Selena moved quickly, her bare feet making no sound against the cold tiles of the corridor. Every creak of the old mansion felt amplified in the silence of the night. She clutched a small bag to her chest, its contents hastily gathered over the past few days: a water bottle, some bread wrapped in cloth, and a map she’d managed to find in one of the old storage rooms. It wasn’t much, but it was all she had. Adrian’s men were stationed everywhere, their stern faces and sharp eyes making her feel like a mouse trapped in a maze full of predators. She had to time her movements carefully, slipping between shadows when their backs were turned. But no matter how cautious she was, the feeling of being watched never left her.Earlier that evening, she had overheard two guards whispering about Dmitri. The tension in their voices had confirmed what Adrian refused to tell her: Dmitri was more than just a threat. He was dangerous, and he was close. Selena wasn’t sure what Dmitri wanted from her, b
Selena sat by the window, staring out at the gray morning sky. Rain dripped steadily from the edges of the roof, creating small puddles on the cobblestone paths below. She wrapped her arms around her knees, feeling more trapped than ever. Viktor’s warning last night had shaken her, but it hadn’t made things any clearer. If anything, she felt even more confused. Dmitri was dangerous—that much she believed. But Adrian wasn’t safe either. His mood shifted so quickly, like a storm rolling in without warning. One moment, he seemed almost kind, the next, he was cold and controlling. How could she trust someone like that? Her mother’s sudden appearance had only added to the confusion. When she had appeared in Selena’s room the night before, Selena had been too stunned to speak at first. Her mother had been in hiding, waiting for the right moment to talk to her. “Adrian is dangerous,” her mother had said in a low voice, her eyes darting toward the door. “But Dmitri is worse. Whatever yo
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the Russo estate. Selena wandered through the gardens, her mind heavy with unanswered questions. Every step she took felt like a march deeper into a labyrinth of deceit and danger. Adrian had been distant all morning, but Selena knew better than to assume he wasn’t watching. He always was. His presence lingered like a ghost, impossible to ignore. "Selena." His voice came from behind her, deep and steady. She turned, her pulse quickening. Adrian stood a few feet away, his dark suit immaculate, his expression unreadable. "Walk with me." She hesitated, then nodded. They strolled silently for a while, the gravel crunching beneath their feet. Selena finally broke the silence. "What is this about, Adrian?" He stopped abruptly and turned to her, his gaze piercing. "I want to make sure you understand the stakes. This isn’t a game you can play half-heartedly." "I never said it was," she replied, her voice steady. Adrian ste
The air in Selena’s room was heavy, her thoughts spinning out of control as she paced back and forth. Dmitri’s threats had always loomed like storm clouds on the horizon, but now they were striking far too close. Alina had been taken, and her chest tightened every time she thought about what might be happening to her. Alina was just an innocent coworker and thoughts of her getting hurt because of her was....Selena stopped at the window, pressing her head against the cool glass. The estate grounds stretched before her, quiet and serene, a contrast to the thoughts in her mind. She couldn’t do this alone, and the thought of asking Adrian for help was unthinkable. Adrian. He was her last hope, but he was also the one person she wasn’t sure she could trust. His power was undeniable, his influence unmatched—but his motives? They were something she couldn't trust.The sharp knock on her door made her flinch. She turned, her heart pounding as the door swung open to reveal Adrian. He didn
Sunlight streamed through the curtains, and Selena stirred awake, blinking against the brightness. Her body ached from the tension of the past few days, but the faint hum of voices drew her out of bed. Rubbing her eyes, she slipped on a robe and padded down the hall. The sight in the dining room stopped her in her tracks. Alina sat at the breakfast table, her hair brushed neatly, though her face still bore faint signs of exhaustion. Across from her was Selena’s mother, quietly sipping tea as if this were a normal morning. “Alina?” Selena’s voice wavered, half-convinced she was dreaming. Alina turned, her tired eyes lighting up when she saw Selena. “Morning,” she said, her voice soft but steady. Selena hurried to her side, gripping her shoulders gently. “You’re okay. You’re really okay.” Alina nodded, her gaze dropping. “Thanks to you.” Selena sat across from her, her heart heavy with relief and guilt. “How did it happen? How did they take you?” Alina hesitated, her han
The evening air felt oppressive as Selena made her way to Adrian’s study. Her steps were heavy, but her determination was solid. She couldn’t keep living like this. Every moment spent in this house was another reminder of how far she had fallen under Adrian’s control, and it had to end. Tonight, she would tell him the truth—she was leaving. The door to the study was ajar, and she pushed it open without knocking. Adrian sat at his desk, leaning back in his chair with a glass of whiskey in hand. His dark eyes flicked up at her, cold and calculating, as though he had been expecting her. “Selena,” he drawled, his voice low and smooth. “To what do I owe this unannounced visit?” She swallowed hard, willing her voice to remain steady. “I want to leave.” His hand stilled mid-air, the glass halfway to his lips. A beat of silence passed before he set it down and laughed—a deep, mocking sound that sent a chill down her spine. “Leave?” he repeated, standing from his chair. The amusement
Selena stood in front of the mirror, her lips pressed into a tight line as she reluctantly fastened the last strap of the red gown. The thin, revealing fabric clung to her body, leaving little to the imagination. She felt exposed, vulnerable, and furious. Adrian had taken control of so many aspects of her life, and now, even her clothing wasn’t safe. Her reflection glared back at her, defiant despite her discomfort. "Fine", she thought. "If he wants me to wear this, I’ll wear it. But I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me broken."When she stepped out of the room, the guard and maid exchanged glances but said nothing. She ignored them, lifting her chin as they escorted her down the hall and outside, where Adrian waited by the car. He was leaning casually against the sleek black vehicle, dressed in a tailored suit that hugged his frame perfectly. His dark hair was slicked back, and the faintest hint of stubble lined his jaw. Selena froze for a moment, caught off guard by ho
Selena’s heart pounded as Adrian led her to a private booth overlooking the bloodstained arena. The VIP section was luxurious in stark contrast to the brutality below. Plush seats, gold trim, and thick curtains made it look more like a throne room than a place to watch men fight to the death. Selena gripped the edge of the chair Adrian directed her to, her knuckles white as her eyes fixed on the scene below. Two men circled each other in the ring, their faces hardened with desperation. The crowd cheered wildly as one lunged, slamming his opponent to the ground. “Why are we here?” Selena whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise. Adrian leaned back in his seat, swirling the glass of dark liquor in his hand. “To teach you a lesson,” he replied smoothly. Her gaze snapped to his, confusion and anger swirling in her expression. “A lesson? What kind of lesson involves this barbarity?” He tilted his head, smirking faintly. “Patience, Selena. Watch.” She wanted to refuse,
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