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,
“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