Jace POVMy mind replays every second of this morning, trying to pick apart what doesn’t fit. Then it clicks.No.The pill Dale tried to put in her mouth, that wasn’t one of these, and she took it.“That’s not right,” I mutter, shaking my head.Rich looks up at me, raising a brow. “What?”“She was about to take them from Dale’s hand, and I saw them. One of them wasn’t a tablet, it was a capsule,” I say slowly, my pulse kicking up. “Not like these. Not a normal, solid pill. It was blue and fucking different.”Rich leans back in his chair, rubbing his jaw. “You sure?”I nod. “Positive. I snatched them before he could place them in her mouth, then I gave her them to take them herself. But Dale didn’t argue. Didn’t even fucking hesitate. If I was messing with someone’s meds, I’d at least try to cover my ass.”Rich considers this, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk. I don’t wait for him to say anything before continuing.“She also keeps losing money. Like, entire chunks of i
Serena POVI wake to the slow, steady sound of breathing beside me, warmth radiating from the body next to mine. The room is dim, but I can see the shape of him—Jace, lying on his back, his arm stretched over the pillow, his chest rising and falling in that deep, even rhythm of sleep.My fingers move before I can stop them, tracing lightly over his chest. His skin is warm beneath my touch, muscles tense even in sleep. I follow the path of ink along his collarbone, down over the ridges of muscle that shift subtly beneath his skin.I don’t know why I do it. Maybe because he’s real. Because I can feel him. Because touching him grounds me, even when my mind still hums with restless energy.Shifting closer, I lean over him, my breath ghosting over his skin as I press my lips against his chest. A slow, lingering kiss.His breathing changes.I feel the shift in him before I see it, the way his body tenses slightly, the way his head turns just a fraction in my direction. He’s waking up.I don
Serena POVMy throat goes dry, and Jace sees it. He fucking sees it. His expression softens, but there’s something burning behind his eyes, something dark.“Sit down, Firefly,” he murmurs, and for once, I don’t fight him. I drop into the nearest chair, my hands clenching into fists against my thighs.Jace crouches in front of me, his voice calm but firm. “We need to talk about what the hell has really been happening to you.”I stare at him, my breath coming too fast, my chest too tight. The room feels smaller, closing in. My fingers dig into my thighs, trying to ground myself, but it’s not working.He’s wrong, he has to be wrong.“Serena.” Jace’s voice is calm, steady, but I hear the edge of something sharper beneath it. “When was the last time you actually saw your pills before taking them?”I open my mouth to snap back, but nothing comes out, I don’t know and the realization slams into me like a fucking freight train.Dale always had them ready. He always placed them straight into m
Jace’s POVShe’s still trembling against me, her body tense like a live wire, but I can see it—the way her pulse slows just slightly under my fingertips, the way her breath, though still too fast, evens out just a little.She responds to it, Not just the words, not just the tone, the control.I don’t think she even realizes it, but I see it. The way her pupils dilate, how she focuses only on me when I grip her throat and order her to calm the fuck down. Like the chaos in her head is too much, but the second someone takes the choice away. The second someone makes her submit, it’s like a fucking reset button.That’s not normal, Not for someone who’s supposed to be on mood stabilizers and not for someone who’s supposed to be in control of her own mind.Rich leans back, watching, smirking like he’s enjoying the fucking show. “Well, that was interesting,” he mutters. “Gotta say, not the reaction I expected.”Neither did I, not this calm, not this quickly. I step back slightly, but she does
Jace POVRich sighs and drags a hand down his face. “Look, we’ve got two options. Either we let her ride this out cold, or we give her something to ease it. But I’m telling you right now, if she’s been on this shit for years, the withdrawal is gonna fuck her up bad.”Serena stiffens, and I see the panic flicker in her expression. She doesn’t want to do this the hard way, but we don’t know what Dale has been giving her for sure.I look at her, steadying my voice. “If we give you anything, it’s going to be something safe. Not another fucking drug to hook you on. Something to help with the symptoms, that’s it.”She swallows hard, nodding slowly. “Okay. Okay, just… not too much. I need to think.”I let go of her wrists and move to stand, but she reaches for me instantly, her fingers digging into my arm.“Jace,” she breathes, voice almost desperate.I look down at her, and she’s staring up at me, wide-eyed, afraid but trying to hold it together. I hate seeing her like this, but I hate even
Serena’s POVEverything feels wrong. My skin is too tight, my thoughts are too fast, my body is screaming at me to move, to find something, to fix whatever the fuck is happening inside me.But I don’t know how.Jace is gripping me, his hands tight around my wrists, his eyes locked on mine, forcing me to stay here, forcing me to feel this. I don’t want to feel this.I want to run, to find Dale, to take my pills and make this stop before it gets worse, before I lose myself completely, but I can’t.Jace won’t let me, his grip is firm but steady, holding me together even as my whole body shakes, even as my thoughts try to slip into something darker.“You trust me, right?” His voice is low, rough, demanding.I want to say no. I want to tell him he doesn’t get it, that he’s
Serena POV“You’d hate yourself, Serena,” he murmurs, softer this time. “Because right now, you’re not you. This isn’t a choice, you’re just trying to find something to hold onto while everything else is slipping away.”I hate that he’s right.I hate that he can see through me, that he knows.Tears burn at the back of my eyes, my body still trembling, exhaustion hitting me like a fucking freight train now that the worst of the panic is starting to settle. I press my face against his chest, my fingers curling weakly into his shirt.“I don’t want to be alone,” I whisper.He sighs, shifting, rolling us so that I’m tucked into his side instead of beneath him. His arm wraps around me, his grip firm, grounding. “I’m not going anywhere, Firefly.”I close my eyes, focusing on the steady beat of his heart, on the
Jace’s POVShutting the office door behind me, I let out a slow breath as I run a hand through my hair. Serena is finally asleep, curled up on that sofa like she’s been ripped apart from the inside out. I don’t know how long she’ll stay asleep, but she needs the fucking rest.I need answers.I find Rich in one of the private lounges, a half-empty glass of whiskey on the table beside him. He looks up as I approach, raising an eyebrow. “How is she?”Shrugging, I drop into the chair across from him. ”Fucked,” I mutter. “She’s all over the place. One second, she’s begging me to fuck her like it’ll fix everything, the next she’s barely able to stand.”Rich hums, swirling his drink. “Coming down hard, then?”“Yeah.” I exhale, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “And it’s nearly time for her bipolar meds,” I admi
“Hey.” I cup his face in my hands, my thumbs brushing over his cheekbones. “You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to carry everyone. We’re okay. I’m okay.”He looks at me, his eyes searching mine, and I can see the walls he usually keeps up start to lower. He doesn’t say anything, just holds me tighter, his fingers splayed against my back like he’s afraid to let go.“You’ve been my everything,” I whisper, my voice catching. “You saved me when I thought I couldn’t be saved. And I’ll never stop loving you for that.”He closes his eyes and leans his forehead against mine. “You’re the reason I keep going,” he murmurs. “You’re everything, firefly. You always have been.”The way he says it, the raw honesty in his voice, makes my throat tighten. I slide my hands down to his shoulders, holding him as close as I can. “I’ll always be here for you. No matter what.”For a long moment, we just sit there, holding each other in the middle of the noise and laughter of the party. It’s like the r
Serena POVThe music thumps lightly in the background as I sit on one of the plush couches in the corner of the reception hall, leaning back against the soft cushions. People are milling about, laughing, drinking, swaying to the music under the warm glow of fairy lights. It’s the end of the weekend, the final night of all the chaos and celebrations, and while I should be tired, I’m not. There’s a relaxed energy in the air, a sense of satisfaction that everything went off perfectly.Rich flops down beside me, a glass of something amber in his hand, and he’s grinning like a cat who just stole the cream. He stretches his legs out, looking entirely too pleased with himself, and I can’t help but laugh.“What’s that smug look for?” I nudge his arm.“Smug? Me? I don’t know what you’re talking about, sunshine.” He takes a long sip of his drink, his grin never fading. “I’m just happy. Look around, Dante’s hitched, Callum’s married, and no one set the place on fire. That’s what I call a win.”I
Jace POV“Oh, come on,” Dante presses, still grinning. “You don’t think it’s a little weird how you two always seem to know everything about each other? Like, everything.”Callum chimes in, shaking his head with a smirk. “I mean, it’s impressive, don’t get me wrong. But it’s also kinda suspicious. Like, how close are you two, really?”Rich leans back in his chair, spreading his arms. “What can I say? Jace and I just have that connection. Isn’t that right, Jace?”“Cut it out, Rich,” I snap, though I can feel the heat creeping into my face. It’s not that they’re serious, they’re just fucking with me, but the teasing is relentless.“Relax,” Dante says, raising his hands in mock surrender. “It’s not like we’re judging. We’re just saying… You two are close. Like, really close.”“Nothing wrong with that,” Callum adds, his grin widening. “In fact, it’s kind of sweet. You guys trust each other. You share things. Intimate things, apparently.”“Intimate my ass,” I grumble, grabbing a piece of t
Jace POVI watch her disappear into the bathroom, the sheet trailing behind her. As soon as the door closes, I lean back against the headboard, running a hand through my hair. “What the hell, Rich?” I grumble, turning my glare on him.He’s standing there with a coffee cup in one hand and a mischievous grin that I’m too tired to deal with. “You’re welcome for not barging in earlier,” he says, handing me the cup.I take it, wrapping both hands around it, and let the warmth sink in. “You could have waited a little longer. Or, I don’t know, knocked before coming back in.”“Where’s the fun in that?” He slumps into the armchair in the corner, watching me with that unshakable smirk. “You’re way too easy to mess with in the morning.”I take a long sip of coffee before responding. “I was already hungover. Now I’m just annoyed.”“Annoyed is better than dead, and I like living, so…” Rich trails off, still grinning. “Besides, you wouldn’t kill me. You like having me around too much.”I groan, but
Serena POVI nuzzle closer to Jace, his arm tightening around me as I try to relax again. The warmth of his body against mine is soothing, and for a moment, I think I might actually drift off. But then Rich lets out a soft mumble from the floor, his words indistinct but definitely audible.“Goddammit,” Jace mutters under his breath. “I knew it. I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep with him here.”I tug him closer, resting my head on his chest. “Shh,” I whisper, pressing a soft kiss to his jaw. “He’s not that loud. Just try.”He sighs, his hand running down my back as if to settle me. “Firefly…”“Try,” I repeat, pulling him in even tighter.He doesn’t reply, but I can feel him relax, his breathing evening out against mine. After a moment, the room quiets again, except for Rich’s occasional muttering. But Jace doesn’t say anything else. Instead, he rests his chin against my head, holding me close. His steady breathing finally lulls me back into sleep, and soon I fall asleep again.Waking
Serena POVI’m maybe a little drunk, but not that drunk. Hugging Luna and Lilly, I walk out and head to the place I’m staying with Jace. As soon as I step inside, I throw myself onto the bed.Not long after, the door opens and Jace walks in. He gives me a lopsided smile and makes his way over, collapsing onto the bed beside me.I kiss him softly, smiling. “Have fun?”He mumbles something unintelligible, which just makes me laugh.“So much for not drinking much,” I say, nudging him with a smirk.“Blame Dante,” he groans. “He gave me the shots.”I raise a brow. “Dante? Wait, so this wasn’t Rich? I’m shocked. Did he actually behave for a change?”Jace rubs his face and lets out a long groan. “He’s probably more sober than I am. Don’t ask me how.”Yep, he’s wasted. Shaking my head, I climb off the bed and help him sit up so I can get his clothes off. His smile grows wider as I tug at his shirt.“No,” I warn, “don’t get any ideas. You need sleep or you’ll look like death at the wedding tom
Serena POVI can’t help but laugh, shaking my head as I think about it. I never thought a book like this would make me feel, well, anything beyond shock. “But still,” I say, flipping back to the scene where Dominic starts breaking down, “this guy spent his whole life preaching about purity. Then the devil shows up, and suddenly it’s all out the window.”“That’s the beauty of it,” Lilly says. “It’s not sudden at all. The cracks were always there. The devil just gave him a push.”The more we talk, the more I find myself leaning in. The details they’re pointing out, the way they’re pulling apart each character’s motives, I can’t look away. Even when the conversation shifts to the dark, twisted scenes I would’ve written off before, I’m still right there, asking questions, offering my own thoughts. I don’t even notice how much time has passed until Luna mentions needing another drink.By then, I’m not just listening. I’m in it, flipping pages, debating over whether Dominic had any real cho
Serena POVI walk into the room and my eyes immediately land on Lilly and Luna. We’ve done a few video calls together before, but seeing them in person is different. Luna is the first to react, springing up from her seat and coming straight over to pull me into a hug.Luna introduces me to the others, pointing out a few names as we walk further into the room. A small group of women sit in a circle of couches and chairs, chatting quietly. They each give a friendly wave or nod, and I offer a polite smile in return. Luna explains who’s who, though I’m not sure I’ll remember everyone’s name by the end of the night.Meanwhile, Lilly is still in her chair, completely absorbed in a book. She hasn’t even glanced up since I came in. It’s not until Luna calls her name that she finally looks over. Her face lights up when she sees me, and she closes her book carefully before coming over and giving me a warm hug.“Finally! You’re here,” Lilly says with a grin. “We were starting to think you’d gott
Jace POVRich leans back, shaking his head. “Man, it’s crazy to think how far we’ve come. From that cramped, shitty apartment to this. And through it all, you’ve still managed to put up with my crap.”“Barely,” I say with a smirk. “You’re not exactly easy to deal with, you know.”Rich grins, leaning forward again, resting his chin on his hand. “Yeah, but you’d be bored without me. Admit it.”I roll my eyes, but I’m laughing now. “Fine. Maybe a little.”“Damn right,” he says with a wink.Rich’s grin softens just slightly as he swirls the remaining whiskey in his glass. “You know, Jace,” he says, his voice lower now, almost contemplative. “You’ve always been the steady one. Even when we were broke, when everything felt like it was falling apart. You never lost your cool.”I huff out a laugh. “You sure about that? Because I remember a few nights where I definitely lost my shit. Especially when you kept betting more than we had.”“But you always kept us out of real trouble,” Rich counters