Luna POVBefore I can even process the idea of roaming freely, I glance at Dante and let a teasing grin tug at my lips. ”What if I want them to touch me?" I ask, biting my lip, pushing at his boundaries, testing him. His hand is around my neck in an instant, pulling me close, his grip firm but not painful. His gaze is sharp, intense. “Then I’ll make it fucking happen. Don’t test me.” His growl sends a thrill through my body, and I shiver, nodding under his hold. Leaning forward, I press my lips to his, my whisper soft. “I’m joking.” I would never let anyone else touch me. That’s a line I won’t cross, not with anyone else. He knows it too. With a gentle push, he lets me go, his intensity still palpable in the air. He shoves the plate of food toward me. I begin to eat. But I can feel the weight of what’s between us—the conversation about Justin that lingers in the back of my mind. “So, about Justin,” Dante begins, but I raise my hand, stopping him. “Wait. I need to tell you somethi
Luna POVI don’t bother changing out of my chemise, rushing to the door, but Dante stops me, handing me my bag. “Call her,” he says, his voice calm but commanding. “Will she answer if she's working?” I don’t know. I start dialing her number, my hands trembling as I wait. No answer. I try again. Still nothing. “She’s not answering,” I whisper, panic creeping back in. Dante guides me into the car, and I keep trying, over and over, but still, there’s no response. “Stay in the car. This is too public,” he warns, stepping out. I try the doors, but they’re locked. He locked me in the fucking car. Minutes later, he returns, his face grim. “She’s not at work,” he says. “We’re heading to her apartment. Give me the keys.” I grip the keys tightly, unwilling to let him go in alone. “No,” I snap. “You’re not going in there and scaring her!” He sighs, reaching for the keys. I fight back, kicking at him, determined to go with him. “You’re going to get hurt,” he warns, his voice sharp. “Just g
Dante POV Luna lies curled up on the bed, sobbing into little Bear’s fur, clutching the dog like it’s the only thing holding her together. I don’t want to leave her. Everything in me screams to stay, to be by her side, but Lucy’s murder changes everything. The fact that they killed Lucy means they’re closer than I thought. Not checking, not acting, would put Luna in even more danger. After Justin’s betrayal, how do I know there aren’t others here working against me too? Not checking is essentially waiting around for them to attack. I sigh, walking around the bed and kneeling next to her, so I can see her face. “Luna,” I say softly, brushing a strand of hair from her tear-streaked cheek, “I need to do something. I can’t just sit here and wait, not when there’s a threat this close.” My voice is calm, but underneath it, my urgency leaks through. “Do you want me to get Lilly for you?” I know how close she and Lilly have gotten. There’s something about the two of them that clicks, and
Dante POVSasha’s eyes flare with frustration. ”So while she stays, and you continue to obsess over her, what? We just keep working with no real leadership? Just running at risk?” I glare at her. “Risk? Are you joking? Name one fucking time you’ve been at risk, Sasha! Once! Tell me when you’ve been in danger here. The guys are still here, watching over everything like they always do.” “That’s not the point!” she shouts, her frustration palpable. “People have noticed, Dante. They know you’re distracted. They know your mind is somewhere else. You’re not as untouchable as you think. Anyone could make a move now because they see you’re occupied. You’re vulnerable. Jamie’s right—you need to stop this obsession before it destroys everything you’ve built.” My patience snaps. I slam my hands down on the desk, standing up. ”Luna is not an obsession,” I growl, my voice low and dangerous. She’s more than that. She’s a fucking addiction. She’s part of me, fused into my very being. There’s no s
Dante POVHours pass as I comb through the footage, marking down every person or vehicle that appeared more than once around the time of Lucy’s death. My mind starts to blur from exhaustion, but I keep going. “When was the last time you actually slept properly?” Callum asks, breaking the silence. I shrug, not even sure how to answer. It feels like days, maybe weeks. I haven’t slept in over twenty-four hours, and when I did, it was barely a few hours here and there. “It doesn’t matter,” I mutter, still focused on the screen. “I need to figure this out.” Callum sighs, leaning back in his chair. “You think it doesn’t, but it does. Even if you don’t sleep, take a break. Go check on Luna. I’ll keep looking. We’ve got time before the clubs open.” I let out a long breath, nodding reluctantly. He’s right. If I don’t step away for a bit, I’m going to miss something. “Oh, and by the way, her reading room—the library, whatever you want to call it—it’s complete with all her books.” Callum’s
Dante POV The room remains quiet, the soft hum of silence between us as Luna sits on my lap, her arms draped around my neck. Her head rests against my shoulder, and I can feel her steady breathing, the rise and fall of her chest against mine. I don’t want to disturb this moment, but part of me aches to ask her about the past, to know more about what she’s been through. But it’s not the right time. She might be smiling now, but I know she’s grieving. Beneath the laughter and teasing, she’s holding onto a lot of pain. She needs time, and pushing her too soon would only hurt her more. Her quiet voice breaks the silence. “I was disappointed, Dante.” I look down at her, confused. “Disappointed?” She nods, her eyes glinting with a mix of vulnerability and desire. “I was ready. Ready for you to really touch me, fuck me, or punish me in front of everyone… but then you just stopped.” There’s no accusation in her voice, just the raw honesty of what she wanted. I let out a long sigh, rollin
Dante POVKissing her lips softly, I pull back, catching her smirk as she gazes up at me. “I need to get back down and help. Are you coming?” My hand wraps possessively around her neck, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my palm. “Mmm... You could play with me under your desk, and no one would know,” she bites her lip, her voice dripping with temptation. My body reacts instantly, a low groan escaping my throat as I pull away, trying to keep my focus. I gather my clothes quickly, dressing as she does the same, her eyes never leaving me. That smirk of hers—it gets under my skin every time, in the best way. She fascinates me. Every movement, every word—it leaves me in awe. Once we’re both dressed, I walk over to her, lifting her effortlessly. She rolls her eyes playfully, her lips twitching as if she’s holding back a laugh. “I told you—” I start, but she places her hand over my mouth, silencing me. “I know,” she says, her voice low and full of mischief. “If you want to carry me,
Luna POV I stay pressed against Dante’s chest, his hand gripping my hair, holding me against him. It feels grounding, safe even. I relax into his touch, letting the weight of his hand remind me that for now, I’m not alone in this. His presence always has that effect, like an anchor in the chaos. A knock at the door pulls me from the quiet moment, and Dante calls out for them to enter. I glance up to see a man walk in. His uniform catches my eye—police. Why would they be here? “Dante,” the officer greets, his eyes immediately settling on me. I feel a wave of discomfort and instinctively move closer to Dante, though I can’t get much closer than I already am. Dante’s voice turns cold and dangerous. “Stop fucking looking at her. Now.” The man averts his gaze quickly, clearly understanding the weight of the warning. “I found Brian,” the officer continues, stepping forward and laying a piece of paper on the desk. “Based on the information, he’s staying locally, at a house he owns.” I
Serena POVWe sit for a few more minutes, and slowly, the tension begins to bleed from my body. I feel like myself again—or at least the version of me that’s manageable. My muscles unclench, and the static in my head fades. A smile tugs at my lips as I climb onto his lap, curling against him.“Your drinks,” the waiter interrupts with a polite smile, placing them on the table.I reach for my bag, ready to grab some cash for a tip, but when I open it, there’s nothing. My hand freezes.“I…” My fingers scramble through the bag, but it’s empty. Rubbing my head, I try to think. Where did I put the money?“Everything okay?” His voice is soft, but his lips press against mine quickly, a fleeting kiss that feels more like a distraction than affection.“I’ve lost the money,” I whisper, my voice trembling with frustration.“Did he pay you?”“He always pays, Dale.” I frown, trying to pull the memory from the fog in my brain. “I remember him giving it to me… maybe I dropped it outside?”Dale leans
SerenaMy body sinks into the car seat, my arms heavy and my head swimming in a fog. I can feel his eyes on me—watching me, dissecting every movement. I try to force a smile, but even that feels like too much effort.“Pixie Doll,” his voice is low, rough, and the nickname he uses makes my skin crawl tonight for some reason. His fingers grip my chin, firm enough to hold me in place but not enough to hurt. He tilts my face toward him, and I catch the flicker of something behind his eyes—concern?“You good?” he asks, his voice soft but probing, and I nod quickly, even though my body feels like it’s trembling from the inside out.“Perfect,” I lie, my voice barely above a whisper. My mind, however, is screaming. It’s clawing at the edges of something—something I can’t quite grasp. He’s planning something. I can feel it.“Are you sure? You look a little high right now. You think you can ride safely?” His tone shifts, but I'm not sure it's worry, and I hate the way he looks at me—like I’m fr
Jace“Okay, tell me everything I need to know. I doubt this file lays it all out, no secrets, no matter how small,” I say, leaning forward, my eyes locked on him.William exhales heavily, leaning back in his chair, his gaze sharp and assessing. “She was supposed to make you aware of all this, but she never did,” he says, his voice low and clipped.I stiffen. Of course, she didn’t. She couldn’t. I ran before she had the chance. I nod, motioning for him to continue, though the knot forming in my chest tightens with every second of silence.“She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Jace,” he says, his words deliberate, each syllable dropping like a stone. “She came to tell you one night, around the time everything between you two went crazy. She came back after seeing you and said you didn’t care, so she didn’t bother telling you.”I feel the air leave my lungs in one sharp exhale. Didn’t care? That’s a lie. It has to be. Had she told me, I would’ve cared. I would’ve done something—anyth
This is the start of Jace's Story - His Little Hellion.JaceThe file feels like it’s searing through my palm, its weight a constant reminder of everything I’m trying to avoid. A month. I’ve been here a goddamn month, holed up, barricading myself behind work and excuses. I haven’t reached out. Hell, I haven’t even stepped into her orbit. Instead, I sit here, combing through this damn file over and over, as if it’s going to tell me something I don’t already know.The truth? I’m fucking terrified.Serena. Just the name is enough to tighten my chest. A walking nightmare with a smile that could burn the whole world down. When Dante asked me to help run this location with Rich, I had one condition—I wasn’t sure about Serena. I told him straight up. She’s a loose cannon, the kind that could unravel years of work with a single reckless move. But here I am anyway, stuck in this office, tethered to her name like a goddamn noose.The knock on the door makes me flinch. Rich steps in, wearing his
Lilly POVLuna is doubled over laughing. “If only someone had filmed that,” she teases, wiping her eyes.“I would replay it over and over,” I say, joining her laughter. And I mean it—I absolutely would. “I’m going to get home,” Luna says, lifting Elouise into her arms. She gives me a warm smile before heading out, the door clicking softly behind her.I turn my attention to Zade, scooping him up with a playful smile. “Alright, little man, time to get you ready for bed,” I say, carrying him to the changing table.“Why is it always me?” Callum’s voice comes from behind me, dripping with mock frustration.I glance over my shoulder to see him leaning against the doorframe, a weary expression on his face. Laughing softly, I reply, “You’re clearly his favorite. Isn’t that right, Zade?” I tickle Zade’s tummy, and he lets out a giggle.Callum groans, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’m his favorite target. The vomit earlier proved that.”Smirking, I focus on getting Zade changed. “Whe
Lilly POVZade crawls across the room, his tiny hands and knees making soft pats against the floor as he moves with determination. He pauses near Elouise, sitting up and grabbing one of her small toys before shaking it frantically, giggling as the sound fills the air. Watching him like this—so carefree, so full of life—brings a bittersweet warmth to my chest.It’s days like today that I can’t help but reflect on how much has changed in the last sixteen months since my scan. Everything feels like it’s shifted, like our lives have been rewritten in the best ways.Zade’s arrival wasn’t exactly by the book. He came two weeks early, catching us all completely off guard. Dante and Luna had gone for one of her routine checkups, Callum was at the clubs, and I had convinced myself there was still plenty of time.I was wrong.One moment, everything was calm—quiet, even—and the next, I was gripping the phone, sobbing into the receiver as I called Callum, barely able to get the words out between
Callum POV He’s planned this, weighed the risks, and now he’s looking to me for input.“That’s a big move,” I say, leaning back, my mind already racing through the possibilities.“It is,” he agrees. “But it could save lives. Just like we’ve done here.”Dante isn’t one to take things lightly, and this is no exception. As much as I want to argue about the risks, part of me knows he’s right. The work doesn’t stop—it just shifts to where it’s needed most.“Well...” I start, but the words die on my tongue. I’m completely at a loss. Everything Dante’s telling me feels like it’s spiraling into some crazy scenario, and I can’t find a foothold to ground myself.Dante smirks, clearly enjoying my confusion. “Not only do the local police back it and agree to turn a blind eye to the more... questionable aspects of our operations, but the local MP is onboard too. Apparently, his daughter is causing some chaos. She works on the streets, proving to Daddy she’s not his little princess anymore.”He dr
Callum POVLilly’s weight is soft and comforting against me as I carry her back upstairs. Her body molds to mine, her arms draped lazily around my neck, her head resting on my shoulder. She’s half-asleep, clinging to me as though letting go would pull her from the warmth of the moment.As I step into the apartment, the quietness settles around us, broken only by the soft rustle of her breathing. I push the door to our bedroom open, slipping inside. Gently, I shrug off my robe and remove hers, ensuring she stays warm as I lay her down on the bed and cover her.Sliding in beside her, I feel her instinctively shift closer, her body curling into mine like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Her arms wrap around me, holding me tightly as though she never wants to let go.Grasping her in return, I press a kiss to her hairline and pull her impossibly closer. She nuzzles into my chest, her warmth spreading through me in a way that feels grounding.“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice so
Lilly POVThe couples on the bed welcome us warmly, making space as we join them. Hands reach out to caress us, and I gasp at the sensation of unfamiliar touches on my skin. Callum keeps me close, his presence grounding me as we’re drawn into the tangle of bodies.“Remember,” he whispers in my ear as we begin to lose ourselves in the pleasure. “I’m right here with you. Always.”With that reassurance, I let go of my last inhibitions and give myself over to the experience, ready to explore new heights of pleasure with Callum by my side.The sensation of multiple hands caressing my body is overwhelming at first. I close my eyes, focusing on the feeling of Callum’s strong arms around me as we sink into the plush mattress. His familiar scent helps ground me as unfamiliar fingers trail along my skin.“Open your eyes,” Callum murmurs. “I want you to see everything.”I obey, my gaze meeting his intense stare. He smiles encouragingly before capturing my lips in a deep kiss. As we kiss, I feel