The atmosphere in the room was oppressive. James's hold on Rose's neck was strong yet not suffocating, his dark gaze piercing into hers like sharp blades. His voice was a deep rumble, tinged with anger and doubt.“Reveal who it is, Rose,” he insisted. “Are you collaborating with them?” "Do you belong to this?"Tears filled Rose’s eyes while her mind frantically sought an escape. The reality would ruin her. The deception she had devised needed to be perfect, or James’s fury would engulf her. Her voice quivered while she spoke.“I—I have no idea who it is,” she faltered, her voice trembling yet intentional. "The phone calls began yesterday." I inquired about their identity and how they obtained my number, but they remained silent. “They simply ended the call.”James's jaw clenched, and his eyes became more focused. His hold around her neck remained tight. "And what about today?" The vase for flowers? The photograph?Rose's voice trembled as she nodded, tears running down her cheeks. "Th
The atmosphere in the mansion was thick with tension as James burst into the poorly lit interrogation room. The atmosphere was thick with the smells of sweat and blood, and the solitary figure was tied to a chair, his visage battered and swollen yet his resolve unshaken. The man from the Bloody Son glared boldly at the door as it banged closed after James.James walked across the room with slow, intentional strides, his eyes burning with a rage that made the guards beside the walls uneasy. He came to a halt before the prisoner, his immense stature casting a lengthy shadow over him.“Are you aware of who you’re interacting with?” James inquired icily, his tone a deep rumble.The man grinned, blood streaked over his teeth. “Do you really?” he shot back, his voice rough yet mocking.James's patience broke. With a quick movement, he seized the man by the shirt, pulling him closer until their faces were just inches away. "Who dispatched you?" “What does the Bloody Son desire?”The captive'
The gentle beams of morning light filtered into Rose’s room as she began to wake up. Her eyes slowly opened, adapting to the soft glow. She blinked two times, her eyesight clearing on James, who sat by her bed with a tray of food resting on his lap. His intense look softened when he saw she was awake, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.“Good morning,” he said, his tone friendly yet authoritative.Rose blinked in astonishment, attempting to rise. “What… what brings you here?”“Calm down,” James stated, approaching her bedside. “I have brought you breakfast.” He motioned towards the tray. "You should have something to eat before taking your medication."She paused, uncertain about how to react to this surprising gentleness. He perceived her hesitation and grinned. "Try not to appear so astonished." You are the initial person I've cared for in this manner. "Regard yourself as fortunate."Rose sensed her cheeks turning red as he started slicing some fruit. "You aren't required to do
Rose's eyes remained fixed on the prisoner, her thoughts swirling with unresolved inquiries. Why did he appear so composed, as if he possessed a secret that no one else did? Why did he conceal her secret before when James had claimed she was dishonest? Before she had a chance to speak, the captive's hoarse voice shattered the stillness."You won't receive anything from me," he scoffed, his gaze fixed on James with challenge. He then directed his attention to Rose, a grin tugging at his chapped lips. "Not even if you sent this young woman to entice the truth from me." “Good effort, but it’s not going to succeed.”Rose tensed at his words, feelings of guilt and unease rising to the surface. James’s intense stare shifted to her, his eyes tightening a bit as though he were scrutinizing every motion, every inhale."I don't require her to uncover the truth," James declared icily, advancing. His presence hovered over the captive like a shadow, his voice cutting like steel. "Once I’m finished
Rose gasped for breath in short, uneven bursts as she struggled against the unseen force pinning her. Her heart raced intensely in her chest, the room's darkness appearing to encroach upon her."Let me out!" she attempted to yell, but no noise came from her mouth.The voice murmured once more, threatening and frigid. "You can’t get away from me." “You will never attain freedom.”Rose spun and writhed, her energy fading as terror seized her. Then abruptly, a flash of light dazzled her, piercing the heavy darkness.“Rose!” a recognizable voice shouted, affectionate and caring.She sprang awake, her body shaking as she blinked at the light. Penelope stood above her, her expression marked by concern."Are you alright?" Penelope inquired softly, placing it on the nightstand. "You were shouting and flailing during your sleep."Rose's chest lifted as she sat up straight, her gaze scanning the room. She brushed her fingers through her wet hair, still sensing the lingering presence of the man
Rose quickly got to her feet, ignoring the ache in her leg, and reached down to help Cole up. Before she could manage much, James stepped forward, his expression softening as he saw her struggle.“You’re going to hurt yourself,” he said quietly, moving to her side.Rose glanced at him in surprise as he carefully draped Cole’s arm over his shoulder. They led Cole out of the kitchen and upstairs to his bedroom. In his inebriated condition, Cole slurred a lackluster apology, but James and Rose hardly noticed.After placing him on the bed, Rose went to get a glass of water, walking with a slight limp. Upon her return, Cole was sound asleep, with his chest rhythmically rising and falling.“Seems he’ll be gone for the evening,” James remarked, taking a step back and signaling for Rose to come with him outside the room.They departed silently, and Rose, still unsettled, meandered into the hallway. She pushed open a large window and stepped out onto the veranda, feeling the cool night breeze
The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting gentle beams throughout the mansion. Penelope, holding a breakfast tray, walked toward James's room. She tapped gently at first, then again, more forcefully this time. As there was no reply, she carefully opened the door. To her astonishment, the room was devoid of occupants, the bed perfectly arranged as if it hadn’t been used.A surge of bewilderment engulfed her. It was unlike James to vanish without saying anything. She placed the tray on a close table and promptly started looking through the adjacent rooms, shouting his name. "James!" "Where are you located?" Her voice resonated in the expansive halls, yet there was no response.Her nervousness increased as she ventured outdoors, wishing to see him in the garden. Upon stepping onto the lawn, she noticed Cole coming out of his room, his hair messy and his shirt hanging out. He appeared as though he hadn't rested well, his face looking drowsy as he yawned and stretched.“P
James opened his mouth to respond, his expression softening as if he was about to let his guard down. But just as the first word left his lips, a sharp knock on the door interrupted them. Both of them turned toward the door, startled.“James, you have a visitor,” Penelope’s voice rang through the quiet. She pushed the door open slightly, stepping into the room before pausing to take in the scene. James stood frozen near Rose, their proximity unmistakable. Rose, still perched on the edge of the bed, quickly averted her gaze, pretending to adjust her blanket.James straightened, his usual composure slipping back into place. He turned to Penelope, trying to mask the moment that had just been disrupted. “Who is it?” he asked, his voice steady but with a hint of irritation.Penelope’s sharp eyes flickered between the two of them, but she chose not to comment. Instead, she answered, “It’s Cole. He said it’s urgent, the weapon men are around.”James hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering
Rose lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Sleep had refused to come, her mind trapped in an endless loop of the call she had received. Chain had them. Ariel and Jennie. The fear in their voices, their muffled cries, it all echoed in her ears, tormenting her.She turned to the side, eyes landing on the empty space beside her. James had gone to bed late after celebrating their victory, laughing, teasing her about her role at the party. He had no idea what storm was brewing inside her.Her fingers tightened around the sheets as her mind wrestled with the impossible choice laid before her. How could she hand over the man she loved? The man who had fought beside her, who had become her safe place? But how could she also let her best friend and sister die because of her?The weight of the decision pressed on her chest like a boulder, making it hard to breathe.She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to think, to find a way out. But there was none.By morning, her exhaustion showe
The drive home was quiet, but it was the kind of silence that carried weight. The kind that hummed with unspoken words, lingering adrenaline, and the undeniable awareness of what they had just accomplished.As soon as they stepped into the mansion, the tension broke. Cole stretched his arms wide, letting out a victorious laugh.“Well, damn! I have to admit, we pulled that off better than I expected.”James smirked, tossing his jacket onto the couch. “One stone, two birds. Not bad.”Rose sank onto the plush sofa, exhaling deeply. “You make it sound so easy, but I was the one doing the dirty work.”Cole grinned, flopping down beside her. “I don’t know, Rose. You played the baddie role a little too perfectly.”James arched an eyebrow as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “Yeah. That act with Rafael? You had him eating from your palm.”Rose rolled her eyes, sitting up straighter. “Are you forgetting where we met? Seduction was my job.”James chuckled, shaking his head. “Fair point.
The next evening, Rose stood in front of the mirror, her heart pounding as she adjusted the sleek black gown that hugged her figure like a second skin. It was dangerously low-cut, with a thigh-high slit that made her feel both powerful and vulnerable. Her dark curls cascaded down her shoulders, and the deep red lipstick James had chosen for her made her lips look almost sinful.James stepped behind her, his reflection appearing in the mirror. He was dressed in an all-black suit, a mask already resting in his hand. His gaze traveled over her, dark and unreadable."You look…" He paused, then exhaled slowly. "Deadly."Rose swallowed, gripping the vanity table. "Are you sure about this?"He turned her around to face him, lifting her chin. "You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to."She searched his eyes. "But if I don’t, we lose an important advantage."James clenched his jaw. "Yes.""Then I’m doing it."A flicker of something, pride, frustration, admiration, flashed in his eyes bef
The drive back to the mansion was quiet. The tension from the fight still lingered in the air, but the reality of what had just happened weighed heaviest on Rose. She sat in the backseat between James and Cole, her fingers intertwined tightly as she stared at them.James noticed the way her hands trembled. He reached over, covering her fingers with his own. "You okay?"She hesitated before answering. "I don’t know," she admitted. "I feel… different."Cole, who sat on her other side, exhaled. "That’s because you are different now, Rose," he said. "Taking a life changes you. Whether you like it or not."Rose turned to him, searching his face for some kind of reassurance. "How do you deal with it?"Cole smirked slightly but there was no humor in his eyes. "You don’t. You just learn to live with it."James squeezed her hand. "You saved my life, Rose. You saved us. That doesn’t make you a monster."She nodded slowly, but her mind was still spinning. The image of Kane falling to the ground,
The atmosphere inside James’s mansion was thick with urgency. Cole stood at the center, his sharp eyes scanning his men as they loaded weapons and prepared for war. The weight of his confession still hung in the air, but there was no time for regrets. James and Rose needed him.Penelope grabbed his arm again, her eyes pleading. "Cole, I need you to think this through. This isn’t just some street fight. Kane has been planning this for years."Cole sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I know. And that’s why I have to go."She shook her head. "You can’t just walk into a trap. There has to be a plan."A man in the room, Logan, one of James’s most trusted allies, spoke up. "She’s right, boss. We need to be smart about this."Cole exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. What do we know?"The man who had escaped the ambush stepped forward. "I overheard some of Kane’s men talking. They took them to an abandoned warehouse on the east side of town."Logan nodded. "That makes se
James groaned as he drifted back to consciousness. His head throbbed painfully, and for a moment, everything was a blur. His body felt heavy, his movements sluggish.As his vision cleared, he realized he was in an unfamiliar room. The walls were concrete, the air damp and cold. His wrists were bound to the chair he was sitting on, thick ropes digging into his skin.Damn it...He tried to move, but his muscles ached. How long had he been out?Then, the memories hit him. The shopping trip. The ambush. The fight.Rose.His head snapped up as he scanned the room. She wasn’t there. His heart pounded against his ribs. Where was she? Was she safe?The sound of footsteps echoed from outside. The heavy door creaked open, and a figure stepped in.The same man who had confronted him outside the store.James clenched his jaw as the man walked closer, a smirk plastered on his face."Finally awake, are we?" he taunted. "You put up a good fight, but even you have your limits."James ignored the pain
James sat on the balcony, still deep in conversation with Cole. They had spent the last half hour discussing their strategy for the upcoming housewarming event. Though it was meant to be a joyous occasion, they both knew it could turn into a battlefield at any moment.James exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face. "I hate that we have to think this way. I should be looking forward to this party, not planning for a potential bloodbath."Cole leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "That’s the life we have, James. We don’t get to have normal celebrations. Not when we have enemies lurking in every shadow."James nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. A nagging feeling crept into his chest, and he found himself glancing toward the stairs."Rose didn’t look good when she went up," he murmured.Cole followed his gaze. "You should check on her."James didn’t need to be told twice. He placed his glass on the table and rose to his feet. "I’ll be back."Upstairs, Rose lay unconsciou
The celebration in James’ mansion continued late into the night. The clinking of glasses, soft laughter, and warm conversations filled the air. Rose and Penelope sat together, admiring the diamond ring on Rose’s finger.“It’s beautiful,” Penelope murmured, turning Rose’s hand under the dim glow of the chandelier. “James really went all out.”Rose smiled, but there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.Penelope caught it immediately. “What’s wrong?”Rose exhaled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Nothing… it’s just… James surprises me more and more every day. I thought I knew everything about him, but I keep realizing there’s so much I don’t.”Penelope smirked. “Welcome to James’ world. He’s full of secrets, but when he loves, he loves deeply. And he loves you, Rose.”Rose’s heart squeezed at those words. Did James really love her? Could he? With everything going on, did he even have space for love?Meanwhile, James and Cole sat across the room, discussing their next m
The grand estate of Mr. David stood under the dimming evening sky, a fortress of wealth and power. Inside, the tension was palpable. Mr. David sat on his luxurious leather couch, his fingers tapping impatiently on the armrest. His sharp eyes followed his son, Bruno, as he sparred with one of the trainers in the courtyard. Beside him, his wife, Greta, watched with pride, clapping excitedly every time Bruno landed a decent hit.“That's my son! You’re doing great, Bruno,” she cheered, smiling at him.Bruno tried to stay focused, but his father’s expressionless face unsettled him. He threw a final punch, stepping back to catch his breath, before looking toward his father, searching for approval. But all he saw was disappointment.Mr. David exhaled sharply and shook his head. “I’m sick and tired of your son, Greta,” he muttered. “He’s been learning the same thing for weeks, yet there’s no improvement. I don’t have time for this nonsense.”Greta’s smile faltered, and Bruno’s grip on his glo