Williams POV.I never imagined the night would end like this—flat on my back with Allison's arm cutting into my windpipe. Her grip was ironclad, reminding me how much more powerful she’s become. And even though I was gasping for air, there was a twisted part of me that was relieved. She was right there, in front of me. The woman I’ve spent sleepless nights dreaming of, haunted by the thoughts of what we used to be.But the look in her eyes… It wasn’t love or nostalgia. It was pure suspicion. She thought I was someone out to hurt her.“I wasn’t planning any harm, Allison,” I choked out, my voice raspy as I tried to steady my breath. “I could never hurt you.”She released me, stepping back cautiously, her eyes never leaving mine. “Then what were you doing creeping around outside my house like some goddamn stalker?”I got to my feet slowly, rubbing my sore neck. “I found your place. I’ve been standing out there for hours, trying to figure out what to do. Whether I should knock or leave.
Williams POV.The room fell silent, leaving nothing but the faint sound of the child’s breathing. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Allison, and for a split second, I saw something flicker in her gaze. Was it a glimmer of what we used to have? Or was it just wishful thinking?I didn’t have time to figure it out because she quickly tore her eyes away, breaking whatever connection had formed between us. “You should leave, Williams,” she said, her voice taking on a warning tone. “It’s not safe here. I wouldn’t want you dying on me.”I blinked, taken aback by the casual way she said it. “If it’s not safe for me, then it’s not safe for you either. And the kid.” My voice wavered slightly, betraying the concern I felt.She let out a harsh breath and shook her head at me like I was a stubborn child. “Have you forgotten who I am?” she snapped. “I’m more than capable of protecting myself and this child. You, on the other hand… you’re just a distraction, a liability. So please, get out now. I’ve
Allison's POV.The door burst open with a deafening crash, splintering into pieces as armed men stormed in. My heart hammered in my chest as I fired the first shot, the muzzle flash illuminating the shadowed figures charging at us. I didn’t hesitate, my instincts sharp and lethal as I took aim, squeezing the trigger with precise, calculated focus.“Williams! Take the kid and hide!” I shouted over the chaos, the sound of gunfire thundering in the air like a relentless storm. He didn’t argue, just grabbed the little girl and dove behind the overturned sofa, clamping a hand over her mouth to stifle her cries.One of the attackers lunged at me, but I was quicker, ducking under his swing and driving my elbow into his ribs before spinning and delivering a swift kick to his chest. He stumbled back, but before he could recover, I raised my gun and fired. The bullet hit its mark, and he crumpled to the floor.But there were too many of them—more than I anticipated. They poured into the house l
Allison's POV"You want to help?" I turned to Williams, my voice low and edged with a seriousness that made him straighten his posture. His eyes were still wide with the lingering adrenaline from the chaos earlier. The beach’s cold wind whipped through the air, bringing a chill that bit through the night. But nothing could be colder than the expression on my face as I stared him down."Of course, I do," he replied, almost breathless, as if he couldn’t believe I was asking him. "I’ll do whatever it takes, Allison."I held his gaze for a long moment, searching for any flicker of hesitation. He might’ve been desperate to be by my side again, but this wasn’t some romantic reunion. It was a battlefield. And I needed to know he understood that."Then take the child," I said firmly.His eyes widened. "What? You want me to—""Take her. Keep her safe." My voice hardened with every word. "You say you want to be useful? Here’s your chance."I glanced at the little girl, still trembling and sniff
Williams’s POVMy mansion was quieter than ever, which only made the tension worse. The kid had finally stopped crying and drifted off to sleep in the backseat during the drive here. I glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror—her little face streaked with dried tears, her tiny fists curled into her chest. She was innocent in all this, yet somehow caught up in the mess of my past with Allison. I sighed heavily. I didn’t sign up for this—taking care of a child while gunmen hunted us down—but when Allison had handed her to me, I couldn’t say no. Not to Allison. Not when she looked at me with those eyes that still had a grip on my soul.I pulled up to the driveway and stepped out, careful not to wake the kid as I unbuckled her from the seat. She stirred a bit, clinging to me when I lifted her into my arms. For a moment, holding her like this, I couldn’t help but imagine...what if? What if this child had been mine and Allison’s? If Allison hadn’t lost our baby, that child would b
Allison’s POVI stared at the map sprawled out across the table. My knuckles tightened, my nails digging into the edge of the table as Mia delivered the news. Viktor Romanov had pulled it off. The bastard had carried out the heist at the jewelry shop, just like I anticipated. But we were too distracted, too late to stop him. I could feel the fury rising like bile in my throat. I wanted to tear him apart with my bare hands. “We were too slow,” Mia said, frustration evident in her tone as she leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. Her usually calm face was tight with anger, a rare sight that only amplified how badly things had gone.I slammed my fist against the table, causing the metal to rattle. “Too slow? It’s not just about being slow. We were blindsided, distracted by those decoys he sent out. It was a damn setup from the start!” My voice came out sharp, almost a snarl, as I struggled to keep my emotions in check.Mia nodded, her gaze steady but burning with the same intensit
Allison's POV.The loud bass thrummed in my chest as I squeezed through the crowd. The stench of sweat and spilled liquor hung thick in the air, mingling with the sweet, artificial scent of perfume from women dancing on poles and laughing in skimpy outfits. In my baggy hoodie, oversized glasses, and cap pulled low, I blended right in. Just a nerdy, awkward boy caught in the wrong place—exactly how I wanted to appear.I kept my head down as I made my way to the edge of the VIP section, where the real action was. Viktor Romanov, surrounded by his usual thugs and a few cheap women clinging to his arms, was seated like a king among his court. I couldn’t help but feel a cold wave of rage course through me at the sight of him laughing without a care, as if he hadn’t left a trail of bodies and ruined lives in his wake. But I couldn’t let my emotions show. Not yet.Instead, I let my eyes wander like an awkward teenager’s would, making a show of gawking at the women dancing on stage. It was th
Williams' POVI stared at the little girl sitting on the edge of the couch, her tiny hands clutching a stuffed bear that looked as depressed as she did. Her big, teary eyes were red from crying, and every attempt I made to cheer her up had failed miserably. I’d tried everything—cartoons, toys, even a whole tray of cookies. But nothing could replace Allison in her tiny world."Mary, maybe you can try?" I asked, my voice edged with desperation as I glanced at my maid. Mary was kind and experienced, practically a child-whisperer. If anyone could reach this little girl, it would be her.Mary knelt beside the child and gently stroked her hair. "Hey there, sweetie," she cooed softly. "Do you want to play with your bear? Or maybe we can draw something pretty?"The girl didn’t respond. She didn’t even look up, her gaze fixed on the floor as if it held the answers to all her problems. I could see the concern in Mary’s eyes as she shot me a helpless look.“She’s just missing Allison,” I muttere