LOGINSebastian’s PoVI didn’t sleep.Not even for a second.The image of that curtain moving replayed over and over inside my head.Someone had been there.Watching….Waiting…..Praying.“Daphne…”The name left my lips like a promise.Lucas stepped out of the surveillance van just before sunrise, carrying two cups of coffee.“You’ve been staring at that house for six hours.”“I know.”“You should rest.”“I’ll rest after I get my wife back.”He sighed.“I figured you’d say that.”I accepted the coffee but never drank it.Every minute that passed felt stolen.Tomorrow…Whoever was inside that mansion had whispered the same word through that tiny movement of the curtain.Tomorrow.Something was happening tomorrow.And whatever it was…We were already running out of time.Lucas spread a map across the hood of the SUV.“I drove around the property before dawn.”I finally looked away from the mansion.“What did you find?”“Eight guards.”“Only eight?”“Visible guards.”I nodded.“There’ll be more.”
Daphne's PoVThe first morning after we chose each other felt...Different.Not because the apartment had changed.Not because the city outside our windows suddenly looked brighter.But because my heart was quiet.For months, my mind had been a battlefield.Questions….Doubts."What if?""What if there's someone else?What if I'm missing something?"Now...Nothing.Just peace.I woke slowly to the scent of coffee drifting through the apartment.The other side of the bed was empty.I smiled before I even opened my eyes.Liam.I wrapped one of his oversized hoodies around myself and padded barefoot toward the kitchen.There he was.Standing in gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt, his hair sticking up in every direction as he flipped pancakes with far too much concentration.I leaned against the doorway."You know you're making breakfast like it's brain surgery."Without turning around, he smiled."These pancakes deserve respect.""They're pancakes.""They're our pancakes."I laughed."I stand c
Daphne’s PoVThe apartment was quiet.Not the uncomfortable kind of quiet that begged to be filled, but the peaceful silence that only existed when two people didn’t need words to understand each other.Liam still had his arms around me.His heartbeat was slow against my chest, steady enough that I found myself matching my breathing to it.Neither of us moved.Neither of us wanted to.Eventually, he pulled back just enough to look at me.“You hungry?”I laughed.“That’s your first question?”He shrugged, a small smile appearing.“I always think better after food.”“I’ve noticed.”“And you haven’t eaten.”“How do you know that?”“You get quieter when you’re hungry.”I blinked.“Seriously?”“You also rub your left wrist when you’re tired.”Without thinking, I looked down.My fingers were rubbing my wrist.He chuckled.“Told you.”“I don’t know whether that’s sweet or creepy.”“I’m hoping sweet.”“It depends.”“On what?”“Whether you’re secretly keeping a notebook about me.”His eyes widen
The ride back to the apartment was unusually quiet.Nat kept the music low, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel as the city lights blurred past the windows."You've been smiling for the last ten minutes," he finally said."I have not.""You definitely have."I rolled my eyes, trying and failing to hide the grin tugging at my lips."It was... different.""Good different?"I stared out the window."I don't know."Nat laughed softly."That's the most confusing answer I've ever heard.""Because it is confusing."He nodded as if he understood."I think you're comparing two completely different people."Maybe he was right.Javier had been confident, experienced, effortless. There had never been a moment where he hesitated.Liam...Liam overthought everything.He could spend an hour deciding where we should eat dinner and another apologizing if he thought he'd upset me. He remembered tiny details I had forgotten telling him. He always noticed when I was tired before I admitted it.
"What was so special about me?" I ask, leaning back against the table as I wait for his answer.He pauses for a moment, pulling on his clothes before letting out a quiet sigh."I don't really know," he admits. "You're mature for your age, but there's still something youthful about you. You're smart. You're not fragile. And you're not scared."I raise an eyebrow."I get scared.""Sometimes," he says with a small smile. "But when it matters, you don't run. You get nervous, sure, but you're always prepared."A smile tugs at my lips, though he doesn't notice. He's too busy reaching for his turtleneck."I see why Liam likes you so much."The mention of Liam makes guilt twist in my stomach."Sorry about that again..."He waves the apology away."Don't be. It was interesting."I laugh softly and begin fixing my dress."So you'd maybe want to do this another time?"His footsteps move closer."Sure."I feel him gently zip up my dress."I won't be in New York as often," he continues, "but whene
I heard the door open, but I'm a bit taken back by who enters. Liam closes it behind him and comes over to me."Hey love." He grins."Hi...""Are you ok? I saw you absolutely owning my father." He jokes."Yeah I'm all good."He walks over and holds onto my hands in my lap."So, how does it feel to be fucking the Boss of the Italian mob?"I smile and look up at him. He has that look in his eyes. Surely enough, he kisses me intensely.I guess he doesn't know that Javier will be here any second. I try to pull away, but of course he doesn't let me. The door opens before I can warn him. At least that gets him to stop and turn around."Oh..." Liam mumbles."How long has this been going on?" Javier asks."A long time..." I admit."And when I was at your place?""I fucked her in that boxing ring the second you left." Liam says proudly. I wish he didn't put it like that, but strangely enough, I just want him more."So he knew?" He asks me.I stood up and walk closer to him."I'm sorry if you a
I wouldn't be shocked if Cesar is still doing hits.He wasn't as close as the rest of us. His ego sweltered once he became as strong as he did He liked the bloodshed because he feltpowerful. Last I heard he is somewhere in Russia.I hear sniffling next to me, so I look over at Nara. She's crying..
I haven't seen her for five days. Five days that life hasn't provided the joy that I'm used to. The world is missing the little spark of happiness I've had over the last couple of months. It's a good reminder of the shell I used to be.I've spent every day thinking about her, but not in the ways I
Get up Nara...Get up!"GET THE FUCK UP!" Malcom screams.My eyes fly open. I sit up as fast as possible, and Malcom is at the door."Make yourself presentable. We get on the plane in an hour."He leaves the room. I look outside at the still dark sky. It has to be six in the morning or something.T
"GET THE FUCK OUT!" I yell.He looks scared. He frantically gets up and sprints out of the door, leaving it open behind him.I sink to the floor and sit against the wall. My shaking hands drop the gun. I, was raped... I was just fucking raped. I know every way to defend myself. I could have protec







