Jenny wasted no time searching for something to staunch Steve's bleeding. Though the injury was not as severe as it could have been, he had already lost a considerable amount of blood. She emerged from the floorboard with a pair of thick women's underwear and decided not to question their presence. Gathering a first aid kit from under the seat, she soaked the makeshift bandage in antiseptic before wrapping it tightly around Steve's wound. He howled in pain as the stinging sensation from the antiseptic intensified. Jenny ran her hand over his forehead, trying to steady herself as Anthony maneuvered the car, causing her to tumble in the backseat. It seemed that Steve had passed out, his cries cutting off suddenly, so she quickly buckled his limp body in before crawling to the front to fasten her own seatbelt. She tugged her dress down over her thighs, but Anthony was too focused on driving to notice how high it had ridden up. As Anthony rounded the side of the building, getting ready
Returning to the quaint little bar after the incursion in search of refuge and medical aid, members of the Dark Wolves gang had been streaming in and out of both the front and rear entrances all night, creating an atmosphere of chaos. Jenny ran herself ragged, neglecting her appearance as she briskly moved back and forth to tend to the injured. She offered assistance to the doctors, who were desperately in need of more hands, supplies, and everything else. Although Lemuel and a distracted Malia were doing their best to keep up, their lack of advanced medical training left them struggling to match the pace of the already drained doctors. Only a few of the doctors initially summoned had been chosen for situations like this. These selected practitioners had undergone rigorous background checks and trials to test their loyalty and dedication to the Dark Wolves gang. The doctors trusted by Alexander worked tirelessly, addressing injuries that ranged from broken limbs to gunshot wounds.
Without thinking, she wrung her hands in her blood-soaked apron as she appeared at the scene. Malia and Lemuel were already at Dolf's side, where deep wounds marred his upper body, his torn dress shirt revealing the extent of his injuries. He was losing so much blood, Jenny thought, while Lemuel desperately tried to staunch the flow, but the wounds were too numerous. "Quick! He needs help NOW!" Malia shouted, urgency lacing her voice. She positioned herself above Dolf, pleading, "Stay with me, baby! You're going to be okay; we've got this!" Dolf's eyes rolled back, but he fought to open them again, attempting to focus on her. Malia sobbed as she cradled his head in her lap, staring into his eyes, desperately wishing for him to pull through this. He had survived worse injuries before, she reminded herself. Jenny knelt down, quickly helping Lemuel to stop the bleeding. Her thoughts went back to Alexander, and as if sensing her worry, Malia leaned closer to the barely conscious Dolf, a
The woman appraised Jenny from head to toe, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly agape. Jenny swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her intense gaze linger longer than expected. Memories flooded back of how Alexander had wrapped his fingers around her waist, pulling her close, and she suppressed a shudder, careful not to reveal her feelings.Perhaps this woman could sense Jenny's emotions regarding Alexander, which might explain why she was scrutinizing her so closely."Lemuel," she said, never breaking eye contact with Jenny. "Who is this?""Georgina Wilson," he replied, glancing at Jenny for a brief moment. "She reached out to us a few weeks ago, looking for work. Alexander insisted we hire her, but I'm not sure we can trust her, ma'am."A rush of color drained from Jenny's face at Lemuel's words, and she instinctively lowered her gaze, feeling small and chastised. She genuinely wanted to help Alexander, and it was clear that few others were willing or able to. Yet, if Lemuel was wa
Although she understood that Alexander had insisted she ride in the back for her own safety, she thought it outdated rather than chivalrous. Reflecting on recent events, Jenny felt that their encounters had little to do with chivalry. It was clear she had lost their trust, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch a break.Dolf and Lemuel caught Jenny attempting to pick the lock on a door leading to an off-limits area of the bar, and chaos erupted. She found herself unceremoniously dragged to their underground interrogation room. Enraged, Dolf and Lemuel threatened her with a whip and handcuffs, intent on making her pay for her defiance. The tension in the air was palpable until Alexander intervened and halted the impending torment. Though she felt utterly humiliated when ordered to strip, Alexander heard her desperate cries and quickly put an end to her suffering. However, he commanded her to serve as bait to entrap the leader of the Teros mafia, warning her that failure
Jenny tries to maintain a calm and confident expression, though she feels anything but. The pool of blood surrounding Alexander is so extensive that she fears he may have a serious injury that she's unprepared to deal with. She kneels beside him, her knees slipping into the blood while still wearing her elegant dress, feeling it become looser and dirtier with every moment spent tending to him.As she places her hand on his chest, Alexander's eyes bolt open, and his powerful hand grips her wrist tightly. Nancy and Lemuel watch silently from the doorway, observing as he holds her there. Jenny blinks under his intense gaze, a warm flush rising to her cheeks."What are you doing?" he croaks, struggling to keep his eyes open."I suspect you have a bullet wound," she murmurs, doing her best to ignore the electric sensations coursing through her arm from his touch. "I think it's best if I treat it before you bleed out all over the floor of this beautiful study.""I'll be just fine," he repli
"What kind of man would I be if I handed you over to him?" Alexander asks, coughing lightly. Jenny stands and fetches a glass of water, helping him sit up enough to take a drink. After he settles back down, he continues, "First of all, people aren't property. You aren't mine to give away. And second, that man was very old and unpleasant to look at. I don't trust you, but that doesn't mean I'd wish that fate on you. I wouldn't wish it on anyone."Hearing once more that he doesn't trust her stings, yet she bites her lip, knowing she has earned his skepticism. They sit in silence for a moment, Alexander's breathing labored while she picks dried blood from her knees, each struggling with their thoughts in the weighty quiet that fills the room."The negotiation was a trap," Alexander finally admits. "I've been wanting to seize control of the Teros territory for quite some time, and I figured it was best to go for the root of the problem. Eliminate the boss, eliminate the leader. Cut off th
A sharp cry of pain escapes Jenny's lips, but it is the overwhelming fear that grips her most fiercely. If he intended to kill her, surely he would have done it by now—unless he wanted to prolong her suffering. Jenny's mind races as she wonders if the wound is severe enough to be fatal.Blood flows freely, the crimson stream cascading down her neck and starkly contrasting against her pale skin.Jenny's eyes scanned the room, searching for anything that could provide an escape—a knife, a gun, a heavy blunt object. Everything seemed in order. The fresh towels that Lemuel and Nancy had brought were still neatly folded on the sofa nearest the bloodstained rug. The supplies she had taken with her remained close by: the suture kit, tape, and—It suddenly hit her that the surgical steel scissors were missing. She realized they were the very ones that Alexander was currently pressing against her throat.Continuing to restrain Jenny with one arm, Alexander moved from behind her, never releasin
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