ANASTASIA’S POV
“Let’s get this party started, bitches!” Athena hollered as we strutted into the club. Classic Athena—the life of the party and unapologetically bold. She thrived on attention, and tonight was no exception. Women were her playground, though she dabbled with men whenever the mood struck.
We headed straight to our usual spot in the VIP section at Club Hera. It wasn’t my top choice of venues, but the exclusivity made up for it. Plus, the men here were yummy.
“Our usual drinks,” I instructed the waiter as he approached. From across the room, I caught sight of the club manager and gave him a small wave. He nodded in acknowledgment.
“Gosh the girls here are looking way too sexy, I want them all!” Athena said, her eyes flitting eagerly across the room from woman to woman.
I chuckled. “Go easy on yourself, young lady. You can’t have them all.”
“Watch me,” she replied with a wink, already scouting her prey.
The waiter returned with our drinks, and I could feel myself settling into the night. The alcohol was my ticket to letting loose, and I intended to make the most of it. I’m always wherever the drinks are.
About thirty minutes in, the club was packed to the brim—sweaty bodies, pounding music, and an electrifying atmosphere. My attention was locked on two guys who had been hovering nearby. Both were tall, fit and exactly my type. The drinks were doing their magic, and my confidence surged.
I signaled for the waiter to come and I leaned toward him and whispered, “Tell them—him and him—to meet me in backroom cubicle five.” Stall five was me and Athena’s haven. The manager knew to keep it unoccupied whenever Athena and I were at the club.
Catching Athena’s eye, I signaled where I was heading. She nodded knowingly as I slipped past the thrumming crowd. Bodies brushed against me, sticky with heat and excitement.
By the time I reached the secluded stall, the buzz of alcohol had fully taken hold.
Not long after, the two men entered, leaving the door slightly ajar, a detail that didn’t bother me because no one came to this far end of the club unless invited.
I looked them over, taking in every detail. They stood shoulder to shoulder, both exuding a quiet confidence that made it hard to tear my eyes away. Their strong, sculpted shoulder blades strained against their fitted shirts, hinting at the power beneath. One wasn’t taller than the other, but they carried themselves differently.
The one on the left had dark, tousled hair that looked effortlessly styled as if he’d just rolled out of bed looking that good. His sharp jawline and piercing hazel eyes seemed to hold a mix of intrigue and mischief, as though he could either be your best-kept secret or your most thrilling mistake. His lips curved into a faint smirk, one that made my pulse quicken.
The other man was a striking contrast. His buzzed hair and neatly trimmed beard gave him an air of clean-cut precision, but the intensity in his deep-set blue eyes suggested something far more primal. His broad chest and muscular arms filled his shirt perfectly, leaving just enough to the imagination to keep my thoughts racing.
There was something magnetic about them both—opposites in demeanor but equally captivating. My gaze lingered a little too long on the way their shirts clung to their torsos, the slight glint of sweat under the dim lights making them seem even more alluring. I could feel my attraction building, the kind that left me feeling reckless, and ready for anything.
“Here’s the deal,” I said, my voice low and confident as I eyed them both. “I want you both right now. If you’re in, let me know now.
They both exchanged glances before the first man grinned. “I’m in. You’re way too hot to say no to,” he said as he undressed me with his eyes.
I looked at the other guy waiting for an answer. The look on his face made me think this wasn’t a typical setting he would be in. I could swear he was about to turn me down, but he just shrugged.
“Good choice,” I murmured, motioning for them to come closer. “You,” I pointed to one, “on the floor. And you,” gesturing to the other, “behind me.”
They moved into position as instructed. “Oh, and one last thing,” I added with a smirk. “I like my pleasure on the edge. I’m not like most women—if it’s not risky, it’s not worth it. But don’t worry; there’s nothing to be scared of.”
The first man hesitated briefly, but as his hands traced up my legs, his apprehension melted away. Meanwhile, the second man’s lips traveled along my neck, his hands expertly exploring my curves. My body was ablaze, each touch amplified by the alcohol coursing through me.
“Take it off,” I commanded, gesturing to my skirt. As the man on his knees obeyed, his eyes widened briefly when the gun tucked into the waistband came into view. I smirked as I played with the cold deadly metal in my hand, enjoying his reaction, before he continued sliding the fabric down my thighs.
Behind me, the other man unbuttoned my linen shirt, revealing the black lace of my bra. I held my cold metal gun tightly as sensations built, their hands and mouths igniting every nerve.
I ran the tip of my gun down my thigh as I felt kisses and hands on every part of my body. I enjoyed the cold and dangerous feel of the gun against my soft skin. Kisses were traced along my inner thighs as I spread my legs wider to give more room for pleasure.
With a soft moan, I pressed the gun against the temple of the man kneeling before me. His eyes flickered with surprise, but he didn’t stop, his lips continued to satisfy my needs.
“Unbuckle it,” I instructed the man behind me, referring to my bra. He complied, his fingers swiftly unclasping my bra as his other hand slid lower. As my perky breasts came into view, the other man’s fingers found their way inside me. Each finger in one after the other, each movement deliberate and intoxicating as he rubbed on my clit.
My breath hitched as the intensity grew. The man on his knees worshiped every inch of my body with his mouth as his fingers worked magic in me, while the one behind me pushed me closer to the edge with every calculated touch and suckle on my delicate nipples.
In the dimly lit hallway across the room, I caught a glimpse of stormy gray eyes. The silhouette of a man stood motionless, watching. His gaze was piercing, and commanding, and something about it unraveled me completely. I threw my head back, moaning loudly as my climax tore through me.
When I looked back, the man was gone. Almost as if he was conjured by my imagination.
NOLAN’S POVWalking into the house I saw my mother and her assistants preparing for dinner tonight. It all felt surreal. The reason why parents were going to such lengths for this arrangement was absurd. I shook my head as I caught a glimpse of my mother, orchestrating everything with her usual precision. She was a perfectionist through and through.“Hello, Mother,” I said, leaning in to plant a kiss on her foreheadShe looked up with her beautiful smile. “My love, I take it you’re in a better mood than yesterday?” she asked with a playful wiggle of her brows, her teasing making me chuckle. It amazed me how she and Father worked as a pair. They are polar opposites. Mother was gentle and fun, while Father was strict and stoic, except when he was around her. Their dynamic was enviable in many ways.“Not exactly. Seeing you prepare for this dinner makes it painfully real that there’s no way out of this for me,” I said, sinking into the chair next to her.Her expression softened as she re
ANASTASIA’S POVDriving into my parents’ estate, I found my father and his assistant outside, waiting on Mother, as usual. Her delays were as predictable as they were frustrating, and Father’s expression was a blend of annoyance and resignation.“Anastasia, finally,” he said, glancing at his watch. “Your mother will be out shortly. Are you ready?”I nodded, smoothing the soft fabric of my dress. “I’m ready,” I said as I leaned against the hood of my sports car. Minutes later, Mother emerged from the house, her assistant trailing behind. She walked past me, her heels clicking on the stone pavement, without so much as a glance in my direction. She slid into the car, and I entered mine. I waited as my parents' car and their security detail led the way, and then we were off to the Russo estate.The ride was silent except for the soft hum from the engine of my car. The weight of the night’s expectations pressed heavily on my shoulders. As much as I’d prepared myself for this moment, the r
NOLAN’S POVThe private elevator leading to my office building hummed softly as it took me to the executive floor. The polished steel doors slid open as we arrived. The pristine expanse of the executive floor came into view. The quiet buzz of the city below was almost entirely muted which gave the office space an air of detachment from the chaos of the world outside.Walking toward my office, I spotted Dimitri leaning against Rebecca’s desk. He was mid-conversation, undoubtedly trying to charm her again. Rebecca’s polite smile failed to mask her discomfort, but Dimitri didn’t seem to care. “Good afternoon, sir,” Rebecca greeted me, her voice a bit too cheerful as she glanced in my direction, she looked glad someone finally saved her from Dimitri. “Afternoon,” I replied, my eyes narrowing slightly as I glanced at Dimitri.“Well, well, look who’s here,” Dimitri said, falling into step with me as I headed for my office. “How’s the future husband-to-be this fine morning? Already practic
ANASTASIA’S POV"Yes, Athena, I’m in my office. You can come by," I replied, signing off on a stack of documents on my desk. "Just ensure you’re here before 4 PM—I have business to attend to after that.""Oh, I’ll be there in an hour. Don’t miss me too much," Athena said cheerfully on the other end of the line.I chuckled dryly. "You wish."As I set the phone back on the desk, my secretary walked in, balancing yet another stack of files in her arms. I sighed inwardly. Managing a family furniture business as a front for our real operations was both a blessing and a curse. The endless paperwork tied to both businesses? Definitely a curse."They just never end, do they?" I said sarcastically, glancing at Ruth as she placed the files neatly on my desk. She gave me a polite smile, one I imagined she had reserved for all my complaints."You have a meeting at 2 o’clock, and you need to be at the other warehouse by 4," she said, her voice calm and professional as she ticked items off her iPa
NOLAN’S POV I sat in my dining chair, staring blankly at the unopened bottle of whiskey on the table. The light coming in from the city skyline stretched beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lighting the room dimly. My phone rang, pulling me out of my deep thoughts. The name on the screen was for one of my men, this could either make my day or leave me livid. I swiped to answer, my voice clipped.“What?”“Boss, we’ve got a problem,” the man stammered. His tone already irritating me.“Spit it out,” I snapped ready to get the conversation over with.“There was… a raid at the docks,” he said, hesitating with every word. “They were waiting for us. Three crates are gone—seized before we could get them out.”My jaw tightened. “A raid? How the hell did they know? Someone talk?”“I—I don’t know yet. But we’re working on it,” he stuttered.“Working on it?” I repeated with disgust “I don’t pay you stupid assholes to work on it!” I said my anger rising “I pay you bastards to ensure situations l
ANASTASIA’S POVThe low hum of the engine filled the silence of the car as I sped through the streets that led to the warehouse. My fingers drummed against the leather steering wheel, the tension in my chest building with each passing second. Handling business, asserting control, and reminding everyone why crossing me was a grave mistake were the moments I lived for.As I pulled up to the warehouse, the men stationed at the gates nodded in acknowledgment as the car moved past them. I stepped out of the car, my heels clicking against the concrete as I approached the entrance.The guards at the door were heavily armed, their rifles glinting under the unforgiving fluorescent lights. They stepped aside without a word and I stepped into the room. The air inside was thick with tension, and the two men sitting at the center of the room were tied to chairs, their faces swollen and bloodied. I stepped forward looking the traitors in the eye. These weren’t just two random fools who decided to
NOLAN’S POVWalking into the Ivanovos’ living room with my parents, I immediately looked for a spot near the entrance so I could slip out unnoticed if I can’t stand the entire drama anymore. I looked to my right and found a lone sofa near the doorway. Perfect. I plopped down, stretching out slightly, making it clear that I didn’t want to be there.My mother wasted no time diving into a discussion with Anastasia’s mother and a woman who was clearly an event planner, judging by the swatches of fabric and flower arrangements spread across the coffee table. Meanwhile, my father on the other hand was having a conversation regarding business with Anastasia’s father. I looked around in irritation as I had no idea why I was needed here. Did anyone honestly think I’d care about flower arrangements or seating charts? I slouched further into the chair and allowed my mind to wander toward some business deals I was still trying to close. Just when I was plotting my exit so I could go to work, a
ANASTASIA’S POVThe blaring ringtone of my phone jolted me awake, immediately followed by the continuous ringing of my doorbell. I groaned, yanking the pillow over my head to block out the noise. Who in their right mind would be ringing my bell this early? They must have a death wish.“Damn it,” I muttered, throwing off the covers and stumbling out of bed. Snatching my phone from the nightstand, I squinted at the screen to see who was calling me. It was my mother. Just perfect.“What?” I answered in an irritated tone as I shuffled toward the front door.“That’s no way to talk to your mother, Anastasia,” she said, her tone sharp as always.I rolled my eyes and opened the door, only to find five people standing there, each holding more than two boxes and bags.“What the hell is this?” I asked, switching the phone to my other ear.“If only you’d bothered to pick up earlier, I wouldn’t have to explain,” my mother snapped. “That’s your makeup, hairstyling, and styling team. They’re there t
NOLAN’S POVThe operations were finally over. It was time to head home.We were stationed in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, waiting for the chopper to fuel up and take us home. Camila leaned against a steel pillar, her arms crossed, boots clicking softly as she shifted her weight. She looked too at ease for someone who had carried out dangerous operations back to back for one month.“Are you always this quiet or I broke you?” she asked, sizing me up with her eyes.“Just waiting to get the hell out of here,” I muttered, watching Dimitri scroll through messages on a secured tablet nearby. She smirked and pushed off the pillar, walking towards me.“Hmm, I guess you don't really have the stomach for it,” she said, moving closer. “If you asked me, I’d say otherwise. You’re a natural.”I glanced at her, unamused. “I don’t think that's a compliment I’d like to take.”She gave a dramatic sigh, brushing imaginary dust off my jacket. “You’re still thinking about Raul’s sp
ANASTASIA’S POVIt had been a week.Seven whole days since I let Ivan touch me.Seven days since we both quenched our desires. And every day since then, I've been running.Not physically, but I haven’t been able to hold his gaze or stay in the room too long with him. He noticed also but didn’t press for anything. But I could feel him watching.Every time we were in the same space, that heavy silence would hang between us. His gaze was always fixed on me at every time, and I’d pretend I didn’t feel it like a burn on my skin.I’d lied to myself, thinking I could handle it. That it was just a one-time thing. Except, it wasn’t. Because every time I closed my eyes, I remembered the way he touched me. The way his mouth worshiped every part of me. And worse?I wanted more.And that terrified me.“Ma'am?”My head snapped up. I hadn’t realized I’d zoned out in the middle of the operations meeting. My fingers tightened around the pen in my hand as I turned to face the manager who was spe
ANASTASIA’S POV“Ivan…” I whispered as I stepped closer to him, closing the distance between us. My eyes met his, and I didn’t blink. “Unbutton your shirt.”He tilted his head, searching my face for any sign of hesitation. Maybe to be sure I wasn’t acting out of drunken impulse.But there was no uncertainty in me. Just rage and desire. Without hesitating, he obeyed. His fingers moved slowly from the top button, his eyes never leaving mine.My breath hitched as my eyes followed his every move.I watched the way his knuckles flexed with each button he undid and how his chest rose and fell.When he did the last one, I reached up to slide the shirt off his shoulders. My palms flattened against his skin, skimming down his arms, feeling every inch and every line of his body. After taking off the shirt, I reached down for his belt. I looked up at him again. “Take it off.”His hands worked at the buckle smoothly without hesitation. As he took off the belt, I reached for his zipper, but he
NOLAN’S POVIt had been two days since I left home, and I hadn’t heard a word from Anna. The silence put me in distress, and no amount of whiskey or distraction could drown out the guilt or the ache in my chest.We were all at the hideout waiting for the next order. Dimitri sat across from me, his eyes scanning through a few folders on the table. Camila was pacing by the window, talking to someone on the phone in low murmurs.“What's the word?” I asked, tapping my fingers on the edge of the table, trying to focus on the work at hand.Dimitri raised an eyebrow without looking up. “The usual—deals, contracts, risks. The buyer's still on the fence. They’re asking too many questions.”I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. “So, what's the next step? We wait for them to decide. Or do we push harder?”Dimitri didn't immediately respond like he was considering whether or not to say something. He finally met my eyes. “Maybe we push, but not too hard. We don’t want to spook them. The m
ANASTASIA’S POVI woke to a deep, steady breathing rhythm next to me. I snuggled closer, wanting more of the warmth.My eyes fluttered open, and for a second, I thought I was alone on the bed. Then I felt the weight of an arm across my waist and turned to find Ivan lying beside me, his face relaxed in sleep. We weren’t tangled together, but his hold on me was gentle.Then the memories from last night came flooding in. The ice cream, laughter, and the way he made me feel. The ache in my chest had eased just a little. But that was last night.This morning was different.This morning, I had to pretend none of that mattered.I carefully slid out of his arms and tiptoed out of bed like a thief, making my way to the bathroom. The hot water stung at first, but I welcomed the burn. It was grounding.After drying off and slipping into a fresh robe, I stepped back into the room and found the bed empty.Good.That meant we didn’t have to talk about anything. No awkward glances and forced convers
ANASTASIA’S POVThe rim of my glass felt warm against my fingers as I swirled the last bit of my drink, watching the amber liquid catch the dim lights of the bar. Ivan was sitting across me with his arms folded, his sharp eyes watching me like I was a teenager sneaking alcohol.I sighed, setting the glass down. “Could you not watch me like I’m a child?”His lips twitched. “Just trying to see if you’re drunk yet.”“I’ve only had one drink,” I said, arching a brow. “And you know damn well it takes more than that.”He chuckled, deep and amused. “True.”I rolled my eyes and picked up the glass to finish the last drop. “Alright, babysitter. It’s getting late. Let’s head home.”He stood as I did. “Sure thing.”We made our way out of the bar and the air was cooler. I took in a deep breath. Felt like I needed the fresh air.Ivan moved to open the back door for me like he always did—but tonight, I made my way to the front and slid into the passenger seat instead.He moved to the driver's seat
NOLAN’S POVAnna’s body was still pressed against mine as she took warm and shaky breaths. I didn’t want to let go—not yet. But the truth pressed heavily on my chest.“I have to leave again, Princess,” I said quietly.At first, she didn’t say anything. She just went still. Then, she slowly peeled herself out of my arms and turned to face me.The look in her eyes wasn’t confusion or disappointment. It was cold and controlled.Anger.“You're leaving?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper, but came out sharp.I nodded, already hating myself. “Yeah. I have to.” I said avoiding her gaze.She let out a short, humorless laugh and stepped back, water cascading off her body. “Then why the hell did you come back at all?!”“Because I—”“No.” She raised a hand, eyes flashing. “I actually don’t want to hear it.”I exhaled, running a hand through my wet hair. “This isn’t easy for me either, Princess.”“And yet, here we are!” she said, letting out a cold laugh. “First, you didn't tell me w
ANASTASIA’S POVA knock on the door pulled me from my daze. It creaked open and my secretary peeked her head in.“Ma’am, the team from the furniture manufacturing house called. It seems like the workers are slacking again. You might need to visit.”I let out a dramatic sigh, dragging my palm down my face. “God, I hate this cover-up business crap.”She gave a polite smile, clearly used to my grumbling. "Sorry, ma'am."Ivan let out a low chuckle from where he was leaning against the opposite wall, arms folded and looking effortlessly intimidating.I narrowed my eyes at him. “You think this is funny?”“You can just be very...expressive," he said, barely suppressing his smile.“I swear, sometimes I wonder why my parents don’t just hire someone else to run this branch of things. Let me focus on the real business. Guns, threats, money laundering—my happy place.”“You’re dealing with the workers today. I’m not lifting a finger.” I said, pointing a finger at him.He nodded, straight-faced. “J
ANASTASIA’S POVIvan froze as he continued to stare at me.My phone continued to buzz in his hand, but he didn’t pay any attention to it.Neither did I.My breath caught somewhere in my chest. Not because I was embarrassed, but because the look in his eyes wasn’t one I’d ever seen before. Not on him.He blinked hard, looked away, then turned swiftly on his heel. “Sorry—I didn’t mean to—” His voice trailed off as he stepped out and shut the door behind him.I stood there for another second, my heart beating faster than it should.What the hell just happened?I grabbed my robe on the bed and wrapped it tightly around myself, cinching the tie a bit too aggressively. The way he looked at me, was imprinted in my brain.I walked down the hallway barefoot, my steps muffled against the hardwood floor. Ivan was in the living room, his back turned to me.“I’m ready for that glass of wine now,” I said casually as I stepped in.He was mid-motion, lifting his shirt over his head. The soft fabric