Beatrice’s POVIt takes a second for my eyes to get used to the low light of the strip club. The music isn’t exactly upbeat; heaven forbid the dancers actually have to move. Their bare bodies undulate on stage. I wonder how many of them are aware they’re actually stripping and that there’s a bunch of guys staring at them from below. As I look around the bar, I’m relieved to see James is on shift. At least something is going right today. Now, I just need to figure out how to get him alone. He’s at the far end, serving a single customer, while the rest of the crowd is huddled in the perv section. I’m so focused on James that I don’t notice the bouncer coming up to me. “You here for an interview?” I give him a smirk. “Not exactly.” He looks confused. “What do you mean?” “Flint De Luca sent me.” “Does Mr. Zhang know you’re coming?” “Not a clue. Flint just told me to show up, so here I am. You know how it goes.” The bouncer nods curtly. “Enjoy a drink on the house. I’ll find Mr. Zh
Beatrice’s POVI didn’t think twice and just hit the button while Dalton swerved again. The motorcycle jerked to the side with us. “Tris, what the hell!” he yelled over the roaring wind. “You’re gonna get me killed!” As they leaned in closer, I took a deep breath to steady myself. My heart was racing so hard, I could feel it in my fingers. I shot at the driver’s leg, and the motorcycle swerved back into control. The guy on the back adjusted his aim, but before he could pull the trigger, I hit the rider in the arm. The gun fell to the ground in the dark, and the bike wobbled before speeding up next to us again. “Aim for their damn heads!” “I’m trying!” Not really. Killing people means a ton of paperwork with the bureau. This stuff is supposed to be preapproved. The driver fired off a bunch of shots at the car, but they missed. This guy couldn’t steer, aim, and shoot all at once. The passenger was slumped over, holding his arm. “Ram them!” Dalton swerved again, and
Beatrice’s POV “Mafia,” I correct her, raising a finger. “We’re way more than just a basic gang.” Her laughter echoes in the grand entrance, and when I turn my head, I spot Flint standing at the junction of the two sides of the house, hands tucked in his jeans pockets. “You off to spill some tea?” Sierra tilts her head. “Just catching up on how Tris nearly got herself killed today.” “Sounds like a bit of an overstatement.” “Oh.” She pretends to be confused. “You were there, huh?” Flint smirks slightly. “Not exactly. Dalton tends to blow things out of proportion.” I feel a flicker of annoyance. I’m not keen on exaggerating what went down in front of Sierra, but come on, let’s stick to the truth. We could’ve been in serious trouble because Flint wants Nolan back on his side. “We’ll catch you at dinner.” I pull her around the corner, heading through Nolan’s part of the house to mine. We reach the end of his hallway just as his bedroom door swings open. “Tris!”
Beatrice’s POVSierra is putting on another layer of mascara on my lashes when the doorbell rings loudly through the house. I decided to let her glam me up for old times' sake. I’m in a black dress that fits snugly on top but flows and is sheer at the bottom. It looks great and is comfy, which makes us both happy. “Sounds like someone’s arrived.” She examines my face. “Just one more coat.” “I’ll wake up looking like a raccoon.” “No way, because you’re going to take off your makeup like a good girl.” “You know I usually don’t wear much makeup. I’ll need a crowbar to get this off.” I gesture to my face with a smirk. “I’ve barely put anything on you. I wish I had skin like yours.” She flicks the mascara wand and leans back on her heel, checking me out one last time. “You look perfect.” Standing up, I smooth out my dress. “Do you think the people Nolan invited are here because of you?” “It’s the only thing that makes sense. He said he’d make it worth my while. I told
Beatrice’s POVFlint’s attention shifts to our group and then back to Connor. Nolan steps away from me to join them. Instantly, the guys switch to Italian, leaving only Sierra out of the loop on their conversation. She starts filling me in on the deal she struck with Thomas and Connor. I should be paying attention, but I can’t help but be drawn to the other chat happening nearby. It’s one of those moments where I wish I could split my brain in two. I catch bits and pieces of their talk, but the context is lost on me. A caterer walks in and leans in to whisper to Nolan. “Gentlemen. Ladies. Dinner is served.” He gestures toward the table. I take a seat at the far end. Nolan is at the head on my right, Sierra is directly across from me, and Connor is next to me on my left. Flint occupies the opposite end of the table. Even during dinner, it feels like they’re ready to go head-to-head. As the soup is served, Liam picks up the conversation. He glances between Nolan and Flint before s
Beatrice’s POVFlint downs his shot and pours another. “That’s a ridiculous question.” “I need you to tell me what happened.” “After all these years, you never asked anyone?” His intense gaze scans her face. “I was so close to dying. Just a hair’s breadth away.” She touches her chest again. “Why would I want to go through that again?” I’m chugging my beer, feeling a bit out of place while they dive into this heavy stuff. Their conversation feels personal, and it catches me off guard. “Didn’t you ever wonder why I didn’t come back?” “Every single day.” Her voice is thick, tears welling up in her eyes. Flint’s tough facade cracks a bit. He pours another shot, as if trying to drown whatever tension lingers between them. “Don’t cry.” “I’m drunk. Of course, I’m going to cry.” She wipes her tears and holds out her glass for a refill. “I should probably head out.” I glance between them. Finishing my beer, I set the bottle down. If I stick around, I’m just intrudin
Beatrice’s POVLocking eyes with him, I say, “Flint believes you’ll freak out over what happened. He thinks it’ll bring you two closer.” “Closer?” Nolan laughs bitterly. “He murdered our father. There’s no way we’re getting closer.” “You can’t be sure of that yet.” “I’m sure. I just can’t prove it.” He jabs a finger at me, all charm gone. “That’s on you.” “He claims he didn’t do it.” “Of course, he’s going to say that.” His gaze is intense. “I get that you’re in a tough position. You can either hold back or spill everything to Flint. But with me, I want all the details—no matter how small.” I bite my lip and hold his stare. “Alright.” “It’s not alright. You can’t keep this stuff from me.” “What’s your plan for the Zhangs?” “I’ll do what needs to be done. My brother thinks he can provoke a reaction, and that’s exactly what he’ll get. If I don’t act, he’ll sense something’s off.” He sizes me up. “I look out for my own. Always.” My heart tightens at the loo
Beatrice’s POVThe building is just one story and looks more like a big, overgrown bungalow than a hospital or a long-term care place. One perk of my job is that I could find a nice spot for my mom, even if she doesn’t realize it’s the best option out there. “You’ll wait here?” I ask. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come in?” Nolan replies softly, his eyes full of sincerity. “I’ve got these broad shoulders you can lean on if you need.” Without thinking, I run my fingers down his arm. “Maybe later.” He takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. “You’re armed?” “Always.” “If anything feels off, I’m coming in.” “It’s an old-age home. It’s not exactly a high-stakes situation.” He doesn’t laugh at my joke. Instead, his gaze sharpens. “I protect my own.” “It’ll be fine.” I stroke his cheek with my thumb. “Promise.” This place isn’t part of my cover story. If he steps inside, he’ll find out more than he should. He nods toward the building. “Text me if you n
Sierra’s POVIstare into my arms at the baby wrapped in a pale-blue blanket. He has dark hair, and his eyes are closed in sleep. His fingers have the tiniest nails, and I want to touch every one, count them, savor this moment. I'm so absorbed in the sight of a baby, it takes me a second to process Eric's words."What?" I glance up, a little dazed."Our son." Eric gives me an encouraging nod. "You weren't here for the birth, but I know you always wanted to name our boy Lucas after your brother."I laugh self-consciously and shift the baby to hand him to Eric. "This isn't my baby." When I try to pass the bundle, he steps out of reach. "He can't be my baby. It's impossible.""Not impossible," my father whispers. "You were searching for a surrogate when you two split.""Exactly," I agree. "Eric and I broke up, and we destroyed the embryos. I signed paperwork to have them destroyed."My father grimaces.Eric shifts his feet. "This isn't the reaction I was expecting.""I signed papers to ha
Flint’s POVWhile Sierra and I pack in our bedroom, I debate whether to let her come to Russia. There's so much we don't understand. I stuff more clothes into my duffel bag and glance at her as she wanders into the en suite to get her makeup.Curiosity is a powerful thing, and I'm definitely curious about what Eric has been doing. He didn't sound scared in his voicemail messages, or even full of his usual asshole bravado. No, he was excited. Why? I stop packing and lean against the dresser while Sierra continues to put things into her suitcase."Spit it out." She doesn't break her rhythm of sorting and discarding. "You're over there brooding about something.""Don't come to Russia."She laughs. "I'm going to Russia. He called me, not you, and he said you could come along for the show." She throws skincare products into her bag with a huff. "I don't care anymore about what he's doing. You're right. I'll fire him. I don't know why I haven't done it yet."She knows why. I understand why.
Sierra’s POVWhen I slip into bed, Flint tugs me close, but for the first time since we've been together, he doesn't run his hands along me in ways to make me think of sex. Instead, he wedges me in so tight my face is practically squished against his bare chest, and he smooths my hair before kissing the top of my head. Every bandage is gone, and sometimes I lie in bed tracing his scars, asking for their stories as my heart races at the danger and aches at the close calls. A world without him isn't a world at all."You okay?" he says. "You've been too fucking quiet since your mom left.""I don't know," I whisper. Turning toward him, I'm comforted by the steady beat of his heart in my ear. "Anytime I hear someone gave up the chance to be a mom, it makes my heart hurt. I just-I would have done anything to have a baby, to be a mom."He's silent as his hand strokes my back. "Sounds as though your sister had it rough after your mother left.""Yeah. I can't process it. Being beaten by your
Flint’s POVThe tension between Sierra and Opal is unmistakable. They're circling each other, current events, upcoming commitments, neither of them saying what they're thinking. Nothing has happened to Charles–was the first question Sierra asked-which is unfortunate. With him gone, I could eliminate Eric or have someone do it. She would forgive me. Having her father wrapped up in whatever bullshit scheme they've cooked up makes it too complicated to get rid of one without the other. Especially since I can't yet uncover what they're planning. I'm on the cusp of telling her to fire Eric just to see if that sets something in motion.With our sleuthing, there are no hints of secret deals. No more sinister connections Sierra doesn't already know. No paper trails. Unregistered or foreign bank accounts are noted somewhere. We haven't even come across more evidence of PLA involvement with Eric or her dad. What the fuck are they planning? Opal's here perched on Sierra's couch like a bird pois
Sierra’s POVEkaterina answers my last few questions with ease and then says, "That was Flint De Luca.""It was." I gather my papers together into a neat pile."Rare for me to find a man intimidating."I glance up and a smile plays on my lips. "Was he a little intense?""A little? Were we in the same room? The guy is all coiled rage and X- ray vision." She drops her phone into her purse and rises from her seat."Are you-are you safe with him?"Before I can answer, Jay chuckles on the other side of the large wooden table. "You were the only person in this room who wasn't safe today." He frowns as he picks up his pen. "And maybe me." With a shrug, he says, "Point is, he's not a threat to her.""Why would he leave so abruptly?" Her expression is thoughtful. "He gave me that appraisal once-over before he left, which meant something.""Probably wondering how easy it would be to remove your head." Jay's voice is matter of fact, and if it wasn't for the horror on her face, I'd laugh."We do
Flint’s POVSierra rises and steps around the chairs between us to roll my seat back and perch on my lap. "Tell me." Her fingers stroke my furrowed brow."He seems to believe that whatever he and your dad have cooked up, it'll bring you and him closer together." I clear my throat. "You'll pick him."She grins and wraps her arms around my neck. "Never in a million trillion years. There is nothing he could say or do to make me leave you and go to him.""He seemed very confident."Her lips quirk up in derision. "That's his thing-he's confident even when he's wrong. One of his worst qualities." Sierra's gaze focuses above my head. "Heisa win-at-all-cost sort of person, though." Her expression morphs into one of determination. "I wouldn't be with him even if he threatened to kill me."I tighten my arms around her at the suggestion. "He'd never get a chance. He'd be dead as soon as the idea entered his head."There's a sharp knock on the door. She tries to stand, but I increase my grip on h
Flint’s POVWe've been in Switzerland for a week with no problems. Things have been so good between me and Sierra, but there's this weird heaviness in my chest. I've always been content. I'd never have labeled myself as happy, but I had the business, my brother, a shit-ton of income, and enough women to keep me from longing for the one I've got now.She travels around the office getting things organized to talk to Sean about my money. She's sure we can secure it without having to go to Boston and without the FBI catching on. I am less convinced. Broke is better than Sierra being in jail. I couldn't care less about what happens to Sean or anyone else from my old organization. That life is so far away.Even though I'm worried, I can't very well live off her wealth. For the rest of our time together, I'd be a kept man, or I'd slide into something illegal just to have control. I hate her solution, but I don't have an avenue around it. Cash equals independence.At the darkest corner of my
Sierra’s POVSeveral places spring to mind without me trying hard, and none of them is a second-rate hotel in Ireland. There are few times I can remember my father putting his wants, his needs,aftermine.“And you?” I glance at Eric.He scoffs and shakes his head. “We were engaged once. Those feelings don’t just turn off.”“Well, I suppose that was the problem with our engagement. You couldn’t turn off those feelings for anyone.”Beside me, Jay snorts and then covers it up with his fist and a cough. When we get to the pub across the street advertising an Irish breakfast, Jay enters first, and the three of us stand outside the door for a minute.“This is the new protocol?” My father puts his hands on his hips. “He sweeps the place before you ever enter? Seems to be an overreaction to a CIA meeting.”I sigh and purse my lips. Impossible to win. “How about me almost being shot? How about Valeriya being murdered? How about the PLA doing business with my company behind my back? Any of that
Sierra’s POVFlint’s hands cup my face, bringing my lips toward his. I meet his kiss, driving my fingers into his hair, pressing myself as tightly to him as I can manage with our clothes on. His tongue massages my mouth, and he skims the hem of my shirt, easing it up, circling my back. At the skin-to-skin contact, I shudder with pleasure. He grips my ass, molding me to his erection.God, I love the way he feels.When his mouth leaves mine to seek the most sensitive places along my neck, I moan and clutch onto him, afraid my legs might give out. My adrenaline spikes. His declaration of love is a drug coursing through me. Impossible to believe someone like him could love me.“Say it again,” I murmur.Flint chuckles against the curve of my shoulder. “You going to make me say it all the fucking time?”“Consider it the price of admission.” My voice is breathless, and I’m already reaching for the button on his jeans.He sucks on my earlobe and nibbles. “I fucking love you, Sierra. Just you.