Tiffany’s phone dinged with another message, this time from Henri.“Come unarmed and alone,” it read, followed by an address.Ignoring the instruction to come unarmed, Tiffany strapped her favorite knife inside her boot. She wasn’t about to walk into this completely defenseless.As she headed for the door, Riley stepped in front of her, eyes filled with concern. “Tiffany, please be careful. I know you’re tough, but this Henri sounds unhinged. Don’t take any unnecessary risks.”Tiffany offered her what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine, Riley.”Riley nodded tightly, pulling her into a quick hug. “Come back safe, you hear me?”“I will,” Tiffany promised, returning the hug briefly before stepping away.River was waiting by the door, his face tense but controlled. “Remember, we’ll be right behind you the whole time. At the first sign of trouble, give the signal, and we’ll be there.”“Got it,” Tiffany replied with a sharp nod. They had gone over the plan a dozen times. She wo
Run? No.Tiffany hadn’t followed in her father’s footsteps just to run away from situations like this.Taking advantage of the chaos, she broke free from Henri’s grasp. In one swift motion, she retrieved the knife hidden in her boot and pressed it against his throat. Henri’s men immediately raised their weapons, but their hesitation was clear—they didn’t want to risk harming their boss.“Tell your men to stand down,” she hissed in Henri’s ear, her voice sharp and unwavering. “Or I’ll paint this floor with your blood, uncle dearest.”Henri chuckled darkly, seemingly unfazed by the blade digging into his skin. “You wouldn’t dare,” he sneered. “You don’t have the stomach for it, girl.”Tiffany pressed the knife harder, drawing a thin line of blood. “This is what I was trained to do,” she growled. “So try me. After everything you’ve put my family through, I won’t lose a wink of sleep over slitting your throat.”Something in her tone, or perhaps the fire in her eyes, must have convinced hi
Tiffany’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared down the barrel of Henri’s gun. Tears blurred her vision, grief and rage threatening to consume her.Her father lay motionless at her feet, blood pooling around him. She could see the faint rise and fall of his chest, a fragile reassurance that he wasn’t gone yet. But time was slipping away, and she had to act fast before she lost him too.“Don’t do this, Henri,” she pleaded, her voice trembling. “Enough people have died already. This won’t change what happened to you.”Henri’s finger tightened on the trigger. His cold gaze didn’t waver. “You’re right, it won’t change the past. But it will give me the satisfaction of wiping out the rest of this wretched family.”Her voice cracked as she asked, “Did you kill John too?”Henri’s brow furrowed slightly. “Your father’s driver? He got in the way. I was expecting to find your father at the pool house through a source, but he was there instead.”Tears streamed down Tiffany’s face. John hadn’t
A month after her dad began his recovery and life started to settle into a new normal, Tiffany found herself spending more and more time with Jacob. They would talk for hours, sharing everything and nothing, their bond growing stronger with each passing day.One evening, as they sat together in the quiet of the closed restaurant, Jacob took her hand in his, his touch warm and grounding. “Tiffany, I’ve been thinking,” he said softly, his tone serious yet gentle. “We should renovate the restaurant.”She tilted her head, curiosity piqued. “What do you have in mind?”His eyes lit up with excitement as he began to outline his vision. “We could expand the dining area, maybe add a cozy lounge space for after-dinner drinks. The kitchen could use an upgrade too—new appliances, a more efficient layout. And we could create a private dining room for special events.”Tiffany felt a smile tug at her lips as she listened to him. His enthusiasm was infectious. “That sounds amazing, Jacob,” she said,
Tiffany and Jacob are standing at the entrance of Amalfi Cucina, greeting everyone who comes in.She is wearing a red cocktail dress; her hair twisted up into an elegant bun, while Jacob is wearing his best suit.Today is an important night, after all.Jacob’s hand is resting lightly on the small of her back, a gesture both protective and proud.“Welcome!” Tiffany exclaims, embracing an elderly couple. “We’re so thrilled you could make it, Mr. and Mrs. Rossi.”Jacob nods, shaking Mr. Rossi’s hand. “Your usual table is waiting for you. I hope you’ll find our new menu to your liking.”As the couple moves inside, Jacob’s smile falters slightly. He tugs at his collar, a bead of sweat forming on his brow despite the cool evening air. Tiffany is busy welcoming more guests, her melodic voice carrying across the foyer.Jacob’s eyes scan the crowd until he spots River near the bar. With a quick squeeze of Tiffany’s arm, he murmurs, “I’ll be right back, Scar.”Weaving through the throng of peopl
Lucas Foster grinned as he heard the commotion from the balcony.A woman’s voice was screaming, arguing with his men. He couldn’t see her face from up here, but he knew exactly who she was.After all, he was the one who ordered his men to kidnap her.Alicia Smith.The idea of kidnapping her came to his mind a few days ago when he was staring at her picture on his phone.“Damn you, Alicia,” he had muttered, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “Why can’t you see that I can make you the happiest woman in the world?”Alicia Smith, the woman of his fucking dreams, the woman who acted like he was nothing but dirt under her shoes.“I planned to give you the world on a silver platter,” Lucas growled to himself, his fingers tightening around his phone. “Designer dresses, five-star restaurants, front-row fashion shows. What more could you possibly want?”He closed his eyes, recalling their last encounter when Alicia scoffed at his advances. Again.“I’m flattered, Lucas, really,” she had said. “But I
“What do we do now, genius?” Amy snorted, breaking the awkward silence that was stretching on for what felt like hours.Ugh, what a mess.As if life wasn’t already chaotic enough, she had been dragged off her cozy couch and transported to who knows where to fulfill some creep’s sick desires.And to make matters even worse, it wasn’t even her that this pervert was after. No, it was her spoiled brat of a stepsister, as always.It would have been nice to feel wanted by someone, but nope…it just had to be her annoying stepsister instead.Lucas, standing by the window with his back to Amy, didn’t bother turning around. Instead, he let out a long, frustrated sigh, his breath fogging up the glass as he stared out into the blizzard.“You could start by shutting up,” he muttered, his voice low but sharp.Amy scoffed, crossing her arms and glaring at his back. “Oh, excuse me, Your Royal Highness. Maybe I’m just a little upset about being dragged out here against my will by your band of merry id
Lucas threw the plastic bag at the girl, watching it fall on her lap. “Here,” he said irritably.Amy looked at the item on her lap and wrinkled her big nose. “What is this?” she asked dumbly.“Food,” he said.“This is not food! This is Cinnabon,” she argued.Lucas sighed. “Yes. Cinnabon is food. Why are you questioning it? I thought you said you were hungry.”Amy picked up the bag, eyeing it with suspicion as though it might explode. “What, you didn’t have any real food in your creepy kidnapper stash?”Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose, his patience rapidly dwindling. “You are testing my patience.”“I want real food,” Amy declared. “Eric said you had dinner planned for Alicia. Well, she is not here to enjoy it, so I might as well do it in her place.”Lucas let out a sharp breath, his frustration bubbling dangerously close to the surface. “First of all, this isn’t a five-star restaurant. Second, you’re not even supposed to be here.”Amy arched an eyebrow, unfazed. “I don’t care. I a
Lucas couldn’t shake off the feeling of emptiness in his chest as he drove away from Amy’s apartment and back home. He couldn’t understand why he was suddenly in such a bad mood, but the hollowness in his chest only grew stronger with each passing mile. It was as if something was missing.And the car ride was too quiet.Lucas leaned back against the seat, rubbing his temples. His fingers drummed against his thigh, restless, irritated.His mind kept drifting back to the face Amy had made when he had left her at her apartment. She looked so sad, almost near tears.The little Harpy.His jaw tightened as he exhaled sharply. He should be happy she was back home and away from him. He was finally from her constant chattering.Then why did it feel like he’d lost something instead?Silly.He hadn’t lost shit. He could see her whenever he wanted to. It’s not like she lived in another state or something.Lucas nodded to himself. That’s right, he will just go see her. Maybe bother her at the litt
Lucas’s car halts to a stop outside Amy’s apartment building.Amy’s heart raced as she stared at the building, realizing their unexpected adventure was coming to an end. She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry.Lucas cleared his throat. “Well, here we are.”“Yep. Home sweet home,” Amy replied, her voice unnaturally high. She fumbled with her seatbelt, fingers trembling slightly as she tried to unlatch it. The damn thing seemed determined to keep her trapped in this moment.“Need some help?” Lucas asked, his voice laced with amusement.The seatbelt finally released with a soft click. Amy’s hand lingered on the buckle, her mind racing for some excuse…any excuse to prolong their time together.“I, uh…” Amy started, then trailed off, unsure what to say.Lucas turned to her, one eyebrow raised slightly. “Yes?”Amy’s breath caught in her throat as their eyes met.She opened her mouth, then closed it again. What could she possibly say that wouldn’t make her sound desperate or clingy? This
“…and then I told her, ‘If you think that’s bad, you should see what happens when I try to use chopsticks!’” Amy’s words tumbled out in a frantic stream, her hands fluttering like startled birds as she gestured wildly. Her leg bounced incessantly, causing the entire row of airplane seats to vibrate subtly.Lucas gritted his teeth, trying to focus on the e-book displayed on his tablet.Amy had not stopped talking ever since they boarded. At this point, Lucas was used to her talking too much, but this time, it was excessive.“Oh! And did I ever tell you about the time I accidentally used dog shampoo for a month? My hair was so shiny, people kept asking if I’d had work done!” Amy let out a high-pitched laugh that set Lucas’s nerves on edge.He exhaled slowly through his nose, thumb hovering over the tablet’s screen as he debated whether to increase the volume on his noise-canceling headphones. It wouldn’t make a difference, he knew. Amy’s chatter seemed to defy the laws of physics, penet
“Sit down on that little table, and I’ll go get your drink,” Lucas offered, shrugging out of his jacket. “Hot chocolate, right?”“Right,” Amy said with a small smile.Amy turned her gaze to the window, focusing on the view instead of the flutter in her chest. This was just a fun day out. Don’t overthink it. This was one of her many flaws. Overthinking things.A few minutes later, Lucas returned with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, each topped with a generous swirl of whipped cream. “One for you and one for me,” he said, sliding hers across the table.Amy took a sip, the warmth spreading through her and momentarily chasing away her thoughts. “Mmm, this is amazing.”“Told you this place was worth it,” Lucas said, taking a sip of his own. “So, how does it feel to have conquered your first ski slope?”She set her mug down and leaned back in her chair. “Honestly? It feels good. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did.”“Told you you would,” Lucas said, his eyes fixed on hers.“So…
Amy’s eyes widened as she took Lucas’s hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. “Skiing? Are you serious?” she exclaimed.Lucas smirked, enjoying her surprise. “Completely serious.”She bit her lip, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. “But I’ve never skied before. No, it is too scary. I can’t.”He chuckled, tugging her hand gently. “Don’t be a chicken. I will teach you.”She shook her head no. “I will fall down the hill and break something. And then, you will be forced to take care of me for another six months. You will never find the time to woo Alicia at that pace.”Lucas stared at her in amusement. “You have no confidence in yourself, do you?”“ZERO. Now, can we do something else? Like…I don’t know…something does not involve me rolling down from high places?” Amy asked nervously.Lucas tightened his hold on her hand. “Nope. We are going skiing, and that’s final.”Amy groaned loudly, dragging her feet as Lucas led her toward the ski rental area.He rolled his eyes, ha
“What’s wrong now?” Lucas asked.Amy looked at him questioningly. “What do you mean? Nothing is wrong.”“Bullshit,” Lucas said, furrowing his brows. “You look like you are about to cry again. Is it something I said?”Amy shook her head no.Lucas stared at her for a long moment before clearing his throat. “Well…” he started. “Maybe you don’t need to leave just yet. I mean…there’s no rush, I guess.”Her eyes lit up. “Really? I can stay?”Lucas shifted uncomfortably, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, I mean, if you want to. The mansion’s big enough, and it’s not like you’re taking up space.”Amy’s lips twitched, fighting a smile. “Are you sure? I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”He rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress the smirk creeping onto his face. “You’re already a pain, so what’s a little more? Besides, you shouldn’t go back to the USA without doing some sightseeing in Sweden. There are some cool stuff we can do here during winter.”Amy’s eyes widened with surprise, and th
Lucas woke up to the bright sunlight assaulting his eyes and the feel of a plump ass pressed against his groin.He groaned inwardly as he looked at the time. It was already past noon.He couldn’t believe he let Amy talk him into having sex for the second time.And then again this morning.Lucas sighed, running a hand over his face as the events of the past twelve hours replayed in his mind. He had no idea how Amy managed to seduce him so easily.Little nymph.He shifted slightly, trying not to wake her, but the feel of her bare skin against his sent a jolt through him. His cock stirred despite his better judgment.Get a grip, he scolded himself.Amy stirred, letting out a contented hum as she stretched lazily, pressing her body even closer to his. “Mmm, morning, Slut,” she murmured sleepily, her voice thick with satisfaction.Lucas groaned, burying his face in her hair. “It’s noon, and don’t call me that.”“Sorry. I shall call you Timmy’s Dad instead,” she muttered.Lucas sat up. “Tha
Amy had never been taken like this before - with such raw, animalistic intensity. It was overwhelming, all-consuming, obliterating every thought beyond the feel of him inside her, stretching her, claiming her.She could feel the coil of tension winding tighter and tighter in her core, threatening to snap at any moment. Her thighs began to quake, her walls fluttering around his thick length as he hit that sweet spot inside her again and again.“Lucas,” she gasped. “I’m… I’m going to…”“Not yet,” he commanded roughly, reaching between their sweat-slicked bodies to circle her clit with his thumb. “I want to feel you come on my cock. I want to watch you fall apart.”A strangled cry escaped her lips as she came.Lucas didn’t let up, pistoning into her with deep, powerful thrusts.“Oh god,” he rasped. “I can’t control myself.”With a guttural groan, he buried himself to the hilt one final time, finding his own release. She felt the hot spurts of his seed painting her inner walls as he shudd
The kiss caught Amy off guard, her eyes widening as their lips met. She froze for a split second before parting her lips and allowing him to slip his tongue inside.And oh, was she glad she did.Amy’s heart pounded in her chest as Lucas flipped her on her back and deepened the kiss, his hands moving to her waist, pulling her closer. It felt so good—the way his lips moved against hers, his weight pressing on her, the heat that spread through her body like wildfire.This was wrong. So wrong. She barely knew this man. They just met less than twenty-four hours ago!And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to make him stop.His fingers tightened on her waist, his touch possessive.Amy’s hands, which had been hovering awkwardly in the air, found their way to his shoulders, gripping tightly. Every rational thought screamed at her to push him away, to put an end to this madness, but her body refused to obey.When they finally broke apart, both were breathless, their faces mere inches apart. Lucas’