"Remember, it's the only way to keep her from meddling for now. It's safer for her this way," Carlisle said, his words settling over me like a suffocating weight. "I know, it's just hard to do. She's my sister." "Having family in this line of work is tough. Especially when you can't ensure they will be protected." My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, but I forced myself to stay composed. I had got Constantine to agree not to harm them but what if someone else like Chen happened to find Rain. Carlisle left, and I sank into the couch, the silence wrapping around me like a vice. I knew what I had to to do. I had to push Rain away so that she didn't get involved in all of this. I door handle turned and Rain walked through the door. Bewilderment alight in her eyes. Before she could say anything I hardened my expression. "Firstly, I think it's extremely rude for you to be in my business," I said sharply, barely holding my voice steady as she walked into the ap
Soft, natural light streamed through large windows, illuminating the elegant room. Above, a statement chandelier casted a warm glow, adding a touch of sophistication. The walls were adorned with minimalist artwork, complementing the neutral tones of the room, while a plush rug anchored the space, creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Potted plants at the corners of the room brought in a touch of nature. The elite mingled with the ease of old money and newer fortunes alike. The men wore tailored tuxedos and suits, their cufflinks catching the light from the chandeliers above, each one polished to a gleaming perfection. They spoke in hushed, confident tones about private jet purchases and distant island getaways, barely acknowledging the waiters who drifted silently by with trays of champagne.The women, draped in silk gowns and adorned with diamond jewelry that could pay for small homes, held themselves with practiced poise. Their conversations floated between rare art collections, ex
"Fuck," I groaned, rolling over in bed. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and I picked it up to see half a dozen notifications from my family lighting up the screen. "Shit..."A sharp knock on the apartment door startled me. I checked the security camera on my phone—just the delivery guy. Groaning again, I shuffled to the living room to see what the guy wanted, only to find Constantine lounging on my sofa."What the hell are you doing here?" I yelled, glaring at him, mostly because he scared the living jeebies out of me and I almost let loose of my full bladder."Answer the door before you start yelling at me." His voice was calm, infuriatingly so. But I didn't miss a flash of a small quirk of his lips in amusement. I opened the door, coming face-to-face with the delivery man. "Delivery for April Danielle.""That's me." He handed me a form and I signed quickly and took the package, walking it to the kitchen and placing it on the counter. My phone beeped, and Evan’s name flashed on
After seven torturous hours in the air, the plane finally landed. The descent had been rough—turbulence shaking the cabin—and I was grateful to be back on solid ground. The sun was harsh against the runway as we stepped out, the afternoon heat wrapping around us like a heavy blanket. It was one o’clock, but the day felt never-ending.A sleek black car awaited us, the driver standing by with military-like precision. Constantine’s expression didn’t change as he slid into the backseat, leaving me to follow. As the car pulled away from the airport, I watched the city blur past, vibrant and full of life—a sharp contrast to the cold silence between us.The drive to the hotel was short, but every second felt stretched, heavy with the words we weren’t saying. When we arrived, the hotel loomed over us, a glass and steel tower that glittered under the sun. It was the kind of place that radiated wealth and power—just like Constantine.As we walked through the grand lobby, my footsteps echoed on
We ate in silence, but it wasn’t the tense kind. Instead, it was a quiet, comfortable lull, like we were both trying to figure out what this strange shift between us meant. The air wasn’t heavy—it was thoughtful, filled with unsaid things neither of us were ready to face."We should probably head back now," Constantine said, breaking the silence."Yeah, we should." I cleared my throat, forcing myself to sound casual. The waiter dropped the bill off, and Constantine handled it without a word.We both stood at the same time, an awkward sort of synchronization that made my heart skip. He gestured for me to walk first. I was surprised with how gentlemanly he was being now.As I made my way to the car, I glanced back and saw him lingering by the restaurant door, staring at his phone with a furrowed brow. “Let’s take a walk,” he called out, his voice cutting through the quiet street. I turned to him, a little taken aback.“You’re a strange man,” I said with a smile that felt too easy, too f
Constantine’s voice called after me, but I didn’t stop. My heart was pounding in my chest as I burst out into the cool night air. I couldn’t process everything happening inside me—the painting, the emotions, the vulnerability. It felt like too much. The streets of Paris, usually calming in their beauty, now felt overwhelming, closing in around me.I turned a corner, trying to put some distance between us, but I couldn’t escape the weight of his words, the way he looked at me, the painting he had gone through so much effort to bring here. Why did he care so much? What was I supposed to do with all of this? I felt my emotions spiraling, the night around me a blur.I ducked into an alleyway, resting my hands on the cool stone brick wall as I tried to catch my breath."April!" His voice was closer now, and I stiffened, my hands pressing into the brick. I didn’t turn around, too afraid to face him. Footsteps approached, stopping just a few paces behind me. I could feel him there, his presen
I was late. I hadn’t slept all night. I couldn't. My mind raced with the events of last night, every corner of my thoughts consumed by it. Every time I closed my eyes, I was pulled back into that dark alleyway with Constantine—a place where passion collided violently with danger. I had lost control, lost myself, and now, I couldn’t stop wondering... If Evan hadn't called, would Constantine and I have crossed an even darker line? One that couldn’t be undone. Evan had insisted on taking a cab to the airport. He said it was because I was exhausted, but it wasn’t exhaustion that kept me from being near him—it was the guilt. The guilt of that kiss. The guilt of how much I had wanted it, despite every logical part of my brain screaming at me to stop. As I pulled into Constantine’s driveway, I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. The air in the car was suffocating, but stepping out was even worse. How was I supposed to work with him now, knowing what had happene
Carlisle's left when Constantine said he would show me around. I wish he would have stayed because I didn't not want to be left alone with him. Constantine told me to wait in the kitchen, but sitting still felt impossible. My thoughts raced, colliding with each other as I scrolled aimlessly through my phone trying to calm down. A message from Evan stopped me: Landed in Los Angeles. Guilt knotted in my stomach, the words blurring as I read them again. I started to type a response, but my fingers hesitated. The heart emoji I added felt hollow, mocking the affection it was supposed to convey.Constantine reappeared, now dressed in a perfectly tailored navy blue suit that clung to him in all the right places. Immaculate, as always. Sharp. Dangerous. Evil bastard..."Come with me," he said, keeping up his casual front, though his eyes portrayed something darker.I followed him, my heart thudding in anticipation of what? I wasn't sure yet. I knew I would never kiss him again after last ni
Constantine left to attend an emergency business meeting. His simple instruction had been not to leave the room until he returned. He’d never restricted me to his office before. It felt like he was hiding me.I stayed put, though, because wandering the house felt odd considering I had never done it alone and that there could be actual skeletons in his closet.The thought of staying with him for two weeks gnawed at me as I sat on the plush leather couch in his expansive office, staring at the skyline through the tall windows.But I knew if I hadn’t agreed, Constantine would never let me have my own life. A knock interrupted my thoughts, followed by the sound of the door creaking open.“Constantine—” Carlisle called, stepping inside. His voice died as his eyes landed on me. He froze.“April,” he said softly, breaking out of his trance and walking toward me. “I thought you were in New York?”“I was,” I admitted, my tone wary.He sighed, leaning against the desk, arms crossed as he scrut
I opened my eyes to complete darkness. The sheets around me were too soft, too luxurious. I wasn’t in my apartment—that much was obvious. I sat up slowly, my heart thudding as I stood and ran my fingers up and down the walls for a light switch.Finally landing upon it I flipped the switch on and took in the room, the dark walls, the faint scent of leather and wood bombarding me with the truth of exactly where I was..Then my gaze fell on the wall across from me, and I froze. My painting—the one I’d done in a fit of rebellion, my not-so-subtle middle finger to Constantine. He not only kept it... He hung it up.And then my eyes drifted to the other wall, and I felt the invisible dagger twist deeper into my chest. A portrait I’d painted of him, when he was all I could see, all I wanted to capture. What I told myself would be an orange. He never returned the painting and I never wanted it back given what it represented.I didn't want to see the light in Constantine. I needed to believe h
April's POV It had been a week and a half since I’d arrived in New York, and already, the city felt like it was stitching me back together, piece by piece. My mornings had a rhythm now: a cup of coffee cradled between my hands as I sat on the gallery's front steps, watching the endless stream of people passing by. Each face, each hurried footstep, reminded me of how easy it was to lose yourself in the hum of the city, and in a way, that was exactly what I needed.I was the new manager at Gravia’s Art Gallery—a small but renowned space known for showcasing some of the most daring contemporary artists. The gallery was tucked into a narrow street, surrounded by antique bookstores and cafes that always smelled of freshly baked bread. The job was fast-paced and unpredictable, every day offering something new. I loved it—the feeling of being at the center of something vibrant, of finally finding my place among people who shared my passion for creation and self-expression.In the back room
Constantine's POV By the time the car rolled to a stop outside the address, I’d finished reading into Lexi’s files. The images and texts I found were shocking, I was not expecting this but I knew how to turn a situation in my favour. I kicked open the front door, striding in with Carlisle and Cavalon flanking me.“Darling, I’m home," I called as I stepped into the room to see Lexi and Kate, curled together on the couch like conspiring schoolgirls. They sprang apart upon seeing me and Kate jumped to her feet, instinctively placing herself in front of Lexi. I had to admire her bravery. “Where’s Jones?” Kate demanded, her voice defiant. I tilted my head, amused by her courage as I stepped forward, wrapping my hand around her throat. Her pulse raced beneath my fingers. “You’re in no position to be asking questions, sweetheart.” Kate’s lips twisted into a smirk even as my grip tightened. “If I were straight, maybe I’d actually be enjoying this,” she sneered, trying to keep her
Constantine's POV I was nearing the final hour—the countdown to when Lexi’s captor threatened to end her life if the ransom wasn’t delivered. My security team had identified the woman’s face: Kate Kravosky. I wracked my brain, trying to recall if I’d ever crossed paths with her, but came up blank. Even the mayor didn’t have answers, though he promised to mobilize his security to search every corner of the town. With time slipping away, I requested my best IT guys to hack into Lexi’s phone to dig up her chat history and current location. If only she’d used one of my company’s models, the process would’ve been faster. I grabbed the duffel bag of cash and moved to head out. “I’m coming with you,” I heard Carlisle’s voice, turning to find him standing by the stairwell. “Don’t need company,” I replied, moving for the door. As I reached my car and placed the money in the backseat, I heard Cavalon say, “I miss the times we kicked ass together.” I turned to see him and Carlisle behin
Constantine's POV “Fuck!” I roared, hurling the bottle of whiskey against the wall. Glass exploded, sending shards in every direction; one grazed my hand. I barely felt it. I was too blinded by anger. The sting of her words felt like acid coursing through my veins. I had never been so raw with anyone before, never allowed myself to feel anything. I felt like a fucking fool begging her. But I wasn't prepared to beg anymore. She shook my soul when she put that gun in my hand, asking me to kill her so she could be free from me. I thought I was good to her. I thought maybe she felt something for me after all this time. Why would she leave? Did she have unresolved feelings for Evan… or for Carlisle? I just wanted her to talk to me, but she wouldn't. She kept accusing me, assuming I wanted to shame her into making her my mistress. I flung another bottle at the wall, and as it shattered, a low whistle came from the doorway. Cavalon, ever the calm shadow in my storm, leaned against th
Constantine pulled me away from Carlilse and through the crowd. "Don't say a word and don't make a scene," he warned as he led me away from the dancers. I had no choice but to listen. He wasn't going to stop harassing me tonight and his family was starting to notice the tension between us. We had to resolve this. Whatever it was. He led me to a boardroom and shut the door. "What the fuck?" He demanded. "I don't think I owe you any explanations." I could feel the expression on my face change. He closed the distance between us, his finger tilting my chin up so that I was forced to make eye contact with him. "What do you take me for?" "What do you want, Constantine?" I moved away from him. "You," he crossed his arms casually as if what he said didn't sound insane. "Great," sarcasm laced my tone, "what about Lexi?" I asked. "Our marriage is an arrangement," he repeated the same words over and I was tired of hearing it. "Yeah sure it is," I smiled, but there was no happin
The moment I stepped into the ballroom, it felt like every pair of eyes locked onto me, dissecting, scrutinizing—even though I knew they weren’t. All of them were here for Constantine and Lexi, the city’s power couple.I was just another guest—or rather, a pawn—trapped in a ridiculous green dress Lexi had personally picked out. She’d said it "matched the theme." In reality, it was hideous: a swampy, sickly color that felt more like a taunt than an outfit. The fabric scratched against my skin, and I caught hidden laughs from the other staff dressed in equally unflattering shades.We were a parade of walking insults.Clenching the stem of my champagne flute, I forced myself to smile through the growing sense of discomfort, nodding politely to a few members in the crowd. My hands felt clammy, and I took a shallow sip to calm my nerves, the bubbles tickling my nose. Finding a safe corner near a tall potted plant, I blended into the background—hidden enough to breathe but with a clear vie
"April, what have you done?" my mother shouted over the phone as I rushed to get into the elevator."Mom, it's not what I wanted," I admitted."Evan came by earlier and told us everything. Did you have an affair with your boss?" she yelled."Evan just assumed because I didn't want to marry him. I wasn't having an affair," I said, infuriated. Why would he tell my parents that?"April, you need to make this right. Evan is a good man. You're being silly, and you're not a child anymore. It's time to grow up.""With all due respect, Mother, it is my life. Evan is someone you want me to marry, but I do not want to marry him. I would be miserable. He doesn’t support my ambitions, and I don't feel that spark when I'm with him. I want what you and Dad have." There was silence. "Just because I'm not a doctor, lawyer, or accountant doesn't mean I'm not grown. Those aren't my passions, and I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not just to make everyone feel comfortable with me. Accept me as