Riley anxiously fiddled with a loose thread on her shirt, her heart racing as she waited for River's response. His intense gaze was fixed on her, his lips pressed together in an unreadable expression. She had thought it would be better to be honest about her feelings, but now she second-guessed herself.Keeping her emotions bottled up was like a torture of its own. Ever since that unexpected kiss, she couldn't get him out of her mind.His touch, his scent, his voice - they all lingered in her thoughts like a sweet addiction. She had barely slept the night before, consumed by thoughts of him. And when she woke up this morning, she could hardly contain her excitement at the thought of seeing him again and being able to take care of him.Even when he was being grumpy and mean, she found herself wanting to kiss him again. The memory of his soft lips on hers made her pulse quicken and her cheeks flush with desire."You can't like me," he finally said. His voice sounded rough.She tilted her
River’s icy blue eyes bore into hers, dark with a tempest of emotions - fury, lust, pain. His breath was hot against her face as he growled, “Is this what you want, little girl? To play with fire and get burned?”“I’m not afraid of you,” Riley whispered defiantly, tilting her chin up. “And I’m not a child.”Something dangerous flashed in River’s gaze. In one swift motion, he flipped her over, pinning Riley beneath his hard body on the bed. She gasped at the sudden movement, heat pooling low in her belly as she felt every contour of his muscular frame.River’s hand slid up her thigh, rough and possessive. “You have no idea what you’re getting into,” he rasped against her ear. “I’ll ruin you.”Riley’s nails dug into his shoulders as a thrill raced through her. “Then ruin me,” she challenged breathlessly.With a low growl, River claimed her mouth in a bruising kiss, desire exploding between them. Riley kissed him back fiercely, pouring all her pent-up frustration and longing into the cla
River’s eyes widened at the threat. “Are you insane?” he growled, his fierce gaze locked on Riley’s mischievous face.“I might be,” Riley said, her smile unwavering as she held the spoon steadily in front of his pressed lips.For a long, tense moment, they stared each other down, neither willing to back off. River’s mind raced, trying to decide if she was bluffing or crazy enough to actually go through with it. The determined glint in her eye suggested the latter.Finally, with an exasperated huff, River opened his mouth, allowing Riley to guide the spoon inside. The warm, savory broth hit his tongue, and he had to admit, it tasted pretty good. Not that he’d ever tell her that.Riley’s triumphant grin only irked him further. “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” she cooed, already scooping up another spoonful.“I hate you,” River muttered, but there was no real venom in his words.“Aw, I hate you too,” Riley replied cheerfully, undeterred by his surly demeanor. “Now, open up for the cho
A heavy sigh escaped Valerie’s lips as she headed home with Antonio, filled with relief and a hint of sadness. “Oh, Antonio,” she whispered, “I am so glad Tiffany and Lucas get to be with their father again.”Antonio’s arms enveloped her in a strong embrace, his heartbeat steady and reassuring against her chest. “Me too,” he murmured, “But why do you sound so sad?”Tears welled up in Valerie’s eyes as she looked into his deep brown ones. “I guess I miss them already. I got used to having them around all the time,” she added softly.Antonio’s expression turned serious. “Yes, you are right. It will be strange not having them around. I did love how eventful the house was with Lucas running around.” He chuckled.Valerie smiled faintly at Antonio’s words, the sound of his chuckle warming her heart despite the lingering sadness. “Yes, it was chaotic, but it was a good kind of chaos. The kind that fills a house with life.”Antonio gently wiped away a tear that escaped down her cheek. “We’ll
Someone was shaking Riley. Her eyes snapped open, and she saw Lucas looming over her, his small hands insistent on her shoulders.“Riley, Riley, wake up!” His voice pierced the early morning stillness with a pitch that could only belong to a child who had discovered something marvelous.Blinking away the fog of unconsciousness, Riley propped herself on one elbow and peered up into Lucas’ face.“Lucas? What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice gravelly with sleep.“Pan-cakes!” he exclaimed. “You gotta come see! They are huge with strawberries on top this time!”Her pulse slowed down. It wasn’t an emergency—it was breakfast.Pancakes.A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “You are right. I should get up.”“Sorry, Riley. I wanted to let you sleep, but I couldn’t stop Lucas,” Tiffany said. She was standing by the door with a guilty expression on her face.“Come on, Riley!” Lucas tugged at her sleeve.Riley looked down at herself and hesitated. “I don’t know if this is appropriate for break
River’s kiss was fierce, almost punishing, as he claimed Riley’s mouth with a hunger born of grief and rage. His hands roamed her body possessively, igniting a fire beneath her skin despite the turmoil swirling inside her.Riley’s mind screamed at her to push him away, to stop this before it went too far. But her body betrayed her, responding to his touch with a desperate need she couldn’t control. A whimper escaped her lips as River’s mouth trailed down her neck, his teeth grazing her sensitive skin.“River, please…” she gasped, unsure if she was begging him to stop or to never stop.He growled against her throat, his hands tightening on her hips. “You want this, don’t you?” he accused, his voice rough with desire. “You want me to fuck you.”Shame flooded through Riley at the truth in his words. Even as her mind rebelled, her body arched into his touch, craving more.River’s hands slid up her ribcage, his thumbs brushing the undersides of her breasts. Riley shuddered, her nipples tig
Riley's eyes fluttered open as she felt herself being lifted off the plush comfort of River's bed. Confused and disoriented, she tried to piece together what was happening.Her body was being moved without her consent, but surely River wouldn't kick her out of his bed like this? Was it morning already? Had he finished with her and now wanted her gone?God...he could've at least waited until morning.Her arms wrapped tightly around his strong neck, pulling her closer to him as he carried her with ease. She could feel the heat radiating off of his bare skin, warming her own naked body. Despite the soreness and aching all over, she couldn't help but relax into his embrace.Through the haze of sleep, Riley tried to clear her mind, but it was like swimming against a thick current. As River carried her, she buried her face in the curve of his neck, taking in his scent - a blend of musk and pine that was both familiar and intoxicating. It calmed her racing thoughts and somehow made everythin
A few hours later, Riley moved toward the garden where Tiffany and Lucas were, according to Mrs. Caldwell. She could hear their laughter as soon as she opened the back door, and her mood lifted."Can I join you?" she chirped as she saw them playing catch.Tiffany's eyes sparkled with delight while Lucas' grin spread wide beneath his freckles. "Sure!" they chimed in unison, welcoming her into their circle.The air was alive with the sound of their laughter as Riley slipped seamlessly into their game. She scooped up the ball with surprising grace, muscles coiling and releasing with each throw, her athletic build finding its purpose in the simple joy of the moment."Wow! You are so good at this!" Tiffany exclaimed."I played softball in high school." Riley giggled. "I was very good at that."As the ball exchanged hands, zipping from Riley to Tiffany, then rocketing towards Lucas.River watched from the patio, and his eyes softened at the sight. But the warmth that flickered in his chest
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