Lilly’s POV
Yesterday, after talking to Luna, I made the decision to step away from working downstairs for good. The resolve had been building for weeks, but speaking with her solidified it. This morning, as soon as I woke up, I took the first step.
Every one of my clients received a notification that this week would be my last. After that, I’d only be dancing. I braced myself for resistance—maybe some anger or guilt-tripping—but, to my surprise, the responses were kind. Friendly, even. Many of them wished me well, offering words of encouragement I hadn’t expected.
Still, stepping back meant tonight was exhausting. I decided not to limit how many clients I’d see in these final days. There were men I’d been seeing for months, years even. If I set a strict cap, some of them wouldn’t get a chance to say goodbye, and that didn’t sit right with me.
Tonight has felt bittersweet, like closing a chapter of my
Lilly POVThe shrill ring of a phone jolts me awake, and I groan, disoriented.“I’m coming!” Callum’s voice cuts through the haze, and I sit up, confused as I watch him scramble to get dressed.“What’s going on?” I ask, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.“I slept in,” he mutters, fastening his belt with hurried movements.“Dante won’t care if you’re a little late. Why are you rushing?” I slide out of bed, trying to make sense of his urgency.“I promised him I’d be somewhere. What time is your last client tonight?” he asks, avoiding my question as he tightens his boots.“I don’t know,” I say, still groggy.“Let Dante know, and he can tell me,” he replies before leaning down to kiss me. But something about his energy feels off—strained.“Callum, the clubs don’t open for hours,” I
Lilly POVLuna’s face softens with sympathy as she nods. “He has been super busy. Dante told me this morning that it was the first time he’s seen Callum sleep properly in over a week.”“We had time, though, Luna. He knows I’m stopping working.” My voice cracks, the weight of my emotions spilling out. “Now I’m wondering if it’s because he knows how many clients I’ve been seeing every night.”Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head adamantly. “No way. That’s not why.”“You don’t know that,” I say with a weak laugh, wiping away a stray tear. “It could be. Maybe he’s disgusted—repulsed by it all.”“Lilly,” she says firmly, “you’ve explained this to me before. You’ve told me how he always reassures you. You’ve even said he makes you stop overthinking it when you tell him you need to shower
Lilly POVMy chest tightens with frustration and worry. Giving up, I head back downstairs.“Everything alright?” Star asks, her voice soft and kind.“He’s not back,” I say with a small shrug. “If anyone needs me, I’m free.”Star nods, giving me a quick hug before walking off. I glance at my phone again, but the messages remain undelivered. Two hours crawl by, and I finally admit defeat. I head back to the apartment, the ache of disappointment settling deep in my chest.Stepping inside, the sound of running water catches my attention. My heart skips a beat as I sit on the edge of the bed, waiting. The shower stops, and moments later, the bathroom door opens. Callum steps out, a towel wrapped around his waist, steam swirling around him.His eyes meet mine, and I don’t even know where to start. Anger, relief, hurt—all of it wells up inside me, threatening to spill over. He looks at me, a
Callum POVLying in bed with Lilly wrapped around me, her warmth grounding me, I make a decision. Tonight solidifies it—there’s only one way to keep her safe. The problem is, I have no idea how to get her to agree to it.The day’s events play on a loop in my mind, each moment more gut-wrenching than the last. Sasha was livid when I arrived late, her anger crackling in the air like a live wire. It made everything tense from the start, but when she caught me rummaging through her bag, things spiraled into something far worse. Her fury was unmatched, her eyes burning with suspicion and rage, but even that didn’t prepare me for what came later.Then there was Lilly. That first message she sent reminded me why I was doing all of this—why I was enduring Sasha and her venom. Her words gave me a sliver of hope in a sea of chaos. But the next two messages? They wrecked me completely.The last thing I needed while trapped in Sasha&rsqu
Callum POVHer answer feels like a punch to the gut, stealing the air from my lungs. “I thought we could leave,” I say, my voice trembling. “We could forget all of this, move somewhere better. Somewhere safe.” I wait, my chest tight with hope, praying she’ll change her mind.She stares at me, her expression softening into one of hurt. “The club is my life, Callum. If we move...I’d have nothing.”The words slice through me. “You have me,” I argue, my voice breaking. “You’d have me, and you wouldn’t have to live with this danger hanging over your head.”“That’s different,” she says, her voice rising slightly as she struggles to make me understand. “Luna is my friend. Dante is yours. That’s our home, our work, our everything.”“We can find new friends,” I reply, but the words feel hollow, even to me.She stares at me
Callum POVThe ride to the hotel is quiet, but I can feel her excitement radiating behind me. It’s infectious, pulling me from my dark thoughts for just a little while. When we reach the room, I take the dress from her and smile. “Get showered,” I say softly, kissing her forehead. “I need to make a quick call.”She nods and disappears into the bathroom. Watching her go, I feel a pang of guilt. She looks so carefree, so happy—and yet, she has no idea the storm I’ve been fighting to keep from her. This moment feels fragile, like it could shatter at any second.As I step onto the balcony, phone in hand, I know one thing for certain. I can’t let her down again. Not tonight. Not ever.When the shower begins to run, I turn my phone back on, scrolling past missed notifications before pressing Dante’s number. It rings only once before he answers.“Have you considered this?” His voice is sharp,
Lilly POVCallum’s hands are warm on my waist, his lips brushing my temple as he smiles down at me, but there’s something lingering beneath the surface. His smile is genuine, but his eyes betray him—there’s fear there, buried deep, a weight he hasn’t shared with me yet. I want to press him, to ask what’s gnawing at him, but I hold back. Whatever it is, it’s eating at him, and I can’t add to that burden.He told me about his daughter, a bombshell revelation that left me reeling. The way he spoke about it, so hesitant, so broken, made it clear just how much it’s tearing him apart. Callum has spent his life protecting women, shielding them from danger. Now, out of the blue, he discovers he has a daughter? It must feel like the ground has been ripped out from under him.“You look amazing,” he says, tilting his head as he studies me with a playful smirk. “And tall.”I laugh softly an
Lilly POVI shift slightly in my seat, the hem of my skirt sliding higher as I move. My fingers glide over the fabric, slipping underneath as I hook them around the edge of my thong. Slowly, deliberately, I slide it down my legs, the soft material brushing against my skin. It drops to my feet, and I lean down just enough to lift it discreetly, careful not to draw attention.He’s deep in conversation, oblivious to what I’m doing. His words are background noise, meaningless compared to the thrill racing through me. My heart pounds as I glance around, confirming no one’s watching. Leaning forward across the table, I catch his attention, his curious gaze locking onto me.“Lilly?” he asks, his head tilting slightly in confusion.Without a word, I reach out and slip my thong into the pocket of his jacket. His eyes follow my movements, widening as realization dawns. His mouth falls open slightly, his breath hitching.“We
“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