Dante POVLucy’s left alone as Luna is wrapped up with Justin. She heads to the bar, and I follow.“Lucy,” I greet her, flashing a smile. She turns, her eyes lighting up for a second as she returns my smile.“Hi, Dante.”“I need your help with something,” I lean against the bar, trying to keep my tone light.“Me? Why me?” she asks, curiosity dancing in her eyes.Luna will trust Lucy over anyone else. She won’t listen to me or anyone from my circle. “Because I need you to talk to Luna. Help her realize I don’t exploit and sell women.”Lucy lets out a laugh, shaking her head. “That’s not going to happen. Luna isn’t the type to change her opinion easily, Dante.”She’s right. I’ve been banging my head against that wall for a year now, and she hasn’t budged. But there’s more to it than just stubbornness.“Why do you care?” Lucy asks, her tone softening slightly.“Because nights like tonight are awkward. It’d be easier if I didn’t have her hating me. It would be better if Justin and I could
Dante POVWe sit there for a while, and he just keeps complaining. He goes on about how “needy” she is, but it’s bullshit. Luna isn’t needy. She just wants to feel wanted, and he can’t even give her that.He brings up the texts she sends, calling them inappropriate, and I laugh. It’s far from inappropriate. She’s trying to make him feel wanted, trying to bridge the gap he’s created.Eventually, he falls asleep, slumping back in the chair. I pick him up and carry him to the bed, laying him down next to her. I hear the bed creak slightly as she shifts, her energy drained from another night of disappointment.I turn to leave, but then I see little Bear, our little puppy, walking around my feet.I curse under my breath. If I hadn’t told Justin to come here, Luna would have been alone. Now, I’m stuck again, hiding in the shadows, when all I want is to be with her. I’m done waiting. I shrug off my jacket, pulling the mask from my pocket. It’s time to stop hiding.I slide into bed behind Lun
Dante POVI walk back into my club, the familiar noise and lights surrounding me as I check in, making sure everything is running smoothly. My mind isn’t fully here, though. It’s still on Luna, still on what happened tonight, but I can’t let that distract me now. There’s business to handle, and I need answers.“Dante,” Callum greets me as I head toward the office.“We need to get Jason in here,” I say flatly, my mind already working through the implications of what Justin told me.“Jason? The one we know?” Callum asks, his brow furrowing in confusion as he follows me.“Yeah. According to Justin, he’s the main guy,” I explain, taking a seat behind the desk. I can see the frustration flicker across Callum’s face as he rubs a hand over it.“Well, he’s out,” Callum says, shaking his head. “No contact until tomorrow morning.”That makes it harder. I’m not in the mood for complications right now. “Get the guys looking for him. I want him in now. Everyone needs to find him,” I say firmly, wa
Dante POV“So, we need Justin,” Callum says, crossing his arms.“Not yet,” I reply, holding up a hand. “Justin said Jason’s name for a reason. That reason is important. You, Jason, stay hidden. You’re dead. As far as anyone knows, I killed you. There’s a reason Justin lied, and I need to figure out what the hell that reason is.”Callum lets out a frustrated sigh. “I was looking forward to some fun,” he jokes, releasing Jason from the chains.I step forward, grabbing Jason’s hand tightly. “If I find out you’re involved in any of this or that you’re helping in any way, you will be dead next time,” I warn, my voice low and dangerous. Jason nods quickly, his eyes wide with fear.“Go. Stay hidden. Don’t come out until I say it’s safe,” I growl.Jason nods and rushes off, disappearing as fast as he can.“What does Justin have to gain from all this?” I mutter, more to myself than to Callum.There’s no clear benefit for him—unless… He knows. Does he know I’m Luna’s stalker? But that doesn’t m
Luna POVI haven’t slept at all. My mind won’t let me. When he said he would finally show me who he was, I was so happy, thinking I’d finally see the man behind the mask—the one I had imagined, the one I had built up in my mind. But then reality crashed down on me like a wave.It was Dante.Dante.The one person I despise. The one man who never crossed my mind as a possibility in these past six months of being stalked. The moment his voice slipped, revealing that thick Scottish accent, I didn’t even need to see his face to know it was him. That was when everything shattered for me, long before he even took off the mask. That’s why I begged him not to do it—not to make it real. I knew it was Dante, and seeing him would only solidify that nightmare.I didn’t want it to be real. I didn’t want to face the fact that the man who read to me at night, who treated me so gently, was him. Dante, the one I hated. And now, how can I even process this? He’s Justin’s best friend, the one person who
Luna POV“Babes, give me my trousers, please,” Justin’s voice cuts through the silence, sharp and casual, as if nothing is wrong, as if he didn’t spend last night doing God knows what. There's no way he was working.I sigh, walking across the room, grabbing his trousers from the chair. But as I lift them, something falls out—a small, crumpled packet. My stomach twists as I pick it up, my eyes locking onto the empty condom wrapper. A cold wave of dread crashes over me. I shouldn’t care, not after everything that’s happened, not after what I’ve gone through with my stalker. But I do care. I care too much.“What’s this?” I ask, holding it up, my voice low but steady, my gaze never leaving his face. I see it immediately—the flicker of humour, the hesitation before he speaks. He’s about to lie. I know it.“Don’t do that, Justin. Don’t fucking lie,” I say, my voice growing sharper.He leans against the doorframe, sighing as if this is just a minor inconvenience. “An empty condom wrapper,” h
Dante POVAfter talking with Lucy and sending out a few messages, I finally crash into bed. It’s been over twenty-four hours since I last slept, and everything about my life has shifted since Luna entered it. My routine used to be consistent—work nights, keep the women here safe, try to protect those on the street, handle the business. But now, it feels like I’m chasing shadows, digging through Luna’s past, trying to piece together the puzzle of who she really is.Tonight has been especially long. I’ve been chasing dead ends, trying to find out the truth about her mother’s death and who her father is. It’s like she never existed—no record of her birth, no trace of her past. According to the system, Luna—or Lena—was never born. It’s as if she vanished before she even had a chance to live. In some twisted way, it’s a good thing for her, but it makes my job harder. She clearly went to great lengths to disappear. That means those from her past won't find her easily.What’s more unsettling
Dante POVDriving over, I feel the weight of everything that’s been happening lately press down on me, but I push it aside. I just need to see her, to talk to her, to make sure she knows I’m not giving up. When I get to her apartment, I walk straight to her door and knock. I wait, but there’s no response. After a few moments, I knock again, this time calling out, “Luna, it’s me.”I hear movement inside, but nothing happens. No footsteps approaching, no voice, just silence. I sigh and pull out the key, trying to unlock the door, but the key doesn’t fit. A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I lean my forehead against the door. Of course, she’s running. She’s trying to shut me out.But she’s not escaping that easily.I walk around the side of the apartment, trying to catch a glimpse through the windows, but the curtains are drawn. Luna never used to close the curtains, not like this. She’s definitely shutting me out. Frustration simmers beneath the surface, but I force myself to wal
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
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
LillyPain drags me from the depths of unconsciousness, its sharp tendrils gripping every inch of my body. My ribs ache with each shallow breath, and a dull throb pulses behind my eyes. But beneath it all, there’s warmth—thick, heavy, unfamiliar. The softness of the mattress envelops me, the weight of a lavish duvet pressing gently against my battered frame. It’s so unlike the cold, hard surfaces I’ve grown accustomed to. For a fleeting moment, I think I’m dreaming.I try to sit up, a low groan escaping my lips as the effort sends fresh waves of pain coursing through me. Before I can go any further, a hand presses gently against my shoulder, halting me.“Slow down, you’re hurt,” a deep voice says softly, steady and calm, though it carries an undertone of quiet strength. My gaze darts upward, locking onto the man beside me.“Callum,” he says with a faint smile, as though sensing my hesitation. “In case you forgot my name.”Callum. The memory rushes back—his towering frame blocking out
As we ride back down in the elevator, his voice cuts through the silence. “Why do you want to help women like her? What makes you care?”I glance at him, weighing my words carefully. I don’t usually talk about my mother and sister—it’s a wound that never fully heals. But something about his tone tells me he’s asking for more than curiosity.“When I was younger, I noticed my little sister withdrawing, hiding away. She wouldn’t talk to me. Then one day, she turned up dead. My mom… she fell apart. I found out my father had forced her into street work, and when my sister was barely a teen, he sold her off. After my sister’s death, he ran. My mom killed herself not long after.”He doesn’t say anything, just listens. I continue, my voice steady despite the weight of the memories. “My dad wasn’t anyone big, just desperate and cruel. After my mom died, I tracked him down. Killed him myself. Along the way, I met others—men far worse, with entire networks behind them. Helping the women caught i
Callum 2 years earlierThe phone call ends, and I shove the last of my belongings into a battered duffel bag. There’s not much to pack; I’ve been living out of this bag for years, trying to outrun the weight of my past. But nothing makes a difference, not here. Not anywhere. This place was supposed to be a fresh start, but it’s as hollow as every other attempt. Maybe these new clubs will be different. Maybe this will be the answer.For over fifteen years, I’ve been trying to find a way to fix the fucked-up situation my mother and sister were trapped in. To help women who’ve been dragged through the same hell. And finally, I think I’ve found it—or at least the beginning of it.The streets are quiet as I head toward the train station, my boots scuffing against the pavement. The early hour cloaks the world in a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional hum of a distant car. It’s better this way. I need the quiet to figure out my next move. This guy—Dante—is a mystery. All I know is th
Lilly - 4 Years EarlierAndrew leans back in the driver’s seat, his cold eyes cutting through me like a knife. He nods toward the dark, narrow alleyway ahead, a place that reeks of danger and despair. I hesitate, gripping the edge of the car seat as though it might save me. His glare sharpens, slicing through my resolve like glass shattering against stone.“You can run,” he says, his voice dripping with venomous mockery. “Go ahead.” A twisted grin spreads across his face. “Try it. I won’t even chase you.”His finger brushes against my cheek, slow and deliberate, sending bile surging up my throat. I flinch, my breath hitching, but I can’t move. His presence is suffocating, every word laced with malice, every touch a violation.“You say that, but…” My voice cracks, the words dying in my throat.“But your little sister would make the perfect replacement, wouldn’t she?” His voice drops to a whisper, each word coiling around me like a noose. “She’s got that fiery red hair, just like you.”
This is the start of Lilly and Callum's storyCallum - 18 Years OldWaking up feels like clawing my way out of a grave. My body is leaden, pinned to the sagging mattress by the weight of something I can’t name. The air reeks of sweat, stale smoke, and something sour—vomit maybe, or the leftovers of another night wasted in this filthy room. Everything around me is a distorted blur, like looking through cracked glass. The dim light from the cracked blinds barely cuts through the haze, illuminating the chaos I’ve surrounded myself with—empty bottles, burned foil, crumpled syringes, and piles of clothes that haven’t seen a wash in weeks.This time, it’s different. I can feel it in my bones, in the way my heart races and my skin crawls as if there are a thousand invisible insects burrowing under my flesh. I’ve woken up after bad trips before—dozens of times, maybe hundreds. Every time, I’ve brushed myself off, forced my way through the fog, and found my way back to the poison that put me t
Luna POVI toss the pregnancy test down, feeling a wave of relief, but something still gnaws at me. It doesn’t feel real. I pace the room like a madwoman, while Lilly sits there, laughing like this is all some comedy show.“You know it’s over 99% accurate, right? Not 100%” she says, smirking. “Well, in real life it’s more like 92% because, let’s face it, most people don’t know how to use them properly.”I shoot her a death glare. “I take my pill at the exact same time every damn day!” I throw my hands up, and she only laughs harder, clearly entertained by my spiral.“Maybe it’s just wedding stress making you late?” she shrugs, but I can’t buy that. I’ve been way more stressed than this before and my period never played hide and seek like this.“It said ‘not pregnant,’ Luna. Why are you still on this rampage?” she teases, eyes sparkling with amusement.“Until I see actual blood, I will remain on this rampage!” I shout, pacing even faster.Lilly leans back, laughing. “So I take it you d
Dante POVI reach out and gently tilt her chin up so she’s looking directly at me. “Why do you think I haven’t brought up anal?” I ask, my voice soft but firm. “I saw how your body tensed when Justin casually mentioned it once. I knew immediately it was a hard limit for you.”Her cheeks flush, and I laugh. “Am I wrong?” I ask, though I already know the answer.She looks around, embarrassed, and shakes her head.“I also noticed you skip those parts in your books—the ones with anal scenes. You couldn’t even read about it without discomfort.” I grin, feeling a little self-conscious about how deeply I’ve studied her, but it’s important she knows. “And when you say ‘no’ or ‘stop’ but you don’t really mean it, your lip curls up, just a little. You try to hide it, but you fail every time. It’s a dead giveaway.”She rolls her eyes, laughing. “Okay, so you know my body better than I do.”“Exactly. And you really need to stop smirking when you’re being a brat,” I tease, winking at her.“It’s ha