Dante POVKissing her lips softly, I pull back, catching her smirk as she gazes up at me. “I need to get back down and help. Are you coming?” My hand wraps possessively around her neck, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my palm. “Mmm... You could play with me under your desk, and no one would know,” she bites her lip, her voice dripping with temptation. My body reacts instantly, a low groan escaping my throat as I pull away, trying to keep my focus. I gather my clothes quickly, dressing as she does the same, her eyes never leaving me. That smirk of hers—it gets under my skin every time, in the best way. She fascinates me. Every movement, every word—it leaves me in awe. Once we’re both dressed, I walk over to her, lifting her effortlessly. She rolls her eyes playfully, her lips twitching as if she’s holding back a laugh. “I told you—” I start, but she places her hand over my mouth, silencing me. “I know,” she says, her voice low and full of mischief. “If you want to carry me,
Luna POV I stay pressed against Dante’s chest, his hand gripping my hair, holding me against him. It feels grounding, safe even. I relax into his touch, letting the weight of his hand remind me that for now, I’m not alone in this. His presence always has that effect, like an anchor in the chaos. A knock at the door pulls me from the quiet moment, and Dante calls out for them to enter. I glance up to see a man walk in. His uniform catches my eye—police. Why would they be here? “Dante,” the officer greets, his eyes immediately settling on me. I feel a wave of discomfort and instinctively move closer to Dante, though I can’t get much closer than I already am. Dante’s voice turns cold and dangerous. “Stop fucking looking at her. Now.” The man averts his gaze quickly, clearly understanding the weight of the warning. “I found Brian,” the officer continues, stepping forward and laying a piece of paper on the desk. “Based on the information, he’s staying locally, at a house he owns.” I
Luna POVOnce I’m fully dressed and armed, I take a deep breath, steadying myself before heading back out. Rich is waiting outside, his expression unreadable. “Ready?” he asks. “Yeah,” I reply, my voice calm. He leads me downstairs, through the corridors of the club, until we reach Hell. The thrum of music already echoes from the distance, and I can feel the pulse of the night beginning to build. Tonight is Ladies’ Night. And though everything around me feels uncertain, I know one thing for sure—I’m ready for whatever comes next. I hug Lilly tightly as she chats away, her words helping to keep my mind off everything that’s been gnawing at me. For the first half-hour, things are calm. The men begin their routine, stripping down while I sip on my drink, not too much, just enough to ease the edge of my thoughts. My eyes keep drifting from Rich to the doors, though. I can’t shake the feeling that I need to leave, to get out deal with this myself. But every time I glance at Rich, he’s
Luna POV Sasha weaves through the crowd, slipping money into the hands of different women, tapping her watch each time. I watch her, my mind spinning with confusion. What kind of distraction is this? I thought she’d do something simple—maybe ask Rich for help or cause a minor scene. But this... whatever she’s orchestrating feels more chaotic than I expected. I scan the room, my heart pounding as I wait for something to happen. Then, suddenly, I hear the sharp smash of glass breaking. I whip my head around and see the women Sasha paid, now engaged in a full-blown fight. Drinks are spilling, chairs are being knocked over, and the two guards who were stationed nearby are struggling to contain the chaos. There’s too many women for them to handle alone, and the scene is quickly escalating. My stomach twists when I see one of the women hit Lilly. No! This wasn’t part of the plan! I didn’t want anyone—especially not the workers—getting hurt. My breath catches as I watch Lilly stumble, her
Luna POVThere’s no room for regret. Not now. Not anymore. He can sit there and bleed to death. I step out of the room, my hands steady, the adrenaline burning through me like fire. I grab the gun from my garter, the weight of it a reminder of what I came here to do. This isn’t over, not yet. As I move through the dimly lit hallways, the house is eerily quiet, every footstep of mine echoing like a ticking clock counting down the moments until everything changes. The sharp tang of blood lingers in the air, clinging to my senses as I make my way to the kitchen, the gun tucked securely in my hand. I step into the kitchen, and there he is. Brian, my father, the man who turned my life into a living nightmare, stands by the counter. His eyes widen in shock when he sees me, his hand pausing over a glass of water. He knows why I’m here. His mouth opens, but before he can utter a word, I lift the gun and fire. The bullet slices through the air, hitting him squarely in the arm. The glass sh
Luna POVThe blade slices down my chest, cutting shallow, leaving a burning line of pain in its wake. I yelp, biting back the sound as my body trembles. “Oh, did I catch you?” Alex coos, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He circles around to face me, his smirk deepening as he presses his finger into the cut, causing me to hiss in pain. “Alex, stop taunting,” one of the other men mutters, clearly uncomfortable with how this is playing out. But Alex just laughs, his dark eyes locked on me. “He said not to rush,” Alex replies, shrugging. “And trust me, my words alone are tormenting her, aren’t they, Lena? That’s why you threw up when you heard my voice.” My body shakes as I try to suppress any emotion, any sign of fear. But his voice, his touch—everything about him brings back the terror I’ve tried so hard to bury. “What did my voice remind you of, Lena?” he whispers, his knife dragging down my arm now, cutting again. It’s shallow, not deep enough to scar, but the sting is sharp. “
Luna POV With Alex towering over me, I kick my feet forward, catching his knee. He stumbles, and in his moment of distraction, I attempt to crawl away. But as I move, I realize my hands are tied behind my back—there’s no way I can grab the gun. I curse silently, my legs my only remaining weapon. As Alex crawls toward me, I swing one leg toward his shoulder. He notices, grasping my foot, but that’s exactly what I wanted. My other leg swings up, catching him square in the face. He grunts in pain, momentarily dazed, but before I can capitalize on it, his hands grab my knees, slamming my legs apart. He kneels on my thighs, pinning me to the ground, his weight unbearable. Panic rushes through me as I thrash, screaming in fury. The knife gleams in his hand, a reminder of what’s coming if I don’t do something. “Too scared to untie me and make it a real fight?” I taunt, laughing despite the fear clawing at me. I hoped my words would spark his sick desire for the thrill of a chase, but th
Dante POV I come back into the office and immediately notice Luna’s absence. Glancing at Callum, he laughs, shaking his head. “Rich guided her upstairs to get ready, then took her to Ladies’ Night.” Nodding, I relax, dropping into my chair. “Good, we need to discuss things.” I grab the piece of paper from the desk and hand it to him. It’s the address for where Brian is. Callum takes it, scanning the paper before handing it back. “What are you thinking?” “Ashley’s staying there, I’m sure of it. But we need to know if that’s where Brian has the women. Are they living there? Are the other guys hiding there too? We don’t know anything for sure.” I run a hand over my face, frustrated. “We can’t just storm in without knowing what we’re walking into.” Callum nods. “We need someone unconnected to watch the place, right? Someone outside of our circle.” “Yeah. Brian and his men run nights, just like us. By six, most of them will be crawling into bed. We go in the morning when they’re as
Lilly POVI hold my breath as he continues.“Behind the scenes, this place offers sex work. But it’s not what you’re thinking. Every man who uses these services is vetted extensively before they’re allowed access. Every room is monitored, recorded. The women keep everything they make. It’s not perfect, but it’s safe. Safer than being out on the street, at the mercy of men like Andrew.”His words sink in, and I can’t move. Can’t breathe. My mind races, processing everything. A brothel. A strip club. A place where women sell their bodies—but safely. My lip trembles as I try to make sense of it all. He’s staring at me, waiting for a reaction.He told me about his mother and sister. Is it true? Would he lie about something like that? But he’s helping me, protecting me. Surely that means he’s telling the truth. Doesn’t it?The room feels heavy with Callum’s words, his voice still echoing in my mind. My heart pounds as I process everything he’s said. A brothel—sex work, but safe. Women keep
Lilly POVWhen the doors slide open, I follow him into the depths of this strange new world, the pain of my past still clinging to me, but for the first time in years, the faintest flicker of hope glimmers on the horizon.My eyes dart around the unfamiliar space, trying to take in my surroundings and piece together where I am. The halls are clean, polished, and far too quiet, with an air of something carefully constructed. Callum walks ahead of me, his confident stride unwavering. I trail behind, hesitant but with no better option. My heart races as he pauses, his warm smile softening as he opens a door and gestures for me to follow.The office we step into is sleek but not overly extravagant. The man behind the desk looks up, his eyes sharp but his smile disarmingly kind. His presence is calm, steady, and strangely comforting. He doesn’t stand, doesn’t extend a hand. He simply nods in acknowledgment.“Rachel,” he says, his voice even and measured. “I’m Dante.” His gaze holds mine, no
LillyPain drags me from the depths of unconsciousness, its sharp tendrils gripping every inch of my body. My ribs ache with each shallow breath, and a dull throb pulses behind my eyes. But beneath it all, there’s warmth—thick, heavy, unfamiliar. The softness of the mattress envelops me, the weight of a lavish duvet pressing gently against my battered frame. It’s so unlike the cold, hard surfaces I’ve grown accustomed to. For a fleeting moment, I think I’m dreaming.I try to sit up, a low groan escaping my lips as the effort sends fresh waves of pain coursing through me. Before I can go any further, a hand presses gently against my shoulder, halting me.“Slow down, you’re hurt,” a deep voice says softly, steady and calm, though it carries an undertone of quiet strength. My gaze darts upward, locking onto the man beside me.“Callum,” he says with a faint smile, as though sensing my hesitation. “In case you forgot my name.”Callum. The memory rushes back—his towering frame blocking out
As we ride back down in the elevator, his voice cuts through the silence. “Why do you want to help women like her? What makes you care?”I glance at him, weighing my words carefully. I don’t usually talk about my mother and sister—it’s a wound that never fully heals. But something about his tone tells me he’s asking for more than curiosity.“When I was younger, I noticed my little sister withdrawing, hiding away. She wouldn’t talk to me. Then one day, she turned up dead. My mom… she fell apart. I found out my father had forced her into street work, and when my sister was barely a teen, he sold her off. After my sister’s death, he ran. My mom killed herself not long after.”He doesn’t say anything, just listens. I continue, my voice steady despite the weight of the memories. “My dad wasn’t anyone big, just desperate and cruel. After my mom died, I tracked him down. Killed him myself. Along the way, I met others—men far worse, with entire networks behind them. Helping the women caught i
Callum 2 years earlierThe phone call ends, and I shove the last of my belongings into a battered duffel bag. There’s not much to pack; I’ve been living out of this bag for years, trying to outrun the weight of my past. But nothing makes a difference, not here. Not anywhere. This place was supposed to be a fresh start, but it’s as hollow as every other attempt. Maybe these new clubs will be different. Maybe this will be the answer.For over fifteen years, I’ve been trying to find a way to fix the fucked-up situation my mother and sister were trapped in. To help women who’ve been dragged through the same hell. And finally, I think I’ve found it—or at least the beginning of it.The streets are quiet as I head toward the train station, my boots scuffing against the pavement. The early hour cloaks the world in a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional hum of a distant car. It’s better this way. I need the quiet to figure out my next move. This guy—Dante—is a mystery. All I know is th
Lilly - 4 Years EarlierAndrew leans back in the driver’s seat, his cold eyes cutting through me like a knife. He nods toward the dark, narrow alleyway ahead, a place that reeks of danger and despair. I hesitate, gripping the edge of the car seat as though it might save me. His glare sharpens, slicing through my resolve like glass shattering against stone.“You can run,” he says, his voice dripping with venomous mockery. “Go ahead.” A twisted grin spreads across his face. “Try it. I won’t even chase you.”His finger brushes against my cheek, slow and deliberate, sending bile surging up my throat. I flinch, my breath hitching, but I can’t move. His presence is suffocating, every word laced with malice, every touch a violation.“You say that, but…” My voice cracks, the words dying in my throat.“But your little sister would make the perfect replacement, wouldn’t she?” His voice drops to a whisper, each word coiling around me like a noose. “She’s got that fiery red hair, just like you.”
This is the start of Lilly and Callum's storyCallum - 18 Years OldWaking up feels like clawing my way out of a grave. My body is leaden, pinned to the sagging mattress by the weight of something I can’t name. The air reeks of sweat, stale smoke, and something sour—vomit maybe, or the leftovers of another night wasted in this filthy room. Everything around me is a distorted blur, like looking through cracked glass. The dim light from the cracked blinds barely cuts through the haze, illuminating the chaos I’ve surrounded myself with—empty bottles, burned foil, crumpled syringes, and piles of clothes that haven’t seen a wash in weeks.This time, it’s different. I can feel it in my bones, in the way my heart races and my skin crawls as if there are a thousand invisible insects burrowing under my flesh. I’ve woken up after bad trips before—dozens of times, maybe hundreds. Every time, I’ve brushed myself off, forced my way through the fog, and found my way back to the poison that put me t
Luna POVI toss the pregnancy test down, feeling a wave of relief, but something still gnaws at me. It doesn’t feel real. I pace the room like a madwoman, while Lilly sits there, laughing like this is all some comedy show.“You know it’s over 99% accurate, right? Not 100%” she says, smirking. “Well, in real life it’s more like 92% because, let’s face it, most people don’t know how to use them properly.”I shoot her a death glare. “I take my pill at the exact same time every damn day!” I throw my hands up, and she only laughs harder, clearly entertained by my spiral.“Maybe it’s just wedding stress making you late?” she shrugs, but I can’t buy that. I’ve been way more stressed than this before and my period never played hide and seek like this.“It said ‘not pregnant,’ Luna. Why are you still on this rampage?” she teases, eyes sparkling with amusement.“Until I see actual blood, I will remain on this rampage!” I shout, pacing even faster.Lilly leans back, laughing. “So I take it you d
Dante POVI reach out and gently tilt her chin up so she’s looking directly at me. “Why do you think I haven’t brought up anal?” I ask, my voice soft but firm. “I saw how your body tensed when Justin casually mentioned it once. I knew immediately it was a hard limit for you.”Her cheeks flush, and I laugh. “Am I wrong?” I ask, though I already know the answer.She looks around, embarrassed, and shakes her head.“I also noticed you skip those parts in your books—the ones with anal scenes. You couldn’t even read about it without discomfort.” I grin, feeling a little self-conscious about how deeply I’ve studied her, but it’s important she knows. “And when you say ‘no’ or ‘stop’ but you don’t really mean it, your lip curls up, just a little. You try to hide it, but you fail every time. It’s a dead giveaway.”She rolls her eyes, laughing. “Okay, so you know my body better than I do.”“Exactly. And you really need to stop smirking when you’re being a brat,” I tease, winking at her.“It’s ha