Dante POVWe sit there for a while, and he just keeps complaining. He goes on about how “needy” she is, but it’s bullshit. Luna isn’t needy. She just wants to feel wanted, and he can’t even give her that.He brings up the texts she sends, calling them inappropriate, and I laugh. It’s far from inappropriate. She’s trying to make him feel wanted, trying to bridge the gap he’s created.Eventually, he falls asleep, slumping back in the chair. I pick him up and carry him to the bed, laying him down next to her. I hear the bed creak slightly as she shifts, her energy drained from another night of disappointment.I turn to leave, but then I see little Bear, our little puppy, walking around my feet.I curse under my breath. If I hadn’t told Justin to come here, Luna would have been alone. Now, I’m stuck again, hiding in the shadows, when all I want is to be with her. I’m done waiting. I shrug off my jacket, pulling the mask from my pocket. It’s time to stop hiding.I slide into bed behind Lun
Dante POVI walk back into my club, the familiar noise and lights surrounding me as I check in, making sure everything is running smoothly. My mind isn’t fully here, though. It’s still on Luna, still on what happened tonight, but I can’t let that distract me now. There’s business to handle, and I need answers.“Dante,” Callum greets me as I head toward the office.“We need to get Jason in here,” I say flatly, my mind already working through the implications of what Justin told me.“Jason? The one we know?” Callum asks, his brow furrowing in confusion as he follows me.“Yeah. According to Justin, he’s the main guy,” I explain, taking a seat behind the desk. I can see the frustration flicker across Callum’s face as he rubs a hand over it.“Well, he’s out,” Callum says, shaking his head. “No contact until tomorrow morning.”That makes it harder. I’m not in the mood for complications right now. “Get the guys looking for him. I want him in now. Everyone needs to find him,” I say firmly, wa
Dante POV“So, we need Justin,” Callum says, crossing his arms.“Not yet,” I reply, holding up a hand. “Justin said Jason’s name for a reason. That reason is important. You, Jason, stay hidden. You’re dead. As far as anyone knows, I killed you. There’s a reason Justin lied, and I need to figure out what the hell that reason is.”Callum lets out a frustrated sigh. “I was looking forward to some fun,” he jokes, releasing Jason from the chains.I step forward, grabbing Jason’s hand tightly. “If I find out you’re involved in any of this or that you’re helping in any way, you will be dead next time,” I warn, my voice low and dangerous. Jason nods quickly, his eyes wide with fear.“Go. Stay hidden. Don’t come out until I say it’s safe,” I growl.Jason nods and rushes off, disappearing as fast as he can.“What does Justin have to gain from all this?” I mutter, more to myself than to Callum.There’s no clear benefit for him—unless… He knows. Does he know I’m Luna’s stalker? But that doesn’t m
Luna POVI haven’t slept at all. My mind won’t let me. When he said he would finally show me who he was, I was so happy, thinking I’d finally see the man behind the mask—the one I had imagined, the one I had built up in my mind. But then reality crashed down on me like a wave.It was Dante.Dante.The one person I despise. The one man who never crossed my mind as a possibility in these past six months of being stalked. The moment his voice slipped, revealing that thick Scottish accent, I didn’t even need to see his face to know it was him. That was when everything shattered for me, long before he even took off the mask. That’s why I begged him not to do it—not to make it real. I knew it was Dante, and seeing him would only solidify that nightmare.I didn’t want it to be real. I didn’t want to face the fact that the man who read to me at night, who treated me so gently, was him. Dante, the one I hated. And now, how can I even process this? He’s Justin’s best friend, the one person who
Luna POV“Babes, give me my trousers, please,” Justin’s voice cuts through the silence, sharp and casual, as if nothing is wrong, as if he didn’t spend last night doing God knows what. There's no way he was working.I sigh, walking across the room, grabbing his trousers from the chair. But as I lift them, something falls out—a small, crumpled packet. My stomach twists as I pick it up, my eyes locking onto the empty condom wrapper. A cold wave of dread crashes over me. I shouldn’t care, not after everything that’s happened, not after what I’ve gone through with my stalker. But I do care. I care too much.“What’s this?” I ask, holding it up, my voice low but steady, my gaze never leaving his face. I see it immediately—the flicker of humour, the hesitation before he speaks. He’s about to lie. I know it.“Don’t do that, Justin. Don’t fucking lie,” I say, my voice growing sharper.He leans against the doorframe, sighing as if this is just a minor inconvenience. “An empty condom wrapper,” h
Dante POVAfter talking with Lucy and sending out a few messages, I finally crash into bed. It’s been over twenty-four hours since I last slept, and everything about my life has shifted since Luna entered it. My routine used to be consistent—work nights, keep the women here safe, try to protect those on the street, handle the business. But now, it feels like I’m chasing shadows, digging through Luna’s past, trying to piece together the puzzle of who she really is.Tonight has been especially long. I’ve been chasing dead ends, trying to find out the truth about her mother’s death and who her father is. It’s like she never existed—no record of her birth, no trace of her past. According to the system, Luna—or Lena—was never born. It’s as if she vanished before she even had a chance to live. In some twisted way, it’s a good thing for her, but it makes my job harder. She clearly went to great lengths to disappear. That means those from her past won't find her easily.What’s more unsettling
Dante POVDriving over, I feel the weight of everything that’s been happening lately press down on me, but I push it aside. I just need to see her, to talk to her, to make sure she knows I’m not giving up. When I get to her apartment, I walk straight to her door and knock. I wait, but there’s no response. After a few moments, I knock again, this time calling out, “Luna, it’s me.”I hear movement inside, but nothing happens. No footsteps approaching, no voice, just silence. I sigh and pull out the key, trying to unlock the door, but the key doesn’t fit. A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I lean my forehead against the door. Of course, she’s running. She’s trying to shut me out.But she’s not escaping that easily.I walk around the side of the apartment, trying to catch a glimpse through the windows, but the curtains are drawn. Luna never used to close the curtains, not like this. She’s definitely shutting me out. Frustration simmers beneath the surface, but I force myself to wal
Luna POVI can feel his gaze burning into me, and I hate it. I hate the way he’s looking at me right now, as if he’s already won—like he’s always had control. I should have known he was waiting outside, waiting for the exact moment I opened the door, and now here he is, standing right in front of me.“I’d be lying if I said no,” Dante replies, his voice calm but with an underlying edge that sends a shiver down my spine.I want to tell him to leave, to demand it, but before the words can even form, he steps closer, invading what little space was left between us. His gaze locks onto mine, and I feel trapped. If I just focus on his eyes, I can pretend—pretend that it’s my stalker, not Dante standing here. It’s easier to deal with him as a faceless fantasy, not as the man who I hate with every part of me.“You need to stop running from me, Luna,” his voice is soft, but the command is there, thick and forceful. “I’m not letting you disappear. Not anymore.”My entire body goes rigid. He doe
“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