KIRA’S POVI looked at myself in the mirror, for the second time that day, all glamoured up, but this time I wasn't clad in a white wedding dress. A blue gown hugged my curves, accentuating my figure beautifully.A smile tugged at my lips as I noticed how my eyes sparkled, perfectly matching the colour of the dress. But then my conversation with Adrian crept back into my mind. And Suddenly, the urge to tear the dress off overwhelmed me, and the smile faded, my expression mirroring the emptiness I felt inside.***"You'll be going," he had said with authority, his eyes holding a stern glare similar to mine.“What makes you think I’ll listen to you? I thought I was just your brother’s sloppy seconds. So why are you so eager to show me off?” I challenged him.He looked at me, his face expressionless, making one think he wasn't affected by my words, but the way his fist tightened beside him hinted otherwise. It was enough for me to know I had gotten to him.“I couldn’t care less if you we
KIRA’S POV"Did I stutter?" Adrian's voice cut through the air, sharp as a blade. "I said," his tone dropped to a menacing growl, "hit her back."I stared at him in confusion. "B-But-" I began, but he cut me off."No buts. Either you hit her back, or I hit you." His gaze bore into me, cold and unforgiving. "And trust me, I've killed millions. My palm on your face wouldn't exactly be gentle." He emphasized the last word, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.The room erupted in murmurs. Kayla looked at me in shock, while Dylan stared at the ground, clearly too scared to defy Adrian.I glanced around hoping someone might come to my rescue. But who was I kidding, everyone knew Adrian's reputation. None would dare challenge him. "Adrian, please," I whispered, my hands trembling at my sides."Patience," Adrian snarled, "is not one of my virtues. And I'm sure our guests here would prefer to get back to their festivities," he added, his voice rising so that everyone could hear. “Now, d
KIRA’S POVI sat at the table, my untouched breakfast in front of me. Aunt Linda had practically dragged me out of my room, insisting I eat something. The sound of a chair scraping across the floor caught my attention. I looked up to see Adrian settling in opposite me, dressed sharply in a black suit.“Good morning” I grumbled but he continued to stare at the newspaper in front of him. It had been exactly a week since his release party and three days since I found him fucking a whore. This was the first time we’d shared a meal at the dining table since, but I doubted he was here to bond."Prepare yourself for tonight," he finally said, his voice breaking the silence. I looked up at him, the food in front of me still untouched."For what? Another porn series starring you?" I snapped, the memory playing on an endless loop in my mind.He smiled—a twisted, almost genuine expression. "I didn’t realize you enjoyed such things," he replied coolly. "I bet you walked away with your panties so
KIRA’S POV “Is that any way to talk to our Mother? She missed you. You owe it to her to be nice.” I heard someone say. I glanced sideways to see Kayla staring at me, her hands resting on her belly which seemed to have grown slightly since the last time I saw her. ‘So, she's really pregnant’ a voice in my head said. ‘That doesn't mean it's Dylans.’ another thought echoed, leaving a sour taste in my mouth. “She’s not my mother and I don't owe anyone anything,” I said matter-of-factly, walking away from the mother-and-daughter duo. I walked toward the kitchen, drawn by the savory aroma of dinner. Whatever reason they had for joining us tonight felt insignificant compared to the thought of finally eating. “Kira…” I knew that voice all too well, but I didn’t turn around. Dylan’s voice still had that familiar silky edge, wrapping around me like a memory I was desperate to forget. I kept my gaze fixed on the jug in front of me, determined to ignore him for the rest of the evening—ma
KIRA’S POV *** A wide smile stretched across my face as my feet giddily danced down the stairs. What was love without happiness? “Why are you smiling so much, babe?” Dylan asked, an equally broad smile resting on his face. “I’m sorry, I just—” I giggled, my hands rushing up to hide the blush creeping across my cheeks. “I can’t believe you’re actually here.” “I told you I'd be here, didn't I?” “I know, but it’s unbelievable! How did you manage to convince him to let me leave the mansion for this date?” I asked. “You know how paranoid he’s been since the accident. He won’t even let me go back to school, not even to the library. I’ve been caged up like a dog for more than eight months, and now that I’m finally outside, I don’t even know how to feel. Tell me, are the trees still green, or have they evolved into something else?” He smiled, gently taking my hand and leading me out of the mansion. “Stop being so dramatic,” he chuckled, nudging me playfully. “It’s been only eight month
KIRA’S POV.“W…W are you doing here?” I asked, trying to steer away from the tension in the room.“This is my room,” Adrian replied coldly. “And for some reason, when you fainted, Maria thought it would be a good idea to dump you in here. I almost ended up in the guest room. Came in to change, and what do I find? You… moaning my brother’s name. Pathetic.”Shame flushed through me and I swallowed hard, wishing I could disappear. "I'm sorry," I muttered as my gaze darted around the room, finally registering where l was. The room was cold, with high ceilings and dark, heavy curtains that made it feel hollow. It lacked any warmth or personal touch as if no one really lived here. The bed beneath me was massive, with gray sheets—and a small stain, evidence of my vulnerability.I turned to the edge of the bed, ready to climb down when Adrian's hand shot out, stopping me."I didn't tell you to move, did I?" he said, his voice hard.I glared at him, the heat rising in my chest. “Last time, I c
KIRA’S POVI stood in front of the mirror admiring the new necklace sitting delicately on my neck. Aunt Linda stood beside me, her eyes watching me with deep admiration.“Isn't it beautiful?” I smiled at her in the mirror.“Yes, yes it is,” she quickly agreed.“Too bad it has to be on my neck, it deserves to belong to someone who isn’t as sour as I am.” I shook my head slightly at my reflection.“No, my darling. You’re far from sour. You’ve just had a bit of bad luck with the family you ended up with. You are beautiful and you deserve all the beautiful things in the world, Mia.”My heart swelled with appreciation. “Thank you, Aunt. Thank you for always—”But before I could finish, the door opened and Adrian walked in even though no one permitted him to. As always the big bad Adrian never waits for permission or listens to instructions.“I’ll leave you two alone,” Aunt Linda said, giving my shoulder a gentle pat as she walked toward the door. “Try to have fun at dinner, dear.”“I will,
KIRA’S POVFor a brief moment, there was silence—a huge emptiness. The wind screamed in my ears as I jumped, but I didn't move, something held me back. My breath hitched “Dylan?" I whispered, my heart leaping at the thought that he'd run after me. Relief flooded my chest for a split second until l turned back and realized it wasn't him. My dress had hooked on a metal bar sticking out from the ledge."Ugh!" I groaned, feeling frustrated. "Does the universe hate me so much that It won't even let me commit suicide in peace?"I yanked my dress free, the fabric ripping as I stumbled backward. I cursed under my breath and turned back toward the edge of the roof, feeling more determined.“There’s nothing left for me here,” I whispered to no one. The world spun around me as I stepped forward. This time, there was no hesitation, no stupid rod to hold me back. The air whipped past my face, time seeming to stretch. The noise of the city below dulled into an eerie silence.For a moment, I felt w
KIRA’s POV.I stood frozen, staring at the knife in front of me, unwilling to turn around and face him.“I’ve never missed my target twice in one day. Trust me, there won’t be a third,” he said, his voice calm but the warning underneath was very evident. I heard the sound of his chair scraping followed by footsteps moving closer to me, and soon I could feel his warm breath on my back.Oh God.He grabbed my arm lightly, turning me to face him, I kept my eyes down, unable to meet his gaze as I turned. His bare torso was on full display, each muscle perfectly defined, but I forced myself to focus on the floor not knowing how to face him. I had been brave enough for one day, but I knew better than to provoke him further.Without releasing my arm or saying a word, he pulled more like dragged me toward the study door. I heard the heavy drag of the wooden door as he closed it. The sound of the lock sliding into place sent a cold shiver down my spine.
KIRA’S POVBang!The sound of a gunshot echoed through the room, and I instinctively closed my eyes. Oh my God, Adrian shot me, he really shot me. My body froze, my mind racing as I braced myself expecting the pain to kick in at any moment.One…Two…Three…Nothing. I didn’t feel anything. Have I actually learned how to redirect pain and this is my body redirecting the pain?No, that's highly unlikely, I am sure I would feel a bullet in my body.Slowly, I cracked one eye open to peek. The room was blurry, so I opened the other, my vision clearing as I looked down at myself. My hands flew to my body, patting frantically, scanning for any sign of a gunshot wound.Nothing.Once I was sure there wasn’t a hole in me, I turned my attention to Adrian. Our eyes met and his lips twitched into a mocking smirk, one eyebrow arched as he stared at me. Using his head, he gestured upward. Following his line of sight, I looked up and spotted a small
KIRA’S POVJena was sprawled on the desk, Adrian deep inside her. Her tiny frame arched under him, her tiny breasts moving upwards as he thrust into her. The desk was a chaotic mess, papers scattered everywhere, yet neither of them seemed to care.They both looked up when I entered, but their movements didn’t stop.Adrian’s eyes locked onto mine, his face twisted with anger, and his usually slicked hair was scattered and disheveled—no doubt from Jena’s hands running her hands through it. “What the hell are you doing here? Get out!” he barked.I froze for a moment, taking in the crazy scene before me. Jena turned to me, her lips curled into a smile that sent a sick wave of déjà vu washing over me. It was the same smug expression Kayla gave me every time she talked about Dylan. That look of triumph, of winning something they had no right to take.I swallowed my emotions, masking my hurt with indifference, and met Adrian’s furious eyes.“No,” I stated, cros
KIRA’S POV“Oh God,” I gasped, covering my mouth with trembling hands.Dead Ted stood a few inches away from the dartboard, a blank expression on his face, with the knife I had just thrown lodged in his chest. A small, dark stain already forming across his shirt, marking the impact.My body stiffened for a few agonizing seconds as I stared at him. “Oh no. Oh God, what have I done?” I whispered, my voice shaky as I took a hesitant step toward him.Ted raised his hand, holding up the pocketknife I’d thrown earlier. “I was just trying to move this out of the way,” he said, his voice disturbingly calm, his expression unreadable. “Got in the way of your aim, I guess.”Oh God.I blinked in total disbelief. “I …I’m so sorry,” I stammered, as I got within arm’s reach of him. My instinct was to touch the knife or try to steady him, but he raised an eyebrow and shifted back, avoiding my hand.Is he alright, doesn't he see the knife in his chest or feel it? His eyes slowly closed, and I felt my
KIRA’S POVI followed him, my mind reeling. Born in prison? Was that even possible? He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me, his brows furrowed in what seemed like genuine confusion. Seriously? Was he really confused right now?“What do you mean, ‘born in prison’?” I asked in disbelief. Just when I was starting to warm up to him, he casually dropped this bombshell. Did Adrian hire all the inmates he met in jail?“Oh, that,” Ted said with a chuckle as if he’d just mentioned something mundane. “My mother was convicted of arson.”Arson? My jaw almost hit the floor.“Crazy, right?” he continued, completely unbothered by my reaction. “You know, it’s funny—I think you and her share some similarities.”I nearly scoffed but managed to hold it back. I wasn’t about to risk offending him when he was finally being open without me prying. Still, I couldn’t see how I could possibly be similar to an arsonist.“What do you mean?” I asked carefully.He grinn
KIRA’S POV.“You don't know anything about me,” I retorted.Dead Ted looked at me through the rearview mirror, “Indeed, you’re right, I don’t. But fight for yourself? The weak don’t survive in this cold world.”“I want to.” I chuckled wryly, “Do you know what it’s like to feel the urge to drag someone along the tarmac, punch someone in the face, or scream so loud your lungs give out?”“No. I fulfill my urges. You only live once. Why waste it bottling up emotions?”“That was a rhetorical question.”“As long as it answers yours,” he countered, his tone unbothered.“You can say this because you’re brave. You’ve probably spent your whole life training in some mafia facility, so fear doesn’t even register with you. You can do things without caring about consequences, and even if karma catches up, she’s probably too scared to punish you.”“You don’t know anything about me, Dona,” he said, his eyes darkening and I froze.The car lapse
DYLAN’S POVA low groan escaped my lips as I dabbed my swollen chin with a cube of ice. I took a swig of whiskey as I dabbed.Tiny drops of liquid trickled down my arm, but I didn't seem to care, all I wanted was for the excruciating pain to disappear. “You shouldn't have struggled with them, this was all supposed to be a harmless warning, do you know why? Because I still consider you to be my brother, Dylan.” one of Adrian's lap dog voices rang in my ears again. He said that after dumping me at the roadside. I took another swig to drown the pain and memories.Because he still considered me to be his brother? I scoffed.Brothers don't send men after their brothers. It all began after I had gone out to meet with my secret client, on my way. A van pulled up on me, it double-crossed me and gave me no chance of escape. As I calculated my next moves, five hefty men approached me. In situations like that, I'd be a fool not to fight. What if they wanted to kill me, should I have let them
THIRD PERSON'S POVThe door to the dimly lit warehouse opened and Adrian accompanied by Romano and a couple guards walked in. At the edge of the room, a man was tied to a wooden seat, his arms and legs cuffed together, a black sack covering his head.The loud clatter of keys reverberated as they dangled from the doorknob. The tied man's sore body jerked at the sound, his ears straining to follow the movements drawing closer.Adrian walked at a slow pace toward the man tied to the metal chair, the soles of his shoes clunk as they met the metal floor causing an audible echo that reverberated through the corners of the cubicle.The man's head twitched as he heard footsteps getting closer, he let out low grunts that quickly turned into loud, panicked cries, accompanied by the harsh scraping of the chair as he thrashed violently, trying to free himself from his restraints.He struggled and struggled but to no avail, “Who is there?!” "Whoever you are, let me go now! Do you know who I am? M
ADRIAN’S POVTwo days later, I walked into the Gambia de Crianza Investigative Precinct. A few people stood near the door, seemingly waiting for me. They reeked of a scent I recognized all too well from my first visit here.Fear.The last time I was here, it was to confess to a crime my idiot father had committed. But now, the place was bustling with police officers—most of whom were already on my payroll.I had deliberately delayed the summons, instructing my lawyer to claim I was indisposed. Nobody gives me orders, not even the fucking FBI.I arrived with Victor, one of my most trusted guards, and a few other men. Romano, meanwhile, was currently in Ageeis, meeting with our Russian contact and investigating the port workers to track down the fucker who betrayed us. I had sent him there in place of Dead Ted, who somehow got stuck at the Casetra’s border during the ambush.I knew whoever was betraying me had something to do with Dead Ted’s interception. That’s why I sent Romano to Age