Dante POVI slam the man’s head into the wall, dazing him long enough for me to bring my knee up into his stomach, sending him to the floor. Without wasting a second, I dash down the hall, following the sound of Luna’s voice. “Luna!” I shout, my heart hammering in my chest as I burst through a door. Another man stands between me and her, and I don’t think—I just act. I tackle him to the ground, my fists raining down on his face until he’s no longer moving. Blood stains my knuckles, but I don’t stop. I have to get to her. Callum is close behind, shooting down anyone who dares get in the way, clearing a path as we charge toward the room. The closer I get, the louder her screams become, and my blood boils with a fury I’ve never felt before. We burst into the room, and there she is. Luna. My Luna, tied, beaten, but alive. “Luna!” I roar, my voice shaking the walls as I lunge toward her, fury and desperation coursing through me. I barely register the man on top of her, my vision blurr
Dante POV I sit back and look at Alex’s lifeless body. Over the years, I’ve had women come from Brian, and Alex was always one of the men they mentioned. He caused psychological issues so deep within some of those women they won’t ever be the same. Now he’s dead, and it’s at my hands. But none of that feels like a victory—not with Luna’s blood still on the floor, not with the thought of what could have happened if I’d been just a little too late. I didn’t realize it was Alex over Luna until it was nearly too late, and now, his words won’t stop haunting me. Did she turn her darkest moments into fantasies? Into pleasure? Alex’s twisted games still have their claws in her, don’t they? The thought makes my stomach churn. Alex and I were always compared because we like the same things—the chase, the power—but I’m nothing like him. I would never enjoy it if the woman didn’t want it. In fact, the idea of someone hating what we did and us still doing it, sickens me. But Alex? He thrived o
Dante POVThe hours pass, each one dragging slower than the last as I sit there, wrestling with myself. I can’t sleep. I won’t sleep. My eyes stay fixed on her, watching her chest rise and fall with every breath, and the storm inside me continues to rage. I want to yell, I want to hold her, I want to fuck her, I want to punish her, I want to tell her I love her—I don’t know what I want. All I know is that I can’t stop thinking about her, and I can’t stop this war inside my head. The night stretches on, and I sit there, unable to move, unable to do anything but stare at her and wonder how the hell we move forward from this. Standing, I walk out of the room, tension thrumming through every muscle in my body. Rich looks up at me, probably sensing the storm brewing inside me, but before he can say anything, I snap, “Don’t fucking leave her! I’m going to the gym.” My voice is rough, harsher than I intended, but I don’t care. I need space, distance. I need to hit something. I stalk down
Dante POV I make my way to the office, slamming the door shut behind me. Sitting down, I try to focus, but my mind is still spinning, still churning with everything that happened. I can’t stop thinking about her—about what she did, about how reckless she was. But more than that, I can’t stop thinking about how much I still need her, even now, even after everything. It’s fucking unbearable. A searing pain grips my chest, sharper than any knife, as the realization crashes over me—I have never truly loved anyone until her. Until Luna. And now, she’s ripped me apart, tearing at the very core of my being, piece by agonizing piece. The rawness of it, the unbearable weight of that truth, crushes me from the inside out. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. The agony is so consuming that I’m powerless to fight it. I try to push it down, to bury it beneath my anger, but the pain flares hotter, stronger, until there’s nothing left but a burning need to do something. Anything. With a primal scre
Luna POV I watch Dante as he sleeps—no, more like passes out. It’s strange to see him like this, so still, so quiet, as if the weight of everything finally crushed him into unconsciousness. He’s usually so aware, even in his sleep. When I touch him, he instinctively pulls closer, makes some noise of acknowledgment. But now? Nothing. Just the soft, steady rhythm of his shallow breathing. The guilt in his eyes earlier haunts me. I saw it flash across his face when he went to touch my neck, when he saw the bruises. He shouldn’t feel guilty, but he does. This wasn’t his fault; it’s all on me. Every decision, every reckless choice I made led us here. I’ve never seen someone look so lost before. When Dante came to me, his body was shaking, raw anger radiating off him, but it wasn’t the fury that stuck with me—it was the tears in his eyes, the way his voice trembled with hurt. Most people would’ve been terrified to see him like that, but not me. I felt safe. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Th
Luna POVAs we continue cleaning, Callum picks up a stack of files and tosses them on the desk. “You know, watching over the women here, it’s not just a job for me,” he says after a pause, his voice low but steady. “It gives me purpose, being second to Dante. It means something, especially after everything that happened with my sister.” I nod, feeling the weight of his words. “I’ve noticed how much you care,” I say softly. “You don’t just see it as protection. It’s more personal.” He offers me a small, appreciative smile, running a hand through his hair as he clears off more debris. “Yeah, it is. When Dante started this place, I knew it was where I needed to be. We built this together, with Heaven and Hell as the heart of it. The women here... they’ve been through hell, just like my sister. It feels right, making sure they don’t have to face that kind of horror ever again.” I nod, feeling a deeper connection to Callum now. There’s a strength in him, a quiet dedication to making sur
Dante POV I wake up, disoriented, the bed empty beside me. Luna isn’t here. My body feels sore, every muscle aching as if the tension has been wound too tight for too long. My hands are stiff, still covered in dried blood. I sigh heavily, dragging myself to the shower. As the water crashes over me, I hope—pray—that it will wash away everything. The unease that’s been gnawing at me, the constant tension in my gut, the doubt, paranoia, anger... But none of it goes away. It’s all still simmering, just below the surface, waiting to break through again. I wanted to wake up with Luna beside me, to feel her there, grounded in that moment. But she’s not. And I know why. Our schedules are completely out of sync now. I work when she sleeps, and when she’s awake, all I want to do is be with her, which means I’m barely sleeping. It’s unsustainable, and I have to fix it. She’s my obsession. I’ve tried to deny it, but it’s undeniable. I love her, yes, but that love has turned into something dar
Dante POVI get to the spot where I usually find solace. My haven. But today, even this place feels hollow. As soon as I stop the bike, I collapse to the ground. My body feels heavy, weighed down by everything I’ve been carrying for so long. What would usually take hours of careful riding to reach felt like it came in minutes. But it doesn’t matter. Nothing feels right anymore. My life is crumbling around me. Jamie warned me. He told me Luna was an obsession, and that I needed to keep my distance. I didn’t listen. In fact, I fucking told him myself that she was my obsession. How stupid can I be? It feels like every part of me has been ripped apart, burned to ash, and scattered in the wind. I can’t figure out how to put the pieces of myself back together again. The careful, cool, and calculated person I used to be? He’s gone. Dead and buried. Now, it’s like emotions are driving every single thing I do. And that’s not me. I never let my emotions take the lead, yet here I am, letting
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
Dante POVBut I’m not done. There’s more—worse. “Luna,” I say, pausing to brace myself for what I know is going to break her. “Lucy… she wasn’t your sister. She wasn’t even your mother’s child. She was kidnapped as a baby and brought into Brian’s world.”The color drains from Luna’s face, her eyes widening in disbelief. “No,” she breathes, shaking her head. “No, I remember my mom was pregnant. I remember her. I remember the baby. They called her Abigail... Abi.”I close my eyes for a moment, hating what I have to say next. “That baby, Abigail, died, Luna. There are records to prove it. You weren’t born in a hospital, so you were never officially registered, but Abigail was. She had complications during birth so they had to go to hospital. When she died a few weeks later, Brian knew it would cause an investigation. That’s when he took someone else’s baby—Lucy—and raised her as Abigail.”Her face contorts with pain as the truth sinks in. Her eyes dart around the room like she’s searchin
Dante’s POVI reach over, grabbing the book from the table and handing it to her. “Page 231, right? That’s where you left off,” I say, smiling down at her. She gets comfortable, snuggling into my lap as she flips open to the page. A small, exaggerated yawn escapes her lips before she peers up at me with a playful grin.“Read to me,” she says, her eyes sparkling with that mischievous glint I’ve come to love.I sigh softly, knowing I can’t resist her when she asks like that. Nodding, I start reading aloud, the words flowing easily. She holds the book steady while I keep one hand possessively cupping her breast, the other resting between her thighs, teasing her gently. I can feel her pulse quicken under my touch, her hips subtly shifting, seeking more friction.I want to stay like this—wrapped up in her warmth, feeling her respond to me—but there’s too much unsaid between us. As much as I crave this moment, I know we can’t avoid the conversation any longer. There’s something bigger I nee
Luna POVI walk over to the shelves, scanning the titles, my fingers running over the spines of the books. There are so many—books I’ve been meaning to read, some of my favorites, and even a few I hadn’t gotten around to buying yet. I pick up one of the newer books and turn to him. “How did you even know which ones to get?” Dante leans against the doorframe, smirking. “I pay attention to what you read. Plus, I asked a few people for recommendations. Lilly gave Callum a whole list of books.” I shake my head, still in awe. “You’re unbelievable.” “And you’re worth it,” he replies, his voice low, but the sincerity in it makes my heart skip a beat. Stepping closer to him, I place the book back on the shelf and close the distance between us. “You know,” I say, resting my hands on his chest, “this space might be perfect, but it’s still missing one thing.” He arches an eyebrow, playing along. “Oh? And what’s that?” “You,” I whisper, rising on my toes to press a soft kiss to his lips.
Luna POVI can’t help but jump up, rushing over to scoop up Little Bear from Callum’s arms. I plop back onto the bed, cuddling the puppy. “Erm… I’m going to walk back out and come in again. Let’s try that welcome one more time,” Dante grumbles, walking out, which makes me burst into laughter. He walks back in, and I shoot him a confused look just to mess with him. “Unbelievable. The damn puppy gets a better welcome than I do,” he mutters, and everyone laughs. I move quickly, planting a kiss on his lips. “I was joking,” I say with a grin. “No, you weren’t. You ran for the puppy, not me,” he grumbles. “I’ve seen you more recently than the puppy,” I tease, and he can’t help but nod, giving in. “Okay, we need to talk,” Dante says, taking a seat beside Callum, who’s settled down as well. I glance between them nervously. “Whatever I did, I was drunk,” I joke, raising my hands in mock defense. Lilly, catching on, joins in, laughing. “Yeah, same. I was drunk too.” “Relax, you’re not i