I held her hand. For a moment, I swore she’d say yes. Her lips parted, breath unsteady—just enough to make me believe.Then she pulled away, turning my world to ice.“You don’t get it, do you?” Her voice was gentle—one last kindness before the kill. “I can’t go with you, Andrew.”I shifted closer. “You can—”“No.” Her voice cracked like thunder. “I can’t.”She sucked in a breath, her fingers twitching, but I didn’t let go.My pulse pounded like a war drum. I let out a slow breath, my voice dropping low.“Tell me you don’t feel it,” I whispered, gripping her tighter. “Tell me you wouldn’t want it. Just once.”Her burning gaze met mine. I knew—Dontrell was the reason.But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.“You’re lying,” I murmured, steady. “If you didn’t want this, you wouldn’t have come to me tonight. You wouldn’t be looking at me like that.” My pulse pounded as I leaned in. “We belong somewhere else, away from all of this. You know that.”Her jaw clenched. “Andrew—”“No one will find us,” I
The yacht rocked, the Pacific stretching endlessly. Midnight in Fiji, yet the sky gleamed. Lights glinted off the polished deck, reflecting in the waves. Seated at the yacht’s highest point, I took in the empty ocean. The air reeked of salt and wealth—the kind men like me controlled, unseen, and unstoppable.My phone buzzed in my palm. Fang.I brought it to my ear without a greeting. "I told you—I’m not coming home."Fang let out a sigh on the other end. "Clayton won’t stop calling, boss. He’s blowing up docks looking for you.""He won’t find me," I said. "And if he keeps sending my father’s men to my ports to stalk me, I’ll start sending them back in body bags."Silence. Fang knew I wasn’t bluffing."He won’t stop. Neither will your father. His men prowl the docks like strays, sniffing for your yacht.” Fang’s irritation mirrored my own.I let the silence stretch, staring into the horizon. When I finally spoke, my voice was steel. “Next time my father’s men lurk, shoot them. Send me a
The air turned heavy with silence. My men stood rigid, guns up, but I stayed still. Back straight, I let the moment sink in. Across from me, Rocco’s men mirrored mine, fingers tense on triggers.Silence. Weapons gripped. Tension, a brewing storm.I eyed Rocco, voice honed to a deadly point. “That’s the game you want to play? You won’t like how I end it."He raised his hands. "A mistake. Bad count, maybe."I snarled. "A miscalculation?" My tone was calm, but the weight of the threat was clear. “You don’t seem like a guy who miscounts."Rocco paused, then nodded at Bruno. Another briefcase hit the table, snapping open—more bricks."Relax, Blade. Just a mix-up. My men likely switched briefcases. Another of my allies arrives in a few days, and the boxes must've been mislabeled.""I narrowed my eyes. 'I’m not your ally. And at this rate, this might be our first and last deal.”Rocco forced a smile. “No need for that, Don.”Axel checked the briefcase, locked it, and nodded. That was all the
Sweat and sex clung to the air. My skin burned where Dontrell had taken me, the echo of his grip lingering on my flesh. He was close—seconds away from spilling into me—when I ripped myself away, leaving him throbbing, aching. I didn’t look back—I walked to the pole.The red glow cast my shadow as I gripped the cold steel. My slick skin pressed to the metal as I arched, dragging my body along it.A growl ripped through the air. I twisted my head just enough to see him out of the corner of my eye. Dontrell sat where I left him—tense, hard. His chest heaved as he stroked himself, slow, controlled.His stare burned me.I wrapped my leg around the pole, stretching it open, letting him see the wet, swollen heat between my thighs. I slid down, landing on the cool floor and spreading my lap, my muscles aching from two days of this. We’d fucked endlessly—night into day, and even now, when we be packing, we were still caught in this cycle of obsession, like a whore and her most desperate
The pole room buzzed with thick tension, anticipation humming between us. His deep, dark voice cut through the silence once more.“Get down. Face up. Stay quiet—unless need be, or it’s in your mouth,” he barked, fingers tracing my jaw, then my throat. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”Thank the stars this was all he demanded. Hell, he had wrung me dry, left me trembling, wrecked in ways I didn’t know were possible. I’d come too many times to handle more. My thighs trembled, the aftermath pulsing between them. I was spent. But him? He stood—unsatisfied, in control.So I dropped, knees weak against the cool floor. The pole gleamed beside us, forgotten. My focus was on him.From here, he loomed—broad shoulders, dark gaze. Holy shit.His cock stood like he hadn’t had any action in months; how? Veins pulsed under stretched skin, thick, heavy—a beast. Nine inches of raw power, light at the tip, arousal gleaming like a warning—dangerous.I darted out my tongue—teasing. Heat. Salt. Then I took h
My breath caught. A figure stepped in, pistol in hand, its metal gleaming under the dim light. The door slammed shut, trapping us inside.Everything blurred, the room too dark to see anything. One second, we were tangled in each other—naked. The next—an intruder.Dontrell lunged—a blur of muscle—shielding me completely.Before I could react, he shoved me behind him, my skin pressing into his back. His body coiled, stance wide and unyielding—ready to destroy.His roar tore through the silence."Who the fuck—!" His snarl dripped with violence.It rumbled through him, shaking me to my core. I gripped his back, my pulse wild.I couldn’t see past him, but I heard someone inhale sharply—the sound of a grave mistake."Oh—shit. I didn’t realise—" A voice I knew blurted out. Andrew.I stiffened. We hadn’t spoken in days—he’d shut me out since I refused to run away with him. I tried to explain and told him I’d understand if he wanted nothing to do with me for now, but we should reconcile later
A warm breeze brushed my skin as I sank into the pool’s lounger, back rested, wine glass in hand. The infinity pool stretched into the horizon, the moon’s silver reflection rippling across its smooth surface.The city lights flickered below, but I barely registered it. I stared at the water, thoughts too heavy to escape.The wine touched my lips again—rich, smooth—but my focus remained fractured. Luxury couldn’t chase away loneliness.Guards stood at every turn tonight, silent sentinels dressed in black, armed to the teeth, earpieces coiled around their ears like they were wired into something bigger. They were everywhere—doors, railings, even here with me. This wasn’t security. This was lockdown. It was like being in the White House, only I wasn’t the president—I was the prisoner.I sighed, tightening my robe.Dontrell was somewhere in this building. The moment we arrived, he planted a brief kiss on my forehead before disappearing with Andrew into the surveillance room on the 17th fl
I went still.Not from the cool night air or the water sliding down my skin, trailing rivulets. No. It was Andrew’s voice—flat, cold, final."I’m leaving. Tonight."I clutched the pool’s edge. A deep, ugly weight settled in my chest, pressing against my ribs like something was trying to crawl out.The guards were gone. The night stretched empty between us, but the silence wasn’t comforting. It was suffocating.Andrew’s gaze held me, unreadable—just like when he arrived. Indifferent. Cold. Distant.I swallowed, my throat tight. “Y-you’re going back — to L.A.?” My voice cracked before I could stop it. I cleared my throat, forced my shoulders straight, and tried to pull some of my usual confidence back—but my grip on it was slipping.His jaw ticked—barely. Then—“No.”The word cut through the night.I blinked, lips parting—but nothing came.Andrew shifted, weight rolling onto his heels, his posture still as sharp as before. His hands slipped into his pockets, but his forearms stayed rigid
The car stopped, cameras flashing from all angles, their lenses like hungry eyes trying to pierce the tinted glass.I adjusted the slit of my dress, trembling more from rage than from concern for my appearance. My jaw tightened, teeth gritted. I hadn’t forgiven him. Not even close.Back in the penthouse, I had nearly ripped that burgundy suit off his body and set it on fire. But Dontrell didn’t flinch, didn’t even raise his voice as my fury crashed over him. He stood like a goddamn wall of storms and blood, letting me throw my tantrum.“You done?” he asked, his voice as cool as ice on fire.I blinked, stunned by his nonchalance. “Excuse me?”“You want to kill someone tonight?” he asked, calm as ever, when I threatened to end Celine. “Fine. Let me hand you the match, but why kill only her when you could burn them all out there?”I cursed, flung my purse at him, and told him I wasn’t a pawn to parade. He didn’t argue. He stepped closer, his breath fire on my skin, voice low.“I’m not
I opened the door and stepped into the room, every nerve in my body fried. I kicked off my heels and dropped my bag. Their thud against the marble barely registered. My chest tightened, my skin prickling. Shame coiled around me, dragging the weight of my guilt.‘What have I done?’I’d let that bastard touch me.My stomach twisted as I crashed onto the bed, face up, trying to process how I went from hating him to begging him to ruin me. I used to hate everything he stood for. He was filth, a reminder of every bad decision I vowed never to repeat. And still… I spread myself on that table for him. I let him into my body like he hadn’t violated my soul.I rubbed my arms like I could erase the feel of him. The way I let it happen.I groaned, disgusted with myself, but my body didn’t care—the heat still burnt between my thighs. I tossed on the bed, arm over my eyes, trying to drown the memory.CLICK. A door creaked open, snapping me back.My heart slammed as I sprang up, adrenaline slicing
I was pinned. His cock was inside me. Deep. Stretching. Filling. “Fuck,” I gasped, nails scraping the wall.Clayton’s hands gripped my thighs like he owned them, spreading me wider, fucking me harder. His cock slammed into me, brutal and thick, every thrust shaking my bones.“Don’t look at me like that. You know you don’t matter to me.” He growled into my ear, voice jagged with heat. “The moment I cum, I'll forget this ever happened. I’m not the type of man who stays around for aftercare sex. So don’t wait for one either.” He thrust again.I choked on a moan. “Fuck you.” He laughed.His mouth latched onto my neck, sucking hard as he drove deeper, faster. His body was fire against mine, sweat-slick between us, his abs tightening with every thrust.I was already trembling. He hadn’t even slowed.He reached down, grabbed my ass with one hand, and used it to bounce me harder onto him. My legs dangled. I couldn’t speak—only moan.“Clayton—fuck, keep going—”He heard.He shoved deeper. Th
The room was cold—or maybe it was just him. Arms folded, gaze sharp like a blade.My heart hammered, but I refused to back down.“How are you this calm? Someone just died.” His eyes locked on mine. Cold. Because he already knew.Of course, he did. Clayton didn’t just play the game—he built it, set the rules, and broke them when it suited him.I stared at him. He didn’t deny it, just watched me. But his silence said everything.“My contact told me a few hours ago. The official report says he touched a naked wire. But that’s not what happened. And we both know better. It was a hit. A clean one.”He went on, calm like he was reading a weather report.“Dontrell did it. He didn’t like that I left that cell untouched. And he’s trying to be extra careful since I’m out now. So, he tied the loose end.”My mouth went dry. “He had him killed?”Clayton nodded once. “Suffocated. With a pillow laced with carfentanil—the kind that stops your heart before you scream. Then they finished him with a w
“I didn’t do it to betray you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Clayton didn’t flinch. He didn’t even blink. He just stared at me, cold and still, like my words were just noise blowing through a storm he had already survived.“Then why, Allison?” Clayton snapped. “Why pay some street rat to tail me, digging through my business like I’m just some suspect on a list?”My stomach twisted into a hard knot. “You weren’t giving me the truth. I needed answers.”He sighed and sat on the edge of the desk, his body so close to me. “So instead of asking me, you go behind my back like a coward?”I exhaled.“No,” he laughed bitterly. “Not a coward. A traitor.”“Don’t call me that,” I said quickly, but my voice broke.He tilted his head, his eyes burning into me. “Why shouldn't I? You went snooping where you had no business. You treated me like the enemy. Like I haven’t bled for you these past few days.”“I needed to protect myself,” I said, voice shaking. “You kept me in the dark.”“I told
I turned off the main road long before anyone could see me, slipping through the narrow, unmarked path that wound between tall hedges and rustling trees. The evening light cast everything in gold and shadow—perfect for disappearing.The compound was quiet. No guards in sight. No movement. Just high walls, iron gates, and a silence that buzzed like static in my ears.I killed the humming engine and parked in the corner where the cameras wouldn’t catch me—if there were even cameras at all. My heart thudded once, hard, as I stepped out, leaving the car behind. An unsettling calm that felt anything but safe came upon me.My heels crunched against the gravel, every step echoing louder than it should’ve.The house loomed ahead. I walked fast but careful, every footstep a risk. No one must know I was here.Before I could even lift a hand to knock, the door clicked open.He’d been watching.I stepped inside without hesitation. As soon as my heel touched the marble floor, the door clicked shut
“How could you even think that?” I whisper, my voice shaking. “After everything we’ve been through?” My back rested against the bedroom wall. Dontrell stood before me, chest heaving like a brewing storm, jaw ticking with fury.”“You think I’d trade your love for his lies? After all we'd survived?”He stepped closer. My breath hitched, but I didn’t flinch.”“Clayton’s a distraction. Don’t give him the relevance he craves —don’t let him win.” I touched his chest, letting the silence carry my words. “If you have to ask me that… then maybe he’s already won.”He still looked unconvinced.“You’re the only man I’ve ever needed,” I whispered, looking away, hurt. “If you don’t know that by now… Maybe you never really knew me.”He stood still, but I could see the tension start to fade from his shoulders. My tears spilt freely, on purpose.“I didn’t want the world to think I came between you two,” I whispered, trembling. “I didn’t want to be the reason the Blade bloodline went to war.”I reached
My mouth tasted like blood, though I hadn’t bitten my tongue. I just sat there, knees together, fists clenched in my lap like a child awaiting punishment. The silence was louder than Clayton’s voice. The silence was louder than Clayton’s voice. He’d said it—Dontrell killed Andrew. Breathing suddenly felt like a betrayal. My body trembled, but my mind screamed one question—how long had he been watching us?I shook my head violently. “No, no, Dontrell wouldn’t—he cried when Andrew died!”“As he would have cried too if Hollis had succeeded in killing me. The same hitman he used to eliminate Andrew was the one he sent to inject me too here a few days ago.” Clayton spoke unfiltered, abruptly.I got up from my seat; my knees buckled, but I caught myself on the wall. “ I didn’t pull the trigger”, I whispered, “but I killed Andrew… with my actions.”I sank back into the chair, tears slipping down my cheeks.Clayton didn’t soften. “He used your love for Andrew, your grief, your loyalty. Dontre
I couldn’t feel my hands or face—just static, white noise in my head as the world went mute. I sat frozen, eyes wide, heart pounding, but everything felt distant, like I was watching my life collapse through a glass. Andrew was gone. I accepted that, but Dontrell being the cause shattered me.A man he trusted and believed in—being the cause of his death—shook me to my bones.The betrayal burnt like acid. I wanted to scream, but no sound came. My chest heaved, a sob rising.I bit back a sob, my chest rising and falling with violent gasps. Clayton couldn't know. He couldn’t find out that I used to sleep with Andrew. That I’d loved him. That there were nights I chose Andrew’s bed over Dontrell’s.If he knew, it would confirm the suspicions he’d had all along. I clenched my fists tight, holding in the scream building in my throat.“Wait... what did you say?” My voice trembled, barely a whisper.Clayton leaned back in his chair, a half-laugh slipping from his lips. It was dark. Bitter. Alm