LOGINRachel POV
The private study felt like a cage of dark wood and suffocating silence. Lorenzo sat behind the massive desk, his silver hair catching the faint light. Alessandro leaned against the bookshelf with lazy elegance, though his eyes were anything but relaxed. I took a seat near the open balcony doors, where the cold air seeped in and brushed my skin. Damien sat across from Lorenzo—cold, composed, unreadable. “I’ve spoken to some… contacts,” Lorenzo began, voiceDamien 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
Damien POVIt was nighttime. The house was quiet.By tomorrow, Alessandro, Vance, and I would leave for an indefinite time to stop the Raven once and for all.Meaning it would be a while until I saw Leo again.And Rachel.I sat at the bottom of the stairs, replaying Vance's words in my head.I'd kept the secret long enough. Rachel deserved to know what my father did. What her father helped hide.But I was scared.My hands shook as I stared at them.The silence of the night was getting to my head.I was so scared.I didn't understand why.She couldn't even leave; she was only here because of the deal, her father's debt still unpaid.But the thought of her hating me for it, or going distant, hurt more than I wanted to admit.Everything was finally going well.But the Raven had to come. And my father's sins had to surface.I wouldn't be shocked if the Raven was a result of something my father did.I can't lose her.
Rachel POV Leo stood in the doorway, barely awake, his pajamas wrinkled and his hair sticking up in every direction. Tears were already dripping down his face, but he didn't move-just stood there and cried."Leo," I breathed, my voice breaking.For a moment, we just stared at each other.He had bandages on his arms. A bruise darkening his cheek. His eyes were red and swollen like he'd been crying for days.But he was standing. He was alive. He'd survived the fall.My vision blurred with tears."Mama?" His voice was so small and broken. "I'm here, baby," I whispered. "I'm here."That broke him.He stumbled forward to my bed, throwing his arms around me and hugging me so tightly I winced at the pressure against my injuries.But I didn't care.I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close, burying my face in his hair."I'm so glad you're well. I'm so glad you're safe," I muttered into his hair as he wept into my neck; loud, unbo
Rachel POVI woke up to the car slowing down.I blinked, tired and dizzy. Sleeping on the way hadn't helped my exhaustion at all. I realized I had slept on Damien's shoulder.We had left the compound early in the morning before dawn broke.And now we were parked in front of an unfamiliar place."Where are we?" I asked. "This isn't the manor."Alessandro spoke from the passenger seat. Vance was driving."This is a safe house. You and the kids will be here for now. It's isolated from the city and safe," he answered, glancing at me.I blinked slowly. "Wait. Are you saying I'm going to be cut off from everyone?""Just for a short time, Rachel. Until this is handled," Damien said quietly from beside me.I didn't respond. I averted my gaze, and that gave him the hint to open the door and help me out of the car carefully, his hand steadying me.There was another car behind us, and Mark and another guard walked out.I stared at the new home ah
Rachel POVIt was already getting dark and I was hungry.I tried to ignore it as I walked beside Mark in the darkening woods, tired.We continued walking until I noticed a small puddle of water and walked to it, washing my face.Mark stopped in his tracks before sitting down, exhausted. "We can stop here."I nodded as I splashed water on my face to wash off the exhaustion.I sighed, confused, as I stared at my rough reflection in the water.What am I doing?I wondered, glancing at Mark who was resting his eyes against the tree.If I was to leave Damien, where would I even go?I'm not even thinking straight.I sighed, my face in a deep frown.Why is Marcus doing this?That was the question. I bit my lips, more confused. I needed to know his motivation. Maybe I could talk to him.He won't kill me.He cares about me.I wasn't so sure.Nothing was fair. I was stuck between two sides and now dragging Mark with me into possibly betraying Damien."Are you okay?"Mark's voice snapped me out o
Damien POVI wasn't concentrating on the sounds of fighting and gunshots as Alessandro and I ran up the stairs. Lorenzo stayed below, coordinating the assault."Rachel!" I called out, hoping she would appear.Nothing.My jaw tightened.Where is she?I can't lose her. I have to keep my promise to Leo."Look at what we have here," Alessandro's voice called out.I followed and entered the room.Alessandro stood over a woman-bleeding from both legs, shoulder wound. She was on the floor, trying to drag herself forward with her arms. Blood smeared everywhere.Jane.Her face was red, streaked with mascara and tears. Eyes wild.I didn't waste time. I stepped on her wounded shoulder.She screamed."Where is my wife?!"She looked up at me, face twisted in rage and pain."THAT BITCH!" she shrieked. "That bitch DID THIS TO ME!"I frowned, confused.Alessandro crouched down. "Who did what?""HER!" Jane screamed, spit flying. "Mrs. Montrel! She SHOT me! She-she-"She dissolved into sobs."I had her
Rachel POV Marcus’s smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. He leaned back in his chair, fingers folding together, his gaze sharpening into something cold and analytical. The warmth in his voice was gone when he spoke again. “I just find it interesting,” he said mildly, “that
Rachel POVThe day of the gala finally arrived.And at exactly 5 p.m., a small army of stern-faced women swept into my room, arms full of boxes, fabric bags, and accessories. For the next hour, they worked with sharp efficiency, barely speaking except to adjust a curl or fasten a cla
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
Rachel POVI sat at my vanity table, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I wasn't ready. Wasn't ready to go back to campus, to walk those halls, to see the pity or the whispers. And I definitely wasn't ready to see him.Eli.I sighed, the sound frustrated and heavy







