The heavy silence hung in the air as all eyes turned to me expectantly. Kian’s mother Octavia had asked who I was in a deceptively calm tone laced with steel. I swallowed hard, feeling Kian’s intense stare boring into me from one side and his father Vincenzo’s contemptuous look from the other. I had no choice but to answer. “My name is Isadora,” I began, keeping my voice as steady as possible. “I’m a student at the local university.” Octavia scoffed loudly. “A college girl? This is who you’ve brought into our affairs?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Of all the foolish, reckless things…” Kian and I sat across the large dining table from his parents, an uncomfortable silence hanging in the air. His father Vincenzo studied me with a look of disdain. “So, this is the girl you’ve brought home?” he said gruffly, eyeing my casual sundress with clear disapproval. Before I could reply, Kian spoke up. “Yes, Father. This is Isadora.” Vincenzo grunted. “I see. And what makes this one so
I stared at the ominous message on my phone, my heart pounding in my chest. ‘I’m always watching.’ Was someone spying on me? The thought sent a chill down my spine. Surely it was just a prank, right? I tried to laugh it off, but a nagging sense of unease lingered.The next day, I went to Emercyn’s apartment to gather my belongings. Kyle was told to follow me everywhere, so he trailed behind me like an unwanted shadow.As soon as Emercyn opened the door, she enveloped me in a tight hug. “Oh my god, Isadora! Are you okay? I was so worried when you didn’t come home. And why weren’t you picking your calls?!”“It’s a long story,” I sighed, stepping back. “Can we talk inside?”Once we were settled on her couch, I recounted everything - from being auctioned off to Kian, to the disastrous meeting with his terrifying parents.“They were absolutely horrible, Em,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “His father called me a whore and said my parents must have died of shame over me.”Emercyn’s ey
Kian’s movements became more frenzied, his muscles tensing as he drove into me relentlessly. I was right on the edge, that coiled knot of pleasure threatening to snap at any second.“Kian…please…I’m so close,” I panted, raking my nails down his back desperately.He growled against my neck, the sound vibrating through me deliciously. “Come for me, principessa.”That was all it took to push me over the edge into shattering ecstasy. I cried out sharply as wave after wave of intense pleasure washed over me. Kian kept thrusting, prolonging my high until finally he went rigid, letting out a guttural groan as he found his own release.We clung to each other, both trembling and covered in sweat when the feeling of desire finally began to clear. I felt utterly boneles, like I could just melt into the mattress.Kian rolled onto his back, chest still heaving. I expected him to make some smug remark about thoroughly claiming what was his. But instead, he just lay there in silence, staring up at t
I tossed and turned in bed, tightly wound with frustration after Kian’s abrupt departure during our heated encounter. My body still thrummed with unfulfilled desire, aching for his touch. With a huff, I rolled onto my side, glaring at Kian’s broad back as he slept beside me. The man was an infuriating enigma. Resigned to a restless night, I closed my eyes and tried to quiet my racing thoughts. Eventually, exhaustion won out, and I drifted into an uneasy slumber. The next morning, Kian was already gone when I woke. A servant informed me he had instructed her to escort me to one of the mansion’s training rooms after breakfast. Confused but curious, I quickly ate and followed the maid’s lead. The training room was massive, with padded floors, racks of weapons, and various training dummies and equipment. A tall, muscular man with close-cropped dark hair stood in the center, looking imposing in his all-black workout gear. “Ah, you must be Isadora,” he greeted with a charming smile as I
I was in shock for the rest of the day after the crazy confrontation with Armani. I couldn’t stop replaying the violent scene in my mind - the sickening crunches as Kian’s fists slammed into Armani, the splashes of blood. And Kian did it all because Armani dared to put his hands on me.A shudder went through me thinking about Kian’s extreme possessiveness. There was no downplaying his motivations - he reacted with swift, brutal violence against someone he saw as touching his “property.” The thought should have filled me with furious indignation that I belonged to no man. But a darker part of me, one I didn’t fully understand, felt something else entirely at Kian’s show of savage dominance. An aching awareness that both shamed and thrilled me.I tried not to dwell too much on those confusing feelings. Instead, I kept myself busy exploring the huge mansion - the libraries, gardens, artwork. Anything to occupy my restless mind.When evening came, I went to the bedroom I shared with Kian,
Kian’s eyes narrowed dangerously at the trembling servant. “What situation?”The man swallowed hard, clearly terrified of angering his boss further. “It’s…your brother, sir. Luca. He’s been shot.”A tense silence fell over the room as the weight of those words sank in. My heart thudded against my ribs as I watched a countless amount of emotions flicker across Kian’s chiseled features - disbelief, fury, and finally a cold, calculating focus.“Details. Now,” he bit out in a tone that brokered no argument.The servant rushed to explain. “We don’t know much yet. Luca was ambushed outside a club downtown about an hour ago. His men got him out and to a safe house, but he took two bullets - one to the shoulder and one to the abdomen. The impact vests saved his life, but he’s lost a lot of blood. The family doctor is with him now, but they need you there right away.”Kian’s jaw ticked, the muscle tensing with barely leashed rage. When he finally spoke, his voice was glacier cold. “Ready my ca
The armored SUV raced through the darkened streets of Monte Carlo like a black shark, engines growling. Kian’s face was set in grim lines, his jaw clenched tight as he stared ahead with laser focus. I shifted uncomfortably in the tense silence, acutely aware of the armed men surrounding us. “Where are we going?” I asked in a small voice. Kian’s eyes sliced towards me briefly before returning to the road. “A safe house where my brother is being treated.” My stomach twisted sickly at the implication that Luca had been so gravely injured, he couldn’t even be taken to a hospital. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the mental images of his bloodied body. “Who did this?” I whispered, almost afraid to ask. Kian’s knuckles went white where he gripped the steering wheel. “That’s what we’re going to find out.” His tone promised severe consequences for whoever was responsible. We lapsed back into tense quiet, the weight of the situation pressing down like a physical force. I could
Boom! Another big loud noise made me jump. Bullets came flying through the walls, breaking them into little pieces. Kian’s men moved quickly to the windows and started shooting back.“Get down on the floor!” Marco shouted at me. He dropped to one knee and fired his gun.I laid flat on the dirty floor and covered my head with my shaky hands. Everything was crazy around me. The scary sounds of fighting - people screaming, guns booming, and bullets hitting metal - filled my ears until I thought I might throw up because I was so scared.Kian moved really fast and dangerous behind a table that was flipped over. He kept firing his gun towards the people attacking us from outside. His face looked tough and like he had been in lots of fights before. His eyes shined like a man who knows all about fighting.Suddenly, a bunch of really fast gunshots ripped across the room, blowing up the couch I was hiding behind. I screamed and scrambled backwards as the stuffing from inside it flew everywhere.
Chapter 37: Walking the TightropeThe car ride back was tense. Kian kept his eyes on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly. I could feel the weight of what we’d started pressing down on both of us. The streets blurred past, shadows stretching long in the dimming light of dusk. I wanted to say something to ease the tension, but I didn’t know what words could break through the worry etched on his face.“You did good back there,” Kian finally said, his voice low and controlled. “But you know it’s going to get harder now. Dmitri won’t just take your word for it. He’ll test you, try to see if you’re really on his side.”I nodded, staring out of the window at the passing buildings. “I know. I’m ready for it. I’ll play along, make him believe I’m unsure, that I might actually turn against you.”Kian glanced at me, his expression softening just a little. “You need to be careful, Isa. Dmitri’s smart. He’ll push you, make you question everything. You can’t let him
I never thought I’d find myself here — standing in the middle of a warehouse, playing a part in a game I barely understood. The weight of Kian’s plan pressed down on me like an invisible force. He needed me to pretend that I was still in love with Dmitri, to convince him that I could be turned against Kian. But as Dmitri’s eyes bore into mine, I felt a cold wave of fear. What if Dmitri saw through the act? What if he knew I was lying? “Isa,” Dmitri said softly, his voice a smooth, dangerous whisper that slithered through the space between us. “I know you’re confused. I know Kian has filled your head with lies about me.”I kept my face neutral, channeling every ounce of strength I had into maintaining the façade. I took a slow step toward him, allowing my shoulders to slump just slightly, as if I were weighed down by uncertainty.“Dmitri,” I began, my voice trembling in just the right way. “I… I don’t know what to believe anymore. Everything has happened so fast, and I feel like I’m c
I hardly slept that night. My thoughts kept spiraling around Dmitri’s sudden appearance and the terrifying showdown between him and Kian. I kept replaying every word, every look, every unspoken threat that had hung in the air like a dark cloud. Both men had come crashing into my life with claims of protection, but all I felt was caught between two forces threatening to tear me apart.Morning light streamed through the curtains, and I blinked against it, groggy and disoriented. The house was quiet, the calm before the storm. I knew Kian would come to check on me soon, just as he had promised, and I wasn’t sure how to face him.I needed to get my bearings, to find some semblance of control. I quickly dressed in jeans and a simple top, tying my hair back hastily, then headed downstairs, trying to make as little noise as possible.I needed fresh air. Maybe it would clear my head, give me a moment to think clearly. I slipped out a side door into the garden, inhaling the crisp morning air.
The room seemed to shrink around me, every noise amplified, every movement slowed. Kian and Dmitri were still locked in a deadly struggle, but I knew I couldn’t just stand there, paralyzed by fear and indecision. I had to act — now.Without thinking, I lunged forward and grabbed a vase from a side table. It was heavy and made of thick glass, and I swung it with all my strength at Dmitri’s arm just as his hand closed around the grip of the gun. The impact was jarring, sending a shockwave through my arm and the vase shattered into a thousand pieces. Dmitri yelped, more out of surprise than pain, and the gun clattered to the floor, sliding away from his reach.“What the hell, Isa?” Dmitri snapped, pain flashing across his features. His eyes darted to the gun on the ground, and for a split second, he hesitated. I saw something flicker in his gaze — disbelief, betrayal, maybe even hurt.But Kian didn’t give him a chance to recover. He moved with lethal precision, one hand shooting out to g
The tension in Kian’s study was palpable as I stared at the photograph of Blythe, my heart racing. I forced my expression to remain neutral, even as panic threatened to overwhelm me.“I’m sorry, Kian,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “But I’ve never seen this girl before in my life.”Kian’s dark eyes bored into mine, searching for something - truth, deception, I couldn’t be sure. The silence stretched between us, taut as a wire.Finally, he nodded slowly. “I see,” he said, his voice carefully neutral. “My apologies. I thought perhaps…”He trailed off, shaking his head. “Never mind. It was a long shot anyway.”Relief flooded through me, but it was quickly replaced by guilt. I hated lying to Kian, even as I knew it was necessary. The truth about Blythe - about who I really was - could never come to light.Kian took the journal back, his fingers lingering on the photograph for a moment before he closed it. “I suppose I was grasping at straws,” he said, more to himself than to me. “Hopin
I woke to the sound of hushed voices and the gentle clink of china. Blinking groggily, I found Kian seated at the small table by the window, engaged in what appeared to be a tense conversation with an elegantly dressed older woman. It took me a moment to recognize her as Octavia, Kian’s mother.Their voices were low, but I caught snatches of their exchange as I feigned sleep.“…cannot continue like this, Kian,” Octavia was saying, her tone sharp with disapproval. “That girl is a liability.”Kian’s response was too quiet for me to hear, but the set of his shoulders spoke volumes. I felt a pang in my chest, remembering the cruel words Octavia and Vincenzo had hurled at me months ago. Their disdain for me had been palpable, cutting deeper than I cared to admit.“She’s not strong enough for this world,” Octavia continued, echoing her past criticisms. “You need someone who can stand beside you, not a fragile little thing you constantly have to protect.”I bristled at her words, fighting th
When I woke hours later, sunlight was streaming through the windows. I blinked groggily, momentarily disoriented. Then the events of the past few days came rushing back and I stiffened.Kian was still beside me, his arm draped loosely over my waist. His face was relaxed in sleep, dark lashes fanned out against his cheeks. He looked younger like this, almost vulnerable. It was jarring to see him so unguarded.As if sensing my scrutiny, his eyes fluttered open. For a moment, we just stared at each other in silence. Then reality seemed to reassert itself and Kian’s expression shuttered.“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice rough with sleep.I considered the question. Physically, I felt marginally better. The ache in my bones had dulled to a manageable throb and the worst of the bruising seemed to have faded slightly. Emotionally… that was a whole other story.“I’m fine,” I lied, pushing myself into a sitting position. “Look, about last night-”Kian held up a hand, cutting me off. “
I stood there, trembling with a volatile mix of rage and despair, my words hanging in the air between us like shards of broken glass. Kian’s face was an impenetrable mask, his dark eyes boring into mine with an intensity that both terrified and thrilled me. I hated myself for that small thrill, for the way my traitorous body still responded to his proximity despite everything.“You hate me?” he repeated, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. His grip on my chin tightened, fingers digging into my bruised skin. “Then why did you call me, Isadora? Why not run as far and fast as you could?”I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. “Because I had nowhere else to go,” I admitted, the words tasting like ash on my tongue. “But that doesn’t mean I want to be here. Let me go, Kian. Please.”For a moment, something flickered in his eyes - a hint of vulnerability, perhaps even regret. But it was gone so quickly I wondered if I’d imagined it.“No,” he said flatly. “You
The line crackled with static before her trembling voice filtered through. “Kian…it’s me. I’m alive, but in danger. Please help…”My blood chilled at her words. Isadora was alive, though from the sound of it, barely. After all the chaos with Alessandro’s takedown, I’d assumed the worst when she never resurfaced. Hearing her voice sent a surprising wave of relief through me.I immediately ran a trace on the call, pinpointing her location to a remote farmhouse on the outskirts of the city. So that’s where my feisty little hellcat had been laying low all this time.Wasting no time, I assembled a small team of my most trusted men and we sped through the night towards the coordinates. By the time we arrived in the dusty hamlet, the first light of dawn was bleeding over the horizon.The decrepit farmhouse stood alone amid fields of olive groves. My team fanned out, securing a perimeter while I approached the weathered front door alone. Taking a steadying breath, I raised my fist and pounded