Angel POV.Sitting in the kitchen at the island in the home I now share with Ryder. I look at my laptop until my brows furrow. This can’t be right. Dad asked me to check on the family’s legitimate businesses and their inventory.My family owns many businesses, from little stores, restaurants, nightclubs, casinos, and strip clubs. I’m currently checking the finances from the strip club known as Temptress. The first one was destroyed, so they rebuilt it.We were kept away from the business side of things, but since I’m the DeNucci heir, I have to check on these businesses, as some of them are in my mom’s name. Unfortunately for me, the strip club is one of them.But something isn’t adding up. I reach for my phone and call my mom. This was her responsibility, but from the figures, it looks like someone is skimming.“Hello, princess. Everything ok?” she asks and I can hear she is driving.“Momma, when was the last time you went to Temptress?” I ask her as I hear my brother in the backgrou
Angel POV.Children, I’m dealing with children! I thought it was bad travelling with Nate and Nico, but Ice and Ripper take the cake. All they have done is squabble since we left the gas station two hours from home. I’m even contemplating shooting them, or throwing them from a moving vehicle.I reach for my bag and take out the painkillers and a bottle of water. I pop two pills and massage my temples, waiting for the ache in my head to leave.“Will you two please just shut the fuck up!” I snap and they go quiet as I groan and close my eyes tight. A large, warm hand lands on my thigh and squeezes. I open my eyes and look at him. He is looking concerned.“You ok?” he asks and I nod my head as I take a few breaths in to alleviate some of the pain.“Angel, you don’t look too good. You sure you’re ok?” I nod my head. I rummage through my bag and find my sunglasses and put them on, leaning my head back against the headrest.“I’ll be fine.” I say as I close my eyes, needing quiet and dark. T
Angel POV.I sit on the end of the bed looking at the two pink lines, and nothing is registering. How is this possible? I mean, I know how, but still.Can I go through that again? What happens if I lose it again? What if …“Angel, get out of your head. I know what you’re thinking. Nothing is going to happen. You will be fine.” Ryder says to me, taking my hand in his. I take a breath and try to process this. I can’t think about this right now. I have to sort this theft out in Temptress. That is the reason we are here. But it changes everything.“I can’t do this.” I mumble to myself as I look down at my lap. I don’t mean the pregnancy. I mean all this bullshit with the family businesses. I can’t do it. I can’t risk anything happening again.“What do you mean? Do you mean the pregnancy …”“No, I mean the businesses. We lost one child. I can’t lose another. I need to speak to my momma. She needs to sort this mess out.” I say as I look up at him and he smiles softly down at me. I lean my h
Ryder POV.I look at Angel as she sleeps. Every so often, she whimpers and wiggles closer to me. I run my fingers lazily through her long blonde hair. She calms down. That nightmare she had last night shook her to her core. It hit home that she is dealing with so much and this pregnancy is going to unlock all kinds of fears for not just her, but me, too.I will do everything in my power to show her that she is safe and nothing will happen. I move out of bed after I kiss her on the head. I head to the bathroom and do my business. Washing my hands, I enter the bedroom again and see she is hugging my pillow. I smile at this. I throw on a pair of sweats and leave the room. Keeping the door open.I make my way down the hallway and down the stairs to get to the kitchen. I make a start on drinks and breakfast. The front door opens and I look around the corner and see Ice and Ripper coming in, looking worse for wear. It seems they had a good night. I yawn and go back to cooking.“Yo prez.” Ic
Angel POV.I can’t believe this. Uncle Gianni is part of the trafficking ring and he is using my dad’s name for his twisted game. But why? Nothing is making any sense to me. He has always been family orientated. So why now?“Does it matter how long I have been planning this? No, I don’t think it does. You see Antonio. I am the eldest, so there for I should have been Don. Not you.” I look at him in hatred. How could he do this to our family?“Gianni, that was years ago. You will destroy this family for money and power? You are just like him. Clearly the apple doesn’t fall far.” My dad spits. I look at uncle G and his eyes are red and glazed. He sniffs and I know he is on drugs. His hand shakes, his fingers twitch.“At least dad had ambition. You are weak, Antonio. You always were and always will be. It is time I took what is rightfully mine. Starting by killing everyone you love. I will be unstoppable.” He chuckles before it turns into vicious laughter. I clutch at Ryder as my dad look
Angel POV.I’m sitting in the kitchen holding a cup of camomile tea, which has long gone cold. I look down at my hands and I can still see her blood on my hands. There has been no word as of yet about her condition, so I take it that is a good thing. No news is good news, I suppose.The mansion is a hive of activity, with men all running around carrying out my dad’s orders. My brothers are in the red room, no doubt torturing our uncle. No, he isn’t our uncle. He lost that right when he did this. He is a traitor. His death won’t be quick, it will be drawn out. They will keep him alive, but in a constant state of pain.“Angel.” I shiver as I look up and see Alessa and Cassandria DeAngelis walking towards me. Ryder is behind them both with a man I have never seen before.I wipe my eyes and stand when Alessa engulfs me in a hug.“It’s ok, your momma is super strong, she will pull through this.” her words should soothe me but they don’t. I pull away and wipe my eyes with the heel of my han
Angel POV.Walking down the hallway. The scent of metallic even though it’s faint makes me want to gag. Ryder holds my hand and gives it a squeeze. Alessa has her hand on my shoulder, and I look ahead.Hearing his grunts and muffled groans, the closer we get to the door that leads into the red room. The sound of flesh on flesh, the clinking of chains. I know they are beating him to a bloody pulp.We reach the door, and I enter the code, and the door opens with a click. I move to the side as Matteo and Cassandria enter with the mountains. Alessa looks at me with concern but I shake my head, telling her I’m ok.“We don’t need to go in there. We can go back to the mansion and bake with Rebel and Scar.” Ryder says I look up at him and he looks at me with pity. I hate it. I hate the look he is giving me. I don’t need the pity look from anyone.“No, this needs to be done. But I think my dad should be the one to end him. After all, he is his brother.” I say, and Ryder nods his head once at m
Angel POV.It has been a few days and we are heading to the hospital to see momma. Dad told us she is now more alert and has asked for us repeatedly and so we are heading there now to see her. But before we do. I have an appointment in the prenatal department. The last time we were heading for a prenatal appointment was the day I lost the baby. So my nerves are shot to hell.I’ve had a bit of morning sickness, combine that with the stress of everything that has happened recently I’m a hot mess. We all are. Gianni is still in the red room and the mountains are working on him every day. Apparently, Cassandria has as well. The phrase is true never judge a book by its cover. She doesn’t look like the type of woman that will cut off your limbs, but she is.Gianni has lost a few fingers and toes, teeth, and an ear. I threw up when I was told. Nate being Nate told me and I wished he hadn’t. Just the thought of it makes me gag. But apparently it was necessary in the interrogation side of thin
Harmony POV.Going back to the party, I put on a happy face, no matter the turmoil inside of me or the uneasy feeling in my stomach. Today is about the children and the survivors of domestic violence.I smile like nothing is wrong and Mav is watching me closely. He is just staring at me in disbelief that one second I’m shaking and crying, the next I’m laughing and smiling like nothing happened.“You should get into acting.” Mav says to me and I smile up at him, but I know the smile doesn’t fully reach my eyes. He knows this too. He kisses my orange face and I chuckle as he pulls back with orange face paint on the tip of his nose, lips, and chin.“You got face paint on you.” I say as I use my sleeve to wipe it from him, and he chuckles.“Good luck getting that paint off your face. I wouldn’t be surprised if the orange has stained your skin.” He chuckles and my eyes widen. Oh, well bugger. I didn’t think of that when I applied it to my face.“I know what you’re doing.” I say to him and
Harmony POV.Hearing Joel’s name brings back all the sadness. Why didn’t I see it sooner? He has changed so much since I last saw him. I’m numb to Joel and what he does for a living. But what he did to me? That will stay with me forever. I thought I locked it away. Clearly I didn’t.Yes, he drugged me, but he didn’t touch me. My family knows that, but maybe he didn’t because Harry found me before he could. I only remember parts of that night. We were at a friend’s party and he was with me to protect me. Little did I know at the time I needed protecting from him.He handed me a drink and told me he would stay by my side. So I didn’t question it when I drank the laced drink. I didn’t smell anything that struck me as odd. I was fifteen. The drink wasn’t even alcoholic.Joel knew my parents would have killed him if I arrived home drunk. So I was drinking juice. I finished the drink and danced for a while when I started feeling dizzy and sick.Next thing I know I woke up in hospital after
Maverick POV.I’m all partied out. Melody is on a sugar high and is running round like an overactive squirrel on a massive energy boost. I did try to limit the candy and all the goodies she was eating, but the little madam was sneaking them. Her hair, which took me an hour to do, was hanging loose. The buns long gone. She has glitter all over her and her white top isn’t white anymore. Rookie mistake on my part.But she has had fun and so have I. I have hardly seen Harmony, but I have had eyes on her. I mean, you can’t miss her with the green wig and orange face. She looked amazing. Everyone put in the effort for today and I am proud to be a part of this club.POD has set the standards for all the other clubs and even though the other clubs help in their territories, no one goes above and beyond like POD does, and I am so proud to be a member.The praise Harmony and the club have received throughout today has been overwhelming. The women from the shelter and the kids from the hospital
Harmony POV.All week I have been racking my brain about where I had seen that man before and it is really driving me mad. I know I’ve seen him before but still can’t pinpoint where exactly.I shake my head to rid myself of the thoughts and smile instead. Today is the day of the Candy Wonderland party to raise funding for the women’s shelter and the children’s hospital.The ole ladies and locals have really outdone themselves. The clubhouse and club grounds look magical. Giant pink and white cane canes stand on either side of the clubhouse steps. There are big lollipops in various colours and individual candies decorated all around. Some hanging from the branches of trees and in the grass on display.There are huge ice cream cones, donuts, cakes, balloons with confetti that look like sugar strands, giant gummy bears, jelly beans that are little chairs. The place would give the witch from Hansel and Gretel a serious case of envy.It looks spectacular, all in pastel colours. I nod happi
Harmony POV.It has been three weeks since Mav and I slept together, and everything has been going amazingly well. Everyone was super happy for us and little Melody was made up that her daddy and I were together.Mav is so gentle and loving and it still amazes me that for such a big burly guy, he has that soft side of him, the side only Melody and I are privileged to see.Mav is currently on a club run and I am in my happy place. Books and Brews. Catching up with paperwork. I’m pretty sure Harry has been sneaky putting some of the orders for the club owned businesses in with what I have to do. I swear that big brother of mine is a lazy ass, but I don’t mind helping in any way I can.The mommy, daddy and me sessions have grown in popularity and so I have had to expand on the days for these sessions. We have another event happening this weekend to raise funds for the children’s hospital and the local women’s shelter. We donate what we can to both. The local community also helps with the
Harmony POV.Oh god this is it. I’m going to lose my virginity to the man I love with all my heart. This is going to mean something more to me than what it would mean to most people.Mav is kissing me slowly once more and I’m going crazy with the need to touch him, taste him, fell him. I want him, all of him.Mav breaks the kiss and stares down at me with a small smile on his face. He moves back onto his heels before he moves off the bed and I instantly miss his body heat. I watch as he removes his cut, then his tight black long-sleeved top. His abs flex and stretch as he pulls the fabric over his head. I gulp at the sight of his bare chest. I instinctually close my legs.My clit throbs just from the sight of him. Heat pools in my belly and I know I’m wet. My breathing becomes harsh and my heart is beating so hard with anticipation as I watch him remove his boots and socks. His eyes not leaving mine as his large veiny hands reach for the belt and he removes it. I don’t think I’ve blin
Maverick POV.Seeing those beautiful golden honey coloured eyes dim slightly hurt my chest. Watching as Harmony walked past us with no expression on her face, I know she didn’t want to do it, but she did it anyway.We all turn to watch her walk away. Her head held high, her back ram-rod straight, her steps don’t falter, not once. But it’s her hands that give her away, not because they are shaking but because she has balled her fists tight.The room is deadly silent as we all watch her move out of sight. I turn my head and look at everyone in this room.“She never raises a gun for that purpose again.” I state as I look at my presidents and the other members.“She never will, not again. Go after her Mav, make sure she is ok. Because I know she won’t be,” Rebel says as she squeezes my shoulder and I look down at her. I nod my head and make off to follow Harmony. I jog through the prison and outside. I look around for her, blinking from the glare of the snow.I follow her footprints in th
Harmony POV.I watch as Felicity lifts her head slowly and I can see the tear streaks on her face. She looks at me and her eyes are red from all the crying she has been doing.“You wanted to speak to me? Well, here I am. So let’s talk.” I say to her again and she looks from me to the people with me. She wipes her face and nose on her sleeve.“Thank you for coming. I wanted to apologise for everything we did to you. I know it was a mistake and I’m sorry for it Harmony, please believe me. I was out of my mind with the drugs and booze. All I want is to make peace with you,” she says as she staggers to stand before she falls to her knees and bows her head at me.I look at my momma and raise an eyebrow at her and she shakes her head and I know she is not believing this, just like I’m not. It will take more than a simple sorry to make what she and that club did to not only me, but to everyone they came in contact with. A sorry will not make any of it right.“You want to make peace with me?
Harmony POV.Well, this is awkward. My dads are both looking at me like I did something against humanity and my momma, well, she is smirking knowingly. But there is nothing to know, I haven’t done anything.“Ok, go on, what is it you all want?” I ask as I walk further into the office and slump in the chair across from them.“Well, you and Outlaw look cosy. Something you want to tell us?” Dad Dylan asks and I shake my head at him when dad Dante rolls his eyes.“Give her a break, Dyl. She isn’t a little girl anymore. Who she is with is none of our business. Unless he hurts her, then it becomes our business. So lay off. You weren’t like this with Harry, so cut the dramatics.” Dad Dante tells him and I smile at him and dad Dante winks at me.“She is our baby girl. Of course, it is our business.” I roll my eyes at him and anyone else would be mortified to be having this conversation with their parents but not me. Growing up, I learnt quickly that there were no secrets between us.Hell, whe