Clayton’s grip on my throat was steel—unyielding, merciless. His fingers dug into my skin—pricking me and cutting off air. His other hand pressed against my back, holding and trapping me in his grasp. I gasped, my fingers clawing at his wrist. “Please…let go,” I begged, but he didn’t relent."Tell me, Princess," he grunted, his voice lethal. "How long have you been spreading your legs for Andrew?" A strangled cough escaped me. My throat burnt under his wicked squeeze, my vision darkening at the edges, blood pumping into my head. If he didn’t let go soon—if his grip tightened even a fraction more—he would crush the breath from my body.And then, with one brutal push, he released my neck.I staggered back, my legs trembling; I nearly collapsed onto the floor, but my hands shot out, grasping blindly—fingertips brushing the cold, smooth kitchen counter. I clung to it, steadying myself. My body convulsed as I stood and then bent forward, holding my chest, coughing and gulping air like I h
A shudder ripped through me. My fingers twitched around the hilt of the knife. My eyes widened, my heart hammering against my ribs.And Clayton saw it. A slow, cruel smirk tugged at his lips.“Oh, you’re surprised?" His voice turned mocking. "Well, you shouldn’t be. By now, you should know I don’t give a damn whether you live or die. You mean nothing to me."His voice was void of emotion. "So if you want to kill yourself, do it. I just need your confession first." Something inside me cracked.Not because I was holding a knife to my chest. Not because he’d figured out my secret. It wasn’t his ruthlessness that broke me.It was the realisation that he truly meant it and my death meant nothing to him."You have no proof of anything," I blurted out."I don’t—not yet," he admitted. "But when I set my mind on something.” He paused, taking in my reaction. “I make sure I get what I want. And I don’t care how long it takes—I’ll prove you’re cheating." "Why?" My voice rose with frustration. "
My head’s a dark alley, and the whispers never stop. Inside my skull, demons don’t just whisper—they give orders. Their voices, always winning—never quiet. My mind and heart were locked in a battlefield, warring over my true motive for questioning her. Was I really doing this to have her? The demons inside me hissed the answer, but I crushed their whispers.No. That was impossible.I stormed out of the kitchen, leaving her behind. My pulse pounded in my ears, my jaw locked so tight it could crack a molar. This feeling—I hadn’t felt it in years. Not since Russia. Twenty years ago, when I was still a boy among men in that brutal training camp, I had been untouchable with a gun—I could take out a moving target the size of a pin from a thousand yards away. But fists? That was where I lacked. Hand-to-hand combat was my weakness. I was the youngest in the program but had already climbed to Level 10 because of my skill with a gun. That was why they came for me in the woods that day. A pack
The dark weather and cold breeze that brushed Allison’s skin couldn’t ease the hurt buried in her chest. The sky hung heavy, casting a gray shadow over the cemetery.With her hands quivering as they grabbed the sides of her black dress, sixteen-year-old Allison stood at the edge of the grave, her eyes red and swollen from grief. It was a small coffin, as if its size mirrored how little time her mother had spent with her—just sixteen short years.Beside her stood her father, Mr. Blackwell, a man of rigid strength, yet even he could not mask the pain of losing his wife. He quickly wiped away a tear from his face. His other hand rested on Allison’s shoulder, a gesture meant to offer comfort, but she barely felt it. He awkwardly patted her shoulder again. He didn't quite know how to ease her sorrow or comfort her."I’m consoled you’ve gone to rest from this toxic world, but I'll forever miss you, my love," Mr. Blade whispered emotionally, but his words fell into the heavy silence that sur
"Do you, Allison Blackwell, take Dontrell Blade as your husband, in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"“Yes, I do.” The words came out mechanically, a part of me still numb from everything that had happened. I had been kidnapped, tortured, and brought to this moment—standing before an altar, surrounded by people I barely knew, married to a man I hardly understood. As the priest spoke, I turned my head slightly, scanning the crowd. I searched for him. ‘Clayton’. But he wasn’t there. Where was he? Was he angry? Did he wish it were him standing beside me, taking my hand in marriage instead of his brother? A part of me wished he had been the one. But another part was relieved. Because Clayton, with his dark, unyielding eyes and the violent edge to his soul, was the one who had taken so much from me. ‘Dontrell’—his softer, quieter brother—had given me an escape, a way out of a life I feared would drown me. I had no choice in th
The plane landed with a smooth bump, and as I stepped up to the boarding door, the cool San Diego midnight breeze ruffled my hair. Dontrell’s large hand was warm as he took mine, lifting it to place a peck on it.“Let me guide you, my lady,” he murmured, his voice low, close to my ear. “I don’t want you tripping.”Without any more words, Dontrell led me down the plane's stairs, his hand still holding mine. His steps were sure and confident, and his presence was strong as I carefully followed behind. The bright glow of runway lights pierced the night and cast long shadows across the ground. At the end of the step, I was met with the warm grins of a gathering of youthful ladies and men dressed in savvy, blue outfits that made it clear they were part of Dontrell's domestic staff. Their modest appearance was a simple indication of the kind of life I was venturing into—a life where the simplest detail was carefully curated. I adjusted my Chanel bag, holding it tightly against my side. On
I woke up with a start, the coldness of the room hitting me before the alarm even had a chance to screech. My body always seemed to know when it was time, jerking awake moments before the loud, obnoxious beeping could ring in my ears. I grunted, reaching for my phone on the nightstand, and snoozed the alarm as soon as it started its irritating noise.I rubbed my eyes with one hand and my feet together simultaneously to shake off the chill from the air conditioning. The sting of the cold was brief—better than the oppressive LA heat. I propped myself up, resting my back against the cushioned headboard. Turning to my left, there she was—my wife, curled up like a cat, her wavy blonde hair scattered across her back, almost covering her entirely. She clung to the pillow like it was her last lifeline. But that didn't last long. Her face shifted, turning toward me. I couldn't help but notice her slightly parted soft lips and the slight flush of her skin from sleep. She was more beautiful tha
Our car swerved sharply into the compound, the tires crunching over the gravel as it came to a halt. The car parked near the entrance, just next to the circular driveway, where a majestic lion statue stood in the center, its fierce gaze directed toward the grand steps leading into the mansion.I stepped out and immediately felt the icy chill settle over me—the kind that was more than just a breeze, the kind that sank into your bones. It was the same compound they had brought me when they first kidnapped me—those memories felt icy against my skin, clinging to me. Dontrell’s hand pressed gently on my back as we walked forward.“It’s okay if you want to go back,” he murmured beside me, his voice soft but concerned.“No, I’m good,” I lied; my heart was thumping. The truth was, I wanted to be here with him, despite the dark memories tied to this place.As we reached the entrance, Dontrell stopped to pull me closer into his arms. "You know I love you, right?" he whispered, his breath warm a
My head’s a dark alley, and the whispers never stop. Inside my skull, demons don’t just whisper—they give orders. Their voices, always winning—never quiet. My mind and heart were locked in a battlefield, warring over my true motive for questioning her. Was I really doing this to have her? The demons inside me hissed the answer, but I crushed their whispers.No. That was impossible.I stormed out of the kitchen, leaving her behind. My pulse pounded in my ears, my jaw locked so tight it could crack a molar. This feeling—I hadn’t felt it in years. Not since Russia. Twenty years ago, when I was still a boy among men in that brutal training camp, I had been untouchable with a gun—I could take out a moving target the size of a pin from a thousand yards away. But fists? That was where I lacked. Hand-to-hand combat was my weakness. I was the youngest in the program but had already climbed to Level 10 because of my skill with a gun. That was why they came for me in the woods that day. A pack
A shudder ripped through me. My fingers twitched around the hilt of the knife. My eyes widened, my heart hammering against my ribs.And Clayton saw it. A slow, cruel smirk tugged at his lips.“Oh, you’re surprised?" His voice turned mocking. "Well, you shouldn’t be. By now, you should know I don’t give a damn whether you live or die. You mean nothing to me."His voice was void of emotion. "So if you want to kill yourself, do it. I just need your confession first." Something inside me cracked.Not because I was holding a knife to my chest. Not because he’d figured out my secret. It wasn’t his ruthlessness that broke me.It was the realisation that he truly meant it and my death meant nothing to him."You have no proof of anything," I blurted out."I don’t—not yet," he admitted. "But when I set my mind on something.” He paused, taking in my reaction. “I make sure I get what I want. And I don’t care how long it takes—I’ll prove you’re cheating." "Why?" My voice rose with frustration. "
Clayton’s grip on my throat was steel—unyielding, merciless. His fingers dug into my skin—pricking me and cutting off air. His other hand pressed against my back, holding and trapping me in his grasp. I gasped, my fingers clawing at his wrist. “Please…let go,” I begged, but he didn’t relent."Tell me, Princess," he grunted, his voice lethal. "How long have you been spreading your legs for Andrew?" A strangled cough escaped me. My throat burnt under his wicked squeeze, my vision darkening at the edges, blood pumping into my head. If he didn’t let go soon—if his grip tightened even a fraction more—he would crush the breath from my body.And then, with one brutal push, he released my neck.I staggered back, my legs trembling; I nearly collapsed onto the floor, but my hands shot out, grasping blindly—fingertips brushing the cold, smooth kitchen counter. I clung to it, steadying myself. My body convulsed as I stood and then bent forward, holding my chest, coughing and gulping air like I h
The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped out into the hallway, moving past the closed doors until I reached the one I was looking for—the kitchen. I wasn’t heading outside—to the foyer or the compound like Dontrell would have loved. I just needed a cup of lemongrass tea and preferred to make it myself.The hallway was eerily silent. The kind that slithered under the skin like an unseen threat, but the moment I entered into the kitchen, its opulence greeted me. The massive white and beige space, with its sleek marble counters, mirrored cabinets, and a long glass kitchen island stretching across the centre, gleamed under the pendant lights. I walked toward the cupboard, reaching for the kettle on the highest shelf. Too high. With a quiet sigh, I climbed onto the counter, stretching on my toes until my fingers wrapped around the handle. As soon as I had it, I hopped down, setting it on the counter with a soft clink.I slid my headphones over my ears and walked to the island table in
The second his name left my lips, the air turned razor-sharp.Silence. Dontrell went rigid. Clayton’s expression barely shifted, but his eyes—those cold, calculating eyes—narrowed.Andrew didn’t move, but I felt the shift. The flicker of awareness. I had messed up. Badly. My excitement got the best of me, and now I had to think fast—cover my tracks before I landed in trouble.So, I played them. Still gripping Dontrell, I let out a scoff, my lips curling in disgust. "Andrew?" My voice dripped with contempt. "You survived?" Even Andrew looked taken aback by my tone, just as I wanted.I turned to Dontrell, feigning exasperation. "Remember how we made that bet? You said Andrew would survive Russia and come back home, and I told you he wouldn’t. Since Carter was from Russia, and you killed Carter’s brother—a mob leader over there—there was no way Andrew was making it out, no matter how skilled he was. And now, look." I gestured at Andrew. "He's here. Alive." Dontrell blinked, processi
Dontrell took a step forward, his entire frame coiled like a predator ready to strike. “You’re not welcome here.” Clayton didn’t flinch. If anything, he looked bored. “You always were quick to anger.” His gaze flickered to me. “Is he always like this, Allison? Or is it just a brother thing?” I stiffened at being dragged into their war. “Don’t,” Dontrell snapped. “Don’t talk to her. Don’t look at her. Don’t—” “You’re acting like I’m the enemy,” Clayton cut in, his voice cool. “When I’m the only reason she’s still breathing after Carter’s attack that day.” Dontrell let out a dry chuckle. “You won’t get a thank you from me if that’s what you’re searching for.”“Oh, come on, brother. Not even a ‘Welcome, Clayton. How did your day go?’ Or maybe a ‘Congratulations on being the new Regent of the Circle?” I stilled. A Regent? Clayton was now the Circle’s second-in-command. That was the position Carter had been meant to fight for—if he hadn’t tried to kill me and ended up being killed by
“You what?”My heart stopped. I blinked, my mind scrambling to catch up. My voice came out thin and unsteady. “Y-You already knew?” He nodded. My chest tightened. My hands balled into fists. “Are you kidding me?! Since when, Dontrell?! And you didn’t think I deserved to know?!”His jaw ticked. “A few days ago.” He exhaled sharply, his voice gruff. “My dad kept calling. I thought it was another of his tricks. Then Clayton called too.” He hesitated. “At first, he told Andrew. But Andrew had to leave for Russia that same day, so he never got the chance to tell me. Clayton told me himself.” My anger boiled over. I yanked my arm from his grasp. “I can’t believe you,” I shot back. His expression darkened. “Allison—” My voice shook with anger. “I thought we promised each other—no more secrets. No more lies.”He let out a slow breath, raking a hand through his hair. “Yes. But, Dove, how the hell was I supposed to face you and tell you that I have a step-sister somewhere out there—and th
I was in bed.My mind reeled. The call—the argument—none of it had happened.It was just a dream.A dream so vivid it felt real—like a nightmare.I turned lazily, my mind spinning. My subconscious was playing games with me, messing with my head. It had been five restless days now—since I agreed to everything my mother’s messenger demanded, just for the chance to see her.Yet he still hadn’t given me her location.Instead, he kept feeding me cryptic messages. Kept mentioning Mr. Blade’s daughter. But never a name. Never a face. I had fallen asleep thinking about how I should give up on her search, but part of me couldn’t do that. And now my subconscious was punishing me.I turned onto my side, my cheek pressing against my phone. Drool smeared the screen.The alarm vibrated against my face.I removed my phone and lifted it. I wiped my mouth, staring at the screen. 4:00 PM.The exact time my mother’s messenger promised he’d call.But there was no call. I stopped the alarm. Ran to my m
I was sitting in front of my dresser, dabbing foundation onto my face while staring into the mirror as I blended it in. My mind was already heavy, lost in thought, when my phone buzzed on the dresser against the wooden surface. I glanced down, and my hand froze mid-motion.Unknown number. If you knew me—if you had been following this story of my life—you’d know that unknown numbers never brought good news. Every time my phone rang without a name attached, it meant trouble. Big-time.I didn’t answer. I let it ring until it died.The room was silent for three seconds before it started again.My heart pounded in my chest as I watched the screen, hoping it would stop.But it didn’t.I swallowed hard and set down the beauty blender. With my left hand, I picked it up, bringing it to my ear. I barely had a chance to brace myself before a voice sliced through the line.“Hello."The way she said it—dripping with venom, taunting—made my stomach turn.Celine. I knew that voice anywhere, not