Soren – POVThe office was a mess, buzzing with tension. People tiptoed around me, subtly dropping hints and questions: When will Raisel be back? We need her to move forward. I knew they needed answers from her, but I wasn’t about to push. She deserved space—time to heal. Losing someone is one thing, but watching a man die in front of you, a man you once cared for? That’s a whole other kind of trauma.Me? I felt the opposite. There was a sense of calm in knowing one of the bastards was finally out of the picture. Dead and gone.Still, the work couldn’t wait. I stepped in, made a decision on her project. It was something Raisel would’ve approved of—or at leastI hoped so. I couldn’t let the deadline slip.It was late when the call came. I was sitting at my desk, nursing a cup of lukewarm coffee, when my phone buzzed.“Mr. Soren Dalton,” the voice on the other end said. It was Officer Denvor, the man in charge of the investigation into Nancy’s murder.“Speaking,” I replied, already brac
Raisel’s POVJoshua’s words won’t stop echoing in my head.“Listen to me carefully,” he said, his voice cold, calculated. “If you want to stay out of trouble, accept my deal. Pretend you’re in love with me.”I blinked, trying to keep my composure. “And what happens if I don’t accept your deal?” I asked, my voice barely steady.His smirk darkened, curling his lips into something both handsome and sinister. “Then you and Soren are in for a rough time,” he warned. He let that threat hang in the air before continuing, his words like venom. “Your project—the one launching the new car?It’ll stay nothing more than a dream. I’ll make sure of it.”My stomach dropped.I gulped. This man is heartless. No empathy at all. He’s… he’s the devil himself.“I… I…” I stammered, unable to string words together.“I’m giving you three hours to think it over,” he said with that insufferable smirk still plastered on his face. To most, he might look charming; to me, he was the worst kind of monster. Untamed.
Raisel’s POVI took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Yes, I’m in. But I have my conditions,” I said, my voice firm despite the tremble in my hands. This isn’t what I want. Not at all.Joshua’s eyes darkened with intrigue. “And what might those be?” he asked. He didn’t shut me down immediately, which meant there was hope—however slim—that I could claw my way out of this mess.“You will respect boundaries,” I demanded, my tone sharp. “When I say no, it means no. You won’t blackmail me or manipulate me into doing things.”He leaned back, exuding the kind of confidence only a man like him could radiate. “I don’t have to force you into anything, Raisel.You’ll beg me for it,” he said smugly, his arrogance filling the room like a storm cloud.I rolled my eyes so hard I was sure they’d stick. These Dalton men—arrogant, entitled, and infuriatingly aware of their allure. And,God help me, why wouldn’t they be? With their striking looks, obscene wealth, and dangerous power, they practic
Soren’s POV“Mission Raisel accomplished.” A smirk tugged at my lips as I read Jace’s text on my phone. Perfect. Everything had fallen into place—because I made sure it did. It took a lot of manipulation to create this so-called “problem” and ensure Raisel would be the one to fix it. There’s no way I’m letting that asshole Joshua get anywhere near her.The temptation to storm into Chicago and drag her back home myself was almost unbearable. But that would only make her hate me more. And Raisel hating me? That’s the one thing I can’t risk.“Sir, the situation is getting worse.” Gwen’s voice cut through my thoughts. She entered the office, her expression tight with worry.I glanced at her calmly, and she frowned, as though confused by my lack of panic. “You don’t seem concerned. Sir, if we don’t fix this, we’re out of car models, out of investors, and ultimately... out of business.”“Take a breath, Gwen,” I said.She nodded, though the tension in her shoulders didn’t ease. She placed a
Raisel – POVThe room was heavy with tension, so thick it felt like the air itself had turned solid. All eyes were on me, but the unspoken energy in the room wasn’t about me. It was about Soren. His presence alone was enough to tighten every throat in the room.“As you all know, there’s been an issue with the car sensor failing,” I began, my voice steady, calm, despite the storm brewing beneath my skin. “I’ve found a solution.”Soren’s voice sliced through the air like a blade. “What have you come up with?” His cold tone made the hair on the back of my neck rise.I didn’t flinch. “I’m getting to that, Mr. Dalton,” I replied, holding onto my composure. “I ran a series of diagnostic tests to pinpoint the exact conditions causing the sensor delay,” I said, my voice measured, professional.“And? What did you find?” His words were sharper now, laced with curiosity, but there was something else there—something darker.I clenched my fists under the table. “The issue could be caused by several
Soren - POVThe penthouse felt lifeless—empty and cold, even as sunlight struggled to pierce through the curtains. I lay motionless on the bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight of exhaustion pinning me down. I wasn’t really sleeping, just barely surviving on fragments of rest.The worst part wasn’t the sleepless nights; it was the endless nightmare of Raisel’s hatred. It felt like a prophecy, each passing moment bringing it closer to reality.The phone rang, cutting through the silence. I sighed and glanced at the screen. Grandpa. If I ignored him, he’d show up unannounced. I dragged myself to answer.“Morning,” he said.“It’s not,” I whispered flatly.“I know,” his tone carried a grim edge. “There’s a scandal blowing up. Apparently, your current girlfriend is all over the tabloids… cozying up to Joshua.”I shot upright, a sharp hiss escaping as the sudden movement worsened my pounding headache. I hadn’t checked the news yet—I didn’t need to. She said she was done with me, and I bel
Soren - POVSusan sighed, shaking her head with a heaviness that filled the room. I sat on the edge of the couch, my patience thinning. She stood abruptly, walking off to her room without another word. Frustration twisted in my chest as I waited, but before I could follow her, she reappeared. In her hands were files, thick and stacked, which she dropped on the table in front of me.“What’s this?” I asked, picking up the top file. My hands tightened around it as I flipped through its contents. Photos of Raisel’s childhood in the orphanage, her college years, and, worst of all, her marriage to Alaric stared back at me. There she was, smiling—happy, even—standing next to him. A twisted knot of agony coiled in my gut. It never failed. Any time I saw Raisel with Alaric, whether in a photograph or in memories that refused to leave me alone, I’d spiral. I couldn’t think, couldn’t focus, couldn’t breathe.Instead, I’d bury the pain the only way I knew how—by drinking myself senseless in some
Raisel’s POVMy head was spinning as I felt the weight of judgmental stares around me. Those looks—those whispers—brought back memories of my split with Alaric. The same unspoken accusation hung in the air: whore. It stung then, and it still stung now. I clenched my jaw, trying to shrug it off, when the sound of a door creaking open caught my attention.“Gwen,” I exhaled, relief washing over me at the sight of her familiar, sympathetic expression. It was a breath of fresh air amid this suffocating tension. She handed me a file, and I flipped through the pages quickly. A solution to the current crisis was underway, but we weren’t out of the woods yet.“Thanks for bringing this. I’ll report the next steps to Soren,” I said, my tone clipped but grateful.“He’s not in the office this week,” Gwen replied casually.I frowned. “What? Why? Where’d he go?”“No idea,” she said with a shrug. Then, with a sly look, she added, “But if I had to guess, I’d say it has something to do with you.”I bli
Soren - POVRocher slid a file across the table, his expression grim. “This is what the spy managed to collect before he died.” His voice was heavy. “It seems Joshua had a deal, Reaper.” He paused. “Viktor wants to make Raisel the heir to his mafia empire.”Raisel gasped, her body going rigid.“Wait… If this was a deal, why would Reaper — I mean, Viktor—kill his own men?” Jace asked, brows furrowed in confusion.I clenched my jaw. “Joshua crossed a line. He touched Raisel.”“No…” Susan’s voice was barely above a whisper. "It wasn’t just that. This was a test, set by Viktor. He wanted to see if Raisel would become a victim or fight back. He kills the man after the work is done.”Raisel’s breath hitched, her hands trembling as the weight of those words settled in. I instinctively reached for her, clasping her fingers in mine. She turned to me, eyes filled with silent gratitude, but I could see how broken she was—just like I felt. What kind of father would do something this cruel?“My hu
Soren–POVI couldn’t take my eyes off Raisel’s sleeping form, her soft breath ghosting over my skin. I pinched myself. This wasn’t a dream. She felt the same way. The memory of her confession played on a loop in my head, like a hauntingly beautiful symphony.Sleep evaded me, but the vibration of my phone in my pocket pulled me from my thoughts. Sighing, I rolled out of bed and grabbed it.“Where are you?” Jace’s voice was a low murmur at the other end.“Home,” I whispered back.“What the hell are you doing there?”“None of your damn business,” I muttered.“So, New York—are we going or not?”I ran a hand through my hair. “No. I can’t leave.”“Because of your old man?”“He’d figure it out. And, let’s be honest, he doesn’t want me there anyway.”Jace sighed. “Fine. Guess I’ll just keep myself busy with Fiora. She’s cute.”I scoffed. “You’re trying to charm her out of her pants, aren’t you? I’d bet good money she won’t cave to your cheap-ass flirting.”“Whatever, asshole.” He hung up.I t
Raisel - POVMy heart is beating faster than his, one palm on his cheek. “Soren… I… think I’ve had a crush on you for a long time.”He blinked in surprise. I chuckled at his reaction to my confession, still holding back tears in my eyes.“When you suddenly stopped coming to college, I was heartbroken that you left without a word,” I whispered."I missed you deep down. Whenever there were articles about you published, I read every one. Kind of stalking you on social media,” I said, embarrassed to confess.“I recently learned that it wasn’t just a crush… but as I have spent time with you these past three months, I started falling for you. Alaric was not the one—he was just a mistake,” I confessed. “You broke my resolve to not love anyone, but… here I am… taking a tremendous risk…”He kissed my lips, silencing me. I gasped in surprise as he slid his tongue inside my mouth. I moaned, a smirk playing across Soren’s handsome face, making me want him even more.“You have no idea what it does
Raisel’s POVI sat on the couch, fingers wrapped around a warm cup of tea. Across from me, Susan stared, her expression unreadable. We were alone in her office, the weight of unspoken words pressing between us.“Are you ready to hear me out?” she asked gently.I exhaled, my grip tightening around the cup. “Do I have a choice?”Her lips pressed together. “No.”I sighed. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean—”“It’s okay,” she cut in. “You hate change. And secrets, especially when they appear out of nowhere.”A bitter chuckle escaped me. “After my ex-husband’s affair came to light, I’ve been forced to see the truth in places I never looked before. Maybe I was too naïve to believe the lies.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Can you believe that? A twenty-year-old, still foolish enough to trust?”Susan’s gaze softened. “You’re not naïve, Raisel. You’re kind. You believe in people, in their goodness. You forgive. But the world isn’t kind to people like you.” She paused, looking distant, as if she spoke
Raisel’s POVThe plane hums steadily in the air, and I’m clutching a glass of alcohol like it’s my lifeline. Flying? Not my thing. Drinking through it? My only coping mechanism.Across from me, Fiora watches with that amused little smirk of hers, shaking her head. “Care to tell me what’s going on?”“Bad people are behind us,” I mutter, swirling the liquid in my glass. “Alaric is—” I pause, my throat tightening.“Alaric is what?”Before I can answer, Jace appears out of nowhere, grinning. “Fiora, I’ve got a job for you.”Just like that, she’s whisked away, and I reach for another drink.“Enough, Raisel.” Soren’s voice cuts in, and his hand closes over mine before I can grab the glass.I groan, muttering a few choice words at him. “I’m not drunk.”“Good,” he says, deadpan. “Because we need you sober.”I narrow my eyes. “And what exactly do you want?”He leans in slightly, voice low. “You’re about to find out every secret I’ve been keeping from you.”My stomach flips. “Oh. Okay.”Soren c
Soren’s POVRaisel and I stood in Jace’s basement, watching the screens where he tracked people. The glow from the monitors cast eerie shadows across the room. My grandfather stood nearby, his face twisted in anger as he muttered curses under his breath."That bastard Joshua used her," he growled, pacing. "Dalton’s business is in danger because of this."I barely heard him. My eyes were locked on the grainy surveillance footage. “Zoom in,” I ordered. The image sharpened, revealing a stretcher. A doctor hovered over it, IV lines and a blood bag hooked up to the man being loaded into an ambulance.Raisel sucked in a sharp breath. "Joshua's not dead," she whispered, her voice trembling.I reached for her hand, squeezing it. "You're safe," I assured her. But deep down, I knew that safety was a fleeting illusion.My grandfather’s voice snapped me back. "We need to get Joshua. Bring him to us."I turned to him, already predicting his next move. His gaze flicked toward me, and I knew—he plan
"Your hand is hurt. Let me get the medical kit."She hurried to grab it, but as she stepped closer, I gestured for her to stop. My eyes flicked to the shattered glass on the floor."Don’t move—you’ll cut yourself. Let me clean this up.""No, you’re the one who’s hurt. I’ll clean it."I raised my hand, stopping her before she could step forward. Ignoring the sting in my palm, I carefully picked up the glass shards and tossed them in the trash. Only then did I walk over and take the kit from her hands."Please, let me," she insisted.Her touch was hesitant yet gentle as she cleaned my wound. I barely noticed the pain, too focused on her tear-streaked face, her swollen eyes. Even now, she was beautiful—strong despite everything."How did you get hurt?" she asked softly."Don’t worry about it," I muttered."How can I not?" Her voice wavered, her fingers trembling as she cupped my face. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I… I’ve been so angry at you—at the way you keep things from me. I hated i
Raisel – POVA firm hand landed on my shoulder. I flinched before slowly opening my eyes, my vision hazy, my body too weak to react. My breath hitched when I met familiar hazel eyes. Relief spread through my bones like warmth chasing away the cold.Soren.His name slipped from my cracked lips, barely a whisper. My throat burned, my chest ached. Tears—hot and uncontrollable—slipped down my face."I'm here, Raisins," he murmured, his voice thick with regret. "I'm sorry… I never should've left you alone."I sobbed into his embrace, my body trembling. He said nothing more, just lifted me into his arms as if I weighed nothing. No questions. No hesitation. Just unwavering presence. I buried myself in his warmth, but a deep, bone-chilling cold still clung to me as he carried me out of that godforsaken house.He set me down in the passenger seat, tucking his coat around my shoulders before sliding his shotgun into the back. His gaze met mine—dark, unreadable—but his eyes burned with something
Raisel - POVA cruel grin stretched across his lips. Slowly, he crawled onto the bed, his body moving like a predator closing in on wounded prey. Straddling me, he loomed over my frame, his weight pressing me into the mattress.“What…” I swallowed hard, fear lodging in my throat. “Get off me. I don’t want you to touch me. I don’t want you near me. Ever.”My voice shook, but I forced the words out like venom.His smirk deepened. "Feisty, aren’t we?" he taunted, his voice a low, dangerous hiss. “But you have no say in this.”My chest tightened. “You can’t force yourself on me.”He tilted his head, amused. “Force?” He leaned in, his breath hot against my skin. “You should be begging me not to take you.”There was something sickening in his voice—something laced with hunger and cruelty.My stomach churned. “If I beg… will you let me go?”His grin twisted into something darker. “You can try. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be the good guy.” His words dripped with mockery.I forced myself to meet his