RYAN
The smirk vanished. The air in the room shifted, thick with tension. Ricardo wiped the corner of his mouth, checking for blood. Then, slowly, he looked up at me. And then, he grinned. “Well,” he mused, cracking his knuckles. “Now we’re talking.” I clenched my fists at my sides, my pulse hammering. Every instinct screamed at me to stay on guard, to be ready for whatever he had planned next. But instead of lunging at me, Ricardo leaned back against his desk, “I like it,” he said, lifting his head. “Didn’t know you had that in you.” I gritted my teeth. “Don’t try that stunt with me again,” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. “I’m here to help, not to be your damn punching bag. I’m your damn doctor, and you need me.” Ricardo’s smirk didn’t waver. If anything, it widened. “Need, huh? That’s a strong word.” I rolled my shoulders, pushing down the frustration bubbling inside me. “Well, if you don’t, why did you ask me to stay?” Ricardo didn’t reply, instead he studied me for a long moment, his gaze dragging over my face like he was looking for something. Then, out of nowhere, he laughed. “Why the hell did you bring that bitch here?” My vision went red. Before I could stop myself, my fist connected with his jaw. Ricardo barely flinched. His head snapped to the side, but when he turned back, his grin was still there… just a little wilder this time. “You shouldn’t have said that,” I growled. Ricardo chuckled darkly. “What? That she’s a bitch?” I swung again, but this time, he was ready. His fist crashed into my ribs, knocking the air from my lungs. Pain exploded through my side, but I didn’t stumble. Instead, I threw another punch, my knuckles slamming into his cheek. He grunted. Then, without hesitation, he retaliated. We went at it, fists flying, our bodies crashing against furniture. The room blurred around us, the only thing grounding me was the sheer force of the fight… the way our hits landed, the way neither of us was willing to back down. Then suddenly, we were too close. Chest to chest, breathing hard, our faces inches apart. I could feel his breath against my lips, hot and uneven. My fists were still clenched, but I wasn’t throwing another punch. Neither was he. My mind screamed at me to move… to step back, to break this moment before it turned into something else. But I couldn’t. And then, his lips brushed mine. It was the lightest touch, but it sent a shock through my system. I should’ve pulled away. I should’ve shoved him off. But I didn’t. I tried to resist. God, I tried. But ever since that night… since the first time we crossed that line, I hadn’t been able to get it out of my head. And now, with bruises marking our skin and our bodies pressed together, I stopped fighting it. I kissed him back. I didn't know what was happening. One second, we were at each other's throats, fists flying, rage burning through me- and the next, his lips were on mine, hot and demanding. The kiss was rough, desperate, like we were still fighting, just in a different way. My hands, still clenched from the punches, found their way into his hair, gripping hard as he bit down on my lower lip. A sharp thrill shot through me, and I groaned into his mouth. Then his hands were on me, tugging at my shirt, his fingers skimming over the bruises he'd just left on my ribs. I didn't stop him. I should've. But I didn't. I pulled at his clothes too, my fingers fumbling with his belt, my mind screaming at me to think, to stop this, but my body wasn't listening. The last time we did this, I was the one in control. I was the one who had him beneath me, panting, cursing, gripping the sheets. But now? Now, Ricardo spun me around, pressing me against the edge of his desk, his mouth trailing down my neck. My breath hitched. Oh God. He was going to… I tensed. "Ricardo, stop…" But his hand slid between us, slick with lube, and I shuddered as his fingers brushed over me. His other hand wrapped around my dick, stroking slowly, and a broken moan tore from my throat. "Relax," he murmured against my ear. "I'll be gentle." Gentle. The word shouldn't have made my stomach flip. But it did. I should've pushed him away. I could've. But when he pressed a finger inside me, I just gripped the desk harder, my jaw clenched. "You want me to stop?" he asked, his breath hot on my skin. I swallowed hard. "No," I gritted out. Ricardo chuckled. "Good boy." Fuck. Why did that make my chest tighten? Hated how much I didn't hate it. Hated how my body was betraying me, arching into his touch, heat coiling low in my stomach. Then he was pressing against me, and I braced myself… A sharp gasp escaped me as he entered. slow and it burned, just for a second, before the pain melted into something else, something deeper. My fingers dug into the wood of the desk, my breath coming in ragged bursts. Ricardo's hand slid around my hip, gripping me tight as he moved. Every thrust sent a jolt through me, pleasure and friction and pain, but I didn't tell him to stop. No. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. I gritted my teeth, forcing my voice to steady. "My turn." Ricardo stilled behind me, his breath hot against my neck. "What?" Before he could react, I shoved back hard, knocking him off balance. He stumbled, and I spun around, gripping his shoulders and slamming him against the desk. "You don't get to call all the shots," I growled, my fingers digging into his skin. Ricardo smirked, but it wavered when I dropped to my knees in front of him. His breath hitched as I yanked his pants down further, and wrapped my hand around his cock. He was still hard, still slick from before, and I stroked him once, twice… just enough to make his hips jerk. Then I stopped. His jaw tightened. "Ryan…" "You want to cum?" I tilted my head, my grip tightening just enough to make him groan. "Then you'll wait." His chest rose and fell rapidly, his fingers twitching at his sides like he wanted to grab me, to take back control. But he didn't. Good. I stood, shoving him back onto the desk. I didn't hesitate. I pushed his legs apart, my fingers slick with lube as I prepped him. He hissed, his muscles tensing, but he didn't tell me to stop. "You feel that?" I muttered, pressing a finger deeper, watching his face. "That's what you did to me."RYANRicardo's breath came out in a sharp laugh, but it broke off into a groan when I added another finger. "Fuck…"I leaned down, my lips brushing his ear."You're gonna take it. Just like I did."Then I pushed inside him.Ricardo's back arched, a ragged curse tearing from his throat. His hands flew to my arms, his nails digging in, but I didn't stop. Couldn't stop. The heat of him, the way his body clenched around me… God… it was intoxicating.I set a brutal pace, my hips slamming into his, the desk creaking beneath us.Every thrust dragged a broken sound from him, every snap of my hips made his fingers tighten on my skin."You…" His voice was strained."You've been thinking about this, huh?"I gripped his jaw, forcing him to look at me. "Shut up."He laughed, breathless, but it turned into a moan when I angled deeper, hitting that spot that made his legs tremble.The power was dizzying.This was what I wanted. Not just the pleasure, not just the friction… but the control. The way h
RYANI was just about to collapse into bed, feeling really exhausted, when the blaring of a siren shattered the silence.I bolted upright, my pulse spiking. What the hell?Footsteps pounded through the house, doors slamming, voices shouting. Something was happening. Something bad.Then… bang, bang, bang… a fist pounded on my door.“Doctor! Open up!”My stomach twisted. Shit.I hesitated for half a second before yanking the door open. One of Ricardo’s men stood there. “Ricardo sent for you,” he said, breathless. “One of our warehouses is under attack. We’re going in to fight, and he needs you there in case anyone gets injured.”My blood ran cold.Go with them? To a shootout? Where people would actually be bleeding out in front of me?Oh, hell no.I forced a shaky breath, trying to keep my panic in check. “I… uh… I can’t go alone,” I stammered. “I’ll need someone to assist me.”Before the guy could argue, I spun on my heel and rushed toward Bella’s room. I banged on her door, practicall
RYAN I fumbled for gauze, pressing it against Rafael’s leg. He hissed sharply, his hands gripping the seat so tightly his knuckles turned white.Oh, God. I was going to kill him. I was actually going to kill him.“Stop being dramatic,” I muttered, hoping he couldn’t hear the terror in my voice.Rafael let out a weak chuckle. “Says the guy shaking like he’s the one bleeding out.”I forced a breath, pressing the gauze harder to stop the bleeding. “I’m just making sure I do this right.”“You better,” Rafael gritted out. “Because if I die in this van, I swear I’ll haunt your ass.”Great. Now I had two ghosts threatening me tonight.I needed to wrap this up. Fast.I grabbed the bandages and tightened them around his leg, my stomach twisting at the sight of blood seeping through.This wasn’t right.I wasn’t right.I didn’t know if I was doing this correctly, and if Ricardo found out…I swallowed. No. Focus on keeping Rafael alive first.“Is he stable?” one of the men demanded.I forced a n
RAFAELI smiled as Ryan walked out, the door clicking shut behind him. Perfect. The pain in my leg was nothing compared to the satisfaction humming through me. I had planned this… every second of it. The gunshot, the blood, the panic in Ryan’s eyes as he fumbled to save me. And it had worked. I exhaled, leaning back against the pillows, my fingers tracing the bandages on my thigh. I had shot myself. Intentionally. Just to get closer to him. I exhaled, tilting my head back against the pillow. What the hell was wrong with me?I’d done a lot of reckless things in my life. But shooting myself just to have a reason to be near someone? That was a new low… even for me.And yet… I didn’t regret it.I wanted him to touch me. I wanted him to worry about me. And now? Now, he would. Ricardo wanted Ryan as a puppet… a tool to control, to use. But I didn’t. I didn’t want to break him. I just wanted… Him. His attention. His hands on me. I didn’t care that he had a girlfri
RYANI didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what the fuck to do. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Getting close to Rafael was part of the plan… gain his trust, dig for information, find out if he was the one who ordered my mother’s death. But this? This wasn’t just close. This was reckless. This was dangerous. This was stupid. Lucas would lose his shit if he found out. And Bella… fuck, Bella. But Rafael’s fingers were already on my belt, his eyes dark with something that made my pulse spike. Tell him to stop.That’s what I should’ve done. That’s what I needed to do. But then his hand slid lower, and…Fuck. I sucked in a sharp breath as Rafael’s fingers curled around my dick, his thumb dragging over the tip in a slow, deliberate stroke. My jaw clenched. I should’ve pushed him away. I should’ve. But I didn’t. Instead, I stood there like an idiot, my hands fisting at my sides, my body betraying me with every ragged breath. Rafael smirked up at me, hi
RICARDORyan’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”I leaned against the door, crossing my arms. “You heard me. Why the hell were you both a doctor and a stripper?"Ryan scoffed, shaking his head. "Because I can do whatever the fuck I want."My brow arched, my lips pressing into a thin line. "You were saving lives by day and taking your clothes off by night? Sounds like a contradiction.”He crossed his arms over his chest. “You done prying into my life?”I shrugged. “Not quite.”His jaw tightened. “Well, I am.”I closed the distance between us. “I’m still waiting.”“For what?”“For you to strip.”Ryan let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Not happening.”I arched a brow. “You’ve done it before.”“Yeah, and I’ll do it again,” he shot back, stepping closer. “But not for an ingrate like you.”My smirk deepened. “An ingrate?”Ryan jabbed a finger into my chest. “Yeah. You. Always acting like the world owes you something. Newsflash, Ricardo… nobody does.”I caught his wrist, gripping it just tight eno
RYANI looked up, my breath still heavy, just in time to see Rafael lower his gun. The man who had been sent to kill me dropped to the floor, clutching his bleeding leg and groaning in pain.What the hell was happening?My heart pounded against my ribs as I pushed myself upright, my body still tense from the shock. Rafael’s dark eyes locked onto the man writhing on the ground.“Who sent you?” Rafael’s voice was eerily calm.The man groaned, pressing a shaking hand against his wound. “I-I don’t…”Rafael took a step closer, the gun still aimed at him. “I’ll only ask once more.”The man whimpered, his body trembling. “It wasn’t your brother.”My blood ran cold.Ricardo.I clenched my fists, my breath unsteady. If it wasn’t Ricardo, then who…Rafael lifted his head. “Then who?”The guy swallowed hard, sweat beading his forehead. “It was... it was Matteo.”The room fell silent.Rafael let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Matteo?” he repeated, as if the name itself was amusing. “Ricard
RYANA sharp pain in my arm jolted me awake. I blinked rapidly, my vision swimming as I tried to clear the fog in my head. My limbs felt heavy, my mouth dry. What the hell? I sat upright, my pulse spiking as I took in my surroundings. Still in the car. Rafael sat beside me, watching me with an unreadable expression. Memories slammed into me… the cloth, the chemical scent, his grip. My blood boiled. My voice came out rough, my throat dry. I flexed my fingers, willing the numbness to fade. "What the hell, Rafael?”Rafael didn’t even flinch. “Sorry,” he said, not sounding sorry at all. “That’s just how it’s done.” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “Drugging me is ‘how it’s done’?” He shrugged. “For a first-timer? Yeah.” His tone was infuriatingly casual, like he was explaining basic etiquette. “Can’t have you knowing the route. Discretion and all that.” I glared at him, trying my best to keep calm. “You’re unbelievable.” Rafael smirked. “And you’re st
BELLA“I think Ricardo has powers.”Michael blinked. “Come again?”I leaned back against the chair in his room, arms folded, my heart still racing from everything that had happened. “I said… I think he has powers. Like, actual powers. Like stopping-time kind of powers.”Michael stared at me like I had grown a third eye. “What the hell are you talking about?”I turned my gaze to the floor, chewing the inside of my cheek before sighing. “Remember that camera you gave me? The one I planted in Ricardo’s room?”His brows drew together. “Yeah…”“Well,” I said, voice lower now, “I watched the footage. All of it. Even the parts after… the threesome.”Michael gave me a look. “Really didn't need the reminder.”I rolled my eyes. “Get over it.”He said nothing.I continued. “I saw Ricardo talking to himself… not like ‘talking in the mirror’ kind of way, but like he was fighting something inside. He said he had powers. That he could’ve saved Ryan. That he… stopped time before. He was pissed that h
RAFAELI hurried my footsteps, ignoring the ache in my legs, the burning in my chest. The sound of that flatline echoed in my skull like a siren screaming death.No.No, no, no…I reached the room and my heart nearly came out of my mouth. My knees buckled the moment I saw it.That white sheet.Pulled up over a still body.No movement. No beeping machines. Just… silence.I stumbled to the ground, my palms hitting the cold, sterile tiles, my breath catching in my throat like a noose. Tears welled up fast. One fell. Then another. Then they all came crashing down.He can’t be dead.He can’t be.“Ryan,” I gasped out. “No… please… God, no…”I crawled closer, like if I just got a little nearer I’d find out it wasn’t true. That maybe I was wrong. That maybe it was someone else.But the blood.The silence.The goddamn sheet.My hand shook as I reached out, not even sure what I was doing. Just needing something. A touch. A sign. Anything.My chest ached so hard I thought I’d throw up. I couldn’
RAFAELI stood frozen behind the half-transparent glass, my hands clenched into fists at my sides as I watched Bella and the other doctors battling to keep Ryan alive.He looked lifeless.Machines beeped frantically. One of the nurses barked an order. Bella’s face was tight with panic, but her hands moved with the sharp precision of someone refusing to lose. Still, I could see the fear in her eyes.Ryan’s chest barely moved. There were tubes everywhere. Blood.God.I pressed my forehead against the cool surface of the glass and shut my eyes for a split second. Don’t die… please don’t die. I didn’t care who was listening… I prayed. I begged. I would’ve made deals with the damn devil if it meant hearing him laugh again.I couldn’t take it anymore.I spun around and stormed down the corridor, barely registering the people I passed. My blood was boiling, my vision tunneling.Ricardo.He was in his room. Comfortable. Alive. Breathing. While Ryan was fighting for every second.I didn’t even
RAFAELI stood at the edge of the dock, the wind biting through my coat as I checked my watch again. The ocean was calm tonight, but my gut wasn’t. I didn’t like this kind of silence, it always meant something was coming. And not always a shipment.We were early. I didn’t believe in being late to things that could cost me my life or millions of dollars.A few headlights blinked in the distance, bouncing off the stacked containers, and I tensed. But then I saw him.Alessio.I glanced sideways… Bella was walking toward him. I matched her pace as we made our way to him.Alessio didn’t wait for pleasantries."What do you want from me again?" he snapped as soon as we were within range, his voice echoing slightly against the metal around us.Then he turned to Bella, eyes narrowing."You," he said, with a short laugh. "I trusted you. I actually thought you were depressed, genuinely spiraling." He shook his head and scoffed. "And then you used it. Played the poor broken girl card on me. Wicke
RICARDO"I should’ve fucking used it!" I roared, slamming my fist into the wall so hard the plaster cracked beneath my knuckles. "I should’ve stopped the goddamn time!"The rage in my chest was a wildfire, my breathing came in sharp bursts, my vision red with fury and self-loathing. I could still see it… Ryan collapsing into my arms, the life draining from his eyes, his blood warm and sticky on my hands.I had the power to change that. I could’ve changed it.I should’ve.I paced the length of the room like a madman, fists clenched, every nerve in my body shaking with guilt.Why didn’t I use it? Why the fuck didn’t I just use it?Because every time I did, a part of me broke. My health spiraled. The nosebleeds, the migraines, the tremors… they got worse with each use. And the last time… the last time almost killed me.But so what?I clenched my jaw and slammed my fist against the wall again, harder this time. A small streak of blood bloomed on my skin, but I didn’t care. The pain was t
RYANI closed my eyes, waiting for the inevitable. I could feel the cold steel of the gun still pressed against my forehead, and my breath hitched as I prepared for the end. This was it. After everything, this was how it would all go down.But just as Matteo's finger tightened on the trigger, a voice rang out from behind me."Don’t do it."It was Ricardo.Matteo stilled for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the sound of the command. But the smirk never left his face. He shifted his weight slightly, keeping the gun locked on me but still facing the voice that threatened him.Ricardo stepped into view, and he wasn’t alone. Behind him, Lucas stood, his arms pinned tightly at his sides, a gun pressed to his temple. Ricardo’s eyes locked onto Matteo’s with a cold stare."If you try anything, I’ll shoot him," Ricardo said, his voice calm, unbothered. Matteo’s lips curled up into that wicked smile again, but his laugh was darker this time. "Does it look like I care? You s
RYANJust like Rafael predicted, I got the call.I was going out with them tonight.I stood by the entrance, adjusting the sleeves of my jacket, when Rafael strolled in casually like we were headed to a beach bar and not a war zone. A loose black shirt, baggy brown trousers that fitted him perfectly.I blinked at him. “You sure you’re dressed for a fight?”He shrugged. “Comfort over chaos, my friend.”I couldn’t help the snort that escaped. Then I leaned in. “Did you talk to Ricardo? About Bella?”“Yeah, sure. He agreed,” Rafael said, brushing invisible lint off his shirt. “She should be here any…”Before Rafael could even finish his sentence, the doors swung open.Ricardo stepped out, his boots hitting the marble. He was followed by five of his men, all suited, armed, and cold-eyed. His gaze landed on me. “Since you're going to be my underboss soon,” he said, voice sharp and commanding, “you start earning that title. From tonight, you follow us out on every mission. No more sitting
RICARDO I kept knocking. Three times. Then four. I didn’t even know why I was still standing there. Maybe I wanted to fix it. Maybe I just needed to see him. Needed to apologize, even though I knew words weren’t enough. Why the hell did I think it was a good idea? A threesome? With her? His girlfriend… or should I say ex. God. What the hell was wrong with me? "Ryan," I called again, softer this time. “Come on, man. Please… open the door.” The silence on the other side stretched, after a few seconds the door creaked open. Ryan stood there, arm crossed. “What do you want?” he asked flatly. I opened my mouth, but the words caught in my throat. Then I saw him. Rafael. Lying on the bed. Something inside me cracked. My stomach twisted, but I kept my face still. “What are you doing here?” I asked, even though I already knew. I just… needed to hear him say it. Rafael tilted his head. “I don’t understand the question,” he said. “Am I not allowed in this room?” That was it. That t
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONERAFAELI was on my way to my room when I saw him… Ryan. Shirtless, his pants only half-done, sweat clinging to his skin. His steps were slow, heavy, like something inside him had just shattered.He looked angry. And tired.What the hell happened?"Ryan," I called out.He stopped but didn’t turn around. His fingers were clenched around the doorknob like he was holding back from breaking it off.I took a step closer, keeping my tone steady. “What’s wrong, man? You look like you just walked out of a war.”He finally turned, and the look in his eyes made my chest tighten. Pain. Real, raw pain.He let out a shaky breath, his eyes flickering past me. “Nothing. I’m fine. Just… want to be alone.”Yeah. No, he wasn’t fine.I raised an eyebrow. “Is this about the whole thing with Bella and Alessio? Or is it Ricardo?”His jaw tightened and was mute for almost a minute.“Ryan…” I pressed gently.He suddenly snapped, his voice rising louder than either of us expected. “I said it