LOGINDamien POV
I stood from her bed, the movement abrupt. I needed to put physical distance between myself and the vulnerability clinging to the air like a ghost.I had become acutely conscious of our proximity—how the scene might look to an outsider, even if it had been a simple moment of comfort.My shirt was still damp from her tears, a tangible mark of a trust I didn't deserve and wasn't sure I wanted.Her request still lingered in the silence. Her compassion for my men was uFlashback - Three weeks laterMarcus ran toward the warehouse district after school, his backpack bouncing against his shoulders.This was his favorite part of the day.School was boring-math worksheets, spelling tests, kids who thought superheroes were cooler than real life.But this? Meeting Mr. Montrel? Watching his men move packages, hearing them talk in code, seeing the guns tucked under their jackets?This was like the action movies he secretly watched when Mom thought he was asleep.Except it was real.He wasn't paying attention and stumbled straight into a guard-solid body, hard muscle.His nose hurt. He held it with a groan."Who's this?" The guard turned, looking down at Marcus. "Is this the boss's son?"Marcus's eyes lit up. "He has a son my age?! No, I'm just Mr. Vincent's friend."Friend.That's what Vincent had called him last week. Not "kid." Not "boy." Friend.It made Marcus feel important. Like he mattered.He
"It started when Marcus was nine years old," Dad said quietly.Twenty years agoMarcus walked home from school, taking the shortcut through the warehouse district. He kicked at piles of stones on the ground, humming to himself.Then he heard gunshots.He froze. His two classmates beside him went pale."We have to go," one said, voice shaking with fear.Marcus's eyes turned toward the direction of the noise. His heart pounded, but his eyes were shining. "Let's check it out."His friends looked at him like he was insane. One grabbed his arm. "My mom said there's been fights lately in the neighborhood. We shouldn't get involved, Marcus.""Sounds like you're cowards," Marcus joked, sticking his tongue out.The two boys glanced at each other, unsure. "We're really not going."Marcus shrugged. "Fine. I'm going."His friends called after him, but Marcus was already running toward the noise.He ran deeper into the warehouse district, finally s
Rachel POVI was glad I was given a separate car from Damien and the others, giving me space with Mark and two other guards assigned to me, though several cars followed behind us.It was obvious Damien didn't want to risk anything after my recent kidnapping.Soon, the familiar street of my father's apartment appeared, and the car stopped by the pavement. The door was opened for me by one of the guards, and I got out with Mark behind me."So what questions will you ask?" Mark said to me as we stared at the apartment complex.The other cars also parked close by.Damien and Alessandro were actually getting out.When I noticed them walking toward us, I frowned."I would prefer some privacy," I spoke flatly.Alessandro raised his brow. "Oh well? What about the bubby guard with you? If he's here, we can be here.""I don't see why you have any concern with my guard," I frowned, folding my arms."You're quite cranky today. What, are you on your-"
Rachel POVIt was the next day, very early in the morning, and I stood in front of the window watching the men downstairs preparing to leave. My gaze fixed on Damien.He looked horrible.Dark circles shadowed his eyes. His shoulders were tense, his movements slower than usual. He looked like he hadn't slept at all.I felt bad.But I couldn't afford to feel bad right now. He'd kept this from me, even if he didn't know. My mother was murdered. My father lied.I needed answers more than I needed to comfort Damien.I turned away from the window. Leo was still asleep on the bed, curled up peacefully under the blankets.Good. I'd leave before he wakes up. This conversation with my father wasn't something a child should hear. Mark was waking up from his bed, sitting up slowly with a wince."You heard everything last night, didn't you?" I asked, having a gut feeling he wasn't really asleep.We were pretty loud.Mark took a deep breath. "My ap
Rachel POVI lay in the medical room bed, staring at the ceiling.Sleep wouldn't come.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Jane's face. Heard her voice. Felt the pain.My ribs ached with every breath. The cuts on my arms stung beneath the bandages.But the physical pain was nothing compared to the weight pressing on my chest.Mark knows who the Raven leader is.And he's keeping it secret. For me.Leo was curled up beside me, his small body pressed against my side. Even in sleep, he wouldn't let go of me. His hand clutched my hospital gown, and every few minutes he'd whimper softly, his face scrunching up.He'd been terrified all day. Even when Marcus and Thalia came to visit, he'd refused to leave my side.Mark was in the other bed across the room, finally in a deep sleep. Exhausted from everything he'd done to protect me during the kidnapping.He deserved the rest.But I couldn't sleep.My mind kept circling back to the same though
Damien POV Ten years agoMy knuckles were bleeding.I stared at the unconscious body I had just beaten before walking down the empty street. My skin was split open, blood dripping onto the pavement. The pain was there, burning and throbbing but I barely felt it.I never felt much of anything anymore.At nineteen, I'd rebuilt the Montrel empire from ash. Made it bigger, stronger, more ruthless than my father ever had. My name brought fear to every corner of the underworld.People whispered it in dark rooms and back alleys.Damien Montrel. Efficient. Cold. Brutal.But I didn't know how I'd gotten here. The years between nine and nineteen were a blur of numbers, blood, and smoke. Spreadsheets and strategy. Drinking until I couldn't think. Hookups with faces I didn't remember the next morning.Anything to forget.Anything to stop feeling.The bar fight tonight had been pointless, some idiot thought he could talk shit about the Montrel na
Rachel POVThe estate rose from the night like a carved monument, all white marble and golden light. Fountains glittered coldly. Laughter floated in the air, sharp and practised, the kind that never quite reached the eyes. It looked like a dream. It felt like a trap. My stom
The cold night air did nothing to clear the ringing in Damien’s ears. It was a high-pitched whine, a relentless chorus to the pounding in his skull and the sharper, burning ache along his ribs. He leaned against the sedan. The warehouse behind him was a silent tomb now, the echoes of gunfir
Damien POV He was barely conscious, his face a bloody pulp, one arm hanging uselessly. But in his other hand, held with trembling, unwavering determination, was his smoking gun. For a moment, everything was frozen. The echo of the shot faded into a ringing silence. T
Damien POVI pushed open the white door to Leo’s room, my eyes needing a moment to adjust to the vibrant chaos of colour. A stark contrast to the rest of my manor.Leo was seated on a small stool, arms crossed in a defiant pout. “No bandage till Papa is here.”A frustrated sigh c







