"No," Jenny replied, perhaps too hastily. The brush paused on her neck, and when she opened her eyes, Malia's gaze was filled with concern and confusion. A lie slipped from Jenny's lips before she could think. "I met a guy last night and asked him to do this. I wanted to try something a bit more... adventurous. I didn't realize how visible the marks would be. I was embarrassed to tell Alexander how I got the bruises."Malia studied her for a moment before bursting into laughter. Jenny stepped back, wary of the makeup brush scattering powder on her clothes."Oh, Georgina. You nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought something serious was up. I didn't know you were so bold," Malia teased."I'm really not," Jenny said quickly, suppressing a smile as she retrieved her makeup brush. "I learned that last night. It's not my kind of thing.""Well," Malia wiped away a tear of laughter, "if you ever change your mind, let me know. I can show you how to avoid those bruises. And Dolf could teach y
Lemuel, feigning indifference to Jenny's curiosity about their plans, stood and brought a chair for her to join them. "Looks like you've had a rough night," he remarked with a teasing smile, gesturing towards her apron. Jenny glanced down to see the stains marking her apron, a blush coloring her cheeks in response.Sensing her embarrassment, Dolf intervened, "I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it. Here," he gestured to the empty chair, "take a load off."Jenny sat down eagerly, her attention drawn to the mapped-out drawing on the table that bore an uncanny resemblance to the opulent mansion of her childhood. As if forgetting her presence, Dolf and Lemuel delved into a discussion about a covert mission, with potential plans to dismantle a rival political family.With her delicate hands folded in her lap, Jenny listened intently, mentally cataloging every detail they mentioned. She couldn't resist correcting them when they discussed areas of interest, pointing out secret exits, potenti
Jenny sat among the group, her mind racing as she plotted out intricate security solutions Liam and Dolf would need to navigate. A hint of humor lightened her tone, "Oh, an alarm system? Try eight distinct layers. Each one complements the others, so if you bypass one, the rest remain active. But there's a master code to shut it all down."Dolf, ever the skeptic, looked intrigued. "You know the code?" he inquired, his eyebrows arching in interest."I used to," Jenny admitted, contemplating the likelihood of it having changed since her last visit. "It was Rosaceae Sanguineus."She observed the duo, gauging if the phrase sparked recognition. Should they be surveying her father's residence, they would be aware of his affiliations, perhaps even his membership with the Bloody Sapphire. However, their expressions revealed no such acknowledgment. Jenny maintained a casual facade and continued."Layers of security, and dogs. The wealthy have a penchant for dogs, particularly this household. Th
Walking home alone, Jenny allowed herself a smile. She had finally gained a foothold in the Dark Wolves gang. Alexander's apparent trust was valuable, especially coming from someone of his status. This acknowledgment meant the world to her.Her thoughts drifted to Dolf and Lemuel, who also appeared to accept her presence, and she felt a quiet sense of triumph. Today, she would share her success with Julius. She only hoped it would suffice as she bit her lower lip in anticipation.Upon opening the door, she found Julius asleep on the couch, enveloped by its cozy features as he rested peacefully. She was taken aback; Julius was known for being prompt and composed. It puzzled her as their father would have harshly criticized such behavior. Was Julius slipping? The faintest smug smile played on her lips. Since being dismissed from their home, she had never seen him falter. The idea of Julius having a weakness was oddly satisfying.Careful not to make a sound, she slipped off her shoes, mo
The next morning, her alarm goes off, and Jenny feels surprisingly energized. She makes her bed briskly, preparing for the day with unusual zeal. Today, she'll gather information that proves useful, returning Julius to his normal disposition. No more drunken Julius on her couch.Before leaving her apartment, Jenny checks on the growing stash of cash in the bottom drawer of her closet. For a fleeting moment, she allows herself to dream of using it to escape her current life. She shuts the drawer and heads to the bar.Upon her arrival, Jenny unlocks the door and finds a note from Malia, explaining that she's not feeling well and that Jenny can manage the bar alone today. If needed, she can call in some part-time servers to assist. Jenny tucks the note into her pocket, astonished by her fortune.The bar hasn't opened yet, and an unusual stillness and silence pervade the place. Jenny is alone, presenting her with ample time and opportunity to investigate. First, she turns on some music to
Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, Dolf and Lemuel reached an understanding. Trapped in her thoughts, Jenny missed most of their conversation, but the shift in Lemuel's expression suddenly caught her attention. "Let's make this interesting!" Lemuel shouted with a wicked grin, addressing Dolf more than Jenny. His words pierced her deeply.It was as if the whole world had turned upside down. Jenny had become accustomed to Julius and her father's harsh treatment, their sudden outbursts, but the betrayal by Alexander and Lemuel, whom she had come to see as family, felt far worse than any beating. She thought she would welcome physical pain if it meant she could return to the way everything used to be. Her heart longed for acceptance, especially from Lemuel with his bright smile and warm eyes. Regrets flooded her as she reminisced about their lighthearted conversations filled with laughter. He had made her feel like she belonged. Now, anxiety and self-loathing consumed her, wi
"Look up," Malia instructed, yanking on Jenny's hair. Jenny winced, staring at the ceiling as Malia combed through her hair with little care. It had been permed and lightened to a shade between her natural color and the deep brown she adopted for her assignment. Malia sat behind her, harshly brushing without meeting her eyes in the mirror.Jenny suspected that Dolf had told Malia about her activities when he found her. She internally cursed for not being more cautious. If only she'd come up with an excuse—a spilled drink needing a mop, or searching for a lost contact. Anything would have been better than letting him witness her actions. Perhaps wetting the floor might have made him call out before entering. Or maybe, he would have slipped."Malia," Jenny began, attempting to reason with her. "It's not... I don't know how to explain, but it's not what it looks like. I know it sounds cliché, but I need you to trust me."Malia pulled the brush through Jenny's hair again, even more forcef
As Jenny arrived at the venue for the negotiations, she reminded herself once more of the critical importance of not making any mistakes. "Remember what I told you," Alexander said, narrowing his gaze at her. "If you mess this up, it's over for you." He held her gaze a moment longer to emphasize his warning. Jenny nodded, pulling down the visor for one final check in the mirror before stepping out. Her brown eyes sparkled, expertly accentuated with chestnut kohl applied by Malia. A shimmering shade of brown adorned her lids, while gold shadow glimmered just above. Her brows were flawlessly shaped, and her dark red lips curled into a quick smile as she applied a glossy finish. Alexander exited the front passenger seat, nodding to his driver while smoothing his suit and adjusting his silk tie. As he made his way to the back of the vehicle, he caught a glimpse of Jenny admiring her reflection, a smile lighting up her face. She bore an uncanny resemblance to his godmother, a fact that
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