Jenny swallowed hard, striving to keep her expression neutral. "Obviously, that's not gum," Julius chuckled, regaining his composure. "I wouldn't recommend chewing it, Jenny." He started again, a manic glint in his eye. "The pieces in that pack are filled with tiny charges—so small that no one would suspect them. But they're powerful enough that once you spread them throughout the Wolves' hideout, we can take them all out." He grinned at her as if he had just shared the funniest joke. Jenny narrowed her eyes, indignation rising within her. "What makes you think I would ever go along with that?" she asked, carefully placing the pack of gum on the floor. Finally, she met Julius's gaze and noticed the wildness creeping into his expression, revealing his descent into madness. "Because you belong to me, Jenny," he said, flashing a sweet smile with his fingers steepled in front of his face. "No matter how confused you may feel, or how that man has manipulated you, or how those people ha
Suddenly, Jenny's eyes flew open. Feeling something wet on her face, she instinctively began to scream. Alarmed, Alexander set the basin down and looked at her with concern. He reached out for her hand to comfort her, but she thrashed against anything offered. "Get away from me!" she growled. Alexander flinched, feeling a sting from her harsh words, a sense of hurt creeping in. "I said NO, Julius!" she shouted, and in response, Alexander shook her gently to bring her back to reality. Suddenly understanding the gravity of the situation, a rush of uncontrollable anger and hatred coursed through him. His brows knitted into a deep frown as he looked at her, uncertain of what horrors she had endured. He felt as if he might lose control, but at that moment, Jenny needed him—fully and completely. Her vision swam, the brightness of the surroundings overwhelming her senses. As she fought to reclaim her grasp on reality after being shaken, familiar voices broke through the confusion. "What
Meanwhile, Alexander sat alone in his room, worrying about the evident marks on Jenny's body. While he initially believed his suspicions to be correct, he understood that this wasn't the right time to question her too intensely.As he watched her return to the bedroom, her striking blue eyes seemed to pierce his heart. He longed for her presence beside him, desperate to keep her safe from any harm that might come her way."Tell me about your family and your godparents," she said, leveling her gaze at him. Trying to soften her expression, she forced a smile.Caught off guard by her unexpected question, Alexander raised an eyebrow and fell silent, momentarily stunned by this abrupt turn of events."What do you want to know?" Alexander asked, and Jenny could see that he was struggling to maintain his composure. She swallowed hard, trailing her gaze over him, from his soft, golden hair down to the slippers on his feet. In the comfort of his home, he appeared to be a gentler version of him
Light streamed through the enormous window as a gentle breeze ruffled the wind chimes just outside Jenny's room. Sunlight poured in, bathing her bed and face in a warm glow. Automatically, a yawn escaped her as she raised her arms above her head and stretched her small frame. Glancing around, Jenny realized she must have enjoyed a truly restful night's sleep. She tugged at the corners of her eyes, attempting to chase away the remnants of slumber. It struck her that she hadn't awoken screaming in terror about Julius, an incredibly welcome reprieve after countless sleepless nights, especially those preceding his recent stunt. Fortunately, Nancy had the foresight to give her some medication to ensure a peaceful night's rest, and it had certainly done the trick. Feeling refreshed and excited for the day, Jenny hopped out of bed, carefully slipping her feet into her cozy pink slippers before making her way to the kitchen for much-needed coffee. Though the pills had worked their magic, th
Now or never, he thought, realizing he needed to be convincing. She needed a semblance of normalcy. "I think it would be great for you to get out and see her. You two can catch up and make a day of it." He watched her, hoping for some acknowledgment, but Jenny only stared blankly at him, leaving him unsure of her thoughts. As Jenny realized she had an opportunity to be at the bar and carry out Julius's plan, thoughts raced through her mind. What do I do? The words echoed loudly in her head, making her wonder if Alexander could somehow sense her turmoil. I'll just go and decide when I get there, she finally resolved. She offered a forced smile. "Yeah, sure," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Alexander sensed that something was off. A wave of concern washed over him as he worried she might be in too much pain to go. "Are you in any pain?" he asked gently, taking her hand again. Without waiting for a response, he added, "If you're not up for it, everyone can see you tom
"Enough," Lemuel interjects, swaying slightly at Steve's side. "You can't play doctor and sniper at the same time, Jenny. We all saw how you handled those guys." He mimics firing a gun with his hands, aiming at some guys across the bar, who glance over, shake their heads, and return to their conversation. "Alexander probably wouldn't have made it without you." "Yeah," Steve agrees, his eyes lighting up. "Anthony told me all about it, dude. You were incredible in there. He said you emptied a full clip without missing once. He said they were dropping like flies while you stood and shot out of the sunroof. That's the most badass thing I've ever heard." "Well," Jenny replies, her cheeks flushing. She recalls the moment with a sense of pride, remembering how badass she felt at the time, but hearing it echoed by someone else feels startling. She doesn't want to dwell on the state Alexander was in that night or the reason she was there in the first place. The pack of gum feels heavy in her
Jenny grips the gum box tightly behind her, afraid she might drop it because her hands are trembling so much. I can't be discovered with this, she thinks nervously. They would definitely kill me. She tries hard to maintain a nonchalant demeanor. Dolf is talking to her, but all she can do is offer a silly grin in response. What is he even saying? she wonders, realizing it's time to focus. Leaning in closer, sensing something is off with Jenny, Dolf repeats himself. "Listen, Georgina," he pauses, frustration creeping into his voice. "Goddammit! I'm sorry." He scratches his head, shifts his weight, and emphasizes each syllable as he continues, "Jen-ny." Dolf's words finally pull Jenny back to reality, and he has her full attention. "I'm really sorry for giving you such a hard time when you first came into our lives," he admits. Jenny waves her hand as if to dismiss his apology while keeping her smile intact. "I was a total jerk, and I have no problem admitting it." He leans on the
Dolf, noticing her distress, asks if she's alright. She gives him a quick nod and looks away. Jenny understands there's a strong possibility that her attempt to reveal the truth to Alexander may not go as she hopes. With that realization, she makes a split-second decision. Dolf, unsure of whether he believes her, chooses to remain silent, waiting for her to act on whatever she feels is necessary. He recalls having heard stories of people experiencing these kinds of meltdowns, but those were usually related to substance abuse, he thinks. Determined, Jenny decides to share as much as she can with Dolf, hoping to bring him to her side, at least to some extent. If she doesn't get the opportunity to speak to Alexander alone tonight, at least Dolf will have a grasp of the situation. She trusts he will ensure she gets time with Alexander tonight. This situation is too critical to disregard. Unbeknownst to her, she begins to sway from side to side, and Dolf notices the crumpled pack of gum
One year later."Thank you for coming," the lawyer said, glancing down at his paperwork while adjusting his predictably dull brown suit. Alexander sat beside Jenny, comforting her with a squeeze of her hand. Both were dressed more formally than necessary for the occasion, as they had a significant event to attend afterward."I understand it's been nearly a year since the passing of Eduardo, Jessica, and Julius Swift. We appreciate your patience while we collaborated with the police and other authorities to settle the estate. We are now prepared to proceed with the distribution."Alexander offered Jenny a reassuring squeeze of her hand and exchanged a supportive glance before she turned her attention back to the lawyer, eager to hear what she stood to inherit from her parents."Eduardo Swift's will stated that his entire estate was to be passed on to his wife, Sharon. However, due to her absence during the initial sorting, the estate was set to enter the public domain. Fortunately, a r
As Alexander finally stepped into the room, he laid eyes on Jenny for the first time in days. Guilt had overwhelmed him, fearing she might not survive the attack. He was both shocked and awed by Jenny's bravery when she pushed him aside and took those bullets with such courage. Never before had he witnessed such an act of selflessness, especially from someone so close to him.Alexander replayed the day's events repeatedly, haunted by the memory of Jenny being shot three times by Jessica, who was supposed to be her sister. But then again, Alexander considered, no one in her adoptive family had truly been family to her, except perhaps her mother.He often wondered if he could have acted differently but always arrived at the same conclusion. Jenny was unpredictable—a trait he admired but which also made it difficult for him to protect her from those who wished her harm, particularly Bloody Sapphire and her adoptive family.He could never grasp their family dynamic. How could they treat h
Consciousness rushes back to Jenny like a tidal wave. It's as if she's awakened in the midst of a snowstorm, or as if her body is engulfed in flames. Every nerve in her body screams, reminding her she's alive. Alive.Once the initial flood of overwhelming sensations subsides, she begins to notice the details in the room. First, she feels a smooth, small hand in hers, then hears the rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor to her right. The scent of antiseptic fills the air, and she suddenly realizes her mouth is incredibly dry."Water?" she croaks, managing to pry her eyes open, finding Malia standing above her, her hand shaking in Jenny's."Oh my god," Malia exclaims, turning and shouting into the hallway. Jenny flinches back into the pillow, unable to catch all of what Malia says, but it results in a swarm of medical professionals entering, all looking perplexed. Jenny feels like joking about the gunshots being a surprise to her, too, but her dry mouth prevents her from speaking properly
"But—" Jenny began as Jessica lifted the gun toward her. She raised her hands in a gesture to halt Jessica. Her plan would fail miserably if Jessica shot her now, something she might actually do. Jenny glanced at Nancy and Luther, the guilt almost overwhelming. If they hadn't met her, they wouldn't be caught in this tragedy. Drawing a deep breath, she steadied herself."Let them go.""What?" Jessica said, her tears momentarily halting as unkempt hair fell across her shoulder. It was nothing like her usually impeccable style."Listen," Jenny urged, closing her eyes. "There's a safe behind that painting. It holds enough money to give you the life you dream of."Jenny had discovered the safe one day while cleaning and had hurried out to keep Alexander from knowing she saw it. She had once watched him access the safe, revealing stacks of cash and gold."If you release them," Jenny continued, sensing Jessica was listening intently. "I'll tell you the code. Alexander shared it with me in ca
Meanwhile, Jenny arrived back at the sprawling log mansion, which served as Alexander's secluded retreat for himself, his most trusted allies, his mother Nancy, and Luther. Her heart tightened with worry at the thought of innocent, defenseless Luther. It was her fault he was caught in this predicament. She needed to act quickly to save that precious boy; otherwise, nothing would ever be the same for anyone involved.She hurriedly stepped out of the car she had commandeered and sprinted along the path toward the mansion's entrance. Gazing up at the moon, she whispered a silent prayer for Luther, recalling the sparkle in his eyes and his sweet, warm smile, before stepping into whatever chaos awaited beyond those doors.A wave of dread washed over her as she entered. The mansion was littered with fallen guards. Moving quietly into the foyer, she navigated around Alexander's fallen crew, careful and respectful of the somber scene.A soft, choked sob emanated from the center of the mansion
"As soon as I'm done with work," Alexander had reassured him, wrapping Luther in a warm embrace. "I'll come right back. You and me, we'll go fishing, okay?"Luther nodded, hugged him tightly, and told him to enjoy his fishing trip. Alexander kissed his head, oblivious to the idea that someone might find Luther there. He reproached himself now for not fortifying security, knowing he had plenty of enemies. What had he said to Jenny about it?"People with a lot of enemies are usually crushed under that weight. People with a lot of enemies sometimes get set on fire."The vision of his home, his son, and his mother in flames filled him with blinding rage and anxiety. He shoved past a few allies in his haste, knowing he'd apologize later, once he knew Luther was safe. Few in the Dark Wolves, apart from Lemuel, Malia, and Dolf, even knew of his son. Rushing past Anton on a stretcher, Alexander couldn't focus on anyone other than Luther.He skidded to a halt in front of his SUV just as his ph
"Yeah," Alexander replies, moving behind the bar in search of a good bottle of whiskey. Lemuel settles onto one of the barstools. Meanwhile, their team continues rolling up bodies and taking them to the incinerator they had discovered—likely used by the Bloody Sapphire for disposing of their unwanted. It's a more discreet option than transporting truckloads of bodies to the river with dawn approaching."He must have caught wind," Alexander speculates, shaking his head as he pours their drinks. Even though the operation went as smoothly as planned, he can't shake the feeling that something is missing. He knows he won't rest until the head of this adversarial group is found and eliminated.Just then, Alexander spots a shadow moving stealthily through an upper area of the tavern he hadn't noticed before. Without a second thought, he raises his gun and fires, certain that none of their men would move with such secrecy. If they had discovered access to a concealed upper floor, they would h
The Bloody Sapphire were taken completely by surprise when Alexander and his team arrived at their location shortly after three in the morning. They had sent two men ahead to release poison gas into the tavern, with Lemuel assisting the team in fitting their sleek gas masks securely before they entered, allowing the gas time to disperse.Inside, nearly every man in the main area of the bar was found slumped over tables or crumpled on the floor. Alexander's team swiftly eliminated them with silenced bullets, avoiding any unnecessary delays. True to his promise, Alexander ensured the women were left unharmed. He noticed them collapsed over the men, some unconscious with a man's hand inappropriately placed.The women were carefully removed from the pile of bodies and moved to the side, where they were handcuffed to a radiator, in case any harbored loyalties to their group. After the situation was controlled, they planned to bring Jenny in to speak with them, hoping they would recognize h
Jenny catches a glimpse of Dolf and Julius still clashing across the room but disregards them as she lunges at her father's legs, knocking him down hard. She hears the sound of his chin hitting the ground along with a muffled curse before scrambling back on top of him. This time, she aims for his eyes, but he raises his forearms to block her fingers. A primal rage surges through her, a tidal wave of anger.As she lashes out, the memories of all he's put her through flood her mind: Julius's assault, the constant surveillance from the bodyguards, his refusal to believe her even when the truth was self-evident, blaming her for her mother's death, and punishing her by sending her to work for the Bloody Sapphire as if it were an appropriate response.Jenny rains down her fists and elbows upon him, aware that she's screaming but feeling disconnected from the sound escaping her throat. She feels like a whirlwind, a tornado, a storm poised to engulf him. She wants him to experience every ounc