Jacob wasn’t sure whether he should trust Tiffany’s dad or not. He was so hot and cold. But as soon as he felt Tiffany reaching out and holding his hand, all of his doubt disappeared. Who cares if her dad acted confusing? He had Tiffany now. Jacob smiled at her. They were at some expensive restaurant, celebrating graduating high school. He could’ve never dreamed of being at a place like this if he hadn’t met Tiffany’s family. Her mother didn’t even remember it was his graduation day today. Jacob glanced around the lavish restaurant, feeling out of place. The clinking of crystal glasses and the soft hum of conversations surrounded him, but his focus remained on Tiffany. She sat beside him, her hand warm and steady in his. She looked over, catching his gaze, and offered a reassuring smile. “You okay?” she asked softly, leaning closer so only he could hear. “Yeah,” Jacob replied, squeezing her hand. “Just… not used to all this.” Tiffany’s brow furrowed slightly. “You deserve this,
One year later…Tiffany danced across the mat, her eyes locked on her instructor’s movements. Sweat beaded on her forehead, trickling down her temples as she ducked and weaved, her breath coming in quick, controlled bursts.“Keep your guard up!” her instructor barked, launching a swift jab towards her face.Tiffany pivoted, her arm snapping up to deflect the blow. She countered with a lightning-fast cross, connecting solidly with the mitt.“Good! Now combination!”Her muscles burned as she unleashed a flurry of punches, each one landing with precision. Left jab, right cross, left hook. The rhythm of the strikes matched the pounding of her heart.As she reset her stance, Tiffany caught a glimpse of herself in the mirrored wall. The girl staring back at her was a far cry from the carefree teenager she’d been just months ago. Her eyes held a steely determination that both thrilled and terrified her.Pride swelled in her chest as she executed a perfect combination, earning a nod of approv
Jacob’s hand rested lightly on the small of Tiffany’s back as he guided her into his cramped office. The door closed with a soft click, sealing them off from the bustling restaurant beyond.Suddenly, the clamor of dishes and chatter faded away, leaving only a charged silence between them.Tiffany’s eyes darted around the tiny space, taking in the cluttered desk and filing cabinets. Her heart raced as she realized how close they were standing in the confined area. “What are we doing here?” she whispered, even as a thrill of excitement coursed through her.He gave her a roguish grin. “Relax, Tiff. I just wanted a moment alone with you.”“But what if someone comes looking for you?” Tiffany bit her lip, imagining the scandal if they were discovered by one of their employees. Yet she made no move to leave, drawn in by Jacob’s magnetic presence.“They won’t,” he assured her, his voice low and intimate in the quiet room. “I told Enzo I was doing paperwork. We’ve got time.”He leaned down and
A small smile teased her lips. “I don’t know what you mean by. ‘other stuff,’” she said coyly even though she could guess what he meant.Jacob trailed his fingers along her thighs. “Why don’t I show you?”“I think I like the sound of that,” she managed to say, her voice breathy with anticipation.Jacob’s lips curved into a roguish smile. “I thought you might.”Jacob’s hand slipped under her skirt, teasing the lace edge of her panties. Tiffany shuddered, aching for his touch. He took his time, savoring her reactions, stoking the flames higher with each passing second.Just as his fingers dipped beneath the fabric, a sharp knock sounded at the door. They froze, eyes locked on each other as reality came crashing back in.“Boss? You in there?” a voice called from the other side.Jacob let out a frustrated groan, resting his forehead against Tiffany’s. She couldn’t help but laugh softly at the interruption, even as her body thrummed with unfulfilled desire.“Tell him I am not supposed to t
As soon as Tiffany stepped inside the mansion, she felt something was off. The usual controlled calm of her family’s home had been replaced by tension so thick it felt like a storm cloud hovering above.She strode inside, her senses on high alert. The air smelled faintly of copper. She didn’t have to go far to find the source.The main dining hall, usually reserved for family meetings or quiet dinners, had been transformed into a war room. Men and women in dark suits flanked the walls, their expressions grim.In the center of the room, sprawled across the pristine white tablecloth, was a chilling sight. A blood red message: “We see you, Red Vipers. The Black Serpents strike soon.”Tiffany’s father, River, stood at the head of the table, his imposing figure radiating authority. Despite his composed demeanor, Tiffany could see the strain in his tightly clenched jaw, and for the first time, she noticed how tired he looked.“What happened here?” she asked.River’s sharp gaze flicked toward
Vargas chuckled, but there was a dangerous edge to his laughter. He leaned back in his chair, appraising Tiffany with a calculating gaze.“Alright, princess, you want to talk business? Let’s talk.” He gestured to the empty chair across from him. “Have a seat.”Tiffany hesitated for only a heartbeat before sliding into the offered chair, her back ramrod straight. She met Vargas’s stare head-on, refusing to be cowed.“I’m listening,” she said coolly.Vargas’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’ve got spirit, I’ll give you that.”Tiffany arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Thanks. Now tell me why you sent that message. Are you planning an attack on Red Vipers?”Vargas’s smile faltered slightly as he leaned forward, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. His gaze darkened, and Tiffany could feel the shift in the atmosphere, like a storm brewing just beneath the surface.“You’re direct, I’ll give you that,” Vargas said, his voice taking on a more menacing tone. “We h
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
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
“What are they doing now, Jimmy?” Lucas texted the man he hired to spy on Amy and Asa.Lucas stared at his phone as the message sent, his fingers tapping impatiently against the edge of his desk. His thoughts churned, the irritation growing with every passing second.His phone buzzed with a reply.Jimmy: They’re still on the mini golf course. No sign of anything strange. They’re just playing, talking, looks like having fun. She seems relaxed.Lucas narrowed his eyes, his mind racing.Lucas: Keep watching. I want to know if they kiss.Jimmy: They are on the last hole now. Looks like they’re finishing up. Could be wrapping up soon.Lucas: I want to know everything. Stay close, don’t miss anything.He stared at the screen, watching the little dots indicating Jimmy was typing. The delay felt agonizing, each second stretching longer than the last. Finally, the message came through.Jimmy: They are finishing up now. No kiss yet, though. She’s laughing at something he said. Looks like a prett
Amy paced across the bedroom.Seventeen steps to the window, pivot, fifteen steps back to the mirror. Her new sundress swished around her knees – impulse purchase, one size too optimistic. Twenty-seven minutes until he arrived. Twenty-six, actually. The clock on her microwave was fast.“You are a grown woman,” she told her reflection, which stared back with unconvinced eyes. “You’ve been on dates before.”“Why am I so nervous?” she asked herself in the mirror. “It’s just Asa, your nice neighbor.The sundress was yellow – “Daffodil Dream” according to the tag – with tiny white flowers scattered across the fabric like stars on a summer night.She’d spent forty-three minutes and all her remaining dignity in the fitting room deciding between this one and a blue number that made her look like a corporate retreat brochure. The yellow won because it didn’t take itself too seriously. Amy wasn’t sure she could say the same about herself right now.Amy paused at the window, fingers fidgeting wi
“Have fun on your date.” That’s what he had said.Amy had been annoyed at him since then and refused to look him in the eyes for the rest of the day. And then it was time to go home.“Maybe I should ask Mom and Ben to drive me back to the apartment. No reason for you to drive all the way there,” Amy said when they were near his car.“I have every reason to,” Lucas barked.Amy blinked, taken aback by the sharpness in Lucas’s voice.She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. “Why are you being so weird about this? It’s just a ride home.”Lucas scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Because I brought you here, so I am taking you back. Since when have you had a problem accepting rides from me?”“Since you started acting like a jealous control freak,” she shot back, her irritation flaring.Lucas’s jaw tightened. “I’m not jealous.”Amy let out a dry laugh. “Right. So, what was all that about earlier? Telling me I can’t go on a date with Asa? Last I checked, you’re not my boyfr
Lucas couldn’t stop worrying about what Amy implied throughout dinner. He found himself stealing glances at her.Was she serious? Was she bored of him already? How could she already be bored? They had barely just started!When the meal finally ended, Lucas didn’t have the chance to get her to be alone with him again because Tiffany decided to pull her away from him. “What are you doing?” he growled without thinking.Tiffany arched a brow. “Relax, little brother. I just want to get to know Amy better. You did say she’s your girlfriend, right?” she teased, pulling Amy along before he could argue.Amy gave Lucas a nervous smile but didn’t resist as Tiffany led her away.Lucas clenched his jaw, watching them disappear into another part of the vineyard. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. This is ridiculous. He needed to talk to Amy. Now.Jacob chuckled beside him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You’re acting like a dog whose favorite toy was taken away.”Lucas shot him a glare.
Lucas waited until they were out of earshot of Amy before turning to Alicia.“What’s wrong with you?” he asked, glaring at her.“What do you mean?” Alicia asked innocently.Lucas sighed. “You know exactly what I meant, Alicia. Why are you being so rude to Amy? What is wrong with you?” he barked.“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with YOU? What are you doing, dating my stepsister, Lucas? I didn’t realize you’d play dirty just to get to me,” she said.Lucas stared at her. “Get to you?”Alicia crossed her arms. “You can deny it all you want, but I know you, Lucas. You don’t just accidentally end up with her, of all people. It’s a game, isn’t it? A way to—what? Get back at me? Make me jealous?”Okay, technically, she was right. This was supposed to be a game to get close to Alicia, but Lucas had no intention of doing that anymore. So all he could do now was to deny the accusation.“That’s actually insane, Alicia. You really think everything is about you, don’t you?” He took a step close
“Ah, Luke! Come on up, my boy,” Antonio Costello exclaimed jovially as Lucas led Amy and her family inside the building.Lucas grinned and stepped forward to shake Antonio Costello’s hand. The older man clapped him on the back.“Good to see you, Uncle Tony. Thank you for letting me bring some guests to tour your Vineyard,” Lucas said.Antonio waved a dismissive hand. “Nonsense, Lucas! You’re family. My home is your home.” His sharp eyes flickered over to Amy and the rest of the group. “And who do we have here?”Lucas placed a hand on Amy’s lower back. “This is Amy,” he said. “And this is her mother, Margaret, her stepfather, Benjamin, and…” His voice dipped just slightly. “Her stepsister, Alicia.”Antonio smiled warmly. “It’s nice to meet you all. The Vineyard here is one of my pride and joy. I can’t wait to show you all the true beauty of making wine.”Margaret clasped her hands together, clearly delighted. “That sounds wonderful, Antonio.”Antonio nodded. “Come, let’s not waste any
Amy kept pacing back and forth in her bedroom. Her room was tiny, so there wasn’t much room to pace, but she made it work. She had to think.“This is stupid,” she muttered under her breath. She touched the hem of her shirt—a shirt she had changed three times already.“Jeans and a blouse. Jeans. And. A. Blouse.” She spoke each word like a mantra. She looked at herself in the mirror and blew out a breath. It was a simple outfit, and she looked plain as usual. But who really cares? Lucas had seen her already, so it was not like she had to impress him.“Lucas may have that smoldering, infuriating knack for making me second-guess myself,” she acknowledged to her reflection, “but not today. Today, I am the epitome of casual indifference.” Besides, she was still kind of mad at him.Okay, maybe not mad. But irritated.She thought about Asa and how he asked her out. How would she break that to Lucas? He would go ballistic!But she had to admit…it was kind of nice to be wanted.“Let them fight
Lucas did not like Asa.Not at all.How could Amy choose to stay with him?Lucas ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her and that asshole ever since he left his apartment, his blood boiling with jealousy.Another thought suddenly occurred to him. What if he had pushed Amy toward Asa even more by acting like a caveman back there?Stupid, stupid, stupid!Lucas gritted his teeth, pacing his living room like a caged animal. His fists clenched at his sides as frustration clawed at his insides.What the hell was wrong with him?He had been acting like a lunatic, snapping at Amy, throwing accusations, and now—now she was probably going to go out with Asa.His stomach twisted at the thought.What if Asa made her laugh? What if she actually liked him? What if she realized she didn’t need Lucas in her life anymore?His pulse pounded in his ears.This was his fault. He’d let his jealousy get the best of him, and now she was probably thinking he was a pos
“He is not going to come back in the morning and beat me up, is he?” Asa asked after Lucas stormed out, slamming the door behind him with a loud bang.“I doubt that. He acts all tough, but he is just a giant teddy bear inside,” Amy said.Asa looked at her intently. “So, is he your boyfriend or what?”Amy bit her lower lip and shook her head. “No. He is not.”“Then why was he acting like a jealous boyfriend?” he asked." It’s…it’s complicated,” Amy said.Asa arched an eyebrow. “Complicated, huh? That’s just a fancy way of saying I have no idea what the hell is going on.”Amy groaned, flopping onto the couch. “Tell me about it.”Asa plopped down next to her, propping his feet up on the coffee table. “Well, from what I gathered, he’s either in love with you, in deep denial, or on the verge of a mental breakdown.”Amy let out a tired laugh. “I hardly think he is in love with me, but the mental breakdown part might be true.”Asa took a thoughtful sip of his beer. “Whatever it is, I think y