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 POV The world tilted slightly as the bartender’s casual grin stayed fixed on me. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to act—to do something. But my feet were rooted to the pavement, and my heart pounded in my chest like a war drum. I forced myself to breathe, one shallow breath after another, until I finally found my voice. “Look,” I said, trying to keep my tone steady, though my hands trembled slightly, “you… you don’t have to mention everything you saw last night.” The bartender—Bruno, if I remembered the name on his tag—raised an eyebrow, his smirk slipping just slightly. “Oh? And why’s that?” I hesitated. Saying the wrong thing could make this worse. “Because I was there,” I said, voice low. “I’m… I’m a cop.” His smirk vanished completely. Bruno’s head tilted slightly, and his eyes narrowed as he studied me. “A cop? Well, ain’t that something.” I stepped closer, dropping my voice even lower. “I’m not supposed to have been there. And if my name gets dragged into thi
Cross’ POV From the balcony of my penthouse, the world below seemed small—insignificant. But no matter how high I stood above it all, I couldn’t shake the gnawing frustration crawling beneath my skin. Mira. Her name alone made my jaw clench, and my grip tighten around the glass of whiskey in my hand. She had played her game well—too well—and I was still in the dark about what the hell she was up to. “Boss.” Leo’s voice cut through the haze of my thoughts, and I turned to see him standing at the glass door leading to the balcony. Leo was another man. Gustav was still busy somewhere. He looked sharp, as always—broad shoulders, clean suit, and a face that didn’t flinch even when staring down the barrel of a gun. “What did you find?” I asked, my voice low but sharp enough to slice through the tension in the air. Leo stepped forward, holding a sleek black tablet. “Mira’s been busy, boss. Meetings, calls, offshore accounts—we’ve traced some activity to North Bay.” I frowned. “North B
Cross’ POV The drive back from Mira’s safe house was silent except for the low hum of the engine and the faint sound of Leo tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. The warehouse encounter played on repeat in my head—Mira’s defiance, Caspar’s panic, and the maps scattered across that table. North Bay. Offshore accounts. Rival gangs. It wasn’t adding up, and that infuriated me. Mira wasn’t stupid. She was reckless, manipulative, and a damn good liar—but never stupid. Whatever deal she was brokering wasn’t just a simple power grab. It was bigger. Messier. And it had me written all over it. The question wasn’t what she was planning—it was why. Leo glanced at me briefly as we turned onto the main road. “Boss, Caspar’s being held at our East Side warehouse. You want me to start working on him tonight?” I shook my head, staring out at the city lights rushing past us. “No. Let him stew for a while. Caspar’s the kind of rat that talks better when he’s had time to marinate in his
Ari’s POV I could feel him; his touch subtle, his masculine finger tenderly drawing traces over my skin, sliding up between my thighs, drawing in closer and closer… The sharp ring of my phone cut through the haze of sleep, yanking me out of whatever fragile dream I’d been clinging to. I blinked against the pale light filtering through my curtains, fumbling for my phone on the nightstand. “Ariana,” I croaked into the receiver, my voice thick with sleep. “Ari, it’s Gina. You need to get down to the station. Now.” Her voice was unusually tight, her usual playful sarcasm absent. I sat up, my heart already starting to race. “What’s going on?” “You’ll see when you get here. Just hurry.” The line went dead. I was in the station in no time, marching my way through. Officers clustered in small groups, murmuring in hushed tones while a few others rushed past with files tucked under their arms. Whatever had happened, it was big. Gina spotted me from across the bullpen and waved me over
Cross’ POV I stood near the edge of the warehouse’s loading dock, staring out at the distant horizon. The police had been here earlier in the morning. The yellow crime scene tape still hung around the area but now, they were gone and somehow, I needed to be here in this site to think through. Gustav stood to my left, arms crossed, while Leo leaned against a rusted metal beam, flicking open and shut a lighter in rhythmic clicks. “Nothing?” I asked, my voice sharp enough to cut through the silence. “Nothing,” Gustav said, his voice heavy with frustration. “We combed the entire damn waterfront, Cross. If Caspar’s still out there, he’s either deep in hiding or halfway across the state by now.” Leo let out a low chuckle, his eyes fixed on the flickering flame of his lighter. “Rats like him don’t drown easy, boss. He’s out there, licking his wounds and figuring out his next move.” That wasn’t good enough. Caspar wasn’t just some disposable pawn. He was the middleman—an essential thr
Cross’ POVThe night was thick with silence, broken only by the faint hum of neon lights flickering above the alleyway. Ariana stood a few feet away from me, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her face cast in shadows. The dim glow illuminated her sharp features, and I could see the fire burning in her eyes—anger, fear, and something else she wouldn’t admit to.“Talk to me,” I said, my voice low but firm.Ariana hesitated, her gaze flickering away briefly before locking back onto mine. “What else do you want me to say?”I stayed silent, letting her continue.“He saw me that night at the bar. He recognized me.” Her voice wavered slightly, but she pressed on. “And now he’s blackmailing me, Cross. He’s holding it over my head—saying he’ll go to the precinct, tell Aaron, tell everyone that I was there. That I was involved.”I let out a sharp breath, my fists clenching at my sides. Bruno. That slimy bartender had crossed a line he couldn’t uncross.“And you paid him off?” I asked, al
Ari’s POVMorning…Another day after I and Cross’ encounter the previous night.I sat on the edge of my bed, clutching a steaming mug of coffee as the chaos of the last few days clawed at the edges of my mind. Bruno. Cross. Jonathan. Every corner of my life felt tangled with their shadows, and I was so damn tired of it.I took a slow sip from my mug, letting the bitterness ground me.No more.No more Cross barging into my life with his infuriating arrogance and feigned heroic warnings. No more Jonathan with his deceit and hollow apologies. No more Bruno holding a knife over my career with his greasy fingers wrapped around the truth.Today, I was a cop. Just a cop. And I was going to act like it.With that encouragement, I picked myself up for the day.The precinct was its usual symphony of noise—phones ringing, officers arguing over cold cases, someone cursing at the coffee machine for eating their coins. It was chaotic and predictable, and for the first time in days, I felt a shred o
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