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
Dante POVAs I open the door and step inside, my eyes immediately search for her. The tension in my chest tightens as I see her. Luna’s sitting on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket, looking small and tired. Her head lifts when she hears the door, and the moment our eyes meet, something inside me shifts. She looks relieved but also worried. “Dante…” she whispers, her voice hesitant, unsure. I walk toward her, every step heavy with everything I’ve been trying to run from. All the anger, the love, the confusion—they’re all still there, but seeing her reminds me of why I’ve been fighting so hard. Wrapping my arms tighter around her, I lift her effortlessly against me and sit down, holding her close. My face buries into her hair, the scent of her calming the storm that’s been raging inside me. The silence between us feels like the only thing right in the world right now, and I let myself sink into it. The longer I hold her, the more everything inside me settles, and slowly, I can thin
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