smirk tugged at his lips. Dangerous. Intoxicating."Mr. Graves," Elena greeted coolly, forcing a polite smile.His eyes flickered with amusement. "How interesting. You’re back at work a