Sophia stepped inside the mansion, the grand, imposing structure looming over her like a silent judge. The heavy door clicked shut behind her, the sound echoing through the empty hallways. She stood still for a moment, her heart racing in her chest as the weight of the letter in her pocket seemed to grow heavier with each passing second.Her hand trembled as she pulled it out, unfolding the crinkled paper and staring at the words once more._"Sophia, I can set you free..."_Her uncle’s words burned into her mind, a stark contrast to everything she had known since being under Mr. Black’s watch. She shook her head, trying to make sense of it all. Did she even want to be free? What did freedom mean in a world like this, where everyone seemed to be watching, waiting, controlling?Her thoughts drifted to Mr. Black—his unreadable gaze, his powerful presence, and that kiss. It had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. Every time she closed her eyes, she could still feel his lips on hers
It had been days since Sophia received the letter, and though she had crumpled it up and pushed it aside, it lingered in her thoughts, a constant reminder that maybe, just maybe, there was another way out. Another path she could take. She still wasn’t sure if staying here, with Mr. Black, was worth it. The pull between her growing feelings for him and the suffocating reality of her situation gnawed at her, day and night.Sophia kept to her training, pushing herself harder, as if the physical strain could drown out the conflict in her mind. But every night, when the mansion was quiet, her thoughts returned to that letter. _Could her uncle really set her free?_But what did freedom even mean?Today was like any other day. She was in the gym, working through the combat drills Mr. Black had insisted she master. Her movements were sharp, but her mind wasn’t fully in it. She couldn’t stop thinking about everything—about him, about the letter, about her place here.As she trained, she overhe
The night was suffocating, its weight pressing down on Sophia as she sat in her room, the dim light of her phone casting a pale glow on her face. Her fingers hovered over the message screen, her heart thudding heavily in her chest. She had re-read Uncle Nick's letter countless times since the moment she had received it, each word carving deeper into her thoughts._“I can help you. I can set you free from Mr. Black’s grip. Trust me.”_The letter had been sitting in her drawer, hidden away like a dark secret, while her emotions battled within her. Mr. Black had made it clear that he didn’t think she was ready, that she wasn’t strong enough to join the missions. The betrayal she felt had grown with each passing day, gnawing at her pride. Now, after overhearing the men discuss yet another mission without her, something inside Sophia snapped.She clenched her fists, the sense of betrayal festering like a wound that refused to heal. How could Mr. Black—after all the training, after every
Sophia awoke with a groan, her head throbbing painfully, each pulse sending sharp waves of discomfort through her skull. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy, sluggish, as though she had been drugged. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light filtering into the room. It was unfamiliar, a small, cold space with concrete walls and a single flickering light bulb hanging from the ceiling.Her heart rate quickened as the events of the night started coming back to her—the escape, the walk, the sudden blow to her head. Panic welled up inside her as she realized she was no longer at Mr. Black's mansion. A cold dread began to settle in her chest.Where am I? Her thoughts raced, her mind struggling to make sense of her surroundings. The room was barren except for a steel chair and a small table in the corner, both coated in a layer of dust. The air smelled damp, like mold and decay, and the dim light made everything seem far more menacing than it should have been.Sophi
Mr. Black woke to the pale morning light filtering through the heavy curtains of his bedroom. For a moment, everything felt normal, the stillness of the mansion familiar and almost comforting. But something was off—an unease crept over him, a nagging sense that something had gone wrong. It had been there since the night before, the argument still fresh in his mind. He had been too harsh, too cold with her. His frustration with Sophia had spilled out in ways he hadn’t meant. He knew he was pushing her too hard, but it wasn’t out of cruelty. It was something he couldn’t quite explain, something deeper that gnawed at him every time he saw her. Why had he reacted like that? He sat up in bed, running a hand through his tousled hair. His chest felt tight, guilt slowly rising like a weight he couldn’t shake. All night, thoughts of her had kept him awake. He had spent so much time trying to keep a distance, to maintain control, but Sophia was different. His emotions swirled every time s
Mr. Black sat at his desk and was troubled in his mind. The sight he had seen of Sophia being taken really had haunted him.He had played it over and over in his mind, hoping each time the tape would reveal something different, something he had missed-but it never did. As clear as daylight, the tape showed Sophia leaving the mansion without telling anyone, walking down the driveway, and before she could even reach the gates, a black car pulled up. He watched helplessly as Uncle Nick emerged from the shadows, hitting her in the head with such brute precision.Mr. Black's fist landed with full force on the desk, rattling everything that was on it. He had failed her-Sophia, the one person he was under orders to protect, was gone, and the kidnapper was nothing but her screwed-up Uncle Nick. He cursed softly, reading their next actions.His fingers hovered for a moment over his phone before dialling Mike's number. The last thing he wanted was to tell him that his sister had been kidnapped
Mike sat in his office, staring blankly at the wall. The call with Mr. Black had left him fuming, actually beneath the anger something worse-guilt. He had sent Sophia away for her protection, and now she was in the hands of the very person he sought to protect her from. His uncle Nick was ruthless, unpredictable, and dangerously obsessed with revenge. And now, Sophia was his pawn.He ran a hand through his hair, leaning back in his chair as his mind ran rampant with what Nick might plan-innumerable ways he might hurt Sophia just for the sake of getting back at the family. But the one thing that really haunted him was that none of this would have ever happened had he not sent her away in the first place.He glanced toward the door, knowing his brothers were just down the hall-most likely going about their morning routine of either discussing business or making plans for the day. None of them had any idea what had been going on behind the scenes, and Mike had known better than to say a
Sophia's head pounded as she slowly regained consciousness. Her eyelids fluttered, the blurry outline of a dimly lit room coming into focus. The sharp ache in her head was a constant reminder of what had happened—the sudden strike, the darkness swallowing her whole as she’d tried to escape. Now, the rough texture of a cold floor pressed against her back, and the smell of cooked food filled her nostrils.For a moment, she was disoriented, the events that led her here hazy. Her stomach growled, a loud protest that echoed in the silence. She hadn't eaten in what felt like days, her body weak and aching. Sophia struggled to sit up, pushing herself off the ground with shaky hands, her limbs heavy as if weighed down by invisible chains.The room around her was small, barely furnished, with just a single chair and a table in the corner. The dim light came from a lone bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch toward her. It was cold, the air heavy with an un
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