IzzyI can feel my anger simmering as I sit, wrapped in my robe, checking my phone every few seconds. Zade’s eyes on me all day had been like a thorn under my skin, constantly pricking, keeping me on edge. If he doesn’t care, why watch? Why put in the effort to make me feel like there’s more than indifference behind that stare? It’s like he’s playing with me, testing me, and right now, I can’t tell if I’m angrier at him or myself.My phone buzzes, and I glance down, rolling my eyes as I read Mack’s message.Mac: Omw, ready for the ride of your life?God, he’s insufferable. But he’s exactly what I need right now: a distraction. Someone to break this ridiculous cycle of disappointment and ghosting. I type back a response, determined to keep the upper hand.Izzy: You can try 😉His reply pings back almost instantly, and I can practically feel the arrogance oozing through the screen.Mac: You should be naked, are you?I roll my eyes, but I type back anyway, a hint of mockery in my words.
IzzyEva’s eyes are sharp, though, picking up on something beneath my forced composure.“What’s up?” she asks, concern slipping into her usually playful tone.A sigh escapes me before I can stop it. “It’s… nothing,” I start, but the words tumble out. “It’s just I tried to lose my virginity all week, and then again tonight, to just get it over with. But the guy bailed when I told him. He wasn’t the first. That makes six times this week alone.”Eva’s expression softens as I finish, and she pulls out a small card from her bra, slipping it into my hand. “This? This is a number that can change everything. There’s a community of men who won’t just stay—they’ll want to guide you. The ‘daddies,’ as they call themselves,” she says with a wink. “Trust me, they don’t run. But make sure it’s what you want.”I look down at the number, my fingers pressing into the card’s edges, feeling its weight in my palm. The idea feels… different. Dangerous, even. But there’s something intriguing about it too.
IzzySwallowing down the last traces of doubt, I straighten, holding my chin high, letting my gaze rake over Zade as I circle him slowly, taking in every detail. He follows me with his eyes, a flicker of curiosity in them, but I catch a glimmer of surprise when I stop abruptly in front of him and issue my first command.“Did I say you could look at me?” I snap, letting the words fall like a whip, sharper than I thought myself capable of. I watch his eyes widen slightly before he glances toward Eva, clearly taken aback. She chuckles, crossing her arms as if she’d expected this all along.“What the hell?” he mutters to Eva, surprise in his voice. “Are you sure she hasn’t done this before? I thought she was supposed to be… timid, soft.”An irritated smirk tugs at my lips, and I decide to lean into the act. Stepping forward, I place one knee on the chair beside him, leaning into his space as I settle onto his lap. I reach up, wrapping my hand around his throat, pressing just enough to mak
IzzyHe finally lets out a low, humorless chuckle, the sound dark and rough, like gravel.“Careful, Candy,” he murmurs, his voice a warning, barely more than a growl. “You’re playing a dangerous game. You might not be ready for what you’re asking for.”But his words only spur me on. The thrill of having him at my mercy, watching him grapple with his own restraint, is intoxicating. I tighten my grip on his throat, my nails pressing just a little harder as I lean closer, meeting his gaze with unwavering defiance.“Oh, I think I can handle whatever it is you’re too afraid to give,” I reply, my tone laced with mockery, daring him to break.His eyes flash, a dangerous glint simmering there. His hands finally release the chair, and one of them reaches up, capturing my wrist in a tight grip, pulling my hand away from his neck. I don’t resist, keeping my gaze locked on his, watching as he takes control, his fingers wrapping around my wrist, pinning it firmly.He holds my gaze, his grip on my
Izzy In an instant, his grip tightens, and he spins me around to face him, his gaze burning into mine. His face is inches away, and the mask hides enough of his expression to keep me guessing, but his eyes are sharp, focused, unwavering.“You don’t know the first thing about me,” he says softly, but there’s a dangerous glint in his gaze. “But here’s something you might want to remember: I don’t play games I don’t intend to win.”A shiver runs down my spine, and I know I’m on the verge of breaking the very rules I set up for myself. This was supposed to be a game, a way to taunt him, to prove that I could handle him, that he didn’t affect me the way I knew I affected him. But the way he’s looking at me now, the raw intensity in his gaze, it’s like he’s seeing straight through me. But he's not, he sees Candy, Gabby, not me. Not Izzy and that fucking hurts.Before I can respond, he steps back, breaking the contact between us, though his eyes never leave mine. The tension in the room thi
ZadeI sit in my darkened office, fingers curling around the cold glass of whiskey as a rage that I can barely contain simmers under the surface. When I woke at four this morning and checked her dating app, I was already furious. She’d set up another date. Another man, ready to touch her, to hold her, to take what’s mine. And she had set it all up just last night, as if she couldn’t wait.The memory of that smug face of his stepping out of the taxi and heading toward her door still makes my blood boil. As he reached for her door, I dragged him back, my fingers digging into his collar as I tossed him into my car. By the time I was done with him, he was just another dead body, his pathetic existence snuffed out before he could even get close to her. Another job for Jason to clean up. And the bastard had a “Wife” contact on his phone. Disgusting. Married, yet trying to touch her, thinking he could get away with it.Still, the thought of her lying through her teeth at work, of her sitting
Zade“Booked herself a date with the daddies tonight. Last I saw, she was walking out the door.”Everything goes white-hot. I’m on my feet in seconds, grabbing my keys, my jacket, ready to tear out of here. “Who the hell gave her their number?”She shrugs, looking bemused, almost proud. “I did. Girl told me men kept running from her, so I gave her the card. Figured she’d get what she needed.”“You what?” My voice is ice, seething under the surface, and she backs up slightly. “So you just decided to hand her off to them? You sent her to three damn men who think they can use her however they want?”Eva crosses her arms, defiant. “They’re professionals, Zade. If you’re that worked up about it, maybe you should think about why she needed them in the first place.”I don’t listen. I’m already through the door, the anger boiling over as I storm out to the parking lot, the words replaying in my head like a broken record: three men. She wants three men now? When did it get to this? My control
Zade“Zade! Let me go! You don’t get to do this! You don’t get to get involved in my life!” She’s practically screaming, fighting my grip as I push through the doors and carry her out, my hold unyielding.“Your life?” I snap, voice dripping with fury. “Is this what you think living is? Kneeling in front of scum who couldn’t care less about you?”She glares at me, her eyes blazing. “They cared more than you ever did!” She writhes, trying to escape, her fists hitting my shoulders.But I don’t let go. I keep moving, keep my grip tight, ignoring her rage, her curses. She’ll understand, even if it means burning down everything around us to make her see it.Her fists pound against my chest as I stride outside, her angry words a constant stream in my ear, but I don’t stop. I make my way to the bike, lowering her down just enough to swing a leg over before pulling her in front of me, locking her into place. She squirms, trying to pull away, but my arms cage her in, keeping her right there.“Z
ZadeI knew if I waited, things would go wrong, which is why I proposed to Izzy sooner than I had planned. Good job I did as if I hadn't. I was meant to be proposing right now, which isn't ideal.The room is buzzing with controlled chaos. Nurses move efficiently around us, murmuring instructions and checking monitors. Izzy lies in the hospital bed, her face flushed, hair damp with sweat, and hands clutching mine like a lifeline. Her grip is strong—stronger than I ever expected—but I welcome the pain. It’s grounding me, keeping me in the moment when I feel like I might lose my mind.“Zade, breathe,” Izzy groans, her voice strained as another contraction overtakes her. “You’re supposed to remind me to breathe, not forget how to do it yourself.”I snap out of my daze, nodding quickly. “Right. Breathe, Izzy. Deep breaths.” I mimic the motion, inhaling and exhaling like I’m teaching her something she hasn’t been doing perfectly for hours.She glares at me between breaths, sweat beading on
IzzyI can’t help but smile at Zade as he drives, his hands steady on the wheel, his profile glowing in the soft morning light. Time has slipped by so quickly. It feels like only yesterday we were grappling with fears and uncertainty, and now here we are. Zade has been by my side so much more than I ever expected. He still works, but not nearly as much as he did before. Somehow, he’s found a balance, and it’s brought us closer in ways I didn’t think possible.While he’s working, I spend most of my time at home with Sammi and baby Emmerson. It’s been heartwarming to watch Sammi and Grayson navigate parenthood together, their bond strengthening with every passing day. Watching their joy gives me hope—hope that Zade and I can have something just as beautiful with our baby.Zade has been going to counseling regularly, and I see pieces of the real him emerging more and more each week. The man beneath the armor he built to survive, to lead the mafia, to bury his pain—that man is someone ext
Zade POVI lose myself in her, time slipping away as I drink her in, the salty-sweet flavor of her flooding my senses. She collapses into the bed eventually, her body limp, a satisfied sigh escaping her lips. Even now, her walls quiver, her body still coming down as I lick the last remnants of her release.When I finally pull away, I move up her body and kiss her with a desperate need, our lips crashing together in a possessive claim. I’m hard again, painfully so, but there’s no rush. Tonight, there’s no clock ticking down, no interruptions, just us.“Alright,” I say, standing to strip the last of my clothes, my eyes devouring her sprawled form. “Let’s keep going.”She whimpers, weak from the relentless pleasure, and reaches for me, her hands trembling as they find my shoulders. “Zade,” she murmurs, but I’m nowhere near done.Izzy tastes like heaven, pure and raw, a flavor I never want to forget. My lips return to her swollen clit, teasing and tormenting her again. Her body jerks as s
ZadeAs I help Izzy into my car, her radiant smile reminds me just how much I’ve been neglecting her. I’ve been so consumed with making sure Grayson is home with Sammi and the baby that I’ve failed the one person who needed me most—her. The guilt eats at me as I start the engine, and I steal glances at her, soaking in her beauty, her strength, her unwavering patience with me.She pulls something from her bag and holds it out to me—a scan image. My heart twists as I take it, running my fingers over the black-and-white lines that outline our baby.“I’m sorry I missed it,” I whisper, the weight of regret heavy in my voice.Her smile is soft, understanding. “It’s fine. You were working and making sure Grayson was home for Sammi and the baby.” Her words are kind, but they cut deep. Missing this moment wasn’t fine, and I can’t let it happen again.When we arrive, I park and immediately step out, going to her side and lifting her into my arms. She laughs lightly, her arms wrapping around my
Izzy POVHis dark eyes burn into mine, a mixture of frustration and desire. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Izzy,” he murmurs, his voice low and hoarse.I lean in, letting my breath ghost over his lips. “Good. I want to play, Zade. And this time, I make the rules.”“You want to fuck me?” His voice is low, teasing, as his dark eyes bore into mine, a smirk playing on his lips. The sight of him, restrained and vulnerable yet brimming with raw power, ignites something primal in me. I chuckle softly, leaning in to capture his lips, grinding against him as I feel him stir beneath me.“Oh, you have no idea how much I want to fuck you,” I murmur against his lips, my voice husky with desire. Pulling back, I let a wicked smile curl on my lips. “You’re all mine now,” I whisper, my words dripping with dominance. Slowly, deliberately, I sink to my knees in front of him, maintaining eye contact as my hands glide over his thighs.His breath hitches when I reach up, my fingers wrapping around his s
IzzyIt’s been two months since we came back, and while Zade and I have grown closer, some days feel like we’re barely keeping our heads above water. The distance that came with my pregnancy has dissolved, and his promise to fuck me every day? He’s kept it. But most of the time, it’s rushed, like an obligation rather than passion.I understand why—he’s juggling too much. He practically ordered Grayson to stay home for a couple of months after Sammi had the baby, leaving him to hold everything together. Sure, his brothers are around to help, but Zade hardly leans on them. It’s as if he’s still carrying the weight of raising them, of being their protector, even now.Today was supposed to be different. It was the scan, the moment I’ve been excited about for weeks. But, at the last minute, he got a call—something urgent, something he couldn’t ignore—and I found myself in the clinic with my mum instead of him. All I got from Zade was a quick message asking how it went. No follow-up, no exc
Izzy POVThe moment Zade walks in, the tension between us hangs in the air like a storm waiting to break. We talk briefly, my voice trembling as I tell him the words that have been weighing on my heart: “I’m keeping the baby.” Relief flickers across his face, but it’s not pure joy—it’s layered with fear, uncertainty, and something I can’t quite place. He doesn’t say much after that, just pulls me into his arms, holding me close. I melt into him, exhaustion taking over as I fall asleep wrapped in his warmth.When I wake, the space beside me is empty, and the bed feels colder without him. Slowly, I sit up, rubbing my eyes. My gaze falls on Zade, seated at the foot of the bed, his back turned to me. His shoulders are tense, and his head is bowed slightly, as if the weight of the world is pressing down on him.I hesitate, unsure of what to say or how to bridge the chasm that feels like it’s grown between us. Things had been going so well before all this, and now? Now it feels like we’ve b
IzzyThe moment Grayson wraps his arms around me, I feel the weight of everything pressing down on me like a storm. For the first time in hours, there’s a flicker of safety, but it’s fragile, like glass teetering on the edge of shattering. Zade’s words still echo in my mind—angry, hurt, raw—and even though I know deep down he would never hurt me, in that moment, he didn’t feel like the man I fell in love with. He felt like someone else entirely, someone I didn’t know.The sound of the door closing behind me sends a chill through my spine. Zade has left. I should stop him, run after him, beg him to stay, but I can’t. My legs feel like lead, and my heart is a hurricane of guilt and confusion.“What’s happened?” Grayson’s voice cuts through the silence, low but laced with tension. His arms tighten around me, and for a moment, I let myself break. The tears come in uncontrollable waves, and I bury my face into his chest as though I can hide from my own mistakes.“I’m pregnant, Gray,” I cho
Zade POVEvery time I close my eyes, I see her face—tear-streaked and filled with anguish. Then the memories hit, unbidden and relentless. Blood. The screams. The bodies. My parents, mangled and lifeless. Her—my ex, so pregnant, so full of life, and then... gone. The flashbacks swallow me whole, dragging me under. My breathing becomes shallow, erratic, and I grip the edge of the table to ground myself, my knuckles white.“Zade,” a voice cuts through the storm in my mind, anchoring me back to reality. I look up to see Grayson sitting across from me, his face a mixture of concern and frustration.I can’t even muster the energy to speak. I just stare at him, then down at the untouched glass of whiskey in front of me.“Did you drink it?” he asks, his tone sharp but not unkind.I shake my head. “No. But I wanted to. God, I wanted to.”Grayson exhales, leaning back in his chair. “At least you didn’t. That’s something.” He watches me closely, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re drowning, Za