Luna POVThere’s no room for regret. Not now. Not anymore. He can sit there and bleed to death. I step out of the room, my hands steady, the adrenaline burning through me like fire. I grab the gun from my garter, the weight of it a reminder of what I came here to do. This isn’t over, not yet. As I move through the dimly lit hallways, the house is eerily quiet, every footstep of mine echoing like a ticking clock counting down the moments until everything changes. The sharp tang of blood lingers in the air, clinging to my senses as I make my way to the kitchen, the gun tucked securely in my hand. I step into the kitchen, and there he is. Brian, my father, the man who turned my life into a living nightmare, stands by the counter. His eyes widen in shock when he sees me, his hand pausing over a glass of water. He knows why I’m here. His mouth opens, but before he can utter a word, I lift the gun and fire. The bullet slices through the air, hitting him squarely in the arm. The glass sh
Luna POVThe blade slices down my chest, cutting shallow, leaving a burning line of pain in its wake. I yelp, biting back the sound as my body trembles. “Oh, did I catch you?” Alex coos, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He circles around to face me, his smirk deepening as he presses his finger into the cut, causing me to hiss in pain. “Alex, stop taunting,” one of the other men mutters, clearly uncomfortable with how this is playing out. But Alex just laughs, his dark eyes locked on me. “He said not to rush,” Alex replies, shrugging. “And trust me, my words alone are tormenting her, aren’t they, Lena? That’s why you threw up when you heard my voice.” My body shakes as I try to suppress any emotion, any sign of fear. But his voice, his touch—everything about him brings back the terror I’ve tried so hard to bury. “What did my voice remind you of, Lena?” he whispers, his knife dragging down my arm now, cutting again. It’s shallow, not deep enough to scar, but the sting is sharp. “
Luna POV With Alex towering over me, I kick my feet forward, catching his knee. He stumbles, and in his moment of distraction, I attempt to crawl away. But as I move, I realize my hands are tied behind my back—there’s no way I can grab the gun. I curse silently, my legs my only remaining weapon. As Alex crawls toward me, I swing one leg toward his shoulder. He notices, grasping my foot, but that’s exactly what I wanted. My other leg swings up, catching him square in the face. He grunts in pain, momentarily dazed, but before I can capitalize on it, his hands grab my knees, slamming my legs apart. He kneels on my thighs, pinning me to the ground, his weight unbearable. Panic rushes through me as I thrash, screaming in fury. The knife gleams in his hand, a reminder of what’s coming if I don’t do something. “Too scared to untie me and make it a real fight?” I taunt, laughing despite the fear clawing at me. I hoped my words would spark his sick desire for the thrill of a chase, but th
Dante POV I come back into the office and immediately notice Luna’s absence. Glancing at Callum, he laughs, shaking his head. “Rich guided her upstairs to get ready, then took her to Ladies’ Night.” Nodding, I relax, dropping into my chair. “Good, we need to discuss things.” I grab the piece of paper from the desk and hand it to him. It’s the address for where Brian is. Callum takes it, scanning the paper before handing it back. “What are you thinking?” “Ashley’s staying there, I’m sure of it. But we need to know if that’s where Brian has the women. Are they living there? Are the other guys hiding there too? We don’t know anything for sure.” I run a hand over my face, frustrated. “We can’t just storm in without knowing what we’re walking into.” Callum nods. “We need someone unconnected to watch the place, right? Someone outside of our circle.” “Yeah. Brian and his men run nights, just like us. By six, most of them will be crawling into bed. We go in the morning when they’re as
Dante POVI glance around the room, panic rising. “Where’s Luna?” I scan the faces in the room, trying to find her. Rich stumbles forward, his face bloody. “Where the fuck is Luna?” I yell, grabbing him by the shirt. “I—I don’t know. Sasha told me to help with the fight, and I… I don’t know where she went.” Rage floods my veins. I spin toward Sasha, her face pale with guilt. “Why the hell were you paying women to start a fight?” I demand, my voice a low growl. “Luna wanted to leave,” Sasha stammers. “So I said I’d create a distraction.” I stare at her, disbelief washing over me. “You created a distraction so she could slip away? Do you know what you’ve done?” My voice rises to a roar. “If she’s dead, you better fucking run!” I scream in her face, watching her flinch before she bolts from the room. Callum is already on his phone, his voice sharp. “I’m sending the address now. Everyone get in the cars.” I storm out, rage propelling me forward. Callum tries to stop me. “You can’t
Dante POVI slam the man’s head into the wall, dazing him long enough for me to bring my knee up into his stomach, sending him to the floor. Without wasting a second, I dash down the hall, following the sound of Luna’s voice. “Luna!” I shout, my heart hammering in my chest as I burst through a door. Another man stands between me and her, and I don’t think—I just act. I tackle him to the ground, my fists raining down on his face until he’s no longer moving. Blood stains my knuckles, but I don’t stop. I have to get to her. Callum is close behind, shooting down anyone who dares get in the way, clearing a path as we charge toward the room. The closer I get, the louder her screams become, and my blood boils with a fury I’ve never felt before. We burst into the room, and there she is. Luna. My Luna, tied, beaten, but alive. “Luna!” I roar, my voice shaking the walls as I lunge toward her, fury and desperation coursing through me. I barely register the man on top of her, my vision blurr
Dante POV I sit back and look at Alex’s lifeless body. Over the years, I’ve had women come from Brian, and Alex was always one of the men they mentioned. He caused psychological issues so deep within some of those women they won’t ever be the same. Now he’s dead, and it’s at my hands. But none of that feels like a victory—not with Luna’s blood still on the floor, not with the thought of what could have happened if I’d been just a little too late. I didn’t realize it was Alex over Luna until it was nearly too late, and now, his words won’t stop haunting me. Did she turn her darkest moments into fantasies? Into pleasure? Alex’s twisted games still have their claws in her, don’t they? The thought makes my stomach churn. Alex and I were always compared because we like the same things—the chase, the power—but I’m nothing like him. I would never enjoy it if the woman didn’t want it. In fact, the idea of someone hating what we did and us still doing it, sickens me. But Alex? He thrived o
Dante POVThe hours pass, each one dragging slower than the last as I sit there, wrestling with myself. I can’t sleep. I won’t sleep. My eyes stay fixed on her, watching her chest rise and fall with every breath, and the storm inside me continues to rage. I want to yell, I want to hold her, I want to fuck her, I want to punish her, I want to tell her I love her—I don’t know what I want. All I know is that I can’t stop thinking about her, and I can’t stop this war inside my head. The night stretches on, and I sit there, unable to move, unable to do anything but stare at her and wonder how the hell we move forward from this. Standing, I walk out of the room, tension thrumming through every muscle in my body. Rich looks up at me, probably sensing the storm brewing inside me, but before he can say anything, I snap, “Don’t fucking leave her! I’m going to the gym.” My voice is rough, harsher than I intended, but I don’t care. I need space, distance. I need to hit something. I stalk down
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