Ari's POV The 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 pr
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,"
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
Ari’s POV I 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 sa
Ari's POV Cross and I lay on the bed exhausted, our bodies half covered with the sheets. For a moment we just stared at the ceiling, not uttering a word or flinching even at the slightest. Suddenly, I turned to him and met his gaze, the sheets roughly wrapped around my slender figure. "That was amazing, Cross," "Yeah, it was," he said. We smiled at each other and leaned in for a soft, gentle kiss. I had never seen this side of him before. Sweet and caring were the words I could use to describe him. Was this the real him? Did he always have this side or did he just do it to lure me into his game? Cross was an enigma. The only thing that was clear about him was the fact that he was a mafia boss. He had a strong presence that drew people in and made them curious about him, yet there was a dark aura around him, which also frightened people. And now, there was a new side of him. One I had never seen before. One that's sweet, kind, and caring. "Greedy of me to ask for mor
Ari’s POV I stood in front of the mirror, wrapping my hair into a loose bun as steam from the hot shower still clung to the bathroom. My reflection looked composed, but inside, my nerves twisted like a live wire. I could still feel the touch of Cross all over me and somehow, I didn’t want it anywhere off. Today was the day. All was going to go well and Kouvu would be caught. Once Kouvu was caught, I will be promoted for taking a mafia lord off the streets and of course, I could easily give it off that Cross had helped achieve it. I could clear his name! And then, I and Cross… well… I tried not to think about it too much. I could not start building castles in the air now and begin picturing my happy ever after with a street lord. I needed to give myself a break. Grabbing my badge and holstering my gun, I tried to ignore the gnawing pit in my stomach. Selling this story to Aaron wasn’t going to be easy. But it had to work—everything depended on it. It was just that it may be qu
Cross’ POVFreedom was close. I could almost taste it.I sat in the dark, my fingers drumming on the table in front of me. The air in the lair was heavy, the kind of stillness that made my men wary to even breathe too loud. Tonight, everything depended on Kouvu walking right into the trap I’d laid.And after we got Kouvu, I and Ari…I paused. Well, I had always been a pessimist. That’s why I always had my father’s cross around my neck…My hand traced over the necklace with a pendant of a cross. My father had called it a good luck charm. He knew quite well the type of son he had bore and knew just how negatively he viewed the world. That was why he gave me the cross. That was why I was called Cross.So that anytime I remembered the shape of the cross, I remembered that luck was on my side. And now, I would be needing all the luck I could get.“Gustav,” I called, not bothering to look up.He stepped forward, clearing his throat. “Yes, boss?”“Update.”He shifted uncomfortably. “Everythi
Ari’s POVThe world felt like it was spinning too fast. Sirens blared, drowning out the sound of my pounding heart as Aaron was loaded into the ambulance. Blood seeped through his shirt, staining everything around him.“Hang on, Aaron,” I whispered, clutching his hand as I climbed in beside him.His breathing was shallow, his eyes fluttering open and shut. “This wasn’t… your fault, Ari,” he managed to say, his voice weak.Tears streamed down my face, but I forced myself to stay strong. “Don’t talk, Aaron. Just hold on. We’re almost there.”The ride to the hospital felt endless, and by the time we arrived, the paramedics were shouting medical jargon I barely understood. They rushed him through the doors, leaving me standing in the sterile, fluorescent-lit hallway, feeling utterly helpless.Gina arrived shortly after, along with a few other officers who’d been at the scene. The tension in the waiting room was palpable. No one spoke much, and the air was thick with worry.When the doctor
Cross’ POVThe roar of the engine filled my ears as I sped down the deserted road, the air slashing across my face. My mind was a storm, thoughts slamming into each other. Ari was in trouble. I didn’t know where, I didn’t know how, but I could feel it. The moment I saw that unknown number flash on my screen, I knew. And when the call disconnected before a voice could even come through, I didn’t hesitate. With a flick of my wrist, I activated the tracker embedded in my device, hacking into the last known coordinates of the signal.The result made my blood run cold.A forest. The middle of nowhere. And a part of me already knew who had taken her.Jonathan.If Mira could have worked with someone… Could it be him?The bastard wasn’t dead. Not yet. But I was about to fix that.I pushed the bike harder, trees blurring past me in dark smudges. The location was getting closer, the beeping on my tracker speeding up. My gut clenched as a shadowy structure came into view. An uncompleted buildi
Ari’s POVI ran.Blindly. Desperately. My breath came in ragged gasps, my legs screaming for rest, but I didn't dare stop. What I didn’t expect outside the building was a stretch of green - the woods…I cursed.Behind me, his voice slithered through the trees, taunting, sing-song, twisted in its mockery."Ari, come out, come out wherever you are…"A shudder ripped through me. He was enjoying this. The chase. The fear. The sheer power he had over me.I pushed forward, stumbling over uneven ground. My body ached, but I forced myself onward, lungs burning, heart hammering against my ribs. If I stopped, I was dead.Up ahead, a fallen tree loomed. I dropped to my knees, crawling underneath, pressing myself against the damp earth. I clenched my fists, holding my breath. Maybe, just maybe, I could disappear into the shadows.The silence stretched.Then—a hand clamped around my ankle.A scream tore from my throat as I was yanked backward, my nails clawing at the ground, grasping for anything
Ariana’s POVDarkness.It was thick, suffocating, pressing against me like a second skin.My wrists burned from the restraints, bound so tightly I could feel the circulation slowing. My ankles were the same—tied, restrained, useless. My breath was uneven, a mix of panic and frustration, chest rising and falling against the gag tied around my mouth.I tried to move. Failed.I tried again, twisting my body, but all it did was send a sharp pain shooting through my shoulders.Where the hell was I?The last thing I remembered was stepping into my apartment. Then—darkness.Now I was here.And I wasn’t alone.A noise—a rustling, a whimper—echoed through the blackness.Then, a voice. Weak. Trembling. Familiar.“…Ari?”My body froze.That voice.That broken, barely-there whisper.Kaelie.My head snapped toward the sound, my eyes adjusting to the dimness of what little light seeped through the cracks of wherever the fuck we were.And then—I saw her.Tied. Beaten. Bloody.She was slumped against
Cross’ POVAs I ran through to the car, I already spotted what was coming. If Mira already knew about Ari, she had definitely told the Don, and the Don was already in the picture. If the Don was in the picture, they were coming for me. I and the Don had made an agreement, and that was to stay faithful to Mira.That agreement was broken.In no time, the Don’s men would be here.The air was thick with gasoline and sweat as I slipped into the car. My fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I reached for my phone, barely suppressing the rush of adrenaline flooding my veins.The Don may be on me, but I also had my plans.And it was time to put it in motion.The call rang once before Gustav answered.“It’s time.”There was no hesitation. No questions. Only a sharp exhale from the other end of the line before the call cut off.And then—The roar of engines.Headlights flared in the distance, then multiplied like wildfire. The Don’s men poured in from every alley, every street, surroun
Cross’ POVThe city streets were still drenched in the silence of the early morning when I arrived at the hideout. My body ached from exhaustion, but my mind was sharper than ever.Leo was dead.That truth weighed on me like chains, heavy and unrelenting. I had spent years crawling out of the grave only to return and find the ones I left behind buried instead.Leo should have been here. Laughing. Drinking. Breathing.Instead, we were about to put him in the ground.I entered the dimly lit warehouse, my boots echoing against the cold concrete. Gustav was already there, leaning against a wooden crate, a cigarette burning low between his fingers.He looked up at me, his sharp eyes unreadable. "You're back."I nodded. "Get the men ready. We're taking Leo home."Gustav exhaled a cloud of smoke before flicking the cigarette away. “Took you long enough, boss. I gat you, anyway.” he muttered, pushing off the crate. “I’ll round them up.”Within minutes, my men—Leo’s men—our family—began to gat
Ari's POVThe world was still wrapped in the quiet, heavy embrace of the early morning when I stirred. My body felt warm, blanketed by the remnants of a presence so familiar yet so distant that, for a moment, I thought I was still dreaming.And then I felt it.A slow, steady breath against my neck.The warmth of a body pressed against mine.An arm lazily draped over my waist.Reality settled in.I didn't dare move—not yet. I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my heart swelling, aching, twisting. He was here. Cross was here. Alive. In my bed.The night had been a storm of emotions, fists, accusations, and unbridled relief. And now, here we were, tangled in the stillness, as if the world hadn’t turned upside down just hours ago.Slowly, I turned my head, and there he was.Cross.His face, barely inches from mine, softened in sleep. His long lashes cast faint shadows on his sharp cheekbones, his lips slightly parted, chest rising and falling in a rhythm that had once been the most c
Ari's POVOnce we reached the bed, he pushed me down before pulling his trouser and boxer off, and then climbing on top of me, his hard length rubbing against my thigh."Spread your legs for me." Cross ordered, his eyes locked on mine as he waited for me to comply.I obeyed, opening my legs wide, exposing my pussy to him.He reached down and ran his finger over my folds, his cock twitching when he saw how wet I was."You're dripping." He smiled, bringing his fingers to his mouth and he licked them clean.He leaned forward, his face only inches from mine. "Are you ready for me, Ari?""Yes," I gasped, my body aching for him.Cross grinned and gripped his cock, he slid the tip along my folds, teasing me to further wetness before pushing himself inside me, his eyes closing and his face tightening as he felt me wrap around his cock."So tight," he groaned. "And so wet.""Yeah." I cried out, arching my back as he started thrusting.His thrusts were slow and steady at first, but they gradual
Ari's POVThe taste of him was intoxicating.The way his tongue slid against mine, his teeth scraping across my lower lip.I didn’t realize that I was pressed up against the wall until his hand slid up the back of my shirt, fingers playing across the bare skin of my back.I gasped."Cross."His name slipped out. It felt like a plea. Or a prayer. But I didn't care.I didn't care at all what it meant or felt like.Right now, all that mattered was him and how he was making me feel.The way his lips were on mine.The way his body pressed against me.Cross's mouth moved to my neck, his teeth grazing over the sensitive skin. I arched into him, heat flooding through me as I have into my desires.It wasn't enough.It would never be enough. Not with Cross.I tugged at the hem of his shirt, my hands slipping underneath to touch the smooth, hard muscles beneath."Take it off," I breathed out, my voice thick with lust. Raw and heavy.Cross pulled back, a smirk on his lips."Are you sure?""Yes,"
Ari's POVThe night stretched on, endless and suffocating. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to close my eyes for more than a few seconds without a wave of paranoia washing over me. My body was exhausted, but my mind refused to shut down. Every creak, every distant honk of a car outside sent a shiver down my spine. I could still feel the weight of what had happened—Kaelie missing, the attack at her house, and then…Cross.The name burned inside my head like fire. It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be possible. He was dead. I had seen him buried… No, the body was “evidence.” But I had mourned him, shattered myself trying to move on. I had told myself a thousand times that he was gone. But tonight, he was there—flesh, blood, and rage. My rescuer. My nightmare. My ghost.Or was it him?Jeez… What was I doing to myself?A shuddering breath escaped my lips.Perhaps, I just needed to sleep and wake up and everything will be alright.But then I heard it.A noise. A faint rustling