Callum POVReaching for my own phone, I quickly type out a message to Dante.My daughter will be left there. Keep her safe. Tell Lilly I’m sorry—really sorry—and that she’s safe now. Thanks for the chance to change things. You were a great friend. By the way, Lilly is locked in the bedroom.Hitting send, I slip the phone into my pocket. My gaze flickers to Sasha’s body, her lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. My jaw tightens as I glance down at the phone in my hand. The location isn’t far from here.So they’re already in the city.Without another thought, I turn on my heel and head for the door, each step feeling heavier than the last. This isn’t about me anymore. It’s about Lilly. About finally putting an end to this.The roar of the engine dies as I pull up in front of two cars, the men already standing there, watching me like wolves circling prey. Their postures are aggressive, guns visible, tension crackling in the air like a live wire. I dismount slowly, holding my hand
Lilly’s POVWhen I woke, the silence was deafening. The bed beside me was empty, the sheets cool where he had been. The door was still locked, the faint click of the latch echoing in my mind like a prison bell even though I never heard it lock. He had thought of everything, it seemed. My book lay neatly on the nightstand, as if mocking my confinement.I tried to read, flipping the pages without really absorbing the words, my eyes scanning lines that blurred together. Time dragged on, each second stretching into an eternity as I strained to hear something—anything—beyond these walls. Footsteps, a voice, the creak of a door. But there was nothing.I am weak. I’ve always thought I was stronger, that I could resist him, but last night proved otherwise. I should have fought harder—really fought. I should have clawed, screamed, refused to let him touch me. But I didn’t. I couldn’t.The ache in my chest that had been gnawing at me for weeks, that hollow void of missing him, had vanished the
Lilly POVI make sure to climb into the same SUV as Dante, needing to know I’m headed to the right place. The tension in the car is thick, the silence only broken by the hum of the engine.“What’s going on?” I ask quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.Dante sighs, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. “Sasha is dead. Callum killed her. And from the messages on Sasha’s phone, we found out that he traded himself—for your safety.”His words make my world tilt, my body going cold as the reality sinks in. “Why would he do that?” I whisper, my voice breaking.“Because he loves you,” Dante says, his tone cutting through me like a knife. “He can’t live without you, and you made it clear you hated him. You told him you couldn’t stand to see him.”My breath catches, and I shake my head, tears spilling again. “I didn’t mean it,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “I was hurt—I’m still hurt—but I didn’t mean it.”“Lilly,” Dante says softly, turning to look at me. His expression is torn, but he hesitat
Lilly POVI can’t tear my eyes away from Dante as he presses against Callum’s chest, his hands moving in desperate rhythm. My heart feels like it’s shattering with every second that passes. It doesn’t feel like it’s going to work—like he’ll come back. Callum’s lifeless body lies there, and all I can think about are the last words I said to him.“I wish you were dead.”“Seeing you, fucking hurts.”Those words will haunt me forever if this is how it ends.“He’s breathing,” Dante mutters, his voice sharp with urgency. Relief flickers for a fleeting moment, but it’s drowned out as he tears open Callum’s shirt. My breath catches, my stomach twisting violently when I see the stab wounds—deep, raw, and bleeding. He’s not going to make it.Panic rises in my chest like a tidal wave. I start to tremble, my hands shaking uncontrollably. Dante grabs my shoulders and shakes me roughly, snapping me out of my spiral. “Stop it!” he snaps. “Here, press down. Hard.”He takes my hands, forcing them onto
Lilly POV“Callum sustained multiple stab wounds—ten, to be exact. Two of the wounds were deep enough to puncture vital organs. One pierced his left lung, causing it to collapse. We’ve inserted a chest tube to help with re-expansion, but he’s going to experience difficulty breathing for some time.”My stomach churns as the doctor presses on. “He also has a laceration to his liver. It wasn’t severe enough to require a full resection, but it did necessitate careful suturing to control the bleeding. We’re monitoring him closely for any signs of infection or further internal bleeding.”The words feel like blows, each one hitting harder than the last.“Additionally,” the doctor says, his eyes briefly flicking to Dante, “he has multiple broken ribs from blunt force trauma, likely from being kicked or struck repeatedly. One of the ribs caused a small contusion to his right kidney, but it doesn’t appear to be life-threatening.”I clutch my chest as the list continues.“Callum also suffered si
Callum’s POVI’m floating somewhere between awareness and oblivion, caught in a haze where time has no meaning. When I went to meet them, I was sure it would be the end. I expected to die. But now, all I know is pain—searing, relentless pain that claws at every part of me. Sometimes, though, it shifts. There are moments when it numbs, like the pain itself is exhausted. To start with, it was everything. It consumed me.Then, something else broke through. Warmth. Not the sterile heat of the hospital, but something softer, something human. The warmth of a hand wrapped around mine, holding on as though refusing to let me slip away. Voices follow, faint and muddled at first, but familiar. Dante’s sharp, grounding tone. And then hers—Lilly’s. Sweet and broken, like a melody caught on the wind. I hear them again and again, their words brushing against the edge of my consciousness. I try to respond, to tell them I’m here, but all that comes out are incoherent mumbles.Today feels different.T
Callum POVDante’s voice breaks through the fog. “So, you’re saying there’s no permanent damage?”“That’s correct,” the doctor replies, his voice calm but sure. “Everything we’ve observed suggests this is temporary. The fact that Callum is mumbling means the motor functions required for speech are intact, but his brain and muscles need time to synchronize again. If needed, we can consider speech therapy later, but I don’t expect it to be necessary unless there are prolonged issues.”I feel Lilly’s thumb brushing over my hand, a soothing motion that does little to ease the storm raging inside me. “But he’s frustrated,” she says, her voice breaking. “I can see it. He’s trying so hard to speak, and nothing’s coming out.”Damn right, I’m frustrated. I clench my hand weakly, my body trembling from the effort.The doctor’s gaze shifts to me, and for the first time, he speaks directly to me. “Callum, I know this is frustrating. I know it feels like your body is betraying you. But this is tem
Lilly’s POVThe past five days since Callum woke up have been nothing short of a rollercoaster—a messy, frustrating, infuriating, yet somehow heartwarming ride. Every time he tries to talk, the frustration rolls off him in waves. His speech is a struggle, slow and halting, but he’s determined. He can manage small words now, and it takes him almost a full minute to get out, “I love you.” But he’s doing it. He’s fighting, and I’m here for all of it.I haven’t left his side once, except to shower and change my clothes—a feat, considering how hard it is to peel myself away from him. I’ve been sleeping beside him when exhaustion hits, curled up in the awkward hospital bed. And yet, through it all, he still manages to look annoyed every time I try to help him.Like now, as I finish fastening his shoes. He stares at me with the same glare that screams I can do it myself, even though he absolutely cannot.“You helped me when I was hurt,” I snap, standing and crossing my arms. “I didn’t sulk.”
Serena POVWe sit for a few more minutes, and slowly, the tension begins to bleed from my body. I feel like myself again—or at least the version of me that’s manageable. My muscles unclench, and the static in my head fades. A smile tugs at my lips as I climb onto his lap, curling against him.“Your drinks,” the waiter interrupts with a polite smile, placing them on the table.I reach for my bag, ready to grab some cash for a tip, but when I open it, there’s nothing. My hand freezes.“I…” My fingers scramble through the bag, but it’s empty. Rubbing my head, I try to think. Where did I put the money?“Everything okay?” His voice is soft, but his lips press against mine quickly, a fleeting kiss that feels more like a distraction than affection.“I’ve lost the money,” I whisper, my voice trembling with frustration.“Did he pay you?”“He always pays, Dale.” I frown, trying to pull the memory from the fog in my brain. “I remember him giving it to me… maybe I dropped it outside?”Dale leans
SerenaMy body sinks into the car seat, my arms heavy and my head swimming in a fog. I can feel his eyes on me—watching me, dissecting every movement. I try to force a smile, but even that feels like too much effort.“Pixie Doll,” his voice is low, rough, and the nickname he uses makes my skin crawl tonight for some reason. His fingers grip my chin, firm enough to hold me in place but not enough to hurt. He tilts my face toward him, and I catch the flicker of something behind his eyes—concern?“You good?” he asks, his voice soft but probing, and I nod quickly, even though my body feels like it’s trembling from the inside out.“Perfect,” I lie, my voice barely above a whisper. My mind, however, is screaming. It’s clawing at the edges of something—something I can’t quite grasp. He’s planning something. I can feel it.“Are you sure? You look a little high right now. You think you can ride safely?” His tone shifts, but I'm not sure it's worry, and I hate the way he looks at me—like I’m fr
Jace“Okay, tell me everything I need to know. I doubt this file lays it all out, no secrets, no matter how small,” I say, leaning forward, my eyes locked on him.William exhales heavily, leaning back in his chair, his gaze sharp and assessing. “She was supposed to make you aware of all this, but she never did,” he says, his voice low and clipped.I stiffen. Of course, she didn’t. She couldn’t. I ran before she had the chance. I nod, motioning for him to continue, though the knot forming in my chest tightens with every second of silence.“She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Jace,” he says, his words deliberate, each syllable dropping like a stone. “She came to tell you one night, around the time everything between you two went crazy. She came back after seeing you and said you didn’t care, so she didn’t bother telling you.”I feel the air leave my lungs in one sharp exhale. Didn’t care? That’s a lie. It has to be. Had she told me, I would’ve cared. I would’ve done something—anyth
This is the start of Jace's Story - His Little Hellion.JaceThe file feels like it’s searing through my palm, its weight a constant reminder of everything I’m trying to avoid. A month. I’ve been here a goddamn month, holed up, barricading myself behind work and excuses. I haven’t reached out. Hell, I haven’t even stepped into her orbit. Instead, I sit here, combing through this damn file over and over, as if it’s going to tell me something I don’t already know.The truth? I’m fucking terrified.Serena. Just the name is enough to tighten my chest. A walking nightmare with a smile that could burn the whole world down. When Dante asked me to help run this location with Rich, I had one condition—I wasn’t sure about Serena. I told him straight up. She’s a loose cannon, the kind that could unravel years of work with a single reckless move. But here I am anyway, stuck in this office, tethered to her name like a goddamn noose.The knock on the door makes me flinch. Rich steps in, wearing his
Lilly POVLuna is doubled over laughing. “If only someone had filmed that,” she teases, wiping her eyes.“I would replay it over and over,” I say, joining her laughter. And I mean it—I absolutely would. “I’m going to get home,” Luna says, lifting Elouise into her arms. She gives me a warm smile before heading out, the door clicking softly behind her.I turn my attention to Zade, scooping him up with a playful smile. “Alright, little man, time to get you ready for bed,” I say, carrying him to the changing table.“Why is it always me?” Callum’s voice comes from behind me, dripping with mock frustration.I glance over my shoulder to see him leaning against the doorframe, a weary expression on his face. Laughing softly, I reply, “You’re clearly his favorite. Isn’t that right, Zade?” I tickle Zade’s tummy, and he lets out a giggle.Callum groans, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’m his favorite target. The vomit earlier proved that.”Smirking, I focus on getting Zade changed. “Whe
Lilly POVZade crawls across the room, his tiny hands and knees making soft pats against the floor as he moves with determination. He pauses near Elouise, sitting up and grabbing one of her small toys before shaking it frantically, giggling as the sound fills the air. Watching him like this—so carefree, so full of life—brings a bittersweet warmth to my chest.It’s days like today that I can’t help but reflect on how much has changed in the last sixteen months since my scan. Everything feels like it’s shifted, like our lives have been rewritten in the best ways.Zade’s arrival wasn’t exactly by the book. He came two weeks early, catching us all completely off guard. Dante and Luna had gone for one of her routine checkups, Callum was at the clubs, and I had convinced myself there was still plenty of time.I was wrong.One moment, everything was calm—quiet, even—and the next, I was gripping the phone, sobbing into the receiver as I called Callum, barely able to get the words out between
Callum POV He’s planned this, weighed the risks, and now he’s looking to me for input.“That’s a big move,” I say, leaning back, my mind already racing through the possibilities.“It is,” he agrees. “But it could save lives. Just like we’ve done here.”Dante isn’t one to take things lightly, and this is no exception. As much as I want to argue about the risks, part of me knows he’s right. The work doesn’t stop—it just shifts to where it’s needed most.“Well...” I start, but the words die on my tongue. I’m completely at a loss. Everything Dante’s telling me feels like it’s spiraling into some crazy scenario, and I can’t find a foothold to ground myself.Dante smirks, clearly enjoying my confusion. “Not only do the local police back it and agree to turn a blind eye to the more... questionable aspects of our operations, but the local MP is onboard too. Apparently, his daughter is causing some chaos. She works on the streets, proving to Daddy she’s not his little princess anymore.”He dr
Callum POVLilly’s weight is soft and comforting against me as I carry her back upstairs. Her body molds to mine, her arms draped lazily around my neck, her head resting on my shoulder. She’s half-asleep, clinging to me as though letting go would pull her from the warmth of the moment.As I step into the apartment, the quietness settles around us, broken only by the soft rustle of her breathing. I push the door to our bedroom open, slipping inside. Gently, I shrug off my robe and remove hers, ensuring she stays warm as I lay her down on the bed and cover her.Sliding in beside her, I feel her instinctively shift closer, her body curling into mine like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Her arms wrap around me, holding me tightly as though she never wants to let go.Grasping her in return, I press a kiss to her hairline and pull her impossibly closer. She nuzzles into my chest, her warmth spreading through me in a way that feels grounding.“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice so
Lilly POVThe couples on the bed welcome us warmly, making space as we join them. Hands reach out to caress us, and I gasp at the sensation of unfamiliar touches on my skin. Callum keeps me close, his presence grounding me as we’re drawn into the tangle of bodies.“Remember,” he whispers in my ear as we begin to lose ourselves in the pleasure. “I’m right here with you. Always.”With that reassurance, I let go of my last inhibitions and give myself over to the experience, ready to explore new heights of pleasure with Callum by my side.The sensation of multiple hands caressing my body is overwhelming at first. I close my eyes, focusing on the feeling of Callum’s strong arms around me as we sink into the plush mattress. His familiar scent helps ground me as unfamiliar fingers trail along my skin.“Open your eyes,” Callum murmurs. “I want you to see everything.”I obey, my gaze meeting his intense stare. He smiles encouragingly before capturing my lips in a deep kiss. As we kiss, I feel