"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
For the first time since Jenny began working at the bar, she feels energized and motivated. It's been a few days since the influx of injured patrons, and aside from a brief cleanup, Malia has given her a day off. The bar was closed so Malia and the other members of the Dark Wolves could recuperate.As she polishes the mugs for the Moscow mules, Jenny glances at her distorted reflection in the metal. The bar has been relatively quiet today, and she wonders if it's due to some brewing tension among the Wolves. Although they are starting to warm up to her—particularly after she helped patch up many of them following the recent incident—they still fall silent when she approaches with drinks.It seems that most people here accept her story, believing she is simply trying to escape a crazed ex. Jenny must be doing a good job of embodying that persona, as even Malia seems to have warmed to her. Occasionally, she forgets that it is all an act, imagining that this is her new life and that the
"Georgina," he states, not as a question or an invitation, but as a firm declaration. Jenny feels her heart plunge into her stomach as she turns to face him, sensing it pounding in her chest, throat, and ears."Yes, sir?" she replies, striving to keep her voice steady."You don't need to call me 'sir,'" he responds. "Alexander will suffice.""Okay, s—" she hesitates. "Okay," she settles on instead, the casual use of his first name feeling almost like treachery."Excellent job on this," Alexander remarks, his green eyes piercing into hers. With each moment that passes, she feels as though he's uncovering more about her simply by studying her face. She attempts to regain her composure, forcing a smile that she has employed many times before, one that typically causes other men to melt like butter."Thank you," she replies, careful to avoid using the title again. He swirls the whiskey in his glass, takes another sip, and then meets her gaze once
Alexander observes her with acute attention, unable to detect a hint of dishonesty. She has settled into the seat across from him, leaning forward with eagerness, her fingers intertwined and her shoulders angled towards him. Today, her hair hangs straight, cascading past her shoulders in a soft manner."We typically start our new members at $300,000 per year," he states, watching as her eyes widen in shock. Her complexion pales, and her fingers relax against the table. If he weren't committed to maintaining a serious demeanor, he might find amusement in the swift transformation of her expression."That's..." she begins, her gaze glazed as she continues to stare at him."Remember," he interjects, extending his hands with palms facing up, "we take care of our own. I fully understand the risks involved in working for a group like this. It's not your average bartending job, and your compensation should accurately reflect that. Also, keep in mind that this is a start
Jenny's one-bedroom apartment felt cold and empty as she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Although the space was fully furnished and decorated with various knick-knacks—strategically placed in case she ever needed to convince someone it was her home—it lacked warmth. She shrugged off her coat, hung it on a hook, and locked the door.Making her way to the thermostat, she turned up the heat, wondering if the system was malfunctioning. Ever since she moved in, the apartment had been chilly, but she hadn't noticed too much since she only spent a few hours here each night before heading back to the bar. Her mind wandered; if the heating system was indeed broken, who would she call to fix it? Julius? Would the Bloody Sapphire send someone from the family to service her fake apartment?Suppressing a laugh at the absurdity of the thought, she crossed through the living room and headed to the kitchen. A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed that the b
Rising from the table, she tossed the uneaten noodles into the trash, grabbed her phone, and headed to the bedroom. It was dark, and the bed wasn't as comfortable as her own, but it already felt like a safer haven, allowing her to drift off to sleep almost instantly.However, tonight was different; she crawled into bed with the phone cradled against her ear, her thoughts wandering, keeping her awake. Alexander was a good leader, evident in the way Dolf and Lemuel respected and guarded him. But there was something more than that, an inexplicable quality about Alexander that had captivated her since the very first day they met.He is tall, at least a full foot taller than Jenny, with broad shoulders and a well-defined chest. She is certain that beneath his fitted shirts lies an abdomen chiseled by regular workouts. She trails her fingers along the edge of the pillow beside her, imagining what he looks like beneath those clothes.Jenny recalls his voice—the w
Rising from the table, she tossed the uneaten noodles into the trash, grabbed her phone, and headed to the bedroom. It was dark, and the bed wasn't as comfortable as her own, but it already felt like a safer haven, allowing her to drift off to sleep almost instantly.However, tonight was different; she crawled into bed with the phone cradled against her ear, her thoughts wandering, keeping her awake. Alexander was a good leader, evident in the way Dolf and Lemuel respected and guarded him. But there was something more than that, an inexplicable quality about Alexander that had captivated her since the very first day they met."I don't want a list of your new friends, Jenny," Julius warned, his voice taut with tension. "I need information about their plans, their strategies, and when they intend to catch us off guard or raid our territory!""But you jumped them," she retorted instinctively. The line went utterly silent on Julius's end, and Jenny felt her breath h
"What on earth is going on here?" Rolf asked as he walked into the bar. Sunlight streamed through the open windows while Jenny and Malia carried equipment to the small, elevated platform in the corner. Malia set down a speaker and wiped her hands on her shirt, rolling her eyes at Rolf."Someone is fixated on the idea of holding a karaoke night, despite my attempts to convince her it won't go over well," Malia explained."What do you mean?" Jenny asked, sitting on the ground and fiddling with two pieces of a microphone stand, trying to fit them together. "I think it's going to be a hit!"When the bar fell into an awkward silence, Jenny glanced up, half-expecting to see Rolf and Malia engaged in a passionate kiss. Instead, they were both staring at her as if she'd sprouted a second head."What?" she asked, redirecting her attention to the two metal rods in her hands. She attempted to join them again, but it didn't work. Letting out a grunt, she pushed her h
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