Luna POV We stand in silence, carefully picking out the twigs, leaves, and dirt from each other’s hair. Once we’ve gotten rid of everything—or at least what we can see—Dante pulls me into the shower. I watch the water as it runs down our bodies, the color shifting from clear to a muddy mix of blood and grime. The sight reminds me of the chaos we’ve just gone through. My whole body aches, every muscle reminding me of the intensity of the night. Yet, despite the pain, a small smile pulls at my lips. I wasn’t sure what would happen when I ran—I just wanted him to chase me, to claim me. I knew he would. It became more than that, though—like a game of cat and mouse, the thrill of fight or flight surging through both of us. By the end, I was spent, too exhausted to even keep my eyes open. Now, as Dante works the shampoo into my hair, a quiet moan slips from my lips. His fingers move with purpose, massaging my scalp, but his eyes—those hungry, intense eyes—stay locked on my body. The way
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,
Jace POV“Count for me,” I instruct, my voice firm but steady. Without waiting for a response, I bring the paddle down with more force against her upper thigh.“One,” she gasps, her body tensing before quickly relaxing into the sensation.I continue, alternating between her thighs, her ass, and the curve of her hips, watching as her skin warms under each controlled strike. I push the intensity just a little further each time, testing her limits, feeling her reactions shift between sharp gasps and breathy moans. By the time we reach ten, her body is flushed a beautiful shade of pink, her muscles loose, her breaths uneven.“Good girl,” I murmur, setting the paddle aside. My voice is low, soothing, meant to anchor her even as I prepare to take her further. “Now for something different.”I pick up the flogger, letting the soft leather strands dance over her sensitized skin. She shivers instantly, her breath catching, her body trembling under the featherlight touch. I watch as anticipation
Jace POVWhen the feather brushes against her inner thighs again, her legs tremble, parting slightly without thought. I watch as the tension in her hands loosens, her fidgeting slowing, her mind beginning to quiet. She’s sinking into it now, letting the sensation take over.Setting the feather aside, I reach for the pinwheel and an ice cube, the stark contrast between the two designed to overwhelm her senses.The moment the cool metal of the pinwheel makes contact with her hip, she shudders, her skin tightening under the delicate prickle of each tiny spike. I roll it up her side, the subtle drag leaving a trail of awareness in its wake. Her breathing shifts, turning into soft, shallow pants as I circle the pinwheel along the curve of her breast, teasing but never fully touching.At the same time, I press the ice cube to her lips. Her gasp is sharp, instinctive, her mouth parting slightly from the shock of cold. I take advantage of the moment, dragging the ice along her neck, leaving g
Jace POVBy the time we pull up outside, I’ve made my decision. I climb off my bike and walk straight to her, grabbing her wrist before she can say anything and leading her inside. But I don’t take her to my apartment. Instead, I step into the lift, pressing the button that takes us downstairs.She doesn’t question it right away, just watches me with that sharp, wary gaze, waiting for whatever comes next.When we step out, I walk her down the hall to a vacant room, pushing the door open and stepping inside before locking it behind us. The air shifts instantly, her body going still as her eyes flick around the space. It’s simple—clean, dim lighting, nothing extravagant—but the energy in the room is different, charged with something she doesn’t fully understand yet.“Have you done anything like this before?” I ask quietly, watching her closely.Her head shakes, a slow, hesitant movement, but her eyes don’t leave mine.“Okay,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “We’ll start with the basics.
Jace POVI need to put a stop to this.That’s the only reason I’m back here, standing in the middle of this fucking street, watching her make the worst decision of her life like it means nothing. The guy in the car doesn’t give a damn, his lazy smirk saying he’s already won. He’s not going anywhere. He’ll sit there all fucking night if he has to, waiting for her to crack, waiting for her to climb inside like she’s done a hundred times before.Her hand moves to open the door, and I reach out, grabbing her wrist before she can. “I’ll pay you,” I say, voice tight, my chest burning with frustration. “Don’t get in that car, please.”Something’s off. She’s different today, her energy too erratic, too wild, like she’s running on something other than adrenaline. The way her body sways, the way her pupils are blown wide—it’s not just the club, not just the high of the moment.Then she tilts her head, eyes locking onto mine, and she grins, teeth flashing in the dim light.“Will you fuck me, Jac
Serena POVChecking my bag it's empty. I don't understand, I remember it in my hand, but did I give him it?“You said you had it,” Dale continues, voice steady. “But you never gave it to me. You must have lost it.”“No,” I whisper, shaking my head again. My throat tightens, panic trying to claw its way back up. “I—”His sigh is soft, almost disappointed. “You’ve been all over the place, Sera. You were late taking your tablets, you were shaking so bad you could barely stand… maybe you thought you gave it to me, but you didn’t.”I try to argue, but the words don’t come. The way he says it, the way he looks at me like I’m something fragile, something easily broken—it makes me hesitate. The confidence I had in my memory crumbles, the cracks widening with every second of silence between us.I was late. I was shaking. I don’t even remember how I got here, not really. The ride, the searching, the desperation—it’s all a blur, a mess of fragmented pieces that don’t fit together.Maybe I did fo
Serena POV“I warned you,” he says, voice calm, too casual. “Told you not to be late again, didn’t I?” He leans back against the bar, stretching his arms out along the counter like this is nothing more than a minor inconvenience. “And yet, here we are. You fucking up, me waiting for you to figure it out, and now you get to deal with your dad like I said you would.”A cold sweat breaks out along my back. My chest tightens as the words sink in, my panic twisting into something more dangerous. I shake my head, forcing myself to swallow the lump in my throat. “Dale, please. You can’t—he’ll—” My voice cracks, but I don’t care. He knows exactly what my father would do if he thought I wasn’t taking my meds right.Dale watches me struggle, his lips twitching at the corners like he’s savoring it. He leans in slightly, voice dropping just enough to make sure I hear every damn word. “I can. And I will. You’re making my life harder, Sera. I told you the rules. I told you what happens if you don’t
Serena POVMy body trembles, the shakes making it harder to hold onto the handlebars as I ride. My vision blurs in and out, my skin crawling with that unbearable itch that only gets worse the longer I go without my pills. My thoughts slip in and out of focus, fragmented and disjointed, like pieces of a puzzle that won’t fit together. I don’t remember half the ride by the time I stop outside the house, my heart pounding against my ribs like it’s trying to break free.I barely get off my bike before I’m moving, legs unsteady as I push through the door. My breaths come fast, uneven. The world tilts for a second, but I ignore it, shoving past the few people lingering inside and taking the stairs two at a time. My hands shake as I reach his door, and I knock hard.“Dale!” My voice comes out rough, cracking on his name. No answer. I knock again, harder. “Please, Dale!”The door stays silent.“He left,” Joanne’s voice cuts through my panic, and I spin to face her, my stomach twisting.“What?
Jace POV“So she’s been close to death,” he muses, his voice softer now, almost admiring. “She’s witnessed it. Felt the fear of it. And at some point, she realized how alive it made her feel in that moment.”I shake my head. “No. Because she hasn’t. That’s the thing. There’s nothing. Not even a broken fucking bone,” I mutter. The frustration burns under my skin, because none of it makes sense.Rich leans forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his expression shifting—darker, something lurking behind his eyes that makes my spine go rigid.“You can face death and show no signs of it, Jace,” he murmurs, his voice too smooth, too knowing. “Death doesn’t have to be messy and loud. It can be calm while being completely fucking insane. It can be clean, but still leave blood in your mind that never washes off.”Something in my stomach knots as I watch him, the way his gaze sharpens, his fingers drumming idly against the desk like he’s enjoying the moment.“It can be a moment of pure terror,”
Jace POVWhen I wake up, I already know she's gone. The room feels different. The air feels empty.I walk through the apartment, glancing around, half-hoping I’ll find her still curled up somewhere, but she’s gone. A part of me expected it. Another part of me hoped she’d stay.Rubbing a hand down my face, I head for the kitchen, needing coffee to push away the exhaustion clinging to me. I barely slept, too wired, too focused on every word she said last night. I grab a cup, take a sip, and turn—then stop cold.My wallet is open. That sinking feeling hits hard, a slow burn in my gut as I move toward it. The cash is gone.She fucking didn’t. I grab it, flipping through, but it’s empty. Every single bill. She took it all.The anger comes fast, pulsing hot under my skin. I wasn’t expecting a damn thank you, but I also didn’t think she’d rob me the second my guard was down. My jaw clenches as I spot the note folded beside the wallet.I snatch it up, eyes scanning the messy scrawl.Sorry.So