Nina barely slept that night.She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with possibilities. No matter how much she tried to push it away, one fact remained GT knew about her secret. She had two choices.Follow orders and bring GT in.Or find a way to make sure if he is caught he never spoke.Neither option was good. The first meant putting GT directly under Adrian’s scrutiny, where he’d have no way out. The second meant betraying Adrian before she fully understood his endgame. And Adrian saw everything.She sat up, rubbing a hand over her face. She needed a plan, but nothing concrete came to mind. Her hidden boss wouldn’t be pleased to know she was tangled to something like this. Did they expect her to eliminate GT? Frame someone else? Or was she supposed to use this to her advantage?The thought made her stomach churn.She stood and moved toward the small bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. Her reflection stared back at her, eyes hollow from exhaustion, lip
The estate was in chaos.Guards ran in every direction, speaker buzzing with urgent updates as they searched for GT. The sound of boots pounding against marble floors echoed through the hallways.Nina walked out of Adrian’s office with controlled steps, her mind racing despite her calm exterior.Adrian had bought her story.For now.But it wasn’t over not even close.If GT was caught, it would only be a matter of time before Adrian uncovered the truth. And if that happened, she was as good as dead.Her fingers curled into a fist at her side.She had to think.Fast.As she turned the corner, Jason and Damien were already barking orders to the guards. Jason’s sharp eyes flicked to her the moment she appeared."You’re staying out of this, remember?" he said coldly.Nina forced a smirk. "Didn’t realize you were the one giving orders now."Jason didn’t smile. Neither did Damien."If we don’t find GT soon," Damien muttered, "Boss Adrian is going to make an example out of someone."They did
The alarms had finally gone silent.The estate was still tense, but the frantic search for GT had died down. Guards returned to their posts, whispers filling the halls about how the bastard had somehow slipped through their fingers.At least, that’s what everyone believed.Nina sat stiffly in Adrian’s office, her hands resting on her lap, fingers curled inwards to keep from trembling. Across from her, Jason and Damien sat just as rigid, though their expressions were unreadable.Adrian had called them in without explanation. That alone was unsettling.The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.Adrian leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lazily against the desk. His sharp gaze flickered over them, lingering on Nina for a beat longer than necessary before he finally spoke.“I gave you one job.”His voice was quiet. Too quiet.Jason tensed. Damien exhaled slowly. Nina forced herself to hold Adrian’s gaze, though her stomach twisted violently.“And yet,” Adrian continued, his
The silence that followed was unbearable.The room felt colder now.The room felt like it was closing in on her. Nina’s pulse roared in her ears, drowning out everything else.Nina couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe.Nina forced herself to breathe, though each inhale felt like swallowing glass.Her body was locked in place, her knees weak, her stomach twisted in violent knots. The chair in front of her, the chair GT was tied to was no longer just a chair. It was an altar of agony, and he was the sacrifice.Jason and Damien stood frozen behind her, but she didn’t dare turn to look at them.This wasn’t about them.This was about her.He had known for a while.He had been waiting for her to slip.To reveal herself.To prove her betrayal.And she just had.Nina clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms as she fought to keep her expression neutral.Adrian hadn’t said a word since she pulled off the cloth but studied her in silence, as if savoring the moment.Then. “Matteo.”T
The stench of blood was suffocating.Nina staggered as Jason’s shove sent her stumbling forward, her eyes landing on GT’s lifeless body. He was unrecognizable now, his face swollen, his skin burned, his bones shattered. His once defiant eyes were now dull, lifeless.The sight made bile rise in her throat.She swallowed hard, forcing herself to remain still, but her body betrayed her. Her knees trembled, her fingers twitched, her heartbeat pounded so violently that she could hear it echoing in her ears.“You are quiet now, huh?” Jason sneered, standing behind her. “Not so bold anymore, are you?”Damien scoffed. “She thought she could outsmart the boss. Thought she could play both sides.” He let out a humorless chuckle. “Look where that got you, Nina.”Nina’s throat was dry. She wanted to say something, to defend herself, to plead but what was the point? There were no words that could save her now.She knew what they thought of her.A traitor.And the worst part?They were right.Jason’
The door swung open.Adrian's fingers stilled over the pages of the file, his cold gaze lifting to the entrance.Nathan, who had been watching him with a smirk, turned his head slightly, his amusement deepening as he took in the sight before them.A woman stood at the doorway, her figure poised yet confident, her eyes locked onto Adrian with an intensity that hadn’t faded despite the months.Isabelle.Adrian’s jaw tightened.Shock was not an emotion he allowed himself to feel often, but for a split second, it gripped him. He had gotten rid of her. He had driven her away himself, ensuring that she had no way of returning. Yet here she was, standing in his office as if she had never left.How?Who had helped her?Adrian’s gaze darkened as his mind worked through the possibilities.Nathan’s smirk widened as he observed the exchange, clearly entertained by the situation.“Now this,” Nathan mused, leaning back in his chair, “this is interesting.”Isabelle stepped forward, her eyes never le
Nina’s breath came in quick, uneven gasps as Rosco’s words echoed in her ears.“Why are you standing there?”She willed herself to move, to answer, to do anything other than stand frozen in place like a trapped animal. But the weight of what she had just discovered pressed down on her, rendering her utterly speechless.Her hidden boss.The woman who had pulled the strings from the shadows. The one who had dictated her every move, the woman who spoilt her life by sending her to this dangerous world. And yet, this same woman this puppet master, had been living under the same roof as her all along. Watching. Waiting. Doing absolutely nothing while Nina endured every hardship alone.Her fingers clenched into fists at her sides, nails biting into her palms as the reality of it settled like a stone in her gut.So,she knew about everything happening but decided not to give her a call? She knew she was just a pawn in her game but atleast a pawn must also be protected. I cursed the day I me
Adrian had planned to spend a quiet evening with Selene. He walked into her room with the simple idea of enjoying some calm time together. But as he opened the door, he found Victoria sitting there, chatting with Selene. The two women looked up, startled, as they saw him. Selene’s eyes widened in surprise because she had not expected Adrian so soon. It has been long he visited her room.Victoria was about to offer an excuse, a polite reason to leave them alone, when Adrian raised a hand. “Sit down,” he said calmly. With that, Selene moved toward him and gently rested her head on his lap. Adrian smiled softly and began to caress her hair, his touch both comforting and intimate.Once they settled, Adrian began to share news about recent events. He spoke about Nina’s latest activities, his tone low and serious. Then he mentioned Isabelle. The moment the name crossed his lips, Selene instantly sprang up from his lap, her face filled with worry.“How did she get back into the estate?” Sele
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and fear.Selena sat in the hallway, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, Adrian beside her, silent. The last hour had felt like a lifetime. Paramedics had managed to stabilize Nathan, but the bullet had done damage, too close to his lungs. Now, he was in surgery, fighting for his life.“He saved me,” Selena whispered, her voice barely audible. “He could have let me die... after everything...”Adrian turned his head slowly, eyes shadowed with guilt and pain. “He wasn’t always a traitor.”“He’s still your cousin.”Adrian’s jaw clenched. “And he was still working with the woman who tried to destroy us.”Selena didn’t argue. Because he wasn’t wrong but neither was she.“I want to see her,” she said suddenly, her tone sharp.“Who?” Adrian asked.“Isabella.”---The police had taken Isabella into custody, but Adrian still had strings to pull. Within the hour, Selena stood behind a pane of glass, watching the woman who had nearly taken everything from
Isabella's phone buzzed sharply that evening. She answered without checking. The voice on the other end made her sit up straighter.“It’s done,” Your father said. “He was one of them. Adrian’s sister, she was caught in our crossfire that year.”Isabella gasped, hand flying to her mouth. “Are you serious?”“She trusted one of us. And it got her killed.”Isabella’s shock quickly twisted into excitement. “Adrian doesn’t know, does he?”“He doesn’t. But you can change that. Leave a trail. Let him find it himself. If he connects the dots, he’ll never look at Selene the same again.”A slow, dangerous smile spread across Isabella’s face. “Consider it done.”She ended the call and practically flew out the door, her mind racing. She reached Nathan’s place breathless and laughing.“I’ve got it,” she said, barging in.Nathan raised an eyebrow. “What?”“The information that will destroy them more. Since they have reconcile too quickly, I have found something to break them back. Adrian’s sister’s
Adrian stood by the window of his study, hands clasped behind his back. He hadn’t slept.Not out of fear or restlessness, but because his mind was already three steps ahead—plotting, calculating, ensuring no detail escaped him. The blueprint sat in a locked briefcase on his desk, untouched since he'd retrieved it from the safe.Every line on that paper held power. Power people had killed for. Power that could dismantle empires or birth new ones.A soft knock disrupted his thoughts.He turned, voice low. “Come in.”Matteo entered, freshly changed, though his knuckles were still stained red. “The chamber is secured. Both men are restrained. Specter’s injuries are worse, but they’ll live.”Adrian nodded once. “No one gets near them unless I authorize it.”“Understood.”Matteo hesitated. “And the court tomorrow—are you sure it’s wise to go yourself?”“I won’t trust this to anyone else,” Adrian said, his voice like steel. “Too much has been sacrificed for it. I need to see it through.”Ma
Silence.Not the peaceful kind that comes after a storm, but the haunting type, the one that settles over a place that has seen too much blood, too much loss. The kind of silence that screams.Adrian stood in the middle of the aftermath.His estate, his home was now a battlefield littered with corpses. Blood pooled around bodies, soaking into the soil, painting a gruesome picture of what had transpired only moments ago. He didn’t flinch. His eyes were steady, scanning the carnage with a sharpness that betrayed no emotion. He had seen worse. But he had never tolerated betrayal.His boots crunched over gravel and glass as he moved, his gaze settling on one of the only bodies that still drew breath. The figure was barely conscious, chest rising and falling in shallow, labored intervals. A black veil obscured the face.Adrian narrowed his eyes.There was something about this one.He crouched slowly, his movements controlled, almost calculated. He reached forward, fingers tightening aroun
Matteo blinked hard, blood draining from his face the moment Rosco stepped out from behind Alvarez. His breath hitched, and for the first time in a long while, the hardened warrior faltered.“No…” he whispered.Rosco smirked, eyes gleaming with venomous satisfaction. “Hello, Matteo. Still wagging your tail behind him, I see.”Matteo took a step forward instinctively, but Adrian raised a hand, his arm sweeping across Matteo’s chest to stop him. The motion was subtle but firm.Matteo’s chest heaved with betrayal, his eyes fixed on Rosco. “You were with us… you trained with us.”Rosco chuckled, slow and condescending, before turning to Adrian, the amusement on his face deepening.“But him?” Rosco nodded toward Adrian. “He trusted me. Gave me everything. Took me into his inner circle. Showed me where the real power lies.”Adrian arched a brow, his expression unreadable.“Power?” he echoed, voice cool and distant. “What power?”Rosco sneered, reaching behind him.With a flourish, he reveal
Nathan stood by the window, his arms crossed as he watched another group of Adrian’s men load ammunition into vehicles. He didn’t like the feeling in his gut.“What the hell is he planning?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.Isabella sat on the edge of the couch, scrolling through her phone in frustration. “Victoria still isn’t answering. I’ve called her five times.”Nathan’s brows furrowed. “She’s not the type to ignore calls but since it is yours she can definitely ignore you. Isabella tossed the phone beside her and stood. “Something is going on, Nathan. This silence… this secrecy, it’s not just about protecting the pack. Adrian is hiding something.”Nathan’s gaze flickered to her, unreadable. “Then maybe it’s better we stay out of it.”Isabella looked at him, stunned. “You’re just going to sit back and do nothing?”He shrugged slightly. “It’s not my fight. Adrian made that clear a long time ago. And honestly? I’m not about to throw myself into a war that has nothin
A large map was spread out before them, covered in markings and notes detailing every inch of the Ghosted’s operations.“The celebration will end soon,” Alvarez muttered, his fingers tracing a key location. “Their leader thinks he’s untouchable, but his arrogance will be his downfall.”The masked leader tilted his head slightly. “You want him dead, or do you have something else in mind?”Alvarez smirked. “Dead, but not yet. I want him to watch as everything he built crumbles first.”The leader nodded in understanding. “Then we’ll strike fast and without mercy. We have our entry points secured. The Ghosted will never see it coming.”Meanwhile, deep within Adrian’s pack territory, the Ghosted were moving ahead with their own plans, Their informants had pinpointed a potential weakness in the pack’s security—an underground passage leading to a hidden vault where the blueprint was rumored to be stored.Three elite members of the Ghosted, clad in dark tactical gear, crouched near the pass
The Cartel had been shattered, And yet, amid the wreckage, Alvarez still drew breath.His body ached, every nerve screaming in agony as he forced himself to move. He pressed a hand to his bleeding side, the warm, sticky sensation of his own blood soaking through his fingers. The pain was nothing compared to the fury burning in his chest. He had been played. The Ghosted, his supposed allies, had turned against him at the last moment, throwing the battlefield into complete chaos. But why? Who had ordered this betrayal?His fingers curled into fists as he staggered forward, his boots crunching against shattered glass and spent shell casings. He needed to find answers. He needed to find the one who had orchestrated this disaster.A low groan echoed from the rubble. Alvarez turned sharply, gun raised, but his aim wavered when he saw who it was—one of the masked assassins, barely alive, clutching a deep wound in his stomach. Blood seeped through his gloves as he struggled to breathe, his ma
The air vibrated with gunfire, screams, and the rhythmic thunder of boots pounding against the cracked asphalt. The war had begun.Mikhail, the ruthless leader of the Monadikos, stood atop the ruins of an old industrial complex, his sharp gaze cutting through the chaos unfolding below. His fingers clenched into a fist as he watched his men swarm the abandoned shipyard where the Cartel had foolishly stationed their latest shipment of illicit arms. The plan was simple, wipe them out, seize the weapons, and cripple their operations."Push forward! No mercy!" he bellowed, his voice slicing through the night.His men responded with a battle cry, surging ahead like a tidal wave of vengeance. Gunfire erupted from every angle. Sparks flew as bullets ricocheted off rusted shipping containers, and the metallic scent of gunpowder thickened in the air. The Cartel, caught off guard by the ferocity of the attack, scrambled to mount a defense.****Alvarez, the cold and calculating leader of the Car