Ninaâs breath came in quick, uneven gasps as Roscoâs words echoed in her ears.âWhy are you standing there?âShe 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. Seleneâs 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. âSit down,â 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 Ninaâs 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.âHow did she get back into the estate?â Sele
Nathanâs villa was quiet, but the silence was shattered by a deep, thunderous voice.âISABELLE!âAdrianâs furious roar echoed through the sitting room , his voice sharp enough to cut through the whole villa. His eyes blazed with rage, his presence commanding as he stood in the middle of the sitting room, his fists clenched.Isabelle sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers digging into the sheets as she bit her nails, her mind a whirlwind of frustration and anger. The events at the training grounds played over and over in her head, taunting her.She should have handled it better. She should have fought harder.Her pride was wounded, and the humiliation burned deep.âDamn it,â she hissed, her fingers gripping her hair as she rocked slightly, seething. How could she have let Victoria humiliate her like that? How could she have lost control in front of everyone?Her breath came out uneven, rage tightening her chest.Then. âISABELLE!âThe deep, thundering voice shattered the silence.Her
The moment Isabelle returned to her room, she shut the door and pressed her back against it. Her chest heaved, her fingers trembled, but not with fear. No, it was something else.Disappointment.Power.Nathanâs words still echoed in her mind, cutting deeper than she wanted to. "You should be making peace with Victoria, not picking fights with her. That is the only way you stand a chance of winning Adrian back."Her lips curled in disgust.Make with peace with that brat that doesn't even like me at all, she scoffed. He thought she was weak.Adrian thought she was insignificant.Selene and Victoria had made a fool of her.The rage inside her boiled hotter, clawing at her insides, demanding release.She wouldnât allow this.She refused to be discarded like trash.Her fingers curled into fists as she paced the room, her nails digging into her palm. Her entire body shook with fury, her mind racing with thoughts of revenge.They want a war?A slow, cruel smirk tugged at her lips.They wil
A slow, wicked smile curled her lips as she glanced back at the door they had just shut. Ninaâs pained gasps still echoed faintly behind it, her weak body convulsing as the poison did its work. A fitting end for a loose end.Isabelle exhaled sharply, the thrill of control surging through her veins. She had done it. One less obstacle standing in her way.But Nathan wasnât as composed.He walked beside her, his jaw clenched, his posture stiff. Something about the way he moved, the way his fingers twitched at his sides made it clear that something was on his mind.Isabelle noticed, but she didnât comment. Not yet.They emerged from the labyrinth and stepped into the crisp night air. The guards they had drugged still lay motionless, their breathing slow and even. Everything had gone exactly as planned.No mistakes.No witnesses.Nathan ran a hand through his dark hair, his expression unreadable as he turned to her. âItâs done.â His voice was flat, but there was something underneath it.
Nathanâs footsteps echoed sharply as he stormed down the corridor, his jaw clenched so tight it ached. His hands balled into fists, his mind racing with everything that had just happened.Adrian was playing with them. Toying with them.He didn't need to say their names. His knowing looks, the smug amusement in his voice, it was clear. Adrian suspected them. No, he knew. And that meant they were walking on a thin line that could snap at any second.Behind him, Isabelle followed at a measured pace, her expression eerily composed.âAre you going to slow down,â she murmured, âor should I run to keep up?âNathan exhaled sharply but didnât stop. âHe was testing us.â His voice was low, furious. âAnd you played right into it.âIsabelle chuckled, a soft, knowing sound. âMe?â She arched a brow. âI handled that beautifully.âNathan spun to face her, his eyes flashing with barely restrained anger. âHe doesnât need proof, Isabelle. Not with the way you smirked through the entire thing. You might a
The night air was biting cold, making Selene shiver slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself. Nathan noticed and turned to her. âYou should go inside,â he said, his voice laced with concern.Selene nodded. âI will head to my room now.âNathan fell into step beside her, escorting her through the dimly lit corridors. Just as they neared her room, footsteps echoed from the other side. Nathan looked up and immediately stiffened when he saw Adrian, Matteo, and Rosco approaching.The moment Selene saw Adrian, her face lit up. Without hesitation, she left Nathanâs side and rushed toward him. âAdrian,â she called softly, relief and affection clear in her voice.Nathan clenched his fists as he watched her throw her arms around Adrian, pressing herself against him as though he was the only thing that mattered. His stomach twisted in knots, but he forced himself to remain composed.Adrian responded immediately, holding her close as he kissed the top of her head. His grip on her was posse
Isabella held the phone to her ear, The silence that followed her selene's fatherâs words was deafening, ringing in her ears like an unspoken warning. Her heart pounded against her ribs, frustration and confusion clashing inside her like two raging storms.âI will tell you when it is time, but for now, give yourself a good rest,â he had said, his voice calm yet distant, before abruptly ending the call.Isabella stared at the dark screen, her lips parting as if to say something, but the words never came. A lump formed in her throat, thick with emotions she couldn't quite name. Anger? Worry? Fear? She clenched her jaw and inhaled deeply, trying to suppress the surge of questions threatening to drown her thoughts. What was he hiding? Why was he being so cryptic? She hated being kept in the dark, especially when it concerned something so obviously important.He should have just tell her right away. When he knew he won't tell her immediately, why did he call? She hissed in anger. With
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.âHe saved me,â Selena whispered, her voice barely audible. âHe could have let me die... after everything...âAdrian turned his head slowly, eyes shadowed with guilt and pain. âHe wasnât always a traitor.ââHeâs still your cousin.âAdrianâs jaw clenched. âAnd he was still working with the woman who tried to destroy us.âSelena didnât argue. Because he wasnât wrong but neither was she.âI want to see her,â she said suddenly, her tone sharp.âWho?â Adrian asked.âIsabella.â---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.âItâs done,â Your father said. âHe was one of them. Adrianâs sister, she was caught in our crossfire that year.âIsabella gasped, hand flying to her mouth. âAre you serious?ââShe trusted one of us. And it got her killed.âIsabellaâs shock quickly twisted into excitement. âAdrian doesnât know, does he?ââHe doesnât. But you can change that. Leave a trail. Let him find it himself. If he connects the dots, heâll never look at Selene the same again.âA slow, dangerous smile spread across Isabellaâs face. âConsider it done.âShe ended the call and practically flew out the door, her mind racing. She reached Nathanâs place breathless and laughing.âIâve got it,â she said, barging in.Nathan raised an eyebrow. âWhat?ââThe information that will destroy them more. Since they have reconcile too quickly, I have found something to break them back. Adrianâs sisterâs
Adrian stood by the window of his study, hands clasped behind his back. He hadnât slept.Not out of fear or restlessness, but because his mind was already three steps aheadâplotting, 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. âCome in.âMatteo entered, freshly changed, though his knuckles were still stained red. âThe chamber is secured. Both men are restrained. Specterâs injuries are worse, but theyâll live.âAdrian nodded once. âNo one gets near them unless I authorize it.ââUnderstood.âMatteo hesitated. âAnd the court tomorrowâare you sure itâs wise to go yourself?ââI wonât trust this to anyone else,â Adrian said, his voice like steel. âToo much has been sacrificed for it. I need to see it through.âMa
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 didnât 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.âNoâĶâ he whispered.Rosco smirked, eyes gleaming with venomous satisfaction. âHello, Matteo. Still wagging your tail behind him, I see.âMatteo took a step forward instinctively, but Adrian raised a hand, his arm sweeping across Matteoâs chest to stop him. The motion was subtle but firm.Matteoâs chest heaved with betrayal, his eyes fixed on Rosco. âYou were with usâĶ you trained with us.âRosco chuckled, slow and condescending, before turning to Adrian, the amusement on his face deepening.âBut him?â Rosco nodded toward Adrian. âHe trusted me. Gave me everything. Took me into his inner circle. Showed me where the real power lies.âAdrian arched a brow, his expression unreadable.âPower?â he echoed, voice cool and distant. âWhat power?âRosco sneered, reaching behind him.With a flourish, he reveal
Nathan stood by the window, his arms crossed as he watched another group of Adrianâs men load ammunition into vehicles. He didnât like the feeling in his gut.âWhat the hell is he planning?â he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.Isabella sat on the edge of the couch, scrolling through her phone in frustration. âVictoria still isnât answering. Iâve called her five times.âNathanâs brows furrowed. âSheâs not the type to ignore calls but since it is yours she can definitely ignore you. Isabella tossed the phone beside her and stood. âSomething is going on, Nathan. This silenceâĶ this secrecy, itâs not just about protecting the pack. Adrian is hiding something.âNathanâs gaze flickered to her, unreadable. âThen maybe itâs better we stay out of it.âIsabella looked at him, stunned. âYouâre just going to sit back and do nothing?âHe shrugged slightly. âItâs not my fight. Adrian made that clear a long time ago. And honestly? Iâm 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 Ghostedâs operations.âThe celebration will end soon,â Alvarez muttered, his fingers tracing a key location. âTheir leader thinks heâs untouchable, but his arrogance will be his downfall.âThe masked leader tilted his head slightly. âYou want him dead, or do you have something else in mind?âAlvarez smirked. âDead, but not yet. I want him to watch as everything he built crumbles first.âThe leader nodded in understanding. âThen weâll strike fast and without mercy. We have our entry points secured. The Ghosted will never see it coming.âMeanwhile, deep within Adrianâs pack territory, the Ghosted were moving ahead with their own plans, Their informants had pinpointed a potential weakness in the packâs securityâan 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 wasâone 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