All Chapters of His Shadowed Desires: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

The sharp antiseptic smell of the hospital clung to the back of my throat as I sat on the edge of the hard plastic chair, my fingers twisting nervously in my lap. The beeping monitor by my mother’s bedside echoed softly in the small, quiet room. She was asleep, or at least pretending to be. I couldn’t tell anymore.Her weak frame seemed even smaller under the hospital blankets, her once vibrant presence dimmed by endless chemo sessions and too many nights of pain. My heart twisted as I looked at her, guilt warring with helplessness.The soft vibration of my phone in my jacket pocket startled me. I pulled it out quickly, glancing down at the screen. "Pickup at 7th and Dock. Don’t be late."The message was from a number I didn’t recognize, but I knew who it was. It always worked that way—anonymous messages, coded words, no questions. The clock on the wall read 9:15 p.m. I didn’t have much time.“Who is it?” My mother’s voice was weak, but her tone was sharp, cutting through the quiet ro

Ricardo’s silence was louder than the bass thrumming through the club. I stared at him, silently pleading for a miracle, but his shoulders sagged under Olivia Steele’s hawk-like glare.“Are you going to let this slide, Ricardo?” Olivia asked with barely restrained anger. “Do you really want to test my patience tonight?”“Ms. Steele,” Ricardo began, his voice measured, almost desperate. “I can’t afford to lose you as a patron. You know that. But Cassie is—”“Expendable,” Olivia interrupted, brushing off his weak defense. “You can replace her with someone competent by tomorrow. I don’t want excuses.”I felt my chest tighten as humiliation burned in my cheeks. My job wasn’t glamorous, but it was mine. Losing it over one stupid mistake? It wasn’t fair.“Ricardo,” I said, stepping forward, my voice trembling but determined. “Please, let me fix this. I’ll pay for the dress. I’ll—”“Pay for my dress? Is that a joke? Olivia snapped, her icy gaze locking on me. “Wait, you serve drinks and what

My breath came in sharp, shallow bursts as I stared at Marcus's lifeless body, the pool of blood around him spreading like ink on a parchment.I hadn't done this. I couldn’t have done this. Could I?A jolt of panic coursed through me, snapping me out of my frozen state. I backed away, my gaze darting around the room. The shadows on the walls seemed alive, coming closer to me. I needed to think, to move, but my legs felt like lead.Get out. Now.The thought screamed in my head, and suddenly, I was moving. I turned on my heel and stumbled toward the door, my heart hammering so loudly I could barely hear the sound of my own footsteps. My mind raced. Someone had killed Marcus.Someone else was in that room, watching me.As I reached for the doorknob, my eyes caught a glint of something on Marcus's wrist. A bracelet—or no, an emblem. It was black and silver, a wolf's head snarling in mid-roar, etched into the metal. The sight of it sent a chill down my spine.The Wolfe Syndicate.A sickeni