Luna POVPanic surges through me. No, no, no. My foot presses harder into his chest, but it’s not enough. He lets out a groan, the sound almost primal, before his hand slams against my foot, knocking it aside like it’s nothing.In an instant, his hand is over my eyes, blinding me, and I hear the sound of him shifting. My heart races, my breathing ragged as I struggle to anticipate his next move. The next thing I feel is the sharp sting of his finger pushing into my mouth, the metallic taste of blood coating my tongue."You made me bleed little deer, how do I taste?" He growls.The taste is bitter, but it fuels something inside me. Without thinking, I bite down—hard. His finger jerks out of my mouth, and I hear him hiss in pain, his breath sharp and angry. For a moment, there’s a flicker of satisfaction in me, but it’s short-lived.“You like causing pain?” he growls, his voice lower now, more dangerous. There’s an edge to it that wasn’t there before. “You’ll learn not to test me, littl
Dante POVI drive back to my club, shutting out the noise around me. I don’t have time to talk to anyone. Tonight, everything changes, and I need to be ready. The moment I step into my room, I strip down and get into the shower, letting the hot water scald my skin. I scrub off the sweat, the blood, the tension. My mind’s already on her—Luna.It’s time to stop hiding behind the mask, behind this game. I want her to know it’s me. I want to fuck her without the barrier of who she thinks I am versus who I really am. I’ve played the role of her stalker long enough. Now, she’ll know who’s been in control this whole time.After I finish, I dress quickly, the night already closing in. I head downstairs, scanning the crowd but not stopping for anyone. There’s only one person I need to talk to before the night unfolds. I find Sasha and pull her into the office. Her knowing smirk doesn’t sit well with me, but I don’t care.“I need an update,” I say, shutting the door behind us. “So, you talked t
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
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
Dante POVBut I’m not done. There’s more—worse. “Luna,” I say, pausing to brace myself for what I know is going to break her. “Lucy… she wasn’t your sister. She wasn’t even your mother’s child. She was kidnapped as a baby and brought into Brian’s world.”The color drains from Luna’s face, her eyes widening in disbelief. “No,” she breathes, shaking her head. “No, I remember my mom was pregnant. I remember her. I remember the baby. They called her Abigail... Abi.”I close my eyes for a moment, hating what I have to say next. “That baby, Abigail, died, Luna. There are records to prove it. You weren’t born in a hospital, so you were never officially registered, but Abigail was. She had complications during birth so they had to go to hospital. When she died a few weeks later, Brian knew it would cause an investigation. That’s when he took someone else’s baby—Lucy—and raised her as Abigail.”Her face contorts with pain as the truth sinks in. Her eyes dart around the room like she’s searchin
Dante’s POVI reach over, grabbing the book from the table and handing it to her. “Page 231, right? That’s where you left off,” I say, smiling down at her. She gets comfortable, snuggling into my lap as she flips open to the page. A small, exaggerated yawn escapes her lips before she peers up at me with a playful grin.“Read to me,” she says, her eyes sparkling with that mischievous glint I’ve come to love.I sigh softly, knowing I can’t resist her when she asks like that. Nodding, I start reading aloud, the words flowing easily. She holds the book steady while I keep one hand possessively cupping her breast, the other resting between her thighs, teasing her gently. I can feel her pulse quicken under my touch, her hips subtly shifting, seeking more friction.I want to stay like this—wrapped up in her warmth, feeling her respond to me—but there’s too much unsaid between us. As much as I crave this moment, I know we can’t avoid the conversation any longer. There’s something bigger I nee
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.
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