The soft ticking of the clock was the only sound that had filled her room for hours. Sophia sat quietly on the bed, her thoughts swirling in an endless loop. Ever since her walk through the mansion earlier, her mind had been restless. Something had shifted within her, though she couldn’t quite place what it was. Maybe it was the memory of seeing the men without their masks, relaxed and unconcerned. Or maybe it was the fact that Mr. Black wasn’t around today. She leaned back against the wall, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallways. It was subtle at first, but it grew louder with every passing second, more frantic. The shift in the mansion’s atmosphere was palpable—something was happening.Sophia sat up, her senses suddenly alert. "What’s happening?" she thought, pushing the blanket off her legs and standing up. She moved toward the door, placing her ear against it to listen. Voices echoed from down the corridor, muffled
Leo paced the living room, his hands stuffed into his pockets, head down as he tried to make sense of everything. The air in the house felt heavy, weighed down by the tension that had hung over them ever since Elizabeth disappeared.Across the room, Zack sat slouched on the edge of the couch, his eyes focused on the ground, deep in thought. He had just hung up the phone after yet another frustrating conversation with their uncle Nick. The man had been brief, his tone sharp, leaving them both with a sense of dread.“What do we do now?” Leo finally asked, breaking the silence. His voice was low, almost resigned.Zack didn’t answer immediately. He leaned forward, rubbing his hands together as if trying to warm them from a cold that only he could feel.“Why do I have a feeling we made a bad move by adding him into this?” Leo muttered, his frustration bubbling to the surface. He stopped pacing and turned to face his brother.Zack looked up, meeting Leo’s gaze. “We didn’t have a choice,” he
Alexander’s sleep had been restless for days, disturbed by nightmares that tore through the silence of the night. Ever since Elizabeth had disappeared, his mind had been plagued with thoughts of her, of Ryan, of Zack and Leo, and the family that seemed to be crumbling around him. Each night he hoped for some semblance of peace, but tonight was no different.In the darkness of his slumber, Alexander found himself standing in the middle of a burning house. The flames roared around him, consuming the walls, the ceiling, the floor, everything. Thick, black smoke choked the air, making it hard to breathe, but it wasn’t the fire that terrified him.It was the screams.“Dad! Help me!” He turned sharply at the sound of Elizabeth’s voice, his heart clenching painfully in his chest. Her voice was full of panic, raw and desperate. He couldn’t see her through the thick, swirling smoke, but he could hear her, feel her fear as if it were his own.“Elizabeth!” he called, his voice hoarse and strain
The rain tapped softly against the windowpane as Ryan sat at the edge of his bed, staring out into the gray, drizzly world beyond. It had been days since he'd felt like talking to anyone, especially his grandparents, who tried their best to make him comfortable here in Europe. But no matter how hard they tried, it wasn’t home. And he wasn’t happy."Ryan, sweetheart," his grandmother’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling him back to the moment. She stood in the doorway, her expression hesitant, as if she knew the news she was about to deliver wasn’t going to go over well."Yeah?" Ryan asked, his voice flat. He barely turned to look at her, still staring out the window, watching the rain collect in tiny pools on the grass.His grandmother cleared her throat, stepping inside and sitting beside him on the bed. "Your father called. He wants you to come back home. You’ll be leaving tomorrow."Ryan’s heart lurched. Home? His mind raced through the possibilities, and the first thing
Sophia stood in the center of the training room, her body tense and her heart racing. The walls were cold and unforgiving, much like the man who circled her now, his sharp eyes never leaving her.Mr. Black paced around her, his footsteps echoing ominously through the room. The mask he always wore made it impossible to see his expression, but she didn’t need to. His cold, controlled voice was enough to make her feel on edge.“Let’s see if this little princess can actually fight,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain.Sophia swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had never been in a fight in her life. Her world before this had been one of luxury, where she was shielded from everything dangerous. Now, she was being forced to face the reality she had always been ignorant of.“As a member of my Mafia, you’ll need to learn to protect yourself,” Mr. Black continued, his tone mocking. “You think anyone’s going to show you mercy out there? You think your enemies
Sophia, entered her room and closed the door behind her with a quiet click. She moved slowly towards the small mirror on the wall, each step feeling like a weight pressing down on her. The day’s training had left her exhausted and bruised, both physically and emotionally. Her reflection showed a girl who no longer looked like the person she remembered. Her hair was now white, a stark contrast to her old look. She pulled up her shirt and studied the bruises that covered her stomach and arms. They were vivid and angry, a patchwork of purples and blues. The sight made her wince, and she gingerly touched a particularly large bruise just below her ribs.The pain was not just from the physical blows she’d received; it was the emotional toll that was hardest to bear. Mr. Black’s harsh words and the force of his punches had left a deep mark on her soul. She had failed to hit him back during their training, which only intensified her feelings of inadequacy. She was supposed to be learning
Mr. Black sat alone in his study, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of a desk lamp. The walls were lined with bookshelves, but tonight, he wasn’t interested in the knowledge they held. His attention was on the mask he held in his hands. It was a simple black mask, a symbol of his authority and his way of maintaining control over his world. But tonight, it felt like a barrier between him and something he couldn’t quite grasp.He had always hidden behind this mask. It allowed him to be ruthless, to lead his men with an iron fist. But lately, it felt like it was also hiding a part of him that he didn’t fully understand. The thought of Sophia, as she was now known—had become an obsession. Her presence, her struggles, and the way she seemed to test the boundaries of his carefully constructed world had been occupying his thoughts more and more.He placed the mask on his desk and leaned back in his chair. His fingers traced the edges of the mask as if hoping to find some answers there. He
Ryan sat in the back seat of the car, his headphones on, drowning out the world around him with the rhythm of Jayo’s "Often" pulsing through his ears. It had become his way of coping lately — losing himself in music, trying to block out the growing tension in his family. His brothers, Zack and Leo, were sitting in the front, quietly chatting about something, but he wasn’t paying much attention. All he could think about was the gnawing feeling inside him, the anger that never seemed to go away.They were supposed to have a "family day" today, without their dad, who was still recovering from his health scare. But even without him, the weight of the family’s troubles hung heavy in the air. It didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel like family. Not without Elizabeth. Not without knowing where she was, what she was going through.He turned the music up, letting the beat hit harder, hoping it would drown out the nagging thoughts. But it wasn’t working. Nothing worked anymore. His mind kept dr
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