"I don't know," Jenny said, glancing down at her feet. "I suppose, after everything I've been through, I just wanted to believe there was such a thing as a good found family. A group where I could belong—one that would be loyal, protective, and accepting of me, scars and all.""What scars?" Malia asked, her expression brightening as she laughed lightly. "Your skin looks perfect. I don't even see any shaving nicks on your legs."Jenny swallowed hard, weighing her options. The skin on her back itched, and without a word, she turned to grasp the hem of her t-shirt. This could help her gain Malia's trust, a way to communicate what she had to lose if she couldn't connect with the Wolves—even if Malia didn't fully grasp the extent of it.Taking a deep, steadying breath, Jenny lifted her shirt, pulling it past her bra. She wondered whether the older man at the bar had dozed off or if he was watching this peculiar scene unfold with curiosity. She couldn't help but think about what someone mig
Jenny stared at her in disbelief, her thoughts of learning more about Alexander momentarily forgotten as the revelation of Malia and Dolf's relationship sank in. Malia chuckled almost maniacally at the expression on Jenny's face."I... I had no idea," Jenny stammered, baffled by how she could have overlooked the romantic connection between them. They spent so much time together at the bar, but their expressions were often so stiff and angry that she hadn't imagined they could be affectionate with anyone, let alone each other. She puzzled over whether her failure to notice the signs was a reflection of her less-than-stellar espionage skills.Malia's previous remarks set in, prompting Jenny to shake her head and raise a hand. Although Malia had been somewhat distant at first, Jenny had experienced her kindness in small ways since she began working at the bar—offering lotion, reminding her to wear gloves, assisting with closing duties, and even suggesting she leave early for an extra hou
"I'm impressed," Malia noted, startling Jenny as she suddenly appeared at her side. Malia was wiping blood from her hands while surveying the chaotic scene. Jenny couldn't help but notice Malia's dirty nail beds; she wished she had worn gloves."Thanks," Jenny replied, her gaze still lingering on a man as he slipped away. Malia stepped in front of her, scrutinizing her from head to toe."I didn't realize you were a doctor," Malia remarked."I'm not," Jenny quickly clarified, eager to manage Malia's expectations about her abilities. "Speaking of that, why are there only two doctors? Wouldn't it make more sense to have more people available for situations like this?"She moved to assess another man, examining the wound on his head to determine if he required stitches. Malia followed closely behind, holding her phone as a flashlight to illuminate the man's scalp."Ha," Malia said dryly, faking a laugh. "Clearly, you don't know anything about Alexander. He's obsessed with this sort of thi
Jenny blinked in surprise; it was clear that he and Malia shared a family resemblance. If they were cousins, it made her wonder if that was why Dolf had been present when they rescued her from the Blades. She mentally filed this information away to share with Julius later, uncertain how relevant it might truly be."Tell you what?" Malia asked, her tone more critical now as she crossed her arms and leaned away from him, shaking her head while studying his face and wounds. She looked like a concerned yet annoyed mother, torn between sympathy and frustration."You didn't tell me there's a new chick," he teased, waggling his eyebrows at her while Jenny packed the wound and wiped away the excess disinfectant. Malia lightly slapped his uninjured shoulder, deliberately avoiding looking at Jenny. "How could you keep such a big secret from me? You know I would come in here more often if I knew there was some fresh blood.""Just imagine there isn't," Malia replied, reaching into her purse to re
For hours, the door continued to swing open as men poured in, covered in blood and anxiously awaiting assistance with their injuries. Jenny and Brando found a rhythm, addressing each patient as quickly as possible. She stabilized them while Brando assessed for more serious issues before moving on to the next person. Malia, along with some of the other men, distributed medication and shots of whiskey to ease their pain. They had transformed into an efficient assembly line, processing individuals without lingering too long on any one case. Occasionally, Brando offered approving sounds for Jenny's work, boosting her confidence."Malia!" someone called out as he burst through the door. Jenny glanced to see Dolf standing there, his eyes darting around the room. A light dusting of snow settled on his ever-present hat, and he stood with a tense, aggressive posture, as if he expected an enemy to leap out at any moment."I'm here," Malia replied, offering him a shot of whiskey. He downed it s
Alexander takes a deep breath, holding the smoke in his lungs for a moment before exhaling it in front of him. The wide windows at the back of his office provide the perfect view for smoking, and after the night they've had, he feels he has earned this small indulgence. The sun begins to peek over the horizon, and he senses the creeping allure of sleep tugging at the edges of his consciousness.These cigars were a gift from Lemuel, and while his taste might be questionable in other matters, these cigars are exceptional. They are smoky yet rich, reminiscent of a meticulously brewed cup of coffee. He takes another puff, mindful that if his mother could see him now, she would launch into a lecture about the risks of lung cancer. He'd retort by emphasizing the importance of enjoying life's little luxuries after a hard day, and she would respond with a reminder about the merits of a good glass of wine.Suddenly, something shifts in the reflection, causing him to stiffen as he notices movem
"Alexander," Dolf says, leaning forward with his hands clasped together. "I've never seen you so accepting of the idea that someone could infiltrate our group and undermine us. Please don't tell me you actually believe her little act.""Of course not," Alexander laughs, recalling the moment he entered the room to find her pleading with Dolf and Malia. He trusts their instincts—and his own. Georgina has been lying through her teeth, if that's even her real name.Dolf visibly relaxes at Alexander's admission of seeing through her façade. He leans back in his chair, taking another puff of his cigar, his shoulders easing."So why keep her around? Why let her in?""I'm not entirely sure yet," Alexander responds. "I'm simply following my instincts. They haven't led me astray so far."They sit in silence for a few moments, each enjoying their cigars as the sun begins to rise over the horizon, casting violet and golden light across Alexander's garden. Dolf seems to appreciate the view as well
"I spoke with a neighbor who mentioned that she tends to keep to herself, but occasionally, she will collect their mail when conditions outside become too slippery for them," Alexander says."That's heartwarming," Dolf replies, rolling his eyes and tucking his chin into his coat. The moon hangs high in the sky, casting a clear light over the landscape. As they reach the edge of the garden, allowing a view of the city, Alexander closes his eyes momentarily."The neighborhood where she lives is middle-class, possibly a bit lower. However, it's relatively safe. It seems like an odd place for someone in her situation, and if she's lying about the woman being on vacation, I have to wonder about her motives.""Because she's an enemy spy," Dolf responds flatly, his expression unchanging."Sure," Alexander replies, nodding as he surveys the glittering city lights. "But perhaps it's so that we'll think someone is aware of her presence. Someone will come back to that place and notice she's miss
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