PROLOGUEHe stared at me, his hazel eyes seeming to look into my soul. “You are beautiful,” those whispered words caused my stomach to flutter and my heart to skip. I knew I shouldn't be feeling this way, but my body seemed to have a mind of its own.His hand reached for me, and he wrapped it around my neck, not hard, but sturdy enough to keep my focus on him as he leaned closer. 'Tell me if you don't like it' Was the only warning I got before he kissed me. The moment our lips touched, it felt like the explosion of fireworks, taking my breath with it, and leaving me unable to form coherent thoughts. I melted into his kiss, my lips parting to invite him deeper. His hand on my neck sent shivers down my spine, but it wasn't fear that coursed through my veins. It was something far more dangerous—desire.As our tongues danced, the tension between us crackled like electricity. I felt alive, my senses heightened, and my heart racing.The scent of his skin enveloped me, a musky sweetness tha
AITHAN“Beware,” he whispered, leaning down so close that his lips brushed my left ear. “If you don't keep that mouth shut, I will stuff it with something else. Something that will leave you moaning like the slut you are.”Though those words ended with me punching him, I didn't feel any satisfaction, not with that knowing smirk on his face as he wiped the blood from his lips. Alexander “Lex” De Luca, the bane of my existence, and the man I hated the most in the entire world, the same reason I was sitting here, staring into the face of my father.“How could you do that?!” He hit his right palm on the table, causing me to roll my eyes. Father always got worked up over little things, and it was happening right now. His receding hairline, and eyes which always darkened in anger, made me worry about his future.Lifting my shoulders in a shrug, I gave him a bored look as I leaned back in the chair. “He started it. That fucking bastard called me a bitch!”How could I ignore him when he did s
ALEXANDERI watched him walk in. Aithan Lyker Kael, the man I hated the most in the entire world, one I want on his knees, with his lips wrapped around my dick. I wasn't gay. Not at all. I just couldn't get the image of him bent, taking my cock, from my mind after I saw him naked. That round butt and button mouth called out to me, making me want to tie him up and fuck him until he caves, until he surrendered to me.He had his chiselled features set in a determined expression, those piercing blue eyes seeming to bore into my soul. His dark hair was perfectly messy, framing a face that belonged on magazine covers. But it was his body that held my attention—broad shoulders, sculpted chest, and that irresistible round butt… I just… Fuck!“Alexander,” my father's voice filtered through my mind, causing me to tear my gaze from the tempting beta.Blinking, I focused on my father, and Aithan's father, who was acting like we came for a truce meeting. We all knew what this was all about. To get
“What happened?” Aithan's father asked, concern flickering in his features as he looked at his son. My father didn't seem to care about me as he glanced around, probably calculating how to find whoever did that because it seemed like a threat to both families. How else would they attempt a shooting on a day like this?Aithan pushed me away as he got to his feet, his eyes scanning the perimeters, with his brows furrowed. “Someone tried to shoot me,” he whispered, looking down at me with contempt. You would have thought he would look grateful since I saved his arse.Getting to my feet, I cleaned my arse as my father walked over to me, his eyes asking what was going on. “I will have to check it out,” I said, walking towards the door. Oddly enough, I wasn't furious at Aithan for kicking me on my balls or for not showing his appreciation. I was mad at the person who tried to take his life.Odd, right?This was something I'd been battling with for months now. Most times, I always paused to
AITHANThose words rang in my head as I snapped my gaze up at him, wondering if he'd gone berserk in the few minutes we spent apart because that seemed to be the case. “What the hell did you mean by that? Work together? With you?” I scoffed, folding my arms. Surely, he was just joking about it. There was no way he would actually want us to work together. For what exactly?As I stared into his hazel eyes, I waited for him to laugh, to tell me he was joking, to make lewd remarks like he always did each time we were alone, but he didn't.Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair, his gaze hot as they ran over me, lingering a bit on my crotch before they returned to my face. “I believe the one targeting us isn't someone small, else they wouldn't have hired such an effective assassin. Who knew what would have happened if I weren't with you?”“I would have dodged it.” My voice was clipped, letting him know I didn't appreciate his talking about the attack and making it seem like without h
ALEXANDERWatching him mulling over my words. I felt apprehensive. I couldn't explain it. I felt scared, and my anxiety spiked up, but I tried not to act like I actually cared. My left leg tapped impatiently, and my heart raced with anticipation.Aithan's expressions did nothing to quell my apprehension. The way he furrowed his brows, biting his lower lip as he watched me, made me imagine the worst. What was I thinking when I asked him to work with me? Was I out of my senses? How could I do such a childish thing?What if he notices the body? Would he be that excited to work with me knowing I lied to him about the assassin?I fidgeted, my palms growing sweaty. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios. I should have known this wouldn't work, my plan to make him work with me, so I could tease him some more didn't seem that good when I think about it now.Suddenly, he looked up, his eyes locking onto mine. I held my breath, waiting for the verdict. It was coming, I could tell.“Yes,” he sa
ALEXANDERI got dressed for the operation. Father made it clear he wanted the warehouse to be razed down tonight, and I was more than ready to do that. I slipped into my black shirt and slacks, the fabric blending seamlessly with the darkness. My eyes locked onto Max, my trusted second-in-command, as we prepared for the mission. I chose him because he was the only one I counted on enough in the house. “Check your gear. Make sure the mistake you made last week doesn't repeat itself.” “All good, sir.” Max nodded, his hands moving swiftly over his equipment. “Is there anything else you want me to confirm?”“I've got it. Everything is complete.”We loaded our vehicles with necessary supplies: guns, explosives, and communication devices. I went through everything, to be certain we weren't leaving anything behind. The mission, according to my father, has to be successful. It was a gift to Aithan's father. The night air swallowed us whole as we drove away from our base. The only sound wa
AITHANI should have known that bastard was bad luck. Everywhere he showed up, something must happen. Just like it did earlier today when I was almost shot. Now it was the warehouse being set on fire. I didn't need to investigate to know he had a hand in it. The shipment that should have entered tonight was supposed to be theirs before my father secured it. Luckily, I asked my dad to change the warehouse where we intended to load it. Otherwise, everything would have gone up in flames like they wanted. “I should have known those damned bastards would attack!” Father yelled as he kicked down the table. The large mahogany table creaked under the impact, its legs scraping against the floor before crashing to the ground. The sound reverberated through the room like a crack of thunder.I stood by the door, with my arms folded, watching him. Having stayed with him for a long time, I knew letting him vent his anger was the best thing to do. Father's face turned beet red, veins bulging like
“Aithan!”I blinked when I felt someone shake me. Alex stood over me, a concerned expression on his face as he stared into my eyes. “What's going on? You grew pale instantly and…”“I'm okay.” I blinked rapidly, calming my racing heart. I turned to look at the place the man once stood, only to notice it was empty. The man's gone.“No, you are not.” He squatted in front of me and placed his hands on my thighs. “What's going on with you? Why did you look like someone who saw a ghost a few minutes ago?”I did see a ghost, I wanted to say, but couldn't. I couldn't tell him I saw the man who raped me with the others years ago, the same man I believed I killed. He wasn't supposed to be alive, but he seemed to be. It wasn't a project of my imagination. I saw him, standing there, with that same expression he gave me those years ago. He must have risen from the grave to shatter the perfect life I tried to build.“Aithan?”“I…” I gulped, closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. “It's… I thought I saw
AITHANI wanted us to stay at home to wait for Max's call, but Alex was hellbent on taking me out as he had planned before we got Max's update. This was our first date in forever, and he wanted to make it better than the last one we had. It wasn't the best of dates. I got shot the minute I stepped away from my car. To think we hadn't gone on one since that incident. “Order anything you want. Feel free okay?” Alex said as he passed the menu and the ticking pen over to me.Taking them from him, I rolled my eyes at that, pursing my lips. “You make it sound like I can't afford my meal, Alex. You might be the head of your family now, but I believe I have more money than you do. I'm Viktor's favourite son, after all.”I just hope I'm still his favourite. He hadn't called me since the last time we spoke, and I knew it would take more to get him to extend the olive branch first. I didn't want to be the first, as that would mean I got to swallow my pride and promise things I wouldn't even kee
“Don't change your mind.” “Hello, boss?” Max's voice caused me to tear my gaze away from my naughty sister. “Sophia said you called? Is everything okay?”“There was a raid in the warehouse. Though I sent some men to take care of it, I thought you would wish to know about it.”I gripped my phone hard, feeling a slow rage creeping in. “When was it? Do you know who did it?” “We are still investigating. I will let you know when we get something from it.”Aithan walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Okay. Kindly notify me once you do. Be safe,” I added before I disconnected and turned to my mate. “Our warehouse was raided.”“What?” Aithan drew a step back. “When? How? By whom? Did they get them? Tell me they did.”I shook my head and let out a sigh. “They didn't.”It would have been great if they did. “What do we do now? Should we head over there? Were any of our men wounded? Do they need our help?”“I doubt.” I passed the phone back to the owner so I could hug him. “
ALEXLuca didn't show up after our dispute. His absence didn't lessen my anxiety, it only made me apprehensive. I couldn't tell what he was planning, or how he would meet Aithan. I had yet to tell him of my confrontation with Luca. I doubt I would, though. I couldn't let him see that side of me, know what a psycho the man he loves is. Protecting him from the truth was the least I could do. If I have my way, he will never get to know the truth. Keeping him in the dark would only put a little strain on me, as the knowledge that I had all along been lying to him would forever plague me, but it would make things easier. He wouldn't have to force himself to be with me just because he liked me. “Alex?”I blinked when I felt him wave his palm in my face. Blinking once more, I looked at him, furrowing my brows. “What's wrong?”“I've been calling you for the last freaking minute without getting any response, and you are asking me what's wrong? Are you for real?” He narrowed his eyes at me.
AITHAN Alex seemed off. For a week, he had been acting so absentmindedly, that it was disturbing. I tried to know what was wrong with him, but he waved it off as being worried about his men and how to go about his father's official funeral. I knew it wasn't true, though. We might not have known each other for a long time, but I could tell when he's been bothered by something. At that moment, he looked as if he had enough to worry, and more to think about. “Your coffee.” I passed a steaming mug of coffee to him and sat opposite him. He nodded his thanks before he took a face, smiled and said, “You have finally gotten the taste right, Ly. It's perfect, just the way I prefer it.”“I know, right?” I grinned. Finally, my good work paid off. For days, I had been perfecting that particular taste he liked in his coffee. He didn't ask me to do that, I just wanted to do something for him. Staying at home had gotten so damned boring, and I needed something to keep my mind off certain things,
I snorted. Everything that came out of the bastard's mouth felt incredulous. He didn't seem like he was joking, though. He looked serious and wanted me to know what he thought about my union with Ly.While a few of the men who were against the relationship and how things turned out after Marcus's death kept their mouths shut, he didn't. “That's rich coming from you, Lucas. You've always been jealous of my success, and now you're trying to spin this as if I'm somehow less capable because of Aithan? Is that what this is about? All that preaching about admiration is just beating about the bush for you?” I walked back to my desk and sat on it, with my feet crossed and my arms folded. I watched him, watching every move of his body, and how nervous he was even though he was acting like he wasn't. “I'm not jealous of you, Alex. I'm just worried. You're changing, and not for the better.” Lucas's face darkened, and he clenched his fists once more. “I want you to realize where you are mista
“Lucas,” I warned, my voice getting dangerously low. He might think we were playing over this, not knowing I wasn't fucking happy hearing him talk about my mate like that. He let out a sigh, looking down at his feet before he returned his gaze to my face. He rubbed the back of his head, gulping, preparing himself for what he was about to say. “You changed drastically, you know? Ever since he walked into your life, you transformed into someone who was barely recognizable. This isn't the Alex I know.”“Why? It's not as if you liked the Alex I was before.” I arched a brow at him. “We haven't been close since we were little. Don't make it sound like I changed since I got a lover.”Lucas and I might have been cousins, but we weren't that familiar with each other. He never hid his disgust and jealousy over me, and always made certain I knew how he felt. Talking now, like we had been friends for ages and only had issues because I got a mate, infuriated me. I didn't like the way he made it
ALEX“What the fucking hell is wrong with you?!” Lucas seethed, pacing the floor. “What did you think you would gain from this? The men are revolting! How did you let things escalate this far?!" “Because you leaked the news.” While he was acting like a mad dog let out of the cage, I was the more rational one. I wasn't in the mood to scream at anyone. I had done my fair share of yelling with the men a few minutes ago.He whirled around at that, his eyes narrowed. “What the fucking hell are you talking about? Who leaked what news?”“You know what you did.” I crossed my legs, looking nonchalant. “I don't need to tell you that.”“What are you talking about? Are you by chance speaking about the small Mafia families?” He drew a step towards me, the frown on his face getting more pronounced the nearer he got. “What else?” “Did you believe I would stoop so low as to do something like that? What do you take me for?”“A man who didn't think twice about sucking up to my father won't care for
I winced sharply when I sat down on the soft cushion of the couch. We left our romantic getaway a few hours ago, and I was yet to recover from everything. Tan was reluctant to help my healing process, so I would experience the price of my actions. 'Sluts like you need to know how painful it is to fuck like rabbits.' Those were his words before he broke the connection between us, leaving me in fucking pain! “Are you okay?” Sophia asked with a smile, giving me a knowing look. She didn't look concerned about me, just curious to know what the hell I had been up to, and I had no freaking desire to tell her about it, or else I would only give her the right weapon to tease me with. “Yeah, I'm good. Never been better.” I smiled at her, the expression forced. I wanted to yell that I wasn't okay, for her to just leave me to rest, but I knew it wouldn't even happen, not with how curious she was. Yelling would only make her curious.“I see.” Nodding, she crossed her legs. “So, how was the tri