Ryan stood in the hallway, his fists clenched at his sides. His father had just told him the news—he was being sent away. Away from his home, his brothers, everything he knew. The moment the words had left his father’s mouth, a wave of anger surged through him, hot and uncontrollable. His face burned, his breath came in short, ragged bursts, and his chest felt tight, like something was crushing him from the inside.How could his father do this?Ryan’s thoughts spiraled, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of it all. Elizabeth was gone—two weeks had passed, and there was still no sign of her. Every day that went by, their father had sunk deeper into his own despair, his face growing more tired, more worn. Ryan had noticed the way his father barely spoke anymore, the way he paced the house at night, as if he were looking for something he’d lost and knew he’d never find.But sending him away? Ryan couldn’t understand it. His father had always been strong, had always held the famil
Alexander's POVAlexander at the dining table, staring at the empty chair where Ryan had been just moments ago. His youngest son had left, gone off with his grandparents, and the house felt emptier than it ever had. The words Ryan had said before walking out of the door still echoed in his mind, each one a jagged wound that refused to heal."I'll never forgive you for this."The words tore through him again, and Alexander gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles white. He’d known this day would come—that sending Ryan away would hurt him, but he hadn’t expected it to hurt like this. He hadn’t expected the depth of anger in his son’s voice, the coldness in his eyes. And worst of all, he hadn’t expected the guilt that now wrapped itself around him, squeezing tighter with every passing second.He couldn’t breathe.The house felt like it was closing in on him, every shadow, every piece of furniture reminding him of his failures. He had failed to protect his daughter, Elizabeth. He had f
Sophia as she had to remind herself, stood in front of the full-length mirror, staring at the reflection of someone she no longer recognized.Her once vibrant brown eyes were now hidden beneath icy blue contacts, and her dark hair, now bleached to an unnatural white, framed her face in sharp angles. She looked like a stranger.The transformation had been quick and thorough. Over the past few days, they had drilled new rules into her—how to walk, how to talk (or rather, how *not* to talk), and how to blend into the shadows like a ghost.And now, standing in front of the mirror, her body draped in sleek black clothing, the reality of what she was about to do hit her.Her heart raced as the weight of it all settled in her chest. This was no ordinary task. This was her initiation, the first step into a world she had been running from her entire life. And now, she was being pushed back into it, but this time, she wasn’t just a captive. She was a player in the game.The door to her room cr
Alexander had never felt so hollow. Each day felt like a slow march into a dark abyss. His once steady hands now trembled, his thoughts fogged by exhaustion and worry. The weight of his failure as a father bore down on him, especially when it came to Elizabeth. For days, he hadn’t slept properly. Elizabeth was gone, Ryan was angry, and his home felt like it was crumbling apart. Every moment he was awake, he replayed the last conversation he’d had with his daughter, his mind circling around the same agonizing question: *Where did I go wrong?*He hadn’t been able to protect her. Not once, but twice now she had been taken from him. And each time, he had been powerless to stop it.Sitting at the kitchen table, Alexander’s fingers wrapped around a glass of whiskey. The amber liquid swirled in the glass, catching the dim light of the kitchen. It was his only comfort, the only thing that dulled the pain and the overwhelming guilt. He brought the glass to his lips and took a long sip, the
Ryan’s fists clenched as he stood outside the large, ornate gates of the school. The air in Europe was colder than he expected, the sky a dull gray overhead, but that wasn’t what bothered him. It was the idea of being here at all—away from his father, his brothers, and more than anything, away from Elizabeth.He hated this place already. The grand old buildings, the well-dressed students milling around, speaking languages he barely understood. His grandparents thought this was a good idea, but they didn’t understand. No one did. He wasn’t here because he wanted to be. He was here because his father couldn’t handle the mess his sister had made.His jaw tightened as he shoved his hands deeper into his jacket pockets, walking towards the entrance of the school. His steps felt heavy, each one filled with frustration that simmered just below the surface. He hadn’t spoken much since arriving at his grandparents' house. There wasn’t anything to say, really. They tried to make him comfortable
Zack sat on the couch, staring at nothing in particular. His thoughts were a tangled mess, circling back to the same question he had been asking himself for weeks: Where was Elizabeth?Leo sat across from him, flipping through a newspaper absentmindedly. Both brothers had been tiptoeing around the subject of their sister ever since she disappeared, but the tension was growing harder to ignore. Their father was in the hospital, Ryan was sent away to Europe, and the weight of everything happening around them was crushing.Zack leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and finally broke the silence.“Maybe we can ask Uncle Nick for help,” Zack said suddenly, his voice hesitant but filled with a tinge of desperation.Leo’s head snapped up, his expression immediately darkening. He lowered the newspaper onto his lap, looking at Zack with a frown.“Uncle Nick?” Leo repeated, his voice heavy with disbelief. “You think *he* Would you help us? The same man who hates Elizabeth with passi
The old, run-down estate was a far cry from the lavish mansions of their father’s business partners. Hidden away in the outskirts of town, it was the kind of place that seemed forgotten by time. The lawn was overgrown, the paint peeling from the shutters, and the heavy, rusted gate creaked as Zack pushed it open. He exchanged a glance with Leo, who looked just as uneasy as he felt.“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Leo muttered under his breath.Zack shrugged, though his stomach was tied in knots. They had both known this visit wouldn’t be easy, but it was the only option left. Their uncle, Nicholas Moretti—Uncle Nick, as they had begrudgingly called him when they were kids—was their last chance to find Elizabeth. Zack hated the idea of asking him for help, but desperation had a way of making you do things you never thought you’d do.The brothers walked up to the front door, their steps heavy with dread. Zack reached out and knocked, the sound echoing through the eerily
Sophia sat by the window, staring out at the sky. The cool night breeze filtered through the slightly cracked window, and the stars seemed to mock her from above, twinkling in a way that felt both distant and cruel. She couldn’t tell if it was hope or sorrow swirling in her chest as she looked up, but either way, it weighed heavily on her heart.It had been days—weeks, maybe—since she’d been taken, forced into this new identity. Her white hair and blue eyes felt like a stranger’s reflection in the mirror. It was as if every part of the girl she used to be had been stripped away, leaving behind only the hollow shell of someone she didn’t recognize.“Sophia,” she whispered to herself, tasting the name like ash in her mouth. That’s who she was now, wasn’t it? The lost Mafia princess had been buried under layers of disguises, lies, and fear. But inside, deep down, she was still Elizabeth. She had to be.The man in the mask had told her again and again that no one was coming. That her bro
Elizabeth's Point of ViewAs the car pulled up in front of the house, a smile spread across my face, lighting up my entire being. I could barely contain the excitement bubbling inside me. After everything—after the surprises, the time spent in Paris, the love from Black, and everything else in between—I was finally going back home.Home.There was something so comforting about returning to the familiar, the place that had once felt so chaotic but now felt like a refuge. I couldn’t wait to see my dad and my brothers again. They’d all been so supportive, and I couldn’t help but wonder what they had planned for my birthday.It felt surreal, knowing that I was about to turn twenty. Two decades of life, with all the ups and downs. But this moment—this was the best birthday I could have ever asked for.I stepped out of the car, holding my puppy gently in my arms, and walked toward the door with a skip in my step. Each footstep brought me closer to the people who mattered most in my life. Th
Elizabeth's Point of View"Everything ready?" Black asked me as I snuggled my new puppy closer to my chest, feeling her little body warm and soft against my skin.It’s been a month now since we left everything behind and went on our little escape to Paris. The memories we made here were unlike any other, and I cherished each moment. The Eiffel Tower, the cafés, the romantic walks under the Parisian sky—it had all felt like a dream. But all good things must come to an end, and now, it was time to go home.“Yeah, everything’s packed,” I replied, walking around the room to double-check that nothing was left behind. I couldn’t help but smile. It was a bittersweet feeling, knowing that this chapter was closing. But I was also eager to get back to my family.Home was waiting, and it was time to reunite with them after everything that had happened. My father had called earlier, telling me that Mr. Black was trying to take me away from him, and it made me laugh. I knew how possessive my dad c
Rose’s Point of ViewThe air felt warmer than usual as Mike’s car hummed softly along the road. My fingers twisted nervously in my lap, the soft fabric of my dress bunching between my fingertips. I glanced at Mike every few moments—his calm expression as he drove, the faint smirk he wore like it was second nature, and the way his strong hands gripped the steering wheel.I didn’t understand him.“Why?”The word slipped out before I could stop myself.Mike glanced at me briefly, his voice soft as he replied, “Why what?”“Why are you being so kind to me?” I asked, forcing my voice to stay steady. I didn’t dare look at him now; instead, I focused on the houses blurring past outside the window. “You’ve been like this since the first day we met.”For a second, there was silence—just the soft hum of the car and the faint music playing from the radio.Then he said it.“Because I like you, and I want to take you on a date.”His voice was so casual, so matter-of-fact, that for a moment I though
Mike’s Point of ViewI leaned back in my office chair, exhaling a long breath as I scrolled through my phone. My sister Elizabeth’s picture popped up—her smiling face glowing brighter than the Parisian lights in the background. She looked so happy, holding that tiny white puppy in her arms, Mr. Black standing proudly beside her.She looked like Mom.That smile, those eyes—they reminded me of the mother we lost far too soon. I set my phone down with a quiet sigh, my fingers brushing over the stack of papers on my desk. No matter how chaotic life got, seeing Elizabeth happy always brought me a strange kind of peace.“Mr. Mike?”I turned my head toward the soft, almost hesitant voice coming from the door. Rose stood there, her small hands fiddling nervously with the hem of her dress. Her wide eyes peeked up at me shyly, and I couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at my lips.“Yeah, Rose?” I said softly, leaning back in my chair.She hesitated for a second before speaking. “Um, today
Elizabeth’s Point of ViewThe sunset cast streaks of gold and pink across the Parisian skyline as I stood by the balcony, staring at the Eiffel Tower. The view was breathtaking—unreal, almost—but nothing felt as dreamlike as this moment.Behind me, the faint rustle of fabric caught my attention. I turned to see Mr. Black walking toward me, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his tailored slacks. He had changed into a crisp white shirt, the sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal his strong forearms, and his top two buttons left undone.It wasn’t fair how effortlessly handsome he looked.“You’re staring,” he teased, his lips curving into a slow smile.I blushed and turned back toward the balcony, pretending to focus on the view. “No, I’m not.”“Liar,” he murmured.I felt his presence behind me before he touched me—a soft warmth that sent a shiver down my spine. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me gently against him, and rested his chin on my shoulder. I melted int
Elizabeth’s Point of ViewWarm lips pressed against my cheek, then my nose, and finally my forehead, stirring me awake. I giggled, scrunching my face and swatting lightly at the culprit.“Stop it,” I murmured with a laugh, trying to push Mr. Black’s face away as he hovered over me, peppering me with kisses.“Good morning to you too,” he teased softly, his voice deep and smooth like melted chocolate. “You didn’t complain last night when I was being this affectionate.”I blushed at his words and shoved him playfully. “You’re insufferable.”He grinned that roguish grin that always did something to my heart, sitting back slightly so I could sit up. I stretched, the soft sheets pooling around me as I blinked, trying to take in the elegant room we were in.Paris. We had arrived in Paris.Two hours ago, we stumbled into this hotel room after a long trip, too tired to do much more than crash onto the bed. But now, the light pouring through the balcony windows revealed the beauty I had missed
Alexander's point of View The shots echoed through the building, sharp and final. I didn’t need to be there to know what had happened. Victor Hale was dead, and my boys had finally done what needed to be done. I leaned back in the chair, a slow exhale slipping past my lips.It wasn't exactly. More like relief—the kind of relief that settled deep in your bones after years of carrying a weight too heavy to bear.Adrian sat next to me, his fingers drumming idly on the armrest. He looked calm, but I knew better. Guilt sat heavy on his shoulders, and no amount of time could erase it.“Where’s my little Elizabeth?” Adrian’s voice broke the quiet. He smiled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.I let out a low chuckle. “Not so little anymore. She’s off with that man—Mr. Black.”Adrian’s brow furrowed slightly, but the smile returned. “And you’re fine with that?”“She’s in love with him,” I replied simply, a smile tugging at my lips. “He makes her happy. That’s all I care about.”M
Mike’s Point of ViewThere was a kind of satisfaction that came with this moment—a deep, twisted feeling of triumph as we stared at the man who’d torn our family apart. It wasn’t the kind of happiness that lit up your soul; no, this was darker. Sharper. A vengeance that burned in our veins.Victor Hale. The man who’d orchestrated our sister’s suffering, who’d sent our mother into an early grave, all because of jealousy. My mother’s sister Amanda had fallen into his trap years ago, and in her delusion, she’d joined him. But Victor… he was the mastermind. The cancer that ate away at our family until nothing was left but pieces.And tonight, we were finally going to end him.The room stank of sweat, blood, and concrete. Leo was the first to go at him. Every punch he landed echoed against the walls, and Victor grunted with each impact, his face swelling more with every blow. But the bastard… he was still smirking, as if he wanted to die.With every punch, I felt something inside me come
Adrian's Point of ViewThe dim light from the single hanging bulb flickered as I leaned against the chipped wall, staring at Victor Hale. Beaten, bruised, and bound to the chair, he still managed to look smug. His lip was cracked, his face swollen, but his arrogance hadn’t disappeared.“Your biggest nightmares are coming,” I told him, my voice low and cold.Victor let out a short, bitter laugh, his bruised face twisting into a smirk. “They’re finally coming, huh? Took them long enough. Must be a family reunion.”His words grated on me, but I didn’t let it show. Men like Victor thrived on getting under people’s skin. He wanted a reaction, something to latch onto so he could twist it into his favor.“I don’t think you understand what’s coming for you,” I said, pushing off the wall. My boots echoed against the cracked concrete floor as I stepped closer. “You sold my niece, shattered her life, and sent my sister—your precious Amanda—down a road she’ll never come back from. You’re going to