Luna POVAt work, Lucy waves me over the moment I walk in, her face already set in a dramatic pout. “Again?” she asks, sitting down beside me.I nod, feeling the weight of it all. “Yeah, again.”“Did you talk to him about it?”“I was going to,” I sigh, leaning back in my chair. “But then he gave me one of the anniversary gifts, and I just... I couldn’t bring it up. I mean, it’s not like he’s using me, but he’s just...” I trail off, not even sure how to explain it.“He’s not giving you time,” Lucy says knowingly. Then, her face lights up. “Wait! I have the perfect idea!”I raise an eyebrow. “I don’t think I’m going to like your idea.”She laughs. “No, seriously! Sexy lingerie, leave a brand-new toy out on the bed, and send him some teasing messages. Tell him you want to be punished for hours.”I laugh at first, but then I consider it. Maybe she’s right? Maybe this is the way to get his attention without coming off as demanding. Maybe it’s the playful push he needs to take his time with
Luna POVI stare at the box, hesitating, but eventually reach for the note attached to it.Happy Birthday. I hope this cheers you up. You looked rather frustrated this morning.I feel a chill crawl down my spine. He saw me this morning? I untie the bow with shaky hands, pulling open the lid. My eyes widen in shock. Inside the box, curled up on a small blanket, is a puppy. A real, live puppy. I reach in cautiously, and the tiny creature stirs, blinking up at me. Relief washes over me—it’s alive.Damn this man. My emotions are a mess. Part of me wants to smile and melt at the sight of the little thing, but the other part of me screams that this is so wrong. I can’t enjoy a gift from my stalker, even if it’s an adorable puppy. But as I hold the small bundle of fur, I can’t help but soften.I lift the collar and check the tag. Little Bear. He named it Little Bear? I let out a short, surprised laugh despite myself. “So, Little Bear, any chance you can talk and tell me who my stalker is?” I
Dante’s POVI need to do something special for her. Something that will make her smile again, something that will remind her that someone out there actually cares. This small apartment feels suffocating as I pace around, each step echoing the tension that’s been growing inside me since last night. Every corner of this place has traces of her—her scent, her touch, her presence. But what I can’t shake from my mind is the look she gave him this morning, the same frustrated expression she wore last night but somehow deeper, more painful. It’s like it carved itself into my memory.It wasn’t just about Justin, though. Yeah, he didn’t leave like he usually does after their nights together, and that definitely added to her frustration. It messed with her routine. Normally, she’d get some time to herself, time to unwind, to just be without him looming over her. But today? No. Today, she was stuck with him. She never got that time to escape, to play alone, to just breathe.I get it. I really do
Dante POV“That’s the fourth one this week,” Callum laughs, dropping back into his seat.I sit down, shaking my head. “People like her come in all the time. Most of them don’t last. Either they don’t understand what they’re getting into, or they think they can handle it until they can’t.”“You could’ve given her a real shot,” Callum says with a grin.“I did,” I snap. “I’m not about to let some naïve girl walk into this world blind. The only exceptions are the ones who’d be doing this on the streets, risking their lives without any protection. Here, at least, they’re safe.”Callum leans against the desk, his smirk not fading. “So compassionate,” he teases.He doesn’t get it. No one does. They look at me like I’m some kind of monster, selling women and taking their money. But I take nothing. This place was built to protect women—to give them a safe place to do what they’re already doing. Well, to protect one woman, at least.I stand abruptly. I’ve wasted enough time here—I need to see J
DanteI grab her phone, lift her hand, press her thumb against the sensor. It unlocks instantly, and I dive straight into her messages. I scroll past the unimportant names, the meaningless conversations, until I find him. Babes. That’s what she calls him. Babes. The word churns my stomach. I want to change it to something more fitting. Worthless. Useless. Because that’s all he is. He doesn’t deserve her, doesn’t know how to handle her, doesn’t see her the way I do.I scroll through the messages, and each one makes me angrier. His replies are pathetic. There’s no fire, no lust, no desperate need to please her, to make her his. How can he not see what he has? She’s practically begging for his attention, sending him messages that are dripping with desire, and he brushes her off like she’s nothing.My eyes land on one message in particular, right after she sent him a picture of herself in the bath, her hand between her thighs. I read it slowly, savoring each word, imagining her writing it
Luna’s POVI wake up feeling as though I’ve slept for an eternity. My body feels refreshed in a way it hasn’t in months, but my mind drifts back to the strange, vivid dream I had last night. The intensity of it still lingers. I’ve fantasized about my stalker before, imagining him as this absurdly attractive man driven to please me. But never in my wildest thoughts did I expect a dream so real, so visceral.Maybe it’s because of Justin. He got me all worked up, and then—like I was nothing—he ghosted me. That stung. It still stings. I can’t shake the pain, but there’s a voice inside me, softly telling me I need to let go of this... but I can’t. I just can’t.Then there’s little bear. I’ve always wanted a pet, but between juggling time at Justin’s and my place, it’s never been practical. The puppy forces me to confront things—like Justin. He’s been asking me to move in, and I was actually considering it. But this past month, he’s grown distant, colder. No matter what bizarre thing my sta
Luna POVWe end up spending the morning talking, laughing, and trying to process it all. But despite the distractions, I can’t shake the gnawing feeling in my chest. Still no message from Justin. No birthday wish. No explanation. Has he really forgotten? Or is this his way of showing he’s still mad about the puppy?The uncertainty sits heavy in my heart, making me wonder if I’ve been chasing the wrong kind of attention all along.The entire day has slipped away like sand through my fingers, disappearing along with Lucy. It’s almost eerie how quiet everything has become. I haven’t heard a single word from Justin. No Happy Birthday. No message at all. I can’t wrap my head around it—how could he forget? My mind whirls in confusion as I sit there, my eyes lingering on the pile of gifts from my stalker, their presence so loud in the silence.Every inch of me recoils at the sight of them. Part of me wants to throw them away—again. But I know it won’t matter; it didn’t work last time. Nothin
Luna POVI pour myself a glass of vodka and take a deep breath before reaching for my laptop. Maybe I can escape into a movie—something to distract me from this mess of emotions.But as I scroll through endless options, nothing feels right. Nothing catches my eye. Everything seems dull and lifeless, a reflection of how I feel inside.My phone buzzes, jolting me from my daze. It’s a message from Lucy.Buy it, listen to it. Love it. And no doubt, have hot dreams about it.It’s another book suggestion from her. I’ve just finished the last one she recommended, and honestly, I shouldn’t dive into another. Once I start reading, I lose myself completely. But this time, she’s telling me to listen to it. Audiobook. That’s new. Before I even realize what I’m doing, I click the link she sent, and in a matter of seconds, the book is purchased and playing through my home speakers.I settle back in bed, letting the narrator’s deep voice wash over me, and within moments, I realize Lucy’s sent me a s
Callum POV“It’s my fault. Everything is my fault,” I admit, my voice cracking. “Yes, there’s a reason I slept with her. No, it wasn’t because I wanted to. It was to keep you safe. Or at least I thought it was. She threatened to tell people from your past, Lilly, to bring them here. I couldn’t let that happen. I thought losing you, if it meant protecting you, was worth the hurt.”My words hang in the silence, and I run my hands through my hair, frustrated and desperate. “Sasha hates me, and for some reason, she hates you too, and I can’t figure out why. You’ve done nothing to her, and yet she’s hell-bent on destroying us both.” I pause, listening, hoping for a response. But the silence stretches on.Then, finally, her voice comes, soft and trembling, almost a whisper through the door. “You said you’d protect me, Callum, and I was grateful for that. But I didn’t want that.
Callum POV“Lilly!” I shout, my voice echoing in the cells, but she doesn’t even hesitate. She’s already gone. My fists clench, my mind racing with every possible way to fix this, to undo the disaster Sasha has caused. Turning, I glare at PC Prick standing by with a smug expression.“You need to let me out. Now!" My voice booms, anger and desperation bleeding through every word.He crosses his arms, his stance unyielding. “No, Callum. You tried to kill Sasha. I’ve turned a blind eye to a lot of your shit because you keep the streets clean, but this? This crosses the line.”Is he fucking serious? “She’s using you!” I snap, my voice raw. “Just like she used me! Let me out, damn it!” My heart pounds as I step closer, gripping the bars so tightly I can feel the cold metal dig into my palms.“Not until I know for certain you won’t go after Sasha,” he says eve
Lilly POVThe door opens, and I glance up, expecting Callum—but it’s Dante.“Where’s Callum?” I ask quietly, the anxiety creeping back into my voice.“He’s gone out,” Dante says, his tone careful.I glare at him, my frustration boiling over. “Don’t do that! You know where he is, so where is he?” I scream, my voice breaking. Dante’s eyes widen in surprise, but he says nothing.My phone pings, the sound cutting through the tension in the room. Grabbing it, I unlock the screen and open the message.My hands freeze, my entire body going cold. My heart feels like it’s stopped.I stare at the screen. My chest tightens painfully, and the room starts spinning. I don’t even need to click on the messages to know what the videos are. Tears blur my vision, spilling down my cheeks as I clutch the phone, staring at it like it’s a weapon. My hand shakes, my breat
Lilly’s POVI sit beside Luna, but my mind refuses to settle. It races, spiraling through the same dark thoughts over and over. How did Andrew find me? How does he know it’s me—know my name? Dante swore to me that as long as I left my old life behind, no one would be able to track me down.But they have.Despite everything I’ve sacrificed—leaving my family, my name, and my past behind—they’ve found me. A part of me clings desperately to the hope that Andrew didn’t tell anyone else where I am. But deep down, I know better. I’ve never been that lucky.Today feels like the worst day of my life. I can’t imagine how it could get any worse.“Lilly, you know Callum won’t let anyone get near you,” Luna says softly, her hand rubbing comforting circles on my back. “Not even Dante would let that happen.”I wipe the tears from my cheeks, my chest aching from the ef
Callum POVHe tries to crawl, to escape, and I give him just enough space to think he might make it.“Go ahead,” I say, my voice eerily calm. “Try again.”He starts to crawl toward the door, dragging his broken body across the floor, his movements slow and agonized. I give him a few seconds of false hope, watching as he reaches out, fingers brushing the doorframe. Then I step on his hand, crushing his fingers beneath my boot. He howls in pain, his body convulsing beneath me.“Did you really think I’d let you leave?” I lean down, pressing my knife against his cheek, slicing a thin line just under his eye. His screams are music to my ears, but I’m not done. Not yet.“Again,” I hiss, yanking him up by the collar and throwing him back into the center of the room. His body hits the floor with a sickening thud. “Run.”He tries. God, he fucking tries. But he’s too weak now,
Callum POVJust as I’m about to move in for another hit, Dante wraps his arms around me, pulling me back.“Callum, stop,” he hisses, dragging me away from Andrew. “We need answers first. If you want to let him go so you can hunt him down and kill him later, fine. But you can’t kill him yet. Not until we get what we need.”My chest heaves, my breathing ragged as I stare down at the bleeding, gasping mess in front of me. He’s right. I need answers.We drag Andrew to a chair, tying him down with thick ropes that bite into his wrists and ankles. He’s bleeding from the gash on his face, and his breath comes in ragged gasps, but his eyes are defiant, mocking even. He’s not afraid. Not yet.I pace in front of him, my blood boiling, the weight of the blade in my hand a comfort. He refuses to talk, not a single word slipping from his mouth. His jaw clenched, eyes daring me to make the first move.Da
Callum POVI watch her as Luna runs out of the room to go to work, when in fact, it's to avoid me. Every ounce of frustration and guilt weighing down on me like a ton of bricks. Everything feels like it’s crumbling. I’m doing everything I can to protect her, to keep her past buried where it belongs, but it’s like every decision I make is pulling us further apart.Sighing, I head down to the office. Dante looks up at me as soon as I step in.“She knows?” he asks, his voice low and direct.I nod, slumping into a chair. “Not everything, just that I was with Sasha,” I admit, my voice barely audible. “But it’s enough. I’m going to lose her, aren’t I? Either to her past, or because she’ll hate me for what I’ve done.” Every damn decision I’ve made is pushing us closer to the edge.“I told you to give her a choice, Callum,” Dante says, his tone stern but n
Lilly POVI rush down to the changing rooms, my body on autopilot. The other women and men are laughing and talking, their voices a distant hum in my ears. I fix my makeup, force a smile, and push everything down. I’ve been strong before. I can be strong now.“Lilly,” Jane calls from the door, snapping me back to reality. “Mr. Emerson said he’ll be another fifteen minutes.”I nod, trying to steady my breathing. Good. Fifteen minutes to compose myself, to push down the hurt and betrayal clawing at my insides. I need to get through this night. I need to be professional, even if everything inside me is screaming.When the fifteen minutes pass, I step out of the room, my mind blank as I approach the door. I try to prepare myself for another session with Mr. Emerson, the regular who always looks forward to our time together. But something feels off.I light the candles, trying to create the familiar ambiance. “Mr.
Lilly’s POVThe rain drums softly against the window, a steady rhythm that does little to calm the storm brewing inside me. I stare at my reflection, watching the raindrops race down the glass. Everything feels off. The apartment is too quiet, too still, and the absence of Callum’s presence makes the silence deafening.I tug my cardigan tighter around me, trying to fight the chill that creeps through my body. It’s not just the cold. It’s everything—the weight of the past few days, the lingering fear, the confusion swirling in my mind.Callum.I can’t stop thinking about him. The way his eyes darken when he’s angry, the way he’s always there, steady and strong, even when I’m spiraling. But there’s something else, too—something that’s been eating away at me for days. His distance. The way he shuts down whenever I try to talk about anything serious. And I know I should confront him, but