My chest heaved, exhaustion pulling me under. I stopped struggling, resigning myself to his touch.He gripped my waist and pressed closer, lifting me slightly and positioning himself to penetrate, sending a gasp from my lips. A shiver ran through me as he teased me, just barely intruding. I felt the barest intrusion of his tip in my love hole. A sensation that set every nerve alight. My body braced instinctively, expecting him to take more.But then, he stopped. Just as quickly as he advanced, he pulled out. Relief, confusion, and something darker churned in my chest, leaving me breathless. The tension was unbearable until Dontrell’s voice shattered it.“Not tonight,” he muttered, his voice rough as if wrestling with his restraint. He pulled back, his touch lingering only briefly before retreating entirely. My chest heaved as I turned to face him, confusion and relief swirling through me. He ran a hand through his hair, the tension in his muscles evident. “I didn’t save you to hurt y
The smoke from My Father's Bon-Cadeau pipe filled the bathroom, casting shadows over his sharp features, amplifying the menacing air around him. His immaculate dark suit hugged his powerful frame. A man radiating authority, the kind that commanded both respect and fear. I tensed, my pistol still in my hand, the safety clicked off from when I’d thought I’d need it moments earlier. The audacity of him barging in burnt through me.He stood in the doorway, a figure carved out of shadows and smoke. His gaze slid past me like I wasn’t even there. His smirk deepened when he saw Allison clutching the towel tighter around herself, his eyes lingering on her a moment too long. “Next time, don’t bother hiding behind the curtain. It won’t help you.” His voice cut through the tension, sharp and biting. I didn’t respond right away; I just felt the anger bubble up.Allison’s soft voice broke the silence. “Good morning, sir,” she said, barely above a whisper.His eyes flicked over to me, colder tha
The door clicked shut behind me as I stepped into the room. My father sat in the centre of the room, expression unreadable, framed by the chandelier light. The room carried an air of suffocation—a mix of cigar smoke and silence so heavy it seemed to choke any sense of comfort. Clayton leaned against the far wall, coiled, ready to strike. Andrew stood near the window, his arms crossed and his posture relaxed but calculated. Two additional bodyguards loomed by the door, their eyes fixed on me. I held up a hand, stopping any attempts at conversation. "Give me a moment." I walked past them into my closet, shutting the door. The hangers clicked as I pulled on black slacks and a shirt. No shoes, no jacket—this was still my house, even if it felt like enemy territory presently. When I returned, I found Clayton pacing, his anger almost palpable. My father hadn’t moved from his position, his demeanour as though he owned not just the room but everyone in it. When I returned to the room, Clay
I froze in the bathroom doorway, my pulse racing. The air around me was thick with tension, the echoes of the women’s cries still haunting my ears. But it was his eyes—dark and piercing—that held me captive. “Come here, Dove,” he said, his voice like velvet and steel.My feet felt glued to the floor, and my body refused to move. “I won’t ask again,” Dontrell warned, his tone colder now.My feet began already betraying me as I stepped forward, closing the distance between us, each step feeling like a death sentence. When I stopped in front of him, Dontrell reached out, grabbing my neck. His touch was gentle but heavy, like a shackle, locking me in place.“Were you listening?” he asked, his eyes searching my face.I swallowed, panic rising in my chest. I couldn’t lie to him. He’d see through it instantly.“I heard... some things,” I said, my voice shaking.He studied me for a moment, lips pressed into a tight line. “You shouldn’t have.”“I didn’t mean to,” I rushed to explain. “I hea
The snap of the bracelet echoed through the room, and the tiny beads scattered like shattered stars across the cold marble floor. “No! No!” I screamed, dropping to my knees, hands trembling as I frantically tried to gather them. Each bead that slipped felt like my heart breaking again."“Why would you do this?” I choked, my voice raw.“Because you need to let go of him,” Dontrell said, his voice sharp but laced with something deeper. “You can’t keep living in the past.”I looked up, tears falling. “You don’t get it! This wasn’t just a bracelet—it was all I had left of her!”He rubbed his eyes. “I understand more than you think. I’ve lost more than you know. But that bracelet—it's a chain from your father. It's keeping you trapped.”You don’t get to decide that for me!” I shouted, clutching the broken strands. Memories flooded back—my mother weakly smiling in her hospital bed, slipping the bracelet onto my wrist. “Each charm represents us,” she whispered: the heart for you, the crown
Clayton’s voice sliced through the silence, sharp and merciless. “Dorothy said you’ve decided not to eat.” His tone was heavy, laced with lethal authority.I flinched. Each time I saw him, I remembered the sting of his slap, the humiliation of our first meeting. I was terrified of him. Every time I saw him, I remembered his hand striking my face the first time we met, the force of it, the humiliation. He knew I feared him. That’s why he was here—to force me to eat. “I—I’m not feeling fine,” I stammered, my words trembling as I met his hard gaze, though the way his eyebrow arched told me he didn’t care.His lips curled into a humourless smirk. “I don’t care what’s wrong with you. In this house, when you’re told to do something, you do it, eating included. That free will, Dontrell has spoilt you with, ends now.” “I’m sorry,” I whispered, lowering my gaze. “I’ll eat now.” “Not like you have a choice,” he retorted, annoyance lacing his tone. Clayton closed the distance, the tray still
The darkness of the abandoned lot wrapped around me like a predator stalking its prey, the warehouse looming ahead with its metal frame groaning under decay. I gripped the crumpled paper tighter in my fist, the name "Simeon and his address" scrawled in my father’s messy handwriting fuelling the fire raging in my chest.He was out. Out of the Circle's Pit, the place where men like him—snakes, liars, and traitors—were sent to rot. I didn’t care how he clawed his way out; I cared about one thing: answers.The photograph of Allison burnt in my pocket like a brand, the memory of its haunting details as sharp as a blade. Her face, so delicate and pure, didn’t belong in the pocket of a dead man—a thief who thought he could cross the Blade family. And that "11-11," marked on the back with an ominous X? That wasn’t just a coincidence. That was a threat.And threats against Allison? Those were punishable by death.I kicked open the warehouse door, the rusty hinges shrieking in protest. Dust and
I kept the gun steady, pressing it against Simeon. His desperation was palpable, but I couldn’t let him wiggle his way out of this. His words were like a drop of water in the face of a storm, but the truth was what I needed. He gasped, still clutching his broken arm. "I—I swear, I don’t know all the details," he stuttered, his voice laced with fear. "But Ragent... he was working with someone higher up. Someone willing to pay millions.”“I don’t know their names!" Simeon’s voice cracked with panic. "But it’s serious—dangerous. Ragent said they’re connected to something called ‘11-11.’ I have no idea what it means, I swear! He didn’t tell me everything!"I leaned in, eyes narrowing, my grip on the gun, my boot twisting on his chest, digging deeper. "Who the hell is '11-11'?" I demanded, my voice low and dangerous.Simeon swallowed hard, his face pale. "I... I don’t know! But Ragent said it was bigger than anything we could imagine. He told me that whoever was behind it... had plans for
Tires screeched on the rough pavement as I swerved, forcing the car to its limits. Dust choked the air as I sped toward the warehouse. The engine roared—a battle cry."Hold on!" I barked, gripping the wheel. My heart pounded with the engine's growl.Clayton and Dontrell braced behind me, jaws tight, fingers twitching on their guns. The eight men left in their convoy followed closely behind us. No turning back now.I pushed harder. VRRROOOMMM—swerved past a wrecked truck.The warehouse loomed, rusted doors towering like hell’s gates. I hit the brakes. Tires screamed as the car skidded into position.The moment I cut the engine, the doors flew open."Move! Move! Move!" I bellowed, shoving my door open.Everyone jumped out, weapons drawn. The air was thick with tension, the promise of war looming over us like a storm ready to break."Where the hell are our troops?" I barked at Dontell. “We need the damn backup now!" I stepped out, both guns in hand.He barely looked up from his phone. "
The moment I stepped out of the airport, the first thing I saw was Dontrell—he leaned against the bulletproof SUV, arms crossed, unreadable. Clayton sat in the front, scanning the surroundings.Immediately I got in, Clayton fired up the engine, jaw tight, steering through the busy street.Five armored cars flanked us—two ahead, three behind, like an iron wall. But inside our bulletproof ride, it was just us.Dontrell sat beside me, loading his gun with practiced ease. I did the same, checked my rounds, cocked my weapon, tightened my vest. The car smelled of gun oil and adrenaline."Trust’s a luxury I can’t afford," Dontrell muttered, reloading. "That’s why Clayton’s driving." He tossed me a gun. "This conversation stays between us."I nodded, my fingers tightening around the cold steel in my hands, fully loaded. No safety. No bullshit. “Talk to me.” Clayton pulled onto the road, leading the convoy as we sped out of the city. The silence was heavy. The kind before war.Dontrell unzip
Alone in the mansion, I curled up on the velvet couch, flipping through a book I wasn’t even reading. The television murmured in the background, its flickering images failing to distract me. Security was everywhere. They had been in here with me before, but I had asked them to stay outside —their presence was suffocating.In the past twenty-four hours, my life has been a whirlwind. Mr Blade had called, demanding to speak to me, but Dontrell refused to hand me the phone. Then my father called—cold as ever. He boasted about his bank’s new investor, thanks to me and our ties to the Blades. As if that wasn’t enough, he reminded me I was taking too long to have a child, asking, ‘What was my problem?’ I hung up without a word. I wouldn’t let his voice poison my thoughts.Despite the chaos, Dontrell had been genuinely worried about me. He continuously asked if my father’s call or Mr Blade’s demand had upset me. "I’m fine," I lied, and he also didn’t believe me.Paranoid, more than usual. He
I ran into her arms, breath hitching as I crushed myself against her. I buried my head in her lap. Her scent—warm. Familiar. Home.She yanked my hair. Pain flared, but I didn’t pull away. I let her. I deserved it. I buried my head in her lap, a boy again, clinging to comfort long lost.“Andrew.” Her voice wavered. “A son after my own heart.” Her grip loosened. Trembling, she wiped the tears I hadn’t noticed.My name left her lips like a ghost.My throat was thick, my voice hoarse. "Mom—"She slapped me.It didn’t hurt. What hurt was the look in her eyes.“Sixteen years.” Her voice cracked.I clenched my jaw, her words pressing down on me. “I had no choice.”Her breath shook. Her gaze was desperate. Accusing.She laughed, brittle. “That’s where you’re wrong, Andrew.” She turned away, whispering. “You always had a choice.”Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating.I exhaled slowly, the words I had never been able to say finally escaping.I tensed. Years. Silence. Distance. Cr
The house was much smaller, its wooden planks warped by time. Each breeze made the walls groan, and beyond the backyard, only dry grass clung to life. Inside, the air held the scent of aged wood—and faint traces of my father, though he was gone.We had only the large soil he once dreamed would make him a wealthy farmer and gardener.I lay beside my mother, her body trembling as she clutched my six-year-old siblings, Elijah and Elsie, who tried to comfort her in their childish ways.“Don’t cry, Mama,” Elsie said, her little voice serious. “Maybe Papa will come back.”Elijah nodded, puffing out his small chest. “Big Brother, why did God take Daddy? When will he come back?”I exhaled shakily, pressing my forehead against my mother’s shoulder. I wanted to tell them the truth, that Dad wasn’t coming back, but instead, I found myself whispering, “Heaven needed him because the workers in the sky are very busy now. God asked him to help make more clouds so kids like you could be happy. He’ll
I stared out the jet window as Ireland’s city lights melted into the countryside’s darkness. The engine hummed, but my thoughts were louder. It had been years since I last set foot here—since my father’s death, since I left my mother and siblings behind.Her face came back to me. I remembered it like I had seen it just yesterday. Soft eyes, tired but kind. Would she recognise me? Would she even care that I was back?The wheels hit the tarmac. I exhaled. I was home.I stood outside the airport, staring at the land I swore I'd never return to—the soil that held my father’s bones, the city that spit on us when we were nothing.And now, I was back.Sixteen years. Since I left. Since I saw her.The drive from the airport to the compound was long, cutting through large cities and then to the quiet farmlands and open fields. My driver, Coleman, was silent most of the way until we finally reached the outskirts of my family's land.Ireland had changed, but its scent remained—earthy, raw, steep
Andrew’s words left a suffocating silence. His breath lingered, his whisper curling down my spine like a serpent. Water dripped down my frozen body, but inside, something writhed.“You don’t see it yet,” he murmured. “But you will.”I shivered, ice and fire colliding.“Soon, Allison…” He exhaled, slow and deliberate. “You’ll become worse than Clayton, your father, and Mr Blade.” His voice darkened, rough with something deadly. “You’ll be filthy, vile and cunning. A master in manipulating.”His voice was steady, but there was something beneath it—something like fear."Hell, you might be worse."The words sliced through me, sharper than any blade, cutting past flesh and bone, straight to something deeper. My heart.He shook his head. “I see it already, Allison. You’re on that treacherous path, and I—” His breath hitched. His grip tightened, then released. “I won’t be here to watch. I know the cost of this life—past, present, and future.”A sharp sob tore from me, but he looked unfazed.
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
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