I stared down at the contract, a wave of defiance bubbling up in me. I turned back to him, meeting his gaze head-on. "I never asked for your help," I said, "I would've found a way to save my mother on my own. You may think you own me, but I'd rather die than marry you." A slow smile crept across his face, a smug, knowing look that sent a chill down my spine. He knew exactly what I was thinking, as if my resistance only entertained him. "Look at me," he commanded. I reluctantly turned back, locking eyes with him. His face had shifted, his expression darkened, and for the first time, true fury was etched in his eyes. "I’ll count to ten," he said, "If that contract isn’t signed by the time I reach ten, I’ll make the same call I made to pay those bills. Only this time, the instructions will be different. Your mother... your sister…they’ll both be gone." He took a breath, settling back as if the threat were a mere matter of routine. "So… ONE!!" I swallowed hard, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. Could he be bluffing? No, I'd seen him kill before, seen how casually he turned life and death into sports. "FOUR," he counted. My hands started to shake. What could I do? If I signed, I'd be bound to him forever, trapped as his wife. But if I didn’t... my mother and sister’s lives hung in the balance. "SEVEN." I closed my eyes, fighting the panic rising in my chest. He wouldn’t do it, I told myself. He couldn’t be that monstrous. But even as I thought it, the doubt crept in. I wasn’t sure. Then, he hit "TEN" himself
view moreAnna's POV
"My mother used to say, when there’s a heavy downpour of rain, it means the Earth is mourning dead souls."
The sharp crackle of lightning lit up the night, followed by a rumble of thunder that seemed to shake the car.
The sound jolted me back to reality. I hated thunderstorms—the noise, the darkness, the way my chest tightened every time it struck.
I took a shaky breath, trying to focus. "Can you go any faster?" I asked the driver, my voice sharper than I intended.
“Sorry, ma’am, but I have to drive carefully. The roads are slick with rain,” he replied, his hands steady on the wheel.
I bit my lip, drumming my fingers anxiously on my thigh, feeling like something was clawing inside me. I tried blaming the weather or the pace of the drive, but deep down, I knew there was something else, something I couldn’t shake.
Desperate to distract myself, I reached into my bag, searching for my phone. Maybe scrolling through the internet would ease this gnawing anxiety.
But when I glanced at the screen, my heart dropped. A message from my sister.
"Hi Anna, call me as soon as you see this. It’s about Mum."
I dropped my phone onto my thigh, frustration knotting in my stomach. My head sank against the cold glass of the window, and I closed my eyes briefly, fighting the heavy feeling pressing down on me. My sister never texts me—unless there’s a problem.
With a deep sigh, I picked up my phone, staring at the screen for a moment before dialing her number. My fingers hovered over the call button, as if pressing it might make whatever she had to say all too real. But I couldn’t avoid it.
Bracing myself, I tapped to call, listening to the rings echo in my ear, each one building the weight of whatever news was coming.
“Hello,” Kate’s voice came through, shaky and strained.
“Hi, Kate. I got your text. What’s going on?” My voice wavered, a chill creeping over me as I picked up on the dread lacing her words.
“It’s… it’s Mum,” she stammered, her tone brittle, like she was on the verge of breaking down. “Her health is failing.”
A lump formed in my throat as tears pricked at my eyes, but I forced myself to stay steady. “What happened? Is it… is it serious?”
Kate took a shuddering breath. “The doctor says she needs immediate surgery. Her intestines are perforated from food poisoning, and the cost… we’ll need $100,000.”
“$100,000? Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?” I whispered, feeling the weight of it press down on me.
“I don’t know, sis,” Kate replied, her voice trembling. “Maybe… maybe we could try calling Dad?”
I closed my eyes, my mind racing with a hundred conflicting thoughts. “You know what, Kate? I’ll call you back. I just… I need a minute to think.”
“Alright. Just… don’t take too long.”
I dropped my phone onto the seat beside me, gripping the back of the passenger seat as I bowed my head, fighting to keep it together. “Oh no, no, no… this can’t be happening,” I whispered, a sob escaping despite myself. Memories of everything my mother had endured flooded my mind, making the pain sharper.
“Ma’am… are you alright?” the driver asked gently, glancing at me through the rearview mirror, concern etched on his face.
I forced myself to take a shaky breath, brushing away the tears as I tried to steady my voice. “Just… just keep driving, please.”
The driver’s voice had an undertone that struck a nerve, tugging at something buried, something painful. It reminded me of my father.
The thought of him, especially now that Kate had suggested we ask for his help, made my stomach twist in fury and heartbreak.
I pressed the handkerchief to my face, willing the tears to stop. What kind of man abandons his wife and children without a second thought? My father—no, he wasn’t a father. He was the man who had shattered us.
Our world had crumbled the first time he’d raised a hand to my mother, his anger unleashed because she’d dared accuse him of cheating. And she’d been right. He didn’t care about the wounds he left behind, about the nights we stayed up waiting for him to come home. He just walked out, trading us in for his new life, his new wife, like we meant nothing.
A sob escaped me before I could choke it down. I wasn’t just grieving for my mother’s pain—I was grieving for the family we should have had but lost because of him.
The driver’s voice pulled me back to reality.
“We’re here, ma’am,” he said softly.I quickly wiped my tears, digging into my bag for some cash. I handed it over with a faint nod, barely meeting his eyes. The cold air hit me as I pushed the door open and stepped out, the chill wrapping around me like a reminder of the reality I had to face.
I closed the door, and within seconds, he drove off, leaving me standing alone in the dark, under the weight of the storm and my own heartache.
The rain had stopped, but the cold clung to me, seeping through my clothes and chilling me to the bone. I wrapped my arms tightly around myself as I walked down the empty street, each step weighed down by exhaustion and dread.
When I reached my gate, a strange stillness settled over me. Normally, our dog, Chelie would be barking by now, announcing my arrival. But tonight, there was only silence. An unsettling quiet.
I hesitated, glancing around before pushing open the gate.
I made my way through the garden, calling softly, “Chelie?” But there was no response. A prickle of unease crawled up my spine.
The cold was biting, sinking into my bones, so I turned back toward the house, eager for warmth—only to stop short when I saw the front door ajar.
My heart skipped a beat. My mother and sister were still at the hospital, and no one else was supposed to be here. Fear tightened in my chest as the thought of an intruder crossed my mind.
Swallowing hard, I approached the door, weighing my options. I reached out, pushing it open just enough to slip inside, moving carefully, hoping to make as little noise as possible.
As I stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat at the horrific sight before me.
My father lay sprawled on the floor, drowning in a pool of his own blood, and hovering over him were two huge men in black suits, their faces shadowed and menacing.
Panic surged through me, and I covered my mouth to stifle a scream, the sound muffled by disbelief.
My bag slipped from my grip, hitting the floor with a dull thud.
Just as my instincts screamed for me to run, I felt a sudden prick in my neck—a sharp pain that turned into an icy grip of fear. A tranquilizer.
My body betrayed me as I spun around, desperate to escape the nightmare, but my vision began to blur.
I fought to stay upright, my heart racing as the room swirled around me. I struggled to keep my balance, but my legs buckled, and I collapsed to the ground, the world fading to black.
Damon's POV I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under the fact that I'd almost cheated on Anna, what is left is just to penetrate Rose, but I couldn't do it.I was still battling my lust for Rose and love for Anna when Rose’s voice cuts through the haze of my thoughts. "I want you to fuck me, Damon," she says, her tone bold and unapologetic. Her hands were on me before I can process it, trailing down my chest, fingers brushing the waistband of my pants with a purpose that sends a jolt through me. "I want to feel your dick right inside me."A groan rumbles out of me, because damn it, she’s not wrong—I’m tempted, she's hot. The heat of her touch sears through the fabric, and for a split second, I can picture it: giving in, letting her pull me under, drowning out the mess in my head with something deep. But that’s the problem—it’s too real, too messy, and I’ve spent years building walls to keep messes like this out. "I can’t, Rose," I say, my voice rougher tha
Rose took steps toward him, the she stopped just short of touching him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath, smell that spicy perfume that always seemed to linger around her. “I want you, Damon,” she said, her gaze locking onto his, unflinching. “I want you all to myself. No one’s ever shown me what it means to be cared for like you have.”Damon’s chest tightened, her words hitting him like a punch. He’d pulled her out of a dark place years ago, given her a new life, but this—this was something else. His mind flickered with memories of her gratitude, her loyalty, but now it twisted into something deeper, something he wasn’t sure he could handle. He chuckled, the sound rough and tinged with disbelief. “You’re serious?”Her eyes flared, a spark of frustration cutting through the longing. “I killed the Manzoni Queen for you, Damon,” she said, her voice steady despite the weight of her confession. “I took out Scarlett, climbed to the top of this clan, and all I’m a
Damon rolled up to the Manzoni mansion alone, his sleek black car humming to a stop in front of the iron gates. He stepped out, smoothing his black jacket—his favorite color, always had been—and took a deep breath. No backup, no crew, just him. He didn’t want this new Donna, whoever she was, thinking he was scared or uneasy. Showing up solo was a power move, a way to say he wasn’t rattled, even if his gut told him this could go sideways fast. Scarlett Manzoni’s death had hit him like a curveball—he hadn’t seen that coming, and now he couldn’t stop wondering how she’d gone down.The security guys at the gate gave him the side-eye, a mix of suspicion and nerves flickering in their stares. They’d heard the stories—Damon Lockwood, the ruthless Don of the Lockwood Clan, a name that carried weight and a shiver down the spine. But seeing him in the flesh? That was new. He caught a couple of them whispering, their hands twitching near their guns, like they weren’t sure if they should bow
Rose POV I sat alone, my fingers tracing the edge of a crystal glass, the amber liquid inside untouched. My reflection stared back at me from the polished surface of the desk—a woman with sharp green eyes and red hair spilling over her shoulders, a far cry from the broken girl I’d once been. I’d come a long way from the orphanage, from the life that had tried to crush me. But even now, with all this power at my fingertips, there was an emptiness gnawing at me, a void I couldn’t fill.I didn’t know where I came from. No mother, no father—just a crib in a gray-walled room, surrounded by other forgotten kids. The nuns at St. Patrick’s Home for Lost Souls had been kind enough, but they couldn’t give me answers. My earliest memories were of cold floors and whispered prayers, of wondering why no one came for me. As I got older, I begged for clues—anything to tell me who I was. I’d had my DNA tested more times than I could count, scraping together every pen
Anna's POVThen instinct kicked in, and I jerked back, stumbling a step away. “Bonnie, what the hell?” I gasped, my voice shaking, my lips still tingling from her touch.She didn’t answer, just stared at me with those deep, unreadable eyes, her chest rising and falling fast. Then, without a word, she turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind her. I stood there, my heart hammering against my ribs, my thoughts a tangled mess. What had just happened? Why would she—?And then it hit me, a slow, shattering clarity. The way she’d held me, the protectiveness in her voice, the way her eyes lingered on me too long—it wasn’t just friendship. Bonnie was in love with me. She’d been in love with me this whole time, and I’d been too blind to see it. Now she was leaving, walking out of my life without explanation, leaving me with the weight of her kiss and the chaos of my own feelings.My legs gave out, and I sank onto the edge of my bed, my hands trembli
Anna's POVThe framed picture of Ghost stared back at me from Damon’s desk, I could see the striking resemblance between them, especially the piercing eyes. I’d come looking for him, but he wasn’t here. The room felt hollow without him. I lingered anyway, unable to leave, drawn in by the faint scent of him that clung to everything. My fingers brushed the edge of Ghost’s frame, a restless energy humming through me as I wandered deeper into the space.This wasn’t how I’d pictured things since we got back from Mexico. I’d imagined us wrapped up in each other, a blur of tangled sheets and breathless nights, orgasm after orgasm until the world outside didn’t matter. Instead, there was this gap between us, a distance I couldn’t bridge no matter how much I wanted to. I sank into the chair at his desk, the leather creaking under my weight, and let out a shaky breath. My body felt alive in a way it never had before, a constant drum of sexual need pulsing through
Damon's POVThe rooftop of the mansion was my last refuge, a place where the chaos of the world below couldn’t quite reach me. The night was cold, the air sharp with the scent of distant rain. I stood near the edge, hands gripping the iron railing, staring into the void. My room had felt too small tonight, its walls closing in with every unanswered question, every festering doubt. Up here, at least, I could breathe—even if every breath tasted like fear.I’d never been in this position before. Me, Damon, the guy who always had a plan, always knew the next move. Now? I was teetering on the edge of something I couldn’t name, and for the first time, I wasn’t sure I’d make it out alive. The Manzoni Clan lingered in my thoughts like a shadow I couldn’t shake. They had to be behind this—the deaths, the chaos, the unraveling of everything I’d built. But who was their mole? Someone close, someone I’d let into my circle. The betrayal gnawed at me, a dull ache tha
Anna's POVThe mansion stood tall ahead of us as the car slowed to a stop, the tires crunched against the gravel driveway, a sound that grated against my already disturbed nerves. Damon’s hand was warm in mine, his fingers laced tightly with my own, but there was something off—something I couldn’t ignore. Even though we were touching, he felt distant, detached, like a wall had sprung up between us. His jaw was clenched, his gaze fixed straight ahead, avoiding mine. I squeezed his hand, hoping for some reassurance, but he didn’t respond. He was here with me, physically, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.We stepped out of the car, and the cool evening air hit me like a slap, sharpening my senses. The mansion’s heavy wooden doors swung open as we approached, revealing a group of Damon’s men waiting inside. Their faces were etched with determination, and the tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. I clung to Damon’s hand a little tighter,
Anna's POVMy hand pressed harder against my mouth, muffling the gasp that tore out of me. The room tilted, the edges blurring as my knees wobbled beneath me. Damon’s men stood there, their pale faces carved from stone, waiting for me to say something, do something. But I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Ghost—Damon’s sister, the one he’d spoken of with that quiet reverence—was gone. Murdered. And Damon… where the hell was he?“Where did he go?” My voice came out sharp, cracking at the edges as I lowered my hand. My fingers trembled, and I clenched them into fists to hide it.The taller man—the one with the buzz cut—shifted his weight, his jaw tight. “We don’t know. He got the message, went silent, then grabbed his keys and left. Told us to get you to the mansion before he drove off.”“When?” I demanded, stepping closer. “When did this happen?”“About an hour ago,” he said, his eyes flicking away from mine, like he couldn’t stand the weight of my stare.An ho
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