My father didn’t flinch, only pressed his lips tight. A sharp exhale followed, frustration clear—as I couldn’t see the logic in his betrayal.“Why are you acting like you don’t get it?" he snapped. "The pressure, the stakes. The Blades aren't just anyone. They demand loyalty. A child would've sealed that. I agreed because it made sense—it’ll strengthen our bond with them. It’s not as monstrous as you think."His words slammed into me like a physical blow. ‘Not as monstrous as I think?’ He was justifying the expectation that I’d produce an heir like some broodmare. Fury swelled in my chest, threatening to explode.And then it did.Without thinking, I closed the distance between us in two strides. My hand rose, and before I could stop myself, a loud slap echoed through the room. The force of it reverberated through my hand. My father’s head snapped to the side, his cheek reddening as he stumbled slightly, his expression a mixture of shock and anger.But then the room shifted. The walls
“You’ve got guts thinking you can touch her while I’m standing here.” Dontrell’s voice was razor-sharp, slicing through the room with a quiet menace.“Move." The masked man's voice sliced through the tension, cold and unrelenting.I couldn’t see—Dontrell’s frame was a fortress, and I dared not peek around it.“Tell my father if he wants something, he can come here himself. She’s not going anywhere.” Dontrell’s voice was a low growl, thick with authority.The room held its breath.The room held its breath as footsteps echoed, heavy and deliberate. I heard the intruder advancing closer. My pulse thundered.Nadeem, who had been standing by my side, moved forward, ready to intercept. But before he could take another step, Dontrell’s arm shot out like a steel barrier, halting him."This isn’t your fight, Nadeem," Dontrell said, his voice low and commanding. "I’ll handle this." The authority in his tone left no room for argument. Nadeem froze, his muscles taut, then reluctantly stepped bac
The incessant beep of the heart monitor was the first thing I noticed. It pierced the thick fog in my mind, pulling me from the abyss. I blinked, slowly opening my eyes, only to shut them again at the bright, harsh white light above me. I couldn’t tell if it was real or a trick of my mind, but it was relentless, like the sterile smell of disinfectant that hung in the air—clean, but far from comforting.I tried again. This time, I kept my eyes open, the white paint of the room filling my vision. The softness of the sheets beneath me. A cold, uncomfortable weight in my head—like a fog I couldn’t push away.Then, the first face came into focus—Dontrell. He stood over me, towering like a shadow, his face a mask of worry and concern. My breath hitched, and I tried to speak, but my throat felt like sandpaper."Where... where am I?" My voice was hoarse, barely a whisper."Shh..." His hand was warm as it gently cupped mine, rubbing my fingers softly. "You're in the hospital, Dove."He placed a
Dontrell sprang up and sat beside me, his weight shifting the mattress slightly on my left. His presence was comforting as I leaned into him. The weight of everything still pressed on my chest, but for now, his presence was soothing.“Hey, it’s okay," he said, his voice steady. "I know things feel off right now, but you don’t have to carry this alone."His words eased the weight on my chest. His hand on mine was a steady comfort, grounding me in the moment. “You’ve got me, always. I’m not going anywhere,” he added, the sincerity in his words leaving no room for doubt. I turned my head to meet his eyes, my chest swelling with emotion. Andrew stepped away from where he had been standing behind us and moved to my right side. He stood close enough to offer support. His hand lightly rested on my shoulder."We’re both here for you," Andrew said, his voice soft but filled with the same genuine care. “You’ve been through a lot, but you're not facing it alone.”I nodded, grateful, but my hea
I swerved into the compound, the hum of my engine echoing through the quiet night. I parked my car, the lights flickering out, and reached under the seat for my gun. I didn’t have time to waste. I stepped out, eyes scanning the area. The guards nodded, keeping their distance.The building above ground was nothing special—a quiet, unremarkable café with vintage décor. But beneath that, hidden away by a locked door and accessed through a narrow staircase, was a whole other world. I made my way downstairs to the cellar, where the low, pulsing beat of music greeted me. The place was a nightclub for criminals—polished obsidian bar, dim lighting, arched brick walls, leather booths for privacy, and a dance floor full of bodies lost in the rhythm. Security screens flashed with live footage of the café upstairs, keeping everything clean. Private rooms were scattered throughout for the high-stakes meetings and deals that went down.I sighted Fang, seated at a leather booth in the far corner. H
The night was unnervingly quiet. I paced the bedroom, my mind tangled in unease. Dontrell hadn’t returned till now, and though I knew better than to ask him or worry, the nagging feeling in my chest wouldn’t subside.He kept his world closed off from mine, a barrier I couldn’t cross. But the distance didn’t stop my worry. What was he doing? Who was he meeting? Why did danger always seem to follow him?I wrapped my arms around myself and stepped onto the balcony, the cool breeze doing nothing to ease my racing thoughts. The city’s lights sparkled below, but I knew better—beneath the beauty was a world of danger and secrets, the kind Dontrell lived in every day."I stepped into the bedroom and into the bathroom to ease myself. Moments later, the front door creaked, and footsteps followed. I stayed calm but cautious, peeking through the bathroom door to see who it was.It was him.“Alison?” Dontrell’s voice broke the silence. His footsteps moved toward the balcony, his concern palpable.
Dontrell’s gaze locked onto mine as he pulled me closer, kissing me deeply, his hands claiming my body with a possessiveness that made my heart race.I couldn’t deny the pull, even if my mind tried to fight it. My body betrayed me, leaning closer, wanting more.“Why are you always so damn beautiful?” He muttered, his rough voice sending a shiver down my spine.His lips burned a trail down my neck, pulling me closer as I moaned against his mouth, lost in the feeling of him.“God, you drive me insane,” he whispered between kisses, his breath hot against my skin. “I can’t stop wanting you.”His kiss was slow at first, teasing, but quickly turned desperate. The cool metal of my necklace brushed against his fingertips as he trailed my skin.His hands slid down my ass, pressing me into him. His chest firm against mine, he moved me toward the bed, lips never leaving my skin, every touch burning into me.My hands roamed his chest, the muscles beneath his singlet driving me wild. I wanted to fe
I heard her scream before I even had a chance to react, the sound piercing through the sexual tension we’d been caught in. The shock of it sent my body into full alert, my muscles tight, adrenaline flooding my veins as I sat up on the bed, my eyes darting to the balcony she pointed frantically toward.“What is it?” I asked, my voice sharp with concern. My desire still burned, but her fear cut through it.""Someone's on the balcony," she shouted, her voice trembling, grabbing the duvet and wrapping it around herself. Her chest heaved, face pale with terror.I shot up from the bed, the rage I’d felt a second ago gone in an instant, replaced by instinct. I rushed to the balcony, sliding the glass door open with force and stepping onto the cool, concrete floor.I scanned the darkness outside, my eyes darting, searching for any sign of movement. “Who’s there?” I called out, my voice cutting through the silence.Nothing. Just the faint rustle of the wind, the quiet of the night. I stretched
Celine and I had been sparring for what felt like forever. Arms aching, chest burning. She moved like a trained warrior—stronger and faster. Her punches slammed heavily — overpowering me every time.I was just a rich girl with ballet training— completely out of my depth—while she looked like a soldier turned milk tart. She landed a blow, knocking me backward. But I wasn’t going to give up that easily.With a quick jump, I managed to land a blow to her chest. The impact made her stumble back, but it wasn’t enough to stop her. I used the opportunity to kick her, my heel driving into her soft spot. Celine shrieked, clutching her chest and crotch, face twisted in pain. She gasped and bent over.I sprinted toward the table, fumbling for the remote, my fingers trembling. I slammed the green button three times before the robotic voice said, ‘Door Open.’"Yes!’ I screamed, sprinting for the door… Before I touched the handle, the door slammed open from outside with brutal force. I staggere
The bass thumped under my heels as I slipped through the hallway, my heart pounding in warning. Guests danced below while something ugly twisted above. I shouldn’t have followed her, but pain and jealousy don’t ask permission.Clayton warned me to stay low. But jealousy cuts deeper, and pain drowns reason. I saw Celine slip into another corner. She walked like she wanted to be followed. She glanced back once, just enough to bait me. Her fake confidence infuriated me enough to follow.Fifth floor. Sixth. The party noise disappeared entirely. It felt like I’d stepped into another world. With each step up, the world grew quieter. Now it was just the two of us—she leading, I hunting.She turned into a hallway and entered a door, leaving it slightly ajar. I waited—five, ten seconds.She didn’t come back out.I walked up and pushed the heavy door open without knocking. No pretending.The room was cold, too bright. No sunlight—just chandeliers spilling light over velvet drapes, marble f
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