ALINAMikhail was waiting at the door when I arrived at the club. He was dressed in black, and had a gun at his waist. He gave instructions to one of the men and when they had stepped back inside, he nodded and pushed the door open for me."It’s packed tonight."I stepped inside the club, almost eager to see what it looked like.Heat, perfume and sweat were mixed together in the air. The smell hit me like a physical force.Mikhail stayed close as I walked deeper into the club. This was only my second time here. My father had never liked me being around his business, and had always kept me away from certain parts of his world.But now, the rules were different. He was gone, and this place was mine.I stopped at the top of the stairs and looked down.People were dancing downstairs against each other. Some were making out, kissing right in front of others. But it was the pole dancers that held my attention.I'd never seen anyone dancing on a pole and for a moment, I stopped where I w
ALINAThe door opened.Ethan walked in like he owned the place. He was dressed in a black suit that hugged his broad shoulders.His eyes moved across the mahogany desk, the shelves stacked with ledgers, the leather chair I sat in. He took his time, nodding slightly. “Still looks like Daddy’s office.” He smirked. “That means you’ve been busy.”I leaned back in my chair. “I have.”He didn’t even know just how busy I had been. Ethan pulled out the chair across from me, sat down, and stretched out like he had all the time in the world. His arm rested lazily against the desk.I watched him, taking in the way he carried himself. He looked relaxed but alert, like a man who was always two steps ahead of the room. He hadn’t changed much. The same strong jaw, the same arrogance on his face. He still looked too handsome for his own good. I knew that he knew he was handsome. And he knew I knew that too.“So.” He tilted his head. “Have you made a decision?”I arched my brow. “On what?”He gave
ALINAI ran faster, needing to get to them at once. What the hell did he think he was doing, slapping anyone that hard?The man slapped her again. This time it was even harder and louder. The woman fell to the floor. The woman didn’t cry out. She barely even moved. Just turned her head, her jaw tight, her eyes filled with so much hate it was almost startling.“Step away from her,” I shouted at him.The man turned like he was just noticing me. His face was twisted with anger, his lip curling mockingly as he looked at me. “Back off. This is my wife.”I stopped a few feet away, breathing hard as I tried to control my anger. “And? That means you get to treat her like your personal punching bag?’ His mouth pulled into an ugly sneer. “She’s mine. I can do what I want.”I felt Ethan step beside me, but I kept my eyes on the man.“Leave,” he said flatly, pointing his short fingers at me. He looked down his nose at me arrogantly. “Or I’ll slap you next.”I laughed, watching as Ethan helped
ALINAThe baby screamed in my arms, her small body trembling so hard I could feel it in my bones.My heart pounded in my ears, but the noise around me was louder.The woman was shouting as the bullet hit Ethan. I wasn’t even sure where, only that I could see blood staining his clothes fast.Damn.Ethan was still standing, though he was breathing fast, his palm pressed into his side.Blood soaked through his shirt. For a second, he didn’t react, as if he was still trying to figure out where he’d been hit.Then his eyes went dark like an ocean when a storm blew in. He looked suddenly like Luca, when someone had pissed him off.“Ethan,” I cried, moving the baby to one arm and stepping closer to him.The man was cocking his gun again. He was going to shoot someone else. I hoped it wasn’t the little girl.Ethan’s fingers were stained red as he tried to keep standing, trying to keep the blood from pumping out.The woman was sobbing now, bent on the ground, hands covering her mouth. “You bas
LUCAI stepped inside, barely taking in the mess of the room before my eyes locked on Alina. She stood in the center rigidly, looking shocked to see me.Behind her, a woman was sitting on a couch, clutching a child so tightly it looked like she was afraid someone would rip her away.Ethan was sitting, looking too damn comfortable for someone with bandages wrapped around his side. Blood stained the floor, and the air was thick enough to cut with a blunt butter knife.My eyes snapped back to Alina. “What the hell are you doing here?”She looked away and shrugged. She wasn't holding my eyes so she was definitely hiding something from me. “Handling something.”My patience was already worn thin. Pietro had called me about thirty minutes ago but I definitely didn't expect to meet such mess. What the hell was going on? I bent over her desk. “Handling something? You walked straight into a damn war zone.”She crossed her arms. “I had it under control.”I wanted to jerk her up, and help her
ALINABlood was still dripping from the ax when I let it fall.It hit the floor with a thud, but I barely heard it over Riot’s ragged, pain-filled breaths. His face twisted in agony, sweat popping out on his forehead as he held the ruined stump of his arm.His breath came out in sharp, broken gasps. Blood pooled at his side, dark and thick against the floor. He shook, but I didn’t know if it was from the pain or the rage in his eyes.I stared down at him, feeling nothing. No pity. No regret. Just the hum of anger under my skin.The loss of his hand was enough to remind him for all the days of his miserable life that hitting a woman was wrong, though I didn't believe he would learn.“You used that hand to hit a woman,” I said quietly. “Now you don’t have it for anything else. You despicable man.” I spat at him. Riot’s nostrils flared, his teeth bared in a snarl as more blood poured from his hand.I tilted my head, watching him carefully. “If you ever lay a hand on Valerie again, I’l
LUCA Alina was going to do something reckless.I could see it in the way her shoulders tensed, the way her hand hovered too close to her waist like she was wishing she had a gun. She was thinking too fast, moving too fast like her body was already making decisions her mind hadn’t caught up to.Immediately she told us about the call with Mikhail, she asked Pietro to bring her a gun. I knew she was feeling that bloodlust. I could see it in her eyes. Ethan was already up, pulling on his suit jacket like he wasn’t covered in blood. I frowned. Where the fuck was he going?“Why are you still here?” I asked. “Shouldn’t you be going home?”Ethan adjusted his cuffs, unbothered. “And miss the show? No chance.”I rolled my jaw, turning back to Alina. She was already walking to the door. Ethan followered her. “Where do you think you’re going?”She grabbed her phone. “To find the boy.”I couldn't believe my ears. “Where exactly do you think the boy is?” Her eyes snapped to mine. “Wherever he
ALINA I called the number again.Nothing.I stared at the screen, heart pounding.It rang five times, then cut off.I swallowed, hit redial, prayed someone would pick up. The man who had called sounded dangerous, the kind of man who wouldn't care about hurting the child if he could get what he wanted.Was that Riot's elder brother? Did it make a difference who it was?Still no answer.“What are you planning to do?” Luca asked when I almost ran over to the car.I barely looked up. I was glad he was beside me, with his intensity, but the man had asked me to come alone. “I’m going to get the boy.”Luca snapped. “Alone?”“Yes.”Luca stopped and the suddeness of the action made me stop too. “It’s a trap.”I nodded. I knew exactly what it was. “I know.”Luca looked exasperated. His eyes flashed at me. “And you’re still going?”My grip on my phone tightened. “Do you have a better idea?”Luca nodded, looking all sensible, like he needed me to be sensible too. How could I be sensible when t
LUCA“Find my phone,” I yelled over the gunfire.Alina reached for it, her hands moving fast as I speeded out of the parking lot. The sound of bullets slamming against the armored windows was deafening, like hail against glass, but heavier, more violent.I clenched my jaw and pushed the gas pedal down harder. We needed to get the hell out of here before they found a way to stop us.Alina shoved the phone into my hand. I was about to dial when she grabbed it back.“I’ll call Sofia,” she said. “You focus on driving.”I didn’t argue. I needed both hands on the wheel.She pressed the phone to her ear. She tapped her finger impatiently against her seat until Sofia picked up. “Sofia, get one of the men to open the gates right now. We’re coming home.”Sofia’s voice was sleepy on the other end, but she answered immediately. “Okay.”Alina ended the call, sliding the phone back into its hold. The bullets kept coming, but I could tell we were pulling ahead. Their shots were landing less freque
ALINA I called the number again.Nothing.I stared at the screen, heart pounding.It rang five times, then cut off.I swallowed, hit redial, prayed someone would pick up. The man who had called sounded dangerous, the kind of man who wouldn't care about hurting the child if he could get what he wanted.Was that Riot's elder brother? Did it make a difference who it was?Still no answer.“What are you planning to do?” Luca asked when I almost ran over to the car.I barely looked up. I was glad he was beside me, with his intensity, but the man had asked me to come alone. “I’m going to get the boy.”Luca snapped. “Alone?”“Yes.”Luca stopped and the suddeness of the action made me stop too. “It’s a trap.”I nodded. I knew exactly what it was. “I know.”Luca looked exasperated. His eyes flashed at me. “And you’re still going?”My grip on my phone tightened. “Do you have a better idea?”Luca nodded, looking all sensible, like he needed me to be sensible too. How could I be sensible when t
LUCA Alina was going to do something reckless.I could see it in the way her shoulders tensed, the way her hand hovered too close to her waist like she was wishing she had a gun. She was thinking too fast, moving too fast like her body was already making decisions her mind hadn’t caught up to.Immediately she told us about the call with Mikhail, she asked Pietro to bring her a gun. I knew she was feeling that bloodlust. I could see it in her eyes. Ethan was already up, pulling on his suit jacket like he wasn’t covered in blood. I frowned. Where the fuck was he going?“Why are you still here?” I asked. “Shouldn’t you be going home?”Ethan adjusted his cuffs, unbothered. “And miss the show? No chance.”I rolled my jaw, turning back to Alina. She was already walking to the door. Ethan followered her. “Where do you think you’re going?”She grabbed her phone. “To find the boy.”I couldn't believe my ears. “Where exactly do you think the boy is?” Her eyes snapped to mine. “Wherever he
ALINABlood was still dripping from the ax when I let it fall.It hit the floor with a thud, but I barely heard it over Riot’s ragged, pain-filled breaths. His face twisted in agony, sweat popping out on his forehead as he held the ruined stump of his arm.His breath came out in sharp, broken gasps. Blood pooled at his side, dark and thick against the floor. He shook, but I didn’t know if it was from the pain or the rage in his eyes.I stared down at him, feeling nothing. No pity. No regret. Just the hum of anger under my skin.The loss of his hand was enough to remind him for all the days of his miserable life that hitting a woman was wrong, though I didn't believe he would learn.“You used that hand to hit a woman,” I said quietly. “Now you don’t have it for anything else. You despicable man.” I spat at him. Riot’s nostrils flared, his teeth bared in a snarl as more blood poured from his hand.I tilted my head, watching him carefully. “If you ever lay a hand on Valerie again, I’l
LUCAI stepped inside, barely taking in the mess of the room before my eyes locked on Alina. She stood in the center rigidly, looking shocked to see me.Behind her, a woman was sitting on a couch, clutching a child so tightly it looked like she was afraid someone would rip her away.Ethan was sitting, looking too damn comfortable for someone with bandages wrapped around his side. Blood stained the floor, and the air was thick enough to cut with a blunt butter knife.My eyes snapped back to Alina. “What the hell are you doing here?”She looked away and shrugged. She wasn't holding my eyes so she was definitely hiding something from me. “Handling something.”My patience was already worn thin. Pietro had called me about thirty minutes ago but I definitely didn't expect to meet such mess. What the hell was going on? I bent over her desk. “Handling something? You walked straight into a damn war zone.”She crossed her arms. “I had it under control.”I wanted to jerk her up, and help her
ALINAThe baby screamed in my arms, her small body trembling so hard I could feel it in my bones.My heart pounded in my ears, but the noise around me was louder.The woman was shouting as the bullet hit Ethan. I wasn’t even sure where, only that I could see blood staining his clothes fast.Damn.Ethan was still standing, though he was breathing fast, his palm pressed into his side.Blood soaked through his shirt. For a second, he didn’t react, as if he was still trying to figure out where he’d been hit.Then his eyes went dark like an ocean when a storm blew in. He looked suddenly like Luca, when someone had pissed him off.“Ethan,” I cried, moving the baby to one arm and stepping closer to him.The man was cocking his gun again. He was going to shoot someone else. I hoped it wasn’t the little girl.Ethan’s fingers were stained red as he tried to keep standing, trying to keep the blood from pumping out.The woman was sobbing now, bent on the ground, hands covering her mouth. “You bas
ALINAI ran faster, needing to get to them at once. What the hell did he think he was doing, slapping anyone that hard?The man slapped her again. This time it was even harder and louder. The woman fell to the floor. The woman didn’t cry out. She barely even moved. Just turned her head, her jaw tight, her eyes filled with so much hate it was almost startling.“Step away from her,” I shouted at him.The man turned like he was just noticing me. His face was twisted with anger, his lip curling mockingly as he looked at me. “Back off. This is my wife.”I stopped a few feet away, breathing hard as I tried to control my anger. “And? That means you get to treat her like your personal punching bag?’ His mouth pulled into an ugly sneer. “She’s mine. I can do what I want.”I felt Ethan step beside me, but I kept my eyes on the man.“Leave,” he said flatly, pointing his short fingers at me. He looked down his nose at me arrogantly. “Or I’ll slap you next.”I laughed, watching as Ethan helped
ALINAThe door opened.Ethan walked in like he owned the place. He was dressed in a black suit that hugged his broad shoulders.His eyes moved across the mahogany desk, the shelves stacked with ledgers, the leather chair I sat in. He took his time, nodding slightly. “Still looks like Daddy’s office.” He smirked. “That means you’ve been busy.”I leaned back in my chair. “I have.”He didn’t even know just how busy I had been. Ethan pulled out the chair across from me, sat down, and stretched out like he had all the time in the world. His arm rested lazily against the desk.I watched him, taking in the way he carried himself. He looked relaxed but alert, like a man who was always two steps ahead of the room. He hadn’t changed much. The same strong jaw, the same arrogance on his face. He still looked too handsome for his own good. I knew that he knew he was handsome. And he knew I knew that too.“So.” He tilted his head. “Have you made a decision?”I arched my brow. “On what?”He gave
ALINAMikhail was waiting at the door when I arrived at the club. He was dressed in black, and had a gun at his waist. He gave instructions to one of the men and when they had stepped back inside, he nodded and pushed the door open for me."It’s packed tonight."I stepped inside the club, almost eager to see what it looked like.Heat, perfume and sweat were mixed together in the air. The smell hit me like a physical force.Mikhail stayed close as I walked deeper into the club. This was only my second time here. My father had never liked me being around his business, and had always kept me away from certain parts of his world.But now, the rules were different. He was gone, and this place was mine.I stopped at the top of the stairs and looked down.People were dancing downstairs against each other. Some were making out, kissing right in front of others. But it was the pole dancers that held my attention.I'd never seen anyone dancing on a pole and for a moment, I stopped where I w