Chapter 78: Ashes and AscensionDawn painted the sky in muted shades of gold and gray, casting a solemn glow over the ruined docks. The scent of blood and gunpowder clung to the air, mingling with the salty breeze from the sea. The battle was over, but the weight of it lingered. Bodies lay motionless across the cracked concrete, a stark reminder of the price we had paid.Celeste had surrendered. Her once fierce eyes were hollow now, devoid of the fire that had driven her. She had dropped her weapon without a word, letting it clatter against the debris-strewn ground. I had given her a choice—to live, to face the consequences of her actions, to see if redemption was even possible. Yet as she sat slumped against the cold metal of a shipping container, I wondered if she had already accepted her fate.Dylan and Liam moved with quiet efficiency, securing what was left of Celeste’s forces. The chaos had faded into an eerie silence, broken only by the murmurs of survivors and the distant cras
Mia’s POVLife had always been simple. Predictable, even. Just me and my mom in our small apartment, surrounded by the familiar scent of her lavender candles and the comforting hum of her sewing machine. She worked tirelessly to keep us afloat, her delicate fingers stitching together our modest existence.Then he appeared.Ray Valisteen.The first time I saw him, he was sitting at our kitchen table, a place far too humble for someone who looked like he belonged on the cover of a luxury magazine. His suit was sharp enough to cut through steel, his smile easy, almost disarming. But it was his eyes that struck me—dark, calculating, and cold.I was only fourteen, but I wasn’t stupid. Men like him didn’t show up out of nowhere. He wasn’t here for a simple family dinner.“Call me Ray,” he said, his voice smooth like melted chocolate. He leaned back in the rickety chair, completely at ease, as if the peeling wallpaper and chipped plates didn’t bother him. “Your mother has told me so much abo
Dylan’s POVThere was a time when my name carried weight—Dylan Griffin, son of the man who once stood as Ray Valisteen’s equal. Back then, power was our inheritance, influence our birthright. My father, Alexander Griffin, wasn’t just feared; he was respected. In every darkened corner of the city, his name echoed with reverence.I wanted to be just like him.As a kid, I followed him everywhere. Business meetings, late-night deals, even the dangerous ones he told me to stay away from. “Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut,” he’d say, his voice steady and commanding, like the crack of thunder.And I listened.I learned how to read people, how to spot lies beneath the surface of a polite smile. I saw how my father and Ray Valisteen ruled the city together, an unstoppable force that made even the most ambitious rivals think twice before crossing them.But power is a fragile thing. And trust? Even more so.The night everything fell apart is seared into my memory.I was seventeen, old eno
Mia's POVThe party was loud, extravagant, and suffocating—just as I’d expected. Purple and silver decorations sparkled under the soft glow of the chandelier, and every corner of the room was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and chatter about alliances and power plays. My eighteenth birthday was supposed to be a celebration, but I felt like a showpiece, trapped in a world I didn’t ask to be a part of.It was easier to fake a smile than explain how much I wanted to leave despite it being my eighteenth birthday party. Jess was rambling about some minor drama, but I could barely focus on her words. The weight of the crowd pressed down on me, and I needed air.“Excuse me,” I muttered, cutting Jess off mid-sentence. Without waiting for her reply, I slipped through the sea of people, heading for the balcony.The night air hit me like a cool balm. I leaned against the railing, staring out at the city lights that glittered like stars in the distance. For a moment, it felt like I could
Mia's POV.I let out another groan, my head pounding like a war drum. My arms felt like lead, and my throat was dry enough to crack. I shifted on the cold, hard floor, realizing I couldn't move my wrists—zip-ties. The bite of the plastic around my skin made me grit my teeth as memories of the night slammed into me.Dylan Griffin.The son of the man Ray killed. The charming bastard had drugged my drink and dragged me into this mess."Shit," I muttered under my breath, forcing myself to sit up. The room was barely lit, the flickering bulb above casting more shadows than light. My eyes darted around, taking in the stark, empty space—four walls, no windows, and a single steel door.“How do I get out of here?” I whispered to myself, flexing my wrists against the restraints. The pain grounded me, and I welcomed it. I needed to focus, not panic.Footsteps echoed outside, sharp and deliberate. The heavy door creaked open, and Dylan stepped in.“Awake already?” he mused, his lips curling into
Mia's POV. Italy smelled like freedom and fresh espresso. It was a stark contrast to the suffocating opulence of my past life. Here, I wasn’t the Valisteen Princess; I was just Mia. No bodyguards trailing my every move, no constant threats looming over my head. Or at least, that’s what I wanted to believe.But danger had a way of finding me. That bitch.It's been three weeks since I escaped the chaos Dylan Griffin left behind with the help of Victor, who I told to go back to Ray. I kept my head down, moving from town to town, never staying anywhere long enough to be noticed. The quiet anonymity was comforting at first, but I couldn’t ignore the itch in the back of my mind—the urge to reclaim what had been stolen from me.I had just stepped out of a cafe in Florence when the first shot rang out. Instinct kicked in before I even registered what was happening. I dove behind a parked Vespa, my heart pounding as bullets sprayed across the cobblestone street. Tourists screamed and scattere
Mia's POV. “Wow, I can't believe we built this in just four years," Mimi said, walking towards the balcony of my office. The doors were made of glass, bulletproof glass. It's been four years since I escaped from Dylan Griffith. Mimi, and built my own empire with the help of Mimi and Victor. A sigh escaped my lips. This is the sixth time she has been repeating the same words; now I can recite it without missing a word. “Mimi, what do you want?" I asked, pushing my laptop to the side. I lean forward, place both my elbows on my table, my hands facing down as I rest my head on them, looking up at her like an injured puppy. Well, I wasn't physically injured, but mentally, I was with her constant blabbing that never seemed to end as soon as she walked in thirty minutes ago. “What do you want?" I ask again. She turned to look at me with a surprised look that obviously was fake, one arm crossed on her chest and the other pointing to herself. “Me?" “No, I was talking to the handsome ghost
Mia's POVI smirked faintly. “Something like that. Someone has to keep a clear head around here.”He tilted his glass toward me. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you actually dancing. A rare sight.”“Don’t get used to it,” I said, but there was no bite to my words.Victor chuckled lightly, his gaze scanning the room. His sharp eyes lingered on each corner as if he were silently calculating exit routes and assessing threats even in the middle of a celebration.“You know,” he said after a pause, “it’s moments like this that remind me why we do what we do. These people—your people—look at you like you’re invincible. Like you’ve given them something no one else could.”I stared into my glass, swirling the amber liquid. “And what’s that?”“Hope,” he said simply.I didn’t reply, the weight of his words settling heavily on me. Hope. It wasn’t something I’d set out to give anyone, but somehow, it had become part of what I represented.The moment was interrupted by Mimi, who came bounding over wit
Chapter 78: Ashes and AscensionDawn painted the sky in muted shades of gold and gray, casting a solemn glow over the ruined docks. The scent of blood and gunpowder clung to the air, mingling with the salty breeze from the sea. The battle was over, but the weight of it lingered. Bodies lay motionless across the cracked concrete, a stark reminder of the price we had paid.Celeste had surrendered. Her once fierce eyes were hollow now, devoid of the fire that had driven her. She had dropped her weapon without a word, letting it clatter against the debris-strewn ground. I had given her a choice—to live, to face the consequences of her actions, to see if redemption was even possible. Yet as she sat slumped against the cold metal of a shipping container, I wondered if she had already accepted her fate.Dylan and Liam moved with quiet efficiency, securing what was left of Celeste’s forces. The chaos had faded into an eerie silence, broken only by the murmurs of survivors and the distant cras
Chapter 77: The Last ReckoningDawn’s first light glimmered on the horizon, its red and gold hues cutting through the lingering darkness of the docks. The cacophony of battle had subsided to a simmering murmur as smoke curled upward from the debris. I stood amid the ruins, every breath heavy with the weight of what had transpired and what was yet to come. Celeste was cornered. We had reached the climax of our war, and in that raw, suspended moment, I knew that destiny was within my grasp.I stepped forward slowly, the gravel crunching underfoot, each step echoing like the beat of a war drum. Around me, the battered forms of our foes lay scattered, and the acrid tang of spent gunpowder filled the air. Every piece of shattered metal, every scar etched into the concrete, bore silent witness to the blood that had been shed in our struggle for freedom.Celeste remained at the far end of the open space, her back pressed against a rusted container. Her eyes, wild and unyielding, were fixed
Chapter 76: The Dawn of ReckoningThe passage was dimly lit, the only light coming from scattered emergency bulbs and the occasional flicker of neon from a distant bar. Here, the air was thick with dust and the bitter tang of oil, but it was our only sanctuary.In the cramped space, I could hear our attackers reorganizing outside. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked at Mimi’s determined face. “We’re almost there,” I murmured, though every second felt like an eternity. The passage led to a side alley that opened up near the docks—a perfect spot to intercept Celeste before she could vanish into the maze.Emerging from the passage, we found ourselves at a crossroads of shadows and harsh light. The docks were spread out before us like an industrial battlefield: towering cranes, rusted cargo containers, and winding pathways that formed a network of escape routes for the desperate. I signaled for silence, and for a moment, everything was eerily still. Then, the enemy burst in from the
Chapter 75: Reckoning in BloodCeleste’s breath came in sharp, shallow gasps. Dylan’s grip on her wrist was iron, unyielding, and for the first time, I saw something resembling fear flash across her face. It was quick—so quick that if I hadn’t been watching her so closely, I might have missed it. But it was there. And that meant she knew she was cornered.I stepped forward, ignoring the way my own pulse pounded like war drums in my ears. My hands curled into fists at my sides. “Tell us who you’re working with, Celeste.”She scoffed, shaking her head with a forced smirk. “You think I’m just going to hand you a name? Just like that?”Dylan’s fingers flexed around her wrist, and she winced. “You don’t have a choice.”A beat of silence stretched between us. Then, with a quiet laugh that lacked any real amusement, Celeste lifted her chin. “You think I’m the only one who’s been playing a game here? You have no idea what’s coming.”My stomach twisted. The way she said it sent ice down my spi
Chapter 74: Regaining ControlI paced the small, cold prison cell, trying to keep my mind calm, but it was hard. Every inch of me was screaming with frustration and confusion. How had things gone so wrong so quickly? Celeste—always so calculating, so manipulative—had taken control, and now we were the ones paying the price.I could feel the bitterness between Celeste and me simmering beneath the surface, like it always did. I hated her, and she hated me. It wasn’t just personal; it was power. She wanted to take over, wanted to take what was mine, and now she was using me as a pawn in her game.Mimi sat on the edge of the cot, her eyes red from crying earlier, but she was trying to hold it together. I could see the fear in her eyes, but she wasn’t saying anything, just silently pleading for something to change. I felt helpless, completely trapped by a situation I had no control over.Then, the door creaked open, and I immediately stiffened, ready for whatever Celeste or one of her lack
Chapter 73: Surprise Lam walked alongside, who was chatting as always, our footsteps quiet on the forest path as we made our way back to the clan's estate. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the trees. We'd finished our mission a day earlier than planned, and I couldn't wait to return to the clan and share the news. The weight of the artifact in my pack was a constant reminder of our success.As we emerged from the forest, the estate came into view. Something felt off, though. The village seemed...different. The usual bustle of activity was missing, and an eerie silence hung in the air.My eyes narrowed as I scanned the woods around us. Maybe we were being followed and didn't notice or the clan had been under attack while we were away. "What's going on?" Liam asked, his voice low and cautious.I shook my head. " Don't know." We quickened our pace, our senses on high alert. As we entered the villa, I noticed that the guards were standing at attention, thei
Chapter 72: You're a Problem (Part 2)I didn't lower the knife.Jared's pale green eyes gleamed through the crack in the door, sharp and assessing. The kind of gaze that made your skin itch—like he was peeling back layers you didn't even know you had, searching for cracks to dig into.The kind of man who could tear you apart without ever lifting a finger.Too bad I'd been torn apart long before I ever stepped foot in this place."You always sneak into girls' rooms at night?" I whispered, keeping my voice steady.His mouth curved behind the black mask, slow and lazy."Only the ones worth watching."I squeezed the knife tighter, the rusty handle biting into my palm. He was trying to rattle me—poke at the edges until I slipped up.He'd have to try harder."You came to flirt or deliver a message?"Jared leaned a little closer, the faint scent of smoke and cold metal clinging to him."Both."His gaze flicked behind me—just for a second—to where Mimi slept, curled up on the thin mattress. M
Chapter 71: You're a problem.I didn't answer right away.My fingers gripped the windowsill tighter, the cold wood biting into my palms. The night air carried the faint scent of pine and damp earth—clean, untouched. A stark contrast to the rot crawling beneath the surface of this place.Tell him?The secret buried so deep inside me that I could barely breathe around it some nights.If Dylan knew what I was hiding... what we were hiding...He'd never let us leave.I glanced back at Mimi, her wide brown eyes reflecting the faint moonlight. She was waiting—patient in that quiet, heartbreaking way she always was. Like she'd already made peace with whatever answer I gave.But she shouldn't have to."Not yet." My voice was steady, even though my pulse hammered in my throat. "Not until I know he'll keep his end of the deal."Mimi's small face twisted, like she wanted to argue but didn't quite know how.Smart girl.I turned back to the window, eyes scanning the shadows stretched across the co
Chapter 70: Silent PactsThe faint blue light from the laptop screen flickered across my face, casting shadows along the cracked walls of my room. Mimi sat beside me, legs crossed, clutching the edge of her oversized sweater like it would somehow shield her from the conversation we were about to have.Victor's face appeared on the screen, his dark eyes heavy with exhaustion. The scar running down his temple looked deeper under the dim lighting—like the weight of the clan had carved itself into his skin."Mia." His gruff voice filled the small space. "Mimi.""Victor." I nodded, keeping my expression neutral.Mimi mumbled a small greeting, eyes flicking between the screen and her fingers knotted together on her lap.I leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees."How is everyone?"The silence that followed was answer enough.Victor's jaw tightened, his gaze dropping for half a second before he forced himself to meet my eyes again."Not good."I swallowed hard.I already knew that. I just