MAE“Hmmm, congratulations… I guess.” The words scraped against my tongue like sandpaper, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I stood still, my body refusing to move, my lips sealed shut after that forced statement. I felt a small pain in my chest, but I swallowed it down. Why did it hurt? This was what I wanted. What I pushed for. So why did it feel like someone had taken a hammer to my ribs? There was no reason to be upset—no reason at all. Amelia’s lips curled into an evil smile. “You call that a congratulations? You sound like you are choking on it. Come on, try again, put some heart into it.” “She is right,” Owen finally spoke, his voice interrupting my thoughts. I almost forgot he could talk. “If you are going to say it, at least make it believable.” My fingers twitched at my sides. Was he enjoying this? Playing some twisted little game with me? I sucked in a slow breath, my nails digging into my palms. Fine. If they wanted a show, I would give them one. "Co
OWENIs she really doing this? Playing this little game with me like I wouldn’t notice? Keeping my anger in check was harder than I expected. It was practically begging to be unleashed. I tipped back my glass, letting the alcohol burn its way down, then poured another. “You good, boss?” Ashtex asked, eyeing me like I was a ticking bomb. I didn’t answer. Just took another slow sip, there was nothing but silence in the room. My mind was too busy dissecting Mae’s little stunt. A bridesmaid? She even agreed to be a bridesmaid at my wedding? That was next-level audacity. So she was really okay with the idea of me marrying Amelia? And she was serious about this stupid space?And the worst part? She actually expected me to go through with this marriage like it was a real thing. Like I was some desperate man clinging to Amelia for her father’s power. Please. I didn’t need Don Paulo’s protection to handle the Castellanos. Hell, I didn’t need anyone.I am only marrying Amelia because
MAE POV“I need to talk to Don Castellanos. I knew he was a busy man, but this information was worth his time. No, more than worth it.”I typed the message quickly on my phone, inhaling deeply to calm my racing heart. If the Don agreed to meet, I would ask for more money. This was valuable information, and he would have no problem paying extra for it.And maybe, just maybe this could help me earn his trust.The moment my phone chimed, I read the message instantly."The boss is busy."Mike. His coldness practically bled through the screen. His usual way of shutting me down.I typed again, fingers moving fast. "It’s important. I swear it’s worth his time. I wouldn’t be wasting my own if it wasn’t, would I?"I hit send and waited. Nothing. No response. The silence only made my anxiety worse.Leaning back on my bed, my mind raced. Should I text him again? Call? Or would that only make me seem desperate?An hour passed before my phone finally chimed again. This time, it was from Mike. No
OWEN“What do you mean you lost her?” My voice was calm, but the fury in my eyes told a different story. Marco stood in front of me, head bowed, knowing he had fucked up.“Boss, I was right on her tail,” he said, his voice filled with regret. “She slipped into a store and never came out. I grabbed the store owner, shook him up a little. He swears she got a disguise from him and snuck out before I could catch on.”I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair as I sank into the chair.Rivera… I underestimated you. That was my mistake. I thought you were just another pretty face playing a game you didn’t understand. Turns out, you know exactly what you are doing. That makes things interesting.“What’s the plan, boss?” Marco asked. “She’s sharper than I gave her credit for. Should have known better than to fall for that innocent act.”I tapped my fingers against my chin, my mind already working. “From now on, she doesn’t take a single step without me knowing about it. I want eyes o
OWEN"You must either be a damn fool or a man with a death wish." I leaned back in my chair, my eyes locked on Joan Castellanos as I made myself comfortable. "I wonder what should be written on your gravestone ‘Here lies Joan Castellanos, unbelievably stupid, suicidally bold, and just dumb enough to walk into the lion’s den with a smile on his face’?"I smirked. "Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?"He chuckled, waving me off like this was a casual conversation over drinks. "Oh, come on now, there is no need for that."With an exaggerated sigh, he glanced around at the army of guns pointed at his skull. "Honestly, I don’t know why your men are so tense. I am just another customer at the casino, aren’t I?"Marco let out a scoff, folding his arms. His patience was running out. "We don’t have all goddamn day. Start talking." Marco saidJoan’s eyes flicked to him, and just like that, that slow, sadistic grin spread across his face.Cocky bastard."No need to interfere, little pupp
MAE“Liam, where the fuck are you?"I sent the message again. Probably the thousandth one in the past few days. No response. Nothing. At this point, I had to ask myself, was he dead? Or was something bigger at play here, something I wasn’t seeing?I made it back to Casa Eleganza after wrapping up my conversation with Don Joan Castellanos. My mind was already running through the next steps, but right now, all I wanted was to get to my room. No distractions, no unwanted interactions.But luck was never really on my side.As I turned a corner, moving fast, I slammed straight into someone.Not just anyone.Someone whose presence alone made my blood run cold. Someone I would rather put six feet under than breathe the same air as.Amelia.I was too focused on my phone to notice her standing in my way."You." She snapped. When I looked up, her eyes were filled with barely contained anger. "Would it kill you to watch where you're going?"I exhaled slowly, keeping my cool. "Sorry." I stepped a
MAEI should shove him off. Tell him he is out of his damn mind. Remind him he is about to get married and i am not some side piece he can play with when it suits him.But I don’t.Because the second his lips crash into mine, every ounce of logic burns to ash.The kiss is rough, desperate, like he has been starving for this, for me. His hold on my waist tightens, pulling me flush against him, no space, no air, just heat. His body is solid, hard muscle pressing into mine, and I can already feel just how much he wants this. Wants me.His tongue slides into my mouth, taking control, demanding submission. I give as good as I get, but he is relentless, dominating every inch of me, making it clear, he is not here to play. His hands roam, sliding down my back, gripping my thigh as he pins me against the wall. A sharp inhale escapes me, and he smirks against my lips like he just won a battle I didn’t even know we were fighting.This is dangerous. This is reckless.And still, I don’t stop
OWEN“Owen! I am talking to you. Stop walking away this instant!”Amelia’s voice grated on my nerves, but I didn’t slow down. If she thought barking orders at me would make me listen, she didn’t know who the hell she was dealing with.“Owen, stop right there!” she yelled again, this time managing to catch up.The second her hand wrapped around my arm, I stopped. Not because she told me to, because I was already one second away from snapping. I turned to face her, and there she was, furious, her arms crossed, her eyes burning with accusation.“What do you think you are doing?” she demanded, like she had any control over me.I smirked, but I didn’t answer. I let her feel the weight of my silence, let it get under her skin.“My father gave us an exclusive invite to one of the most private islands for some alone time, and you thought it was a good idea to bring your little bitch along?”She was trying to provoke me, but I wasn’t that easy to shake. Instead, I just watched her. Let her ta
OWENI was not supposed to be in Casa Eleganza tonight, but then Marco called and told me he was looking for her.Mae Rivera.Apparently, Carter had caught her making a sneaky phone call and before he could get evidence, she ended the call and threatened to lie against him if he tried to expose her. She ran off, too. Not that I fully trusted this Carter or a guy, but this awfully sounded like something that woman can do; especially after all she had been through lately.I could have left Marco to find her and teach her a lesson… or even any of my snipers could do that, but I had a surprise for her, so I could not do that.As I drove, I tried to shake off the nasty feelings I had that kept screaming in my ear about the fact that she had gone through so much. She should have thought of that before crossing me. I do worse to others, I thought. Why was it a bloody big deal with her? I did not have an answer to that, of course.Finally, after what seemed like years, I parked my car in fron
MAEThe text came an hour later.OWEN: Come to the club. Now.No explanation. No details. Just an order.I stared at the message, my pulse already picking up. He didn’t use words like that with me—not unless something was wrong.I grabbed my jacket and slipped out of my apartment, moving fast. The city blurred past as I caught a cab, my mind racing the entire way.Did Joan make a move?Did Eric?Was I already too late?By the time I reached the club, the bouncer barely spared me a glance before stepping aside. I pushed through the main floor, ignoring the pounding music and the lingering stares as I headed straight for the back offices.Owen was waiting.He stood behind his desk, his back to the door, one hand braced against the edge. He didn’t turn when I entered, didn’t acknowledge me right away.But the tension in the room was suffocating.I closed the door behind me. “What happened?”Owen’s head lifted slightly, but he still didn’t look at me. “Eric met with Javier Castelleno.”A
OWENI had watched Mae leave my car that night, her frustration hanging in the air like cigarette smoke. She hadn’t looked back.I should’ve let it go. Should’ve turned the key in the ignition and driven off, let her work through her anger alone.But I didn’t.Instead, I sat there, gripping the steering wheel, jaw locked so tight it ached.She wanted me to give in. To cross that invisible line we’d been toeing for weeks. And fuck, I almost had.Mae had no idea what kind of self-control it took to pull away. To tell her to go home when all I wanted was to drag her into my lap and kiss her until she forgot about Joan, about Eric, about the game she was playing with fire.But I wasn’t a man who made decisions based on want.I made them based on survival.And right now, Mae’s survival depended on her staying out of this mess.Which meant keeping my hands off her.At least for now.Tonight, I pulled out of the alley, steering the car toward the warehouse. Scar and Marco were already waitin
MAEThe door slammed shut behind me, and I stood in the alley for a moment, breathing in the cold night air. My hands clenched at my sides, nails pressing into my palms. I should’ve felt relieved. I’d walked away. I had my space.So why did I feel like I was suffocating?I forced myself to move, stepping out onto the sidewalk. The city hummed around me—cars passing, voices carrying through the night. Normal life, oblivious to the storm raging inside me.I needed a drink.And I needed a plan.Eric’s name sat heavy in my mind. If Joan truly believed he was a traitor, then this wasn’t just a warning. It was a test. One I couldn’t afford to fail.But Owen had given me his answer.You don’t touch him.That was easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one standing in front of Joan, balancing on a knife’s edge, trying to prove she belonged. I’d spent weeks playing my part, earning trust. Now, one wrong move could rip everything apart.And Owen expected me to stand back and do nothing?I exhaled sh
MAE"You really do not look okay. Are you sure you can still work?" Eli asked me, smacking his lips after applying lipgloss."I have to." I simply replied, going across the room to pick up more stuff. I was really tired—both mentally and emotionally, but I knew I would just be calling more punishment to myself if I simply laid down here."How? Scar is really nice. I mean, everyone here is. I do not feel like anyone here is being forced to do anything. I like the fact that everything is so transparent, even." He went on, and I almost scoffed out loud.He sounded like an excited little kid. He had not the slightest idea of what was actually going on, and though it was dangerous for him, it was a little cute. Better to be oblivious than be traumatized like I was.I got ready quicker, then hurried off to the stage. I did not shut my eyes throughout my performance, because every single time I did, I saw her. I had my eyes wide open as I danced, willing the images to go away.The moment I s
MAEI barely made it up the stairs to my apartment before I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.My body still felt wired, every nerve on edge. Owen’s voice echoed in my head.I shouldn’t have wanted to go back and see if he’d really lose control.I shoved the thought away, locked my door, and leaned against it. I needed to focus. I had bigger problems than the way Owen made my skin feel too tight. That could be handled later.Joan wanted Eric dead.Tomorrow, I’d have to walk into a job knowing I was either going to betray the man who trusted me or end up dead myself. And no matter which way I spun it, I couldn’t see a way out.I dropped onto my bed and pulled out my phone.No messages. No calls.I didn’t know why I thought he’d check in. He’d told me to go home. Told me to sleep. Like it was that easy.I tossed my phone aside and squeezed my eyes shut.Maybe, if I tried hard enough, I could pretend his hands hadn’t felt so damn good on me.Maybe I could pretend I had
MAE"Your father is in the backseat of my car. Tonight, you will either tell me what's going on with you, or he takes a bullet to his head. I'll keep killing everyone you love until you decide if this secret you are keeping from me is really worth losing so much." Owen whispered, just as his big hand released my ass, going up to my hip instead.I pushed his hands off me completely, shock taking over my features. "Wait. What did you just say?""The exact same thing you heard. Get dressed and come with me."I did not have to be told twice. I rushed into the closet and just threw on a shirt like nightgown that stopped just above my knees then some lace panties.I had just stepped out of the closet to meet Owen leaning by the door when he thundered,"Get back inside and wear something else. I did not ask you to come with me so you can strip for your father." I opened my mouth and closed it like a fish, then looked around in search of anything I could just throw on."But it's covered…" I
MAEI didn’t let myself think until I was back in the car.Amelia drove in silence, her grip tight on the wheel, knuckles white. She hadn’t said a word since we left Joan’s estate. Maybe she was waiting to see how I’d react. Maybe she was testing me just as much as Joan was.I didn’t give her anything.Eric.The name burned in my head.He was one of Owen’s men—trusted, loyal, someone who had been by his side for years. If Joan had put him on that list, it meant one of two things. Either Eric was playing both sides, or Joan only thought he was.Either way, this was a problem.A big one.And Owen needed to know.I reached into my jacket pocket, fingers brushing against the earpiece Owen had given me. A reminder of his voice, the way he had told me to be careful. I wanted to use it, to hear him tell me he had a plan, that he already knew, that he would fix this before I had to.But I couldn’t.Not here. Not now.Amelia’s sharp eyes flickered to me. “You alright?”I nodded once. “Yeah.”S
MAEThe moment I stepped out of the car, the air felt different.Colder. Heavier.Amelia stood by the entrance, her arms crossed, face blank. No warmth, no hesitation—just business. She barely looked at me before turning on her heel. “Follow me.”I did.My pulse was steady, but my hands weren’t. I curled my fingers into fists to stop them from shaking. Owen’s words played over in my head. If anything feels off—get out.I didn’t plan on getting out. Not yet.We walked through a back entrance, the air thick with cigarette smoke. Joan’s men were everywhere. Some played cards. Others leaned against the walls, watching me like I was already a ghost.I kept my head high, my steps even. Fear would get me killed here.We reached the main hall. Joan was sitting at the center table, a glass of whiskey in one hand, a knife in the other. He was carving something into the wood, deep, slow strokes. He didn’t look up.“You’re late,” he said.Amelia stiffened beside me. “Traffic.”Joan finally glance