Lilly POVWhen the doors slide open, I follow him into the depths of this strange new world, the pain of my past still clinging to me, but for the first time in years, the faintest flicker of hope glimmers on the horizon.My eyes dart around the unfamiliar space, trying to take in my surroundings and piece together where I am. The halls are clean, polished, and far too quiet, with an air of something carefully constructed. Callum walks ahead of me, his confident stride unwavering. I trail behind, hesitant but with no better option. My heart races as he pauses, his warm smile softening as he opens a door and gestures for me to follow.The office we step into is sleek but not overly extravagant. The man behind the desk looks up, his eyes sharp but his smile disarmingly kind. His presence is calm, steady, and strangely comforting. He doesn’t stand, doesn’t extend a hand. He simply nods in acknowledgment.“Rachel,” he says, his voice even and measured. “I’m Dante.” His gaze holds mine, no
Lilly POVI hold my breath as he continues.“Behind the scenes, this place offers sex work. But it’s not what you’re thinking. Every man who uses these services is vetted extensively before they’re allowed access. Every room is monitored, recorded. The women keep everything they make. It’s not perfect, but it’s safe. Safer than being out on the street, at the mercy of men like Andrew.”His words sink in, and I can’t move. Can’t breathe. My mind races, processing everything. A brothel. A strip club. A place where women sell their bodies—but safely. My lip trembles as I try to make sense of it all. He’s staring at me, waiting for a reaction.He told me about his mother and sister. Is it true? Would he lie about something like that? But he’s helping me, protecting me. Surely that means he’s telling the truth. Doesn’t it?The room feels heavy with Callum’s words, his voice still echoing in my mind. My heart pounds as I process everything he’s said. A brothel—sex work, but safe. Women keep
Callum POVThere’s something about her, something I can’t quite put my finger on. She’s broken, fragile, yet there’s a quiet strength buried beneath the surface. It pulls me in, though I know better than to act on it. She’s been through hell, and the last thing she needs is me making her life any more complicated.“Look,” I say, watching her as she sits across from me, her hands clutching the glass of water I just handed her. “I know I explained what this place is, but I need to make something very clear. I didn’t bring you here to work, Lilly.” Her head tilts slightly, confusion flickering in her tired eyes.I give her a small, reassuring smile. “This place isn’t just for women who want to work. The apartments downstairs are a safe space for those trying to escape that life altogether.”The tension in her shoulders eases slightly, and I can see the relief wash over her. She hon
Callum POVDante leans back in his chair, watching the door close behind Justin before turning to me. “Right,” he says, his tone shifting to something more professional. “Let’s get you started on the vetting process. You’ll be handling a lot of the checks moving forward, so it’s important you know how to dig deep.”I sit up straighter, my attention fully on him now. Dante walks over and pulls up a separate screen on my laptop, opening a database filled with profiles, each one tagged with requests for entry to the club. He explains the process as he works, his hands moving deftly over the keyboard.“Every man who wants access has to submit basic information—name, ID, background details. What they don’t know is we don’t just check the surface. We dig. Criminal records, financial history, online activity—anything that might raise a red flag. If they’re clean, they get in. If they’re n
LillyIt’s been a month since I arrived here, and life has settled into something resembling normalcy. I’ve found a routine that works for both Callum and me. At night, while he works, I sleep. During the day, while he rests, I give him space, sitting in the living area with my thoughts or exploring the apartment.The place officially opened a week after I got here, though the clubs had already been running. I’ve ventured out of the apartment a few times, cautiously meeting some of the women who live and work here. There’s an energy to this place, a mix of empowerment and safety I didn’t expect. The women seem happy, genuinely so, and it gives me a sliver of hope that maybe I can be, too.Callum gave me a phone when I got here. I mostly use it to read, though the screen is small, and staring at it for too long gives me headaches. Still, I’m determined to finish the book I started. It’s a distraction, one I desperately ne
Callum POVWork has been quiet tonight, almost too quiet. It gives me time to think, which isn’t always a good thing. On my break, I decide to check on Lilly, my fingers moving instinctively to pull up the live security feed. There she is, standing with Sasha, the two of them talking. She should be heading back upstairs soon, so maybe I’ll go down to see her before she calls it a night.Standing, I grab my jacket and make my way to the elevator. The ride down feels slower than usual, my mind running through the usual thoughts—how she’s adjusting, if she’s feeling any better. But when I step into the room, something feels… off. Sasha and Lilly are still deep in conversation, but there’s a subtle tension in the air, a hesitation in the way Lilly’s shoulders are hunched slightly forward.“Hey,” I say, approaching them. “You’re down here late.”Lilly turns, her eyes meeting mine br
Callum POVDante studies me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Have you figured out where she’ll start yet?” I ask, shifting the conversation away from my own feelings.“She’ll stay as a dancer for now,” he replies, his tone matter-of-fact. “In a few months, if she’s comfortable being around men, I’ll consider giving her a place downstairs. But that’s only if she’s ready.”“She could just stay as a dancer,” I say with a shrug, though the thought doesn’t sit right with me.“You know she doesn’t want that,” Dante says, his voice firm but not unkind. “If I refuse her progression, she’s likely to go looking for work somewhere else. And you know how that could end.”I nod, the weight of his words sinking in. He’s right. If she feels like she can’t grow here, she’ll leave, and the thought of her stepping b
Callum POVFrustrated, I rub my face and step into the club. My eyes scan the room until they land on Sasha leaning against the bar, her confident smirk in place as if last night didn’t even happen. My chest tightens, and I stride over, stopping just short of her.“Why last night?” I ask, my voice low but firm. “If it was nothing, fine, but why did you suddenly decide to do it?”She raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “I was bored. You were fun,” she says with a casual shrug, her tone devoid of any emotion.Her words hit like a slap. “So, you don’t care if I date or sleep with someone else?” I ask, watching her carefully, looking for any reaction, any flicker of something genuine. Instead, she lets out a mocking laugh.“Why the hell would I care, Callum? It was purely sex,” she says, turning her back on me without another word and walking away.I stand there for a mome
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