ARI’s pov The sound of running water echoed from the small adjoining bathroom. I sat on the edge of the bed, my jaw clenched and my hands gripping the sheets tightly. My emotions churned—anger, disbelief, humiliation—all swirling together into a storm I could barely contain. Cross Margiello was in my bathroom. That fact alone was enough to make my skin crawl. He had turned my life upside down in ways I hadn’t even begun to understand, yet he moved through my space as though he owned it, as though I were just some pawn on his chessboard. The bathroom door opened, and steam billowed out. Cross stepped into the room, a towel slung low on his hips, droplets of water trailing down his chiseled torso. He didn’t even glance my way as he walked to the chair where his clothes were draped. “It’s almost morning,” he said casually, his deep voice breaking the tense silence. I stared at him, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. He spoke as though nothing had happened, as though hi
ARI’s povI didn’t sleep much. My eyes were bloodshot, and my mind wouldn’t shut off. It kept replaying everything that happened with Cross—his coldness, the way he brushed me off, the slap. I didn’t regret it, but I sure as hell wasn’t proud of it either. It was like I was fighting a battle inside myself—part of me wanted to run far away from everything, to quit this whole mess, to forget about him. But another part of me, the stupid part, the part that still couldn’t let go, wanted to stay in this twisted game I had no business being a part of.I forced myself out of bed, pushing the thoughts of Cross aside, at least for the moment. I had to go to work. I didn’t have a choice.The shower didn’t help clear my head, and the coffee didn’t taste as good as it usually did. I was running on fumes, but I still managed to pull myself together, throwing on my uniform, tying my hair into a tight ponytail, and pretending like nothing was wrong. But I knew better. The moment I stepped into
Ari’s POV It was all Jonathan’s fault! If only he had been a faithful boyfriend then maybe I wouldn’t have carelessly slept with the man my team were after. One minutes I was certain I was going to deal with Cross and take a hold of my life and the next, I was letting it bother me. My mind subtly went to the feel of his lips against my skin and I shrugged it off. Damn Cross! Minute after minute seemed heavier than the one before. At this point in the day, my thoughts were not on my best side and all I wanted was to go home. I was exhausted after Jonathan's interrogation. His accusations and his statements about safeguarding someone weighed heavily on me, making it impossible for me to release them. It was hard to forget about Cross when he was the center of our investigation so there was definitely no forgetting him, even though I knew I couldn't escape him permanently. “Heading home?” I heard Jonathan ask while I grabbed my belongings. Ignoring his gaze, I re
ARI’S POVNo, not tonight.He wasn’t going to waltz into the picture tonight again to be some Prince Charming coming in to save the day.Both men turned to Cross now.“This was supposed to be some guns aside game, dude, but looks like you cheated already!” Instantly, they each pulled out a trigger and trailed it on Cross.My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn’t understand why. I mean, if they opened fire and rained bullets on him right now, they’ll be putting all my stress to an end. They would be ridding the world off a criminal and my confusion will finally be over.But I noticed a feeling in that split second of picturing him dead and crashing to the ground – fear.I was scared of losing Cross!And everything about that just wasn’t right.I turned to him, partly pleading, partly also being defiant to having to accept the fact that we were outnumbered.“Cross, just put the gun away.” I muttered. It was only a psychological game we played as cops; one that could buy us time to do som
Cross’ POVThe night was thick with smoke and the lingering scent of gunpowder. From a rooftop across the bar, I watched Ariana dash into the alley, her hair wild, her face pale with fear and confusion. Of course, she didn’t know I was up there, but it was better to remain out of the way. I hated the cops, and I couldn’t tell what would happen next if I was to be found in the scene. It was dangerous for her too to even be present anywhere around there but just as I had imagined, she knew how to handle herself.She was quick, sharp—her instincts as a detective were honed to perfection, even in moments of chaos. But this chaos wasn’t supposed to happen.She was supposed to be safe.“Boss, we gotta move.”Gustav’s voice crackled through my earpiece, breaking my focus. I clenched my jaw. We had pulled back just in time to avoid the sirens, but the mess left behind was unavoidable. Two dead men, Ariana at the center of it if anything eventually pointed to her, and the cops crawling over
Ari’s POVThe walk back to my apartment felt longer than usual. The sharp night air bit at my exposed skin, but it wasn’t the cold that had my hands trembling—it was the memory of those two men lying lifeless on the bar floor. Blood pooling around them. Their faces frozen in shock. And Cross… he was gone. Just like that.I couldn’t make sense of it.How had I gotten tangled in such a mess?My footsteps echoed against the empty alleyway as I pulled my coat tighter around me, trying to shake off the weight of tonight. I had been in dangerous situations before—too many to count—but something about tonight felt… different. Like a thread had been pulled loose, and everything was starting to unravel.When I reached my door, my hands were shaking so badly I could barely fit the key into the lock. I finally shoved it open and slipped inside, bolting it shut behind me. The silence of my apartment felt deafening.I kicked off my boots, dropped my coat onto the floor, and sank onto the couch. My
Ari’s POV This thing about Cross was becoming a problem and I couldn’t let him continue echoing in my thoughts and disturbing everything else that mattered to my life. Since the shoot out at the bar, I had not seen Cross which was good, but then, all through work, I couldn’t get myself to focus on something else that wasn’t the lead mafia drug lord in the city who was meant to be my worst enemy. There wasn’t a minute that passed without my insides churning and yearning for all the heat of that night. Enough, Ari! I knew I was being stupid. I had a one-night stand with a man I should have pinned down in my house and earned myself a badge of honor that will nail my career forever. And as if that sin was not enough, I was somehow craving more of that nastiness. The fact remained that Cross was doing a good job staying away from my life for now and this was my good opportunity to do myself some good and outrightly forget him! That was why I was even more pissed off when I came h
Satisfaction… That was a good word for what I felt after my encounter with Cross the previous day. I could still see the pleading hunger in his eyes and composure and could remember just how much it drove me crazy being in control. Still, it wasn’t about just enjoying the sex irrespective of whether I was in control or not. This was never meant to happen at all! I rolled my eyes annoyingly as I tried to focus. I sat at my desk, staring blankly at a half-filled report while my mind replayed the night of the shooting at the bar over and over. The two men. The gunshots. Cross. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t scrub their lifeless faces from my mind. “Earth to Ari!” I snapped out of my daze as Gina, one of the precinct’s most dedicated gossip connoisseurs, leaned over the divider. She was holding a steaming mug of coffee and grinning as if she’d just uncovered the precinct’s juiciest secret. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said, her bright red lipstick forming a s
Ari’s POVI was weak after the experience we had shared so Cross had to take me back home. It was past eight when we arrived in my house and we were both feeling sleepy. We awoke by midnight though. I for one could not sleep. My mind kept racing around, so many thoughts filled my head, but one in particular was constantly crashing with the others. Why him? I thought to myself. There are many other people I could be with but here I am with a rogue mafia who is a distant version of the man I envisioned in my life. Cross certainly acted nonchalant at times and that pissed me off or was it the fact that I didn't get romantic enough with him. I wanted someone loving and caring not the cold and hot bad boy I had in my bed. Was what I had for Cross love or addiction?“Hey what are you thinking about?” Cross interrupted. He must have caught me staring at the chandelier on the ceiling, zoned out. “Nothing.” I replied, purposely seeking out his attention.“Talk to me.” Cross said in a low
Cross' POV I looked down, watching as Ari worked her mouth up and down my cock, her tongue swirling over the tip before sliding down the shaft.It was an intoxicating sight, and the feel of her lips wrapped around my dick, her mouth warm and wet, was almost too much to bear.I groaned, my hips rocking involuntarily, matching the rhythm of her mouth."Fuck," I growled, my cock twitching.I was close, the pressure building in my core as she sucked harder, her fingers digging into my thighs.I felt myself losing control, the urge to bury myself deep inside her and claim her mouth taking over.With a growl, I pushed her head down on my cock, filling her throat with it as I released everything into her. Ari gasped, her eyes wide, and the look of surprise mixed with shock made it even better for me.Thick hot ropes of cum flooded her throat and I felt her throat muscles clench around me in an effort to swallow all I could give.My hands slid down her cheeks and neck as my body tensed up a
Ari's POV I let out a moan as his length filled me, stretching me. It was blissful and satisfying all at once. The feeling of being properly stretched, even to my limits, could be done by one person and one person alone, Cross. It was pure heaven and hell, the way he filled me, and the way he moved inside me.I was a writhing mess, my legs wrapped tightly around his waist, my fingers tangled in his hair. I couldn't get enough of him."Fuck," I gasped as he picked up his pace, pounding into me.He growled, his teeth grazing my neck. "You feel so good, Ari."I moaned, arching against him.His hands moved from my hips, sliding up my body and cupping my breasts, teasing and tweaking my nipples."Ah!" I cried out, overwhelmed by the pleasure."That's right," he said, his voice low and husky. "Scream for me."I couldn't hold back anymore, my orgasm building, threatening to crash over me soon."Cross," I gasped, my eyes closing as I got more lost in the pleasure."Yes," he hissed, his hips
Ari's POVThe kiss was soft, gentle, and for a moment, I melted into it, savoring the feeling of his lips against mine. But as soon as the warmth spread through my body, I jerked back, breaking the contact.My hand came up to touch my lips, my mind spinning.Cross stared down at me, his eyes searching mine. I was about to say something when Cross, pulled me back again, his hands on my waist.My eyes widened as his lips crushed against mine once more. This time, there was nothing gentle about it. His tongue slid across my bottom lip, demanding entrance. I gasped, and his tongue slid into my mouth, tasting me. The kiss was rough, passionate, and I couldn't help but give in, kissing him back. My hands slid up his chest, and to his neck before finding themselves tangling in his hair.His grip tightened, and he kissed me deeper, his body pressed against mine. I let out a soft moan, unable to resist the heat of his touch.We stayed like that for a long moment, our bodies pressed together,
Ari’s POVA week. A whole week of sitting idle while Jonathan was probably walking around acting like the victim.“Unbelievable,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. This was the worst time for this to happen. I had a plan with Cross.I had a fucking plan!Of course, I couldn’t tell yet how it was going on Cross’ end. If he had not done anything about the move to bring Kouvu to a location, then it was better to even announce to him that I had been suspended and suspend the plans until further notice. I could not do anything when I was away from work.Fuck!I needed to reach out to Cross immediately. I was about to reach out for my phone when the chime of the phone broke through my spiralling thoughts. I picked it up, seeing a message from Cross.“Meet me. Usual spot. Tonight.”My lips pressed into a thin line. Speak of the devil.Of course, Cross would want to meet now. I considered ignoring it but knew that wasn’t an option. I threw on a hoodie, tugged it low over my face, a
Ari’s POVThe shrill ring of my phone pulled me out of my light sleep. I groaned, fumbling for it on the nightstand. Kaelie’s name flashed on the screen.“Kaelie,” I said groggily, rubbing my eyes.“Morning, sleepyhead,” she chirped. Her tone was lighter than it had been the past few days, but there was still a tinge of hesitation.“Feeling better?” I asked, swinging my legs off the bed.“Yeah, much better,” she said. Then, after a pause, “I’ve been thinking, Ari. Maybe you should tell Jonathan what happened at the party.”I stiffened. “No. Absolutely not.”“Come on, Ari,” she pressed. “You need someone who can protect you. And let’s face it, Jonathan might—”“Kaelie, stop,” I cut her off, my tone sharp. “We agreed no one would know. And Jonathan? Protect me? He’s a weakling who couldn’t protect a damn thing, let alone me.”There was a silence on the line before Kaelie sighed. “Alright. I just thought…”“I know,” I said, softening my tone. “But trust me on this. It’s better if we keep
Cross’ POV“Boss?” Gustav’s voice broke through the quiet as he stepped into the room.I looked up from the map spread across the table, my decision already made. “I’ve changed my mind.”Gustav stopped in his tracks, frowning. “About what?”“Dig into what happened at that party,” I said, standing straight. “I want every detail—who was there, what went down, and why there were gunshots.”Gustav hesitated. “I thought you said—”“I know what I said,” I interrupted sharply. “Just do it.”He nodded, not pushing further. “Consider it done.”As Gustav left, I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. Something about last night didn’t sit right with me, and I wasn’t about to let it slide.The next step was Kouvu.I took a deep breath as the memories between I and Kouvu flooded into my head. We had history – true, and now, I will be selling him to the police like he was nothing to me. I sent out the message myself—no middlemen this time.Kouvu, It’s time we settle this. Face-to-face. Name the
Cross’ POVIt was as if with each day we met, Ari became more and more complex. Every moment was like unravelling another aspect of her that I never saw coming. The main question, though…What was the sudden change of mind?One moment, I was all she needed. I had my way in her bed as I wished, and she had opened up her heart and soul to me alone. Then I had called the date, and it seemed like realization just dawned on her.Now, I didn’t exist?As I walked away, choosing to tighten up my feelings as well, I knew within me that she was only trying to reinstate her dominion and make me understand that I wasn’t strong enough to overpower her. I knew how to play that part. I knew she needed me. So I was going to starve her as much as she starved me off her body. There was a part of me that wanted to go back to her, to pull her to me and devour her.But I didn’t.Instead, I turned and walked toward my car, my mind a storm of emotions I couldn’t control. She had this way of digging under m
Ari’s POV The sunlight streaming through my blinds was unforgiving, and my head throbbed as I sat up in bed. My body felt heavy, the events of last night replaying in my mind like a fragmented reel. The music, the laughter, the chaos, and then—the gunshots, the chase. I groaned, pushing the covers off and dragging myself to the bathroom. The cool tiles against my bare feet jolted me awake as I turned on the shower. The water rushed through me, washing away the physical remnants of the night, but my mind lingered. First, I could still feel the sensation of the men around my body – men, whose names I didn’t even know. I was sure I would not be able to recognize their faces. Well, not all of them though. The black dude with the throbbing cock still rang in my head like I was back in the night. Just a couple of minutes with him and damn… Then Kaelie’s laughter and carefree attitude surfaced, contrasting sharply with the suited men who had prowled the party, their cold intent etched in