His words were like a match to gasoline, igniting the flames of desire that she didn’t know she had.He was right. She was curious to know what it felt like to be with someone in that…way.But doing it with Jacob? Oh god…“Take me home,” she demanded, her voice shaky but determined. “Now.”Jacob laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that sent shivers down her spine. “As you wish, princess,” he said with a mock bow. “Your chariot awaits.”He held out his hand, and Tiffany hesitated for a brief moment before placing her trembling fingers in his. She allowed him to lead her out of the ice cream parlor, her heart pounding in her chest as she wondered what the hell was happening.As they walked to his car, Jacob’s hand remained firmly clasped around hers, his thumb tracing maddening circles on her skin. Tiffany’s mind raced with a million thoughts and doubts, but one thing was certain - she was in way over her head.Jacob opened the passenger door for her, and Tiffany slid into the leather seat.
Jacob couldn’t stop grinning, his cheek still tingling where Tiffany’s lips had barely brushed against it. It wasn’t much of a kiss, just a quick press, really—over before it even started. But to him, it was everything.His head felt light like he was floating in some sort of pink cloud that kept him high above the ground. He could still see her face in his mind, the way her cheeks had flushed right after, like maybe it had meant something to her, too.If only she knew how much he adored her, how long he’d been watching from the sidelines, never daring to hope that she might actually see him the way he saw her.He shook his head, still grinning like a fool as he turned onto his street, pulling his beat-up car into the driveway. The house looked dark, the curtains drawn like they always were. He sighed. The high from Tiffany’s kiss faded just a little, replaced by the heavy reality that awaited him behind those closed doors.Jacob got out of the car, his smile faltering as he stepped i
Tiffany’s heart swelled with joy as she caught sight of her little sister, her inky black curls bouncing with each wobbly step. The toddler’s chubby legs struggled to keep up, but determination shone in her eyes as she reached out for Tiffany.“Tiffy!” Sky squealed, her arms reaching upward for a hug. “Up!” Sky commanded with a giggle.Tiffany bent down and scooped Sky into her arms, pressing a soft kiss to her sister’s cheek. “Hey, little darling,” she whispered, holding Sky close.Sky giggled, wrapping her small arms around Tiffany’s neck.“She missed her big sister,” Riley said as she walked in, her eyes soft with love for them both.Tiffany frowned. “I am sorry for worrying you and Dad.”Riley shook her head. “Don’t look so guilty, Tiffany. A girl your age needs to skip school once in a while. Your father understands that, and so do I.”“How did you find out so fast, anyway?” Tiffany asked.“The school called and said you weren’t in class. But don’t worry, I got you covered with t
Tiffany’s heart fluttered as she stepped through the double doors of her school. After yesterday, she wasn’t sure how she should react when she saw Jacob again.Is he going to tease him about the kiss?She tucked a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear, trying to quell the butterflies in her stomach. “Get it together, Tiff,” she muttered to herself. “He’s just a guy.”But even as the words left her lips, she knew they weren’t true. Jacob wasn’t just a guy. He was the guy who’d turned her world upside down with a single smile.Damn him.As Tiffany made her way down the crowded hallway, a hushed giggle caught her attention. She glanced to her right, spotting Emily and Amber huddled near a row of lockers. The self-proclaimed queens of the hallways were whispering furiously, their eyes locked on Tiffany.“Oh great,” Tiffany thought, her anxiety spiking. “What are they up to now?”Emily nudged Amber and nodded in Tiffany’s direction. Amber covered her mouth to stifle another giggle.Tiffa
Tiffany’s heart pounded as she thought about Jacob’s words.“Meet me after school…”Despite her better judgment, Tiffany found herself counting down the minutes until the final bell.There was no way she would kiss him. Really kiss him. But she still wanted to meet him to…to give him the piece of her mind!As the day dragged on, Tiffany couldn’t focus on anything else. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Jacob, his smirk, and the way he’d so casually declared her his girlfriend in front of everyone. The nerve! And yet, the excitement bubbling inside her was undeniable.She wasn’t supposed to be thinking about this. She wasn’t supposed to care. But the more she tried to push the thoughts away, the more persistent they became.When the final bell rang, her heart skipped a beat. She gathered her books slowly, trying to play it cool, but her stomach twisted in nervous anticipation.“Just tell him off,” she muttered to herself as she walked through the hallway, weaving through the crowd. “Y
Tiffany’s heart pounded as Jacob’s fingers gently lifted her chin, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.She wasn’t supposed to feel like this—she had come here to tell him off, to put him in his place. But now, standing this close to him, her resolve was slipping, melting under the weight of his touch.“You’re trembling,” Jacob murmured, his voice low and teasing, his grin widening as if he could read her thoughts. “What’s the matter, princess? Afraid of what might happen next?”Tiffany’s breath hitched. She should be furious, not flustered. But his confidence, the way he called her princess with that smug smirk, was making it impossible to think straight.She shook her head, taking a small step back to regain control. “I’m not scared of you,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt.Jacob’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Oh, I think you are.” He leaned in, his breath brushing against her ear as he whispered, “And I think you like it.”Her f
River’s gaze was piercing as he locked eyes with Jacob, his tone steady but laced with an undercurrent of warning. “I know a lot of things, Jacob. Especially about anyone who comes near my daughter.”The room grew tense, and Tiffany’s heart sank. This was exactly the kind of scenario she’d been dreading. She exchanged a worried glance with Riley, but she just gave her a small, reassuring smile.Jacob’s jaw tightened, clearly caught off guard, but he managed to keep his composure like a seasoned actor on stage. “What else do you know, sir?” he asked, his voice steady.“Things are not appropriate for the dinner table, so we will pick this up another time,” River said as he took a sip of his drink.Pick this up another time? Tiffany was hoping there was no other time.But she decided to talk to her father about this later. He had no right to embarrass Jacob like that!She stole a glance at Jacob, who had managed to keep his cool, but she could see the tension in his jaw, the way his knuc
Tiffany could feel the heat rising to her face as she watched the uncomfortable exchange between Jacob and her father. This was worse than she had imagined. She had known her dad would be protective, maybe even a little overbearing, but this…this was beyond anything she’d prepared to face.Good god…what was the deal with her father and Jacob’s mother anyway?Tiffany stole a glance at Jacob, who was trying his best to stay calm and respectful. He was handling it better than she expected.It seemed like she didn’t know him as well as she thought she did.As the dinner finally ended, Tiffany let out a slow, relieved breath. Her father had done everything except outright interrogate Jacob.“Thank you for dinner, Mrs. Foster and Mr. Foster,” Jacob said, his voice steady despite everything. “It was really delicious. I appreciate you having me.”Riley smiled warmly. “Please call me Riley.”Jacob smiled back, nodding politely. “Thank you, Riley.”River, on the other hand, leaned back in his c
Jacob returned Tiffany’s kiss with longing, his hands roaming down the slick skin of her back. Tiffany clung to him, pouring all her love and relief into the kiss.When they finally broke apart, breathless and flushed, Jacob rested his forehead against hers. “I love you, Tiffany. More than anything. And I promise, no matter what dangers come our way, we’ll face them together.”Tiffany smiled through the tears that pricked at her eyes, blending with the rivulets of water streaming down her face. “I love you too, Jacob. Always.”He kissed her again, soft and sweet, before reaching for the bottle of shampoo. With gentle hands, he began to wash her hair, his fingers massaging her scalp and working the suds through her long tresses. Tiffany leaned into his touch and closed her eyes, relishing the simple intimacy of the moment.As the water rinsed away the shampoo, Jacob’s hands drifted lower, skimming over her shoulders and down her arms. Tiffany shivered despite the heat, her skin tingling
Tiffany pushed past Marco without waiting for another word. Her mind raced as her feet carried her toward the front door. The thought of Jacob lying among the casualties tore through her like a blade, and she couldn’t bear the uncertainty.“Tiff, wait!” Riley called, hurrying after her.“I can’t,” Tiffany snapped over her shoulder, her voice tight with emotion. “I have to know if he’s okay.”River appeared at the end of the hallway, his face darkening when he saw the panic in his daughter’s eyes. “What’s going on?”Riley quickly filled him in, her voice trembling as she explained the situation. River’s jaw clenched, and he stepped forward, grabbing Tiffany’s arm to stop her.“Slow down,” he ordered. “Running in without a plan isn’t going to help anyone. You don’t even know what you’re walking into.”“I don’t care!” Tiffany shouted, tears welling in her eyes. “If something happened to Jacob—”River’s grip tightened just enough to keep her grounded. “And what if you get yourself killed
Tiffany studied the surveillance photos on her laptop again, studying each frame with a critical eye. There had to be something she missed, some clue that would unravel the mystery.As she zoomed in on one particularly grainy image, her breath caught in her throat.In the shadows behind Vincent and his sister was a figure, barely visible.Tiffany leaned in closer, squinting at the blurry figure. It was hard to make out the details, but there was something unmistakable about the shape, something familiar. The silhouette appeared to be tall, with broad shoulders—someone who was built like a fighter.Her heart pounded in her chest. The figure was too close to Vincent for comfort, and the way they stood, half-hidden in the shadows, made it clear they were trying to stay unnoticed. But why? And who was it?She snapped a screenshot of the image and adjusted the contrast, hoping to sharpen the details. The figure became slightly more visible, enough for Tiffany to catch a glimpse of a hand r
Vincent’s eyes widened slightly, but his expression remained composed. “Boss, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”Tiffany slid a printout of the transcript across the desk. “Don’t play dumb with me, Vincent. I have proof of your little late-night chat. Start talking.”He glanced down at the paper, his brow furrowing as he read the words. When he looked back up, his gaze was steady. “It’s not what it looks like.”“Then enlighten me,” Tiffany said, leaning back in her chair. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’ve been feeding information to our enemies.”Vincent shook his head. “No, boss. I swear on my life, I would never betray the Red Vipers.”Aria, who had been silently observing the exchange, stepped forward. “Then who were you talking to, Vincent? And why all the secrecy?”Vincent licked his lips nervously, his eyes darting between Tiffany and Aria. “I was talking to my sister. She’s in trouble, mixed up with the wrong crowd. I’ve been trying to help her get out
Tiffany sat in her office, contemplating what to do next. A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts. “Come in,” she barked, composing herself.Marco, one of her most trusted men, entered. His usual swagger was muted, replaced by a nervous energy that set Tiffany’s teeth on edge.“You wanted to see me, boss?”Tiffany’s eyes narrowed. “The Rossi deal. How did our competitors know the exact terms?”Marco shifted his weight, not quite meeting her gaze. “I… I don’t know. Maybe someone overheard something?”“Bullshit,” Tiffany snapped, her patience evaporating. “That information was need-to-know. So either you’re incompetent, or you’re a rat.”Marco’s face flushed. “With all due respect, Ms. Foster, I’ve been loyal to this family for fifteen years. I would never—”“So, you have no idea how it could’ve happened?” Tiffany’s laugh was sharp and bitter. She had been doing some digging and something about Marco was off these days. And now with John dying suddenly…She advanced on Marco, her voice d
River looked up from the papers scattered across his desk, his piercing blue eyes meeting hers.“Tiffany,” River said. He gestured to the leather armchair across from him. “How are you holding up, sweetheart?” he asked.She moved woodenly, sinking into the chair. Its softness felt wrong, too comfortable for the weight of sorrow pressing down on her shoulders.“Not great, Dad,” she said.River nodded, his silence an invitation for her to continue. But the words wouldn’t come. They stuck in her throat, choking her with their intensity.Tiffany’s hands clenched in her lap, her nails digging crescents into her palms.“It has been hard on all of us. John was a valuable member of our family.” River’s voice was gentle, understanding.Tiffany nodded, a single tear escaping to trace a path down her cheek. She brushed it away angrily, hating the weakness it represented.“I should have been there,” she said, the words tumbling out in a rush.River’s eyes softened, a flicker of pain crossing his
The drive home was a blur of streetlights and racing thoughts. Tiffany pulled into her driveway, the familiar sight of her family’s sprawling estate doing little to calm her nerves. She needed to talk to someone, someone who always understood.“Riley will know what to do,” she muttered, heading towards Riley's room.She knocked on her door, but no one answered.“Um…Miss Tiffany.”She turned around and smiled at their housekeeper. “Yes, Alison?”“Miss Riley went to the dentist with Sky. She won’t be home for a few hours. Is there something you need?” Alison asked.“No. Where is Dad?” she asked.“Mr. Foster went out of town to take care of something.”“Where is John?” Tiffany asked.“I hadn’t seen him since he went to the pool house this morning,” Alison said.Tiffany headed toward the pool house, where her longtime bodyguard and driver, John, was staying. He had helped her through her transition to take her father’s position, so whenever she needed advice, he was always there for her.T
Tiffany stared at her reflection in the vanity mirror, her jaw set with determination. Vargas’ words echoed in her mind, fueling a fire within her.“I’ll show him,” she muttered, clenching her fists. “I’ll show them all.”The encounter with Vargas had shaken her, but it had also awakened something - a fierce resolve to prove herself as a leader within the Red Vipers. Tiffany took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders.“I’m not just some princess,” she told her reflection. “I’m River Foster’s daughter. This is my birthright.”But even as the words left her lips, doubt crept in. Was she really cut out for this life? Could she handle the weight of leadership, the constant danger?Tiffany shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside. She had to stay focused.Standing from the vanity, Tiffany moved to her closet and selected a sleek black dress. As she slipped it on, Tiffany felt confident.“You’ve got this,” she whispered, smoothing down the fabric. “Just remember what Dad taught you.”Her
Vargas’s grin widened, his amusement deepening as he leaned back in his chair and clapped his hands twice. The sharp sound echoed in the room, and a moment later, the door behind him creaked open.Two burly men dragged in a scrawny, disheveled figure who looked terrified.The man was dumped carelessly on the floor. Vargas gestured lazily toward him.“Meet the Rat,” Vargas said, his tone almost casual. “His name’s Eddie. Loyal to your family for years—or so you thought.”Tiffany’s gaze flicked to Eddie. She felt a twist in her stomach, but she forced her expression to remain cold and detached. This was a test, she reminded herself. She couldn’t afford to show weakness.Eddie’s bloodshot eyes widened as they focused on her. “Miss Foster,” he croaked, his voice barely above a whisper. “Please, I didn’t mean to—”“Shut him up,” Vargas snapped, and one of the men delivered a swift kick to Eddie’s side, silencing him with a pained grunt.Tiffany turned her attention back to Vargas. “You wan