Dante POV I step back from her, taking a moment to just look at her body, utterly spent and exhausted. There’s a raw beauty to it, a reminder of how much she trusts me, how much she lets me push her to the edge. My chest tightens with a mix of possessiveness and something else—something deeper that I’m still trying to figure out. But this... this moment is everything. I adjust my clothes, my eyes never leaving her. She’s still trembling slightly, her body worn out from everything I’ve just done to her. There’s pride swelling in my chest—she’s mine, every part of her, and no one else will ever get to see her like this again. Stepping in front of her, I release the cuffs on her ankles, letting her legs fall free before I lift her into my arms. Her legs instinctively wrap around my waist, her head resting against my shoulder, her breath still coming in shaky gasps. I press a kiss to her lips, slow and deliberate. She gives me a small, exhausted smile, and it takes everything in me no
Dante POVCallum sighs, leaning back as if he’s been holding onto this for too long. “There’s nothing to talk about, really. Me and Sasha went out a while back, she invited me. She came back here, we slept together, and the next day when I tried to talk about it, she laughed it off like it was nothing. She acted like it didn’t even happen.” It hits me then—why would Sasha act so distant after sleeping with him? It doesn’t add up. “Anyway,” Callum continues, “I waited for her to change her mind, but she never did. She was stuck in her decision. So, I moved on. Me and Lilly have always been close, you know that. But it was never anything more. Then, one night... it just happened between us. I thought about telling Sasha, but she was still on her whole ‘nothing happened, we don’t need to talk’ bullshit. Then she comes here, sees Lilly answer the door, and loses her mind. Slapped her right across the face.” My eyes narrow as I lean forward. “You didn’t fucking tell me that,” I say, mor
Dante POV“You’re right,” Callum says after a long moment. “I’ll talk to her. I’ll figure it out. But Dante...” He meets my gaze, his eyes serious. “You need to sort out this shit with Sasha too. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her. And we can’t afford to be distracted right now.” I nod, knowing he’s right but not sure how to tackle it. “I’ll deal with it. One way or another.” Callum stands, giving me a firm nod before heading for the door. “We’ll figure this out, Dante. But right now, we’ve got work to do.” We leave and head downstairs, my focus shifting to finding someone who can replace Sasha. Wait. “Callum!” I shout, and he stops, turning to face me. “Offer Lilly Sasha’s job. I’m not sure if she’ll agree or be comfortable, but I need to fill it. See if she’d be willing to be the women’s voice.” He nods but the tension doesn’t leave his face. “Even I know she won’t, Dante. She’s not the type to confront shit. Honestly, I’d suggest offering it to Luna. I’ll ask Lilly, but i
Dante POVI turn to him. “There’s a reason Sasha’s going after Lilly like this. Think about it. We can stop her from coming here, but out there? I can’t control that. Why is she acting so crazy toward Lilly and not Luna?” It feels personal. Too personal. And it doesn’t add up. Sasha’s behavior is far from the norm. She’s always been tough, always held her own, but this…this is different. Targeted. Deliberate. Callum shakes his head, frustration clear in his voice. “I don’t know, Dante. I wish I fucking did, but I don’t. You know everything I know. Nothing I said was a lie. Sasha didn’t care until Lilly was involved.” That’s what keeps bugging me. Why is Lilly the trigger? “Let’s get upstairs and make sure everyone knows she’s not allowed back in. Make sure she doesn’t come near here again.” I push through the door, and Callum follows. My mind churns, piecing things together. But every conclusion feels incomplete, like there’s a piece missing from the puzzle. Lilly is quiet, kind—t
Luna POVI wake up feeling the warmth of Dante beside me, a smile tugging at my lips. I reach out to touch him but freeze when I notice someone else. Lilly is curled up on the other side of the bed, her face bruised and battered. I gently poke her in the side, watching as her eyes flutter open, and she sits up, rubbing her eyes with a soft laugh.“Nope, not Dante,” she teases, shrugging as if waking up with a black eye, busted lip, and cut above her eyebrow is no big deal. “Callum told me to come sleep here.”I stare at her face, guilt twisting in my gut. “I’m so sorry, Lilly. No one was supposed to get hurt.” My voice barely comes out as a whisper.Lilly waves it off, her casual shrug almost unsettling. “First of all, don’t apologize, Luna. This wasn’t on you. It was on Sasha. There were safer ways she could’ve distracted Rich. Second,” she gives a faint smile, “not all of this is from that fight.”“What do you mean? When did this happen?” I can’t even recall seeing her like this las
Luna POVShe’s quiet for a while, absorbing my words. Then she sits up, pulling her knees to her chest. “I’ll talk to Callum. I’ll...think about changing my job. Maybe dancing more wouldn’t be so bad.” She gives a small smile, the resolve building in her expression. “That’s a start,” I say, smiling back. “And as for confrontation, we can work on that. Baby steps, right?” Lilly nods, a little more sure of herself now. “Yeah. Baby steps.” I can see the shift in her, the way she’s starting to consider things differently. Lilly’s quiet strength has always been there, but it’s been buried under fear and self-doubt. Maybe now she’ll start to see that strength for herself. “Taunting Dante, telling him to do his worst? That’s my version of confrontation,” I say with a smile. “Refusing to beg—that counts too.” She rolls her eyes, her expression shifting. “But that’s different, you know? I can do it when we’re fucking or when I want him to fuck me, but other issues? Nope. I haven’t even re
Luna POVI can’t help but jump up, rushing over to scoop up Little Bear from Callum’s arms. I plop back onto the bed, cuddling the puppy. “Erm… I’m going to walk back out and come in again. Let’s try that welcome one more time,” Dante grumbles, walking out, which makes me burst into laughter. He walks back in, and I shoot him a confused look just to mess with him. “Unbelievable. The damn puppy gets a better welcome than I do,” he mutters, and everyone laughs. I move quickly, planting a kiss on his lips. “I was joking,” I say with a grin. “No, you weren’t. You ran for the puppy, not me,” he grumbles. “I’ve seen you more recently than the puppy,” I tease, and he can’t help but nod, giving in. “Okay, we need to talk,” Dante says, taking a seat beside Callum, who’s settled down as well. I glance between them nervously. “Whatever I did, I was drunk,” I joke, raising my hands in mock defense. Lilly, catching on, joins in, laughing. “Yeah, same. I was drunk too.” “Relax, you’re not i
Luna POVI walk over to the shelves, scanning the titles, my fingers running over the spines of the books. There are so many—books I’ve been meaning to read, some of my favorites, and even a few I hadn’t gotten around to buying yet. I pick up one of the newer books and turn to him. “How did you even know which ones to get?” Dante leans against the doorframe, smirking. “I pay attention to what you read. Plus, I asked a few people for recommendations. Lilly gave Callum a whole list of books.” I shake my head, still in awe. “You’re unbelievable.” “And you’re worth it,” he replies, his voice low, but the sincerity in it makes my heart skip a beat. Stepping closer to him, I place the book back on the shelf and close the distance between us. “You know,” I say, resting my hands on his chest, “this space might be perfect, but it’s still missing one thing.” He arches an eyebrow, playing along. “Oh? And what’s that?” “You,” I whisper, rising on my toes to press a soft kiss to his lips.
“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