Luna POVThe heavy door swings open again, and a young woman walks in. My eyes widen in recognition. She’s striking, with features that are both delicate and fierce at the same time. She moves with a confidence that makes it hard to look away. As she steps closer, I recognize her face—not from here, but from the news, from headlines. “Luna, right?” she says, her voice smooth and self-assured, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I’m Candy. You might have seen me in the papers.” I nod, still trying to process what the hell is happening. Why is she here? After everything she’s been through, after everything I’ve read about her, why would someone like Candy choose to stay in a place like this? I try to speak, but the tape over my mouth silences me. My frustration boils over, and I roll my eyes, letting out a muffled groan. Candy watches me with an amused expression, gracefully lowering herself into a seat in front of me. She crosses her legs, completely at ease in this nightmare of a r
Luna POVI feel conflicted, like I’m stuck between two versions of Dante—the one I hate and the one they’re trying to show me. But how can I reconcile those things? I don’t know what to believe anymore. Lost in a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, I struggle to break free from the belief I’ve clung to for so long—that Dante was somehow just like the man responsible for my mother’s death. The thought has been my anchor, my way of surviving in a world that often felt too dark to understand. But now, faced with the man he is in front of me, clean and composed, it’s as though everything I thought I knew is unraveling. How do I reconcile this image of Dante—the protector, the savior of women—with the man I’ve spent years hating? Can I even begin to trust him? My gaze flickers around the room, desperate to escape the weight of my thoughts. It lands on a couple, their bodies entangled in raw, intimate acts, and I feel a mix of disgust and—God help me—curiosity. The realization that I’m si
Luna POV Without a word, Dante unties the ropes that bind me, his movements deliberate and rough. Before I can react, he hoists me over his shoulder like I’m nothing, carrying me effortlessly across the room. My body bounces with every step he takes, and I try to struggle, but he tightens his grip, his strength undeniable. Panic bubbles in my chest as I realize he’s taking me somewhere else—somewhere private, somewhere where there are no eyes to watch, to stop whatever he’s planning. My heart races, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear. As we leave the room and enter the hallway, I hear the sounds of pleasure behind us fading into the distance, replaced by the echo of our footsteps and the pounding of my heart. Whatever happens next, I know one thing for sure: this isn’t over. Not by a long shot. “You bastard!” I scream, pounding my fists into Dante’s back as he drags me into the elevator, my body writhing in a futile attempt to break free. His grip on me is
Dante’s POV I never intended to kidnap her. But here we are, and everything’s gone to shit. I’ve been so consumed by Luna, by my need to have her, that I didn’t see the bigger picture. I made a colossal mistake, and now it’s catching up with me. Justin was right there, in her apartment. All I had to do was handle the situation, put my fucking cock away, and think. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I wanted him to know she was mine—to shove it in his face. And that was beyond fucked up. Before, I wouldn't have, but these past few days, his silence, his possible connections to everything, made me hate him. The message I sent to Callum was no better. My head was wrapped up in Luna, in fucking her, in marking my territory, and I wasn’t thinking straight. The message was a jumbled mess, completely useless, so no one checked to see if Justin was hanging around her place. And now, I’m left picking up the pieces, wondering how the hell I missed everything that’s been going on. I’ve got someone t
Dante POVHe’s got a point, but I know better. “That didn’t upset her. What pissed her off was that I didn’t let her orgasm.” Callum rolls his eyes, laughing. “Of course. Typical.” “I should go check on her, make sure she hasn’t trashed the room,” I say, standing up. I make my way out of the office, up to the apartment.I walk through the room. Unlocking the door, I step into the dimly lit room where Luna’s supposed to be sleeping. As soon as I do, she screams, and before I can react, a lamp swings toward my head. I duck just in time, grabbing her around the waist and tackling her to the floor. She thrashes, but I hold her steady. “Doing a battle cry before swinging was your downfall,” I laugh, snatching the lamp out of her hand. “I want a fucking shower, you dick!” she yells, her eyes blazing with fury. I can’t help but lick my lips, leaning down to bite gently at her ear. “I’m not a dick, tiny demon, but I can give you one if you ask nicely.” I let my tongue trail down her nec
Dante POVHer pace quickens, her body now slamming into mine with a new urgency. Her breath comes in shallow, hurried gasps as she kisses me with fierce intensity, her tongue pushing into my mouth, desperate, hungry. I meet her halfway, kissing her back with everything I have, my hands moving to grasp her hips, helping her move faster, harder. I keep my eyes locked on her face, watching every flicker of emotion cross her features, every twitch of pleasure that ripples through her body. I have to fight back speaking, all I want to do is whisper dirty things to her, but I feel that might push her back into the space where she closes her eyes. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, and I can feel her pulse quickening, matching the frantic rhythm of our bodies. It’s intoxicating—being this close, feeling her this way. She’s not just fucking me. She’s claiming me, too. I groan again, deeper this time, as the pleasure builds inside me. Her body clenches around me, and I know she’s close, teet
Luna’s POV Waking up, I groan softly, rolling over to take in my surroundings. This isn’t the room Dante had locked me in before. It feels more lived in, more personal, and my gut tells me this must be his bedroom. The room itself is a testament to luxury. The walls are painted in deep, muted tones, giving the space a warm, inviting feel. A massive king-sized bed dominates the center, dressed in dark, plush linens that feel like they’re made from the finest fabric. The headboard stretches up the wall, upholstered in dark velvet with a modern design. To my right, floor-to-ceiling windows are draped with heavy curtains in a rich charcoal gray, drawn closed but letting in slivers of light. The floors are polished hardwood, partially covered by a large, thick rug, so soft it practically swallows my feet when I touch it. Three doors are spaced along the walls, leading to who knows where. Climbing out of bed, I wince, groaning again as I notice the blood on the sheets. Great. Dante might
Luna’s POV Dante gestures toward me, his gaze unwavering, intense. “What?” I whisper, unsure of what he’s expecting. “You have questions, Luna. I know you have a lot to ask, so go ahead.” I do have questions—too many, really. But all of them lead down a path I’m not ready to face. If I ask the wrong thing, this entire fragile situation could crumble. And deep down, I know I’m not ready to be told the ugly truth about his business. “Is your plan to ignore your questions?” he presses, his voice challenging, as if daring me to confront him. I close my eyes in frustration, my hands clenching at my sides. “No,” I snap, “my plan is to try and ignore this whole thing. Your business, what you do, everything.” His head tilts slightly, and a dark laugh escapes him. “You still think I sell and abuse women, don’t you?” His voice is sharp, almost mocking. “I thought we’d moved past that. But you still think I sell women?” I stiffen, my mind racing. What am I supposed to think? I glare at h
“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