Jace POVWalking into the office, Rich looks up at me, already expecting what I’m about to say.“We need to track them down,” I say, and he nods without hesitation.“Figured you would say that. Someone’s been keeping an eye on their places. His dad went back to his apartment. He’s there now.”I stand without another word, and Rich follows me out.“What’s your plan, Jace?”Laughing, I glance at him. “To kill them. What else would it be?”Sighing, he shakes his head. “Yeah, but maybe hold off on killing him. He’s the only one who can get Dale back.”He’s right about that. “Fine. I guess I’ll just torture him for days instead.”Rich chuckles. “I’ll help. I have a few new techniques I’ve been wanting to try.”I glance at him. “You’re fucked in the head.”He smirks. “Of course I am. Were you expecting me to be all sane and suggest we sit down and talk it out? Maybe bond over painting each other’s nails?”“Maybe not the sane part, but the painting nails thing sounds like something you’d act
Jace POV“Where exactly?” Rich asks, pressing the blade against his index finger this time.His dad chokes out an address. It’s vague, but it’s enough.I nod to Rich, and he steps back, flipping the knife closed. David slumps against the wall, clutching his bleeding hand. He looks at me with wild, desperate eyes. “You’re not gonna let me go, are you?”I stand, dusting off my hands. “Not a fucking chance.”I pull out my phone, dialing one of the men who works for me. “Need pick up at this address. Make sure he doesn’t go anywhere, keep him locked up.”The man on the other end confirms, and I hang up. I look at Rich, who’s already moving toward the door. “Let’s go find this bastard.”We leave the apartment without another word, moving fast, leaving David with a couple of guys to escort him back. Rich is already pulling up the GPS on his phone, cross-referencing the location Dale’s dad gave us.“This place is deep,” Rich mutters, tilting the screen toward me as we step into the car. “No
Jace POV **Contains themes of torture**Dale exhales sharply, his gaze flicking between me and Rich, weighing his options. He knows he’s screwed, but there’s still that smugness clinging to his face like he thinks he’s got a way out.“You think this is the end?” he taunts, voice strained but still cocky. “You think taking me out here changes anything?”I don’t answer. I slam the butt of my gun into his ribs, making him grunt as he collapses onto his knees. Blood drips from the corner of his mouth, but that twisted little smirk of his still lingers.Rich steps in beside me, shifting his grip on his gun. “We taking him now?”“Yeah,” I say, voice tight. I grab Dale by the collar, yanking him up roughly. “On your feet. We’re not done.”Dale laughs through his pain, spitting blood onto the floor. “Torture me all you want, Jace. You really think I’m gonna break?”I lean in close, voice low. “Oh, Dale, you don’t understand.” My grip tightens as I pull him closer. “I’m not looking for a confe
Jace POV **Contains Themes Of Torture** turn slowly, my gaze locking onto Dale. His shoulders are tense, his wrists still tied above his head, but his face, his face is what makes my blood boil. Because even now, even after watching me break his father to pieces, he still has that same fucking look. That arrogance. That sliver of defiance like he thinks he’s still above this.I step closer, standing directly in front of him, my voice quiet. Too quiet.“Tell me everything.”He swallows hard but lifts his chin slightly. “What does it matter?” he mutters, trying to play it off. “You already know the worst of it.”I grab his jaw, squeezing hard enough to make his mouth part slightly. “Say it.”His eyes flicker, something uncertain in them now. He shifts against the restraints, trying to move, but there’s nowhere to go. Nothing to hide behind.I release him roughly, taking a step back. “Talk.”His throat bobs as he swallows. Then, finally, he speaks.“I drugged her,” he says, voice barely
Serena POVI wake up slowly, the warmth of the bed pulling me into a false sense of comfort. For a moment, everything is still, and I feel safe. My body sinks into the soft mattress, the scent of Jace still lingering on the sheets beside me.When I reach out, the space next to me is cold. Empty. My eyes flutter open, and I push myself up onto my elbows, blinking against the dim light filtering in through the curtains. The penthouse is silent. Too silent.Jace is gone. I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face as I glance toward the door. I know where he is. I know what he’s doing. I also know, deep down that he locked me in here on purpose.I test the handle anyway and it doesn’t move. Closing my eyes briefly, I inhale through my nose before stepping back. Frustration bubbles in my chest, but I can’t even be mad about it. Not really.Jace has always been like this, protective, controlling. And after everything that’s happened, I can’t blame him for it. But that doesn’t mean I like it.I pac
Serena POVRich smirks like he already won something and flips the top two cards off the deck, slapping one down in front of me and one in front of himself.I flip mine over. Six of hearts.Rich flips his. Queen of spades.He grins. “Well, well, well. Looks like you lose, sweetheart.”I sigh dramatically, tilting my head. “Alright, what do you want?”Rich leans in slightly, tapping his chin like he’s really thinking about it, dragging it out just to be a pain in the ass. “You have to...” He pauses, then smirks. “Lick the wall.”I blink. “What?”“The wall, Serena. Tongue to paint. Let’s go.”I stare at him for a long moment. “You’re insane.”“And you’re stalling.”Groaning, I shove the blankets off and getting up. “This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”“Oh, sweetheart, I highly doubt that.”I shoot him a glare over my shoulder before stepping up to the nearest wall, scowling at it like it personally offended me. “If I die from some kind of paint poisoning, I’m haunting your ass.”
Jace POVI stand over their bodies, blood pooling around them, the stench thick in the air. Dale went out worse than David, and I don’t regret a damn second of it. But now, it’s time to clean up the mess.Pulling out my phone, I dial the number. The line clicks after one ring.“Need you at the club,” I say. “Two bodies. Get it done.”There’s a pause, then a quiet chuckle. “Messy?”Exhaling through my nose, I try to stay calm. “Just handle it.”The call ends and I step back, rolling my shoulders, forcing the tension out of them. The adrenaline is still burning in my veins, but I ignore it, turning on my heel and heading upstairs.I don’t pay attention to anything when I step into the apartment. My focus is narrow, locked onto the next thing I need to do. The blood is drying on my hands, crusting along my knuckles, smeared along my arms and shirt.I go straight to the bathroom, and the door clicks shut behind me as I turn the water on, letting it run hot before shoving my hands under th
Jace POVI stare at the both of them, my brain struggling to process what I just walked into.“You know what?” I exhale, shaking my head. “I don’t even want to know what the next round was gonna be.”Rich smirks. “I think we were heading toward human sacrifice, honestly.”I don’t laugh, because deep down, I fully believe he’s not joking.I stare at Rich, who is still comfortably on all fours, looking way too okay with the fact that he just admitted to being Serena’s pet. Then I look at Serena, who is still wiping tears from her eyes, laughing like this is the best night of her life.Exhaling slowly, I cross my arms. “So let me get this straight.”Rich grins. “Please, recap. I’d love to hear how this sounds coming from you.”I shoot him a glare before continuing. “Serena licked a wall. You drew a dick on her face. She made you kneel at her feet like a servant. Then she drank something that probably should’ve been illegal. And now, you’re crawling around my penthouse, barking.”Serena s
“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