LOGINCellies SichtIch bereute den Moment, in dem ich die Augen öffnete. Licht, grell und hart, brach in die Dunkelheit wie eine Bombe ein. Es stach in mein Sichtfeld und zwang mich zu blinzeln und zurückzuweichen. Der schroffe Kontrast zwischen der stillen Schwärze, in der ich gewesen war, und dieser scharfen Helligkeit ließ mich desorientiert zurück. Als sich meine Augen langsam anpassten, begann die Decke über mir klarer zu werden, mein benommener Geist arbeitete wie ein Puzzle daran, herauszufinden, wo ich war."Cellie?" Eine Stimme, die ich überall erkennen würde, sprach in die laute Stille.Ich ruckte den Hals zur Seite, bereute das sofort ebenfalls. Mein Kopf pochte wie eine Bestrafung.Mir wurde bewusst, dass ich wieder zu Hause in unserem Schlafzimmer war, im Bett. Demetrio saß in dem Raum neben mir, seine Augen wanderten über mein Gesicht. "Meno male! Du bist wach." Seine Stimme war halb bekümmert, halb dankbar.Ich blinzelte zu ihm auf, einen Moment lang verloren, bevor alles la
Cellie’s POVIt had been several weeks since I woke up from a coma, and yet, sometimes, it felt like I was still dreaming. Not because of the pain—it had dulled to a faint ache that I could ignore most days—but because of the people surrounding me now.Demetrio was here, as he always was, his protective presence as solid and unwavering as ever. Georgiana and Diana too, who had quickly become fast friends. I couldn’t wish for anything more since Georgiana always seemed like she lacked any genuine ones. They always made sure I was never alone and at one point, Diana came up with the brilliant idea of game night, where loser had to drink. I wasn’t allowed to, of course, but it’s the thought that counts. Now, alongside them, were the Mikhailovs—Alexei and Romano—two people I had never imagined would be part of my life. And the entire Russian underworld family.The DeLeons and the Mikhailovs had spent years spilling each other’s blood, their feud lasting for decades. Now, here they were, f
Demetrio’s POVOver the next couple of days, visitors started arriving. My sister, Georgiana and her husband were the first, their faces tight with worry. Georgiana hugged me fiercely, her trembling hands lingering on my shoulders as she assured me, “She’s strong, Demetrio. She’ll pull through. She has to.”I nodded, unable to form words.Diana came next, followed by a few of Cellie’s colleagues from work. They all said the same thing, offering hopeful encouragement that sounded hollow to my ears. “She’ll be alright,” they’d say, their eyes darting nervously to the machines keeping her alive. I wondered if they truly believed their own words or if they could see how close I was to slipping off the edge.But nothing, none of their reassurances, prepared me for the next visitor.Alexei Mikhailov.The moment I heard he was outside, something in me snapped.“You have five seconds to get out of here,” I growled immediately I set eyes on him.Alexei didn’t flinch. He stood in the hallway, h
Demetrio’s POVThe blood won’t stop.No matter how much pressure I applied, no matter how tightly I held her, it just wouldn’t stop.“Stay with me, Cellie,” I begged, my voice raw and trembling as the car sped down the road. “You hear me? You stay with me.”Her head lolled slightly, her breaths shallow, her body still. My chest tightened as I pressed my forehead against hers, whispering promises I wasn’t sure I could keep and apologizing for failing her. Because I’d failed her. I had.The car screeched to a halt outside the hospital. My men pulled open the door and I practiCellie jumped out with her in my arms, shouting for the doctors.“She’s been shot!” I yelled, my voice breaking. “She’s losing too much blood!”The paramedics rushed forward, prying her from my arms. Her warmth left me, replaced by the unbearable cold of her absence.I followed as they wheeled her inside, shouting orders and questions I couldn’t answer. My hands and clothes were stained with her blood, the deep red
Cellie’s POVI released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, the weight on my chest lightening just a little. When I glanced toward Demetrio, I caught the flash of surprise in his eyes, mixed with a bit of curiosity. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he was wondering how I’d managed to get Alexei to stand down.Then Demetrio’s gaze softened, his shoulders relaxing as he slowly lowered his gun to the ground. He opened his arms wide, a hopeful smile tugging at his lips, and in that moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of us.I didn’t hesitate.I ran toward him, throwing myself into his arms with a desperation that felt like it might consume me. The instant his arms closed around me, the world fell away. Time stopped, and for one fleeting moment, nothing else mattered.His embrace was desperate, crushing, as if he feared I would vanish if he let go. I could feel his heart pounding against my chest, his breaths coming in gasps as he buried his face in my hair.“Y
Cellie’s POVDemetrio.He was here.He had come for me.The urge to kick my feet in the air died a quick death when I realized what that truly meant.Demetrio would not stop until I was released and if Alexei refused to give me up, both sides would battle it out to the death.“Get my father and Katerina to the safe room now!” Alexei growled at the nearest soldier, his hand gripping my arm to pull me toward the door.“No!” I yanked my arm free, stumbling back. “I’m not going anywhere.”Alexei turned to me, his face hard with fury. “Do not argue with me right now.”But I wasn’t going to back down. Not now. Not when lives were at stake.“Listen to me!” I shouted over the noise, grabbing his arm and forcing him to face me fully. “This war? It’s happening because of me. Demetrio is here for me, Alexei. He’s not going to stop until he has me back. You know that!”His jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and desperation. “You don’t understand. If you go out there, you will
Demetrio’s povA loud ringing of the doorbell was not how I’d have liked to start my morning.I roused sleepily, burrowing further into my pillow to block out the irritating sound.A quiet sigh drew my attention, and I turned to see Cellie lying on her side beside me, at which point I realized I wa
Cellie’s povThe next morning, I miraculously got Demetrio to drop the idea of him finding me a new place. Well, not without promising him I’d find one myself and move out as soon as possible.Nonetheless, it was still a rare moment of win even though a familiar suspicious inkling had settled in my
Demetrio's povCellie might just be the only one who would mock my authority and get away with it. She didn't know how lucky she was. If it were to be another, they'd be finding out just how much of a mistake it was as we speak.She swallowed at my declaration, something akin to reverence spreading
Cellie's povHorrifying embarrassment was pulsing through me as I basiCellie ran through my way back to the patio, my platforms making thumping noises as I cut across.“Cellie, wait!” Cadain's voice called behind me but I didn't slow down. I didn't know what point he had followed after me. I just w







