MasukThwack!Julian’s hand crashing against Jack’s face echoed through the air.Jack's head fell to the side and he gripped his stinging cheek with a hiss.“A date?” Julian barked. “A fucking date? Who told you to ask my woman to dinner?”Jack’s brow furrowed. “H-how did you—”“How did I know?” Julian chuckled humorlessly. “Did you really think that there’s anything that happens without my knowledge?”Jack’s chest rose on a deep breath. It was already obvious that he had struck a deal with the devil without realizing it, but the biggest issue was how to navigate his current situation.Julian had become way too unpredictable for comfort. His desperation to win Lena back, it seems, was driving out his dark side.And Jack was at a loss.There was honestly nothing he could do, because the options were limited to revealing everything to Lena and forfeiting the benefits working for Julian brought him or taking whatever he’s earned so far and running.Both of which he was not willing to do.“I’m s
One week later.“Jack?” Lena stopped short in the doorway, surprise flashing across her face. “What are you doing here?”“Lena.” Jack rose from his seat with an easy smile and leaned in to brush a kiss against each of her cheeks. “Mr. Black asked me to negotiate a few terms with the owner.”“Julian?”“Yes.”She blinked. “I didn't know he had an interest in entertainment.”A knowing chuckle escaped him. “It seems he's developed one.”Lena frowned as she crossed the room.First her brother, now Julian.What was it with the men around her suddenly becoming fascinated by brothels?From the outside, the establishment masqueraded as an ordinary travel and real estate agency. By nightfall, however, the respectable façade disappeared, revealing one of the city's most exclusive houses of pleasure.Her brother had recently decided he wanted to buy the place from the madam, convinced the business was worth expanding into. Since he was currently occupied with Antonio, he’d sent Lena to inspect th
“I guess what I’m trying to ask is—are the similarities I share with your brother’s son mere coincidences?”Lena swallowed hard at the question and she felt a rush of fear through her body.“Maybe you should ask Leo.” She forced out a laugh that sounded strange even to her own ears. “Who knows? Maybe Antonio got him pregnant. Or maybe Leo got Antonio pregnant and somehow they ended up producing a child that looks like you.”Julian burst out laughing. “That’s biologically impossible.”“Exactly.”Even though the tension eased, Lena still felt like she was sitting on the edge of a cliff.“You sure have a sense of humor,” Julian said, shaking his head.“Thank you.”“Who is his mother?” He suddenly asked, the amusement completely gone from his voice.The question hit like a gunshot.Lena’s shoulders stiffened. “I don’t know.”“You don’t know?”She shook her head.“Your brother just showed up one day with a child and nobody asked questions?”“Questions were asked and they weren’t answered,”
Three knocks against the door gained Julian’s attention.When he looked up, he found Lena peering her head through the open space. He removed his glasses and closed his system, gesturing her to come in.“I hope I’m not disturbing your work?” Lena asked as she walked into the room and settled at the edge of the bed, just by Julian’s feet.“Not really,” he replied. “Was already rounding up.”“Cool,” she breathed. A smile touched her lips and she shook her head in an attempt to rein in the smile. “Junior looks healthy… you outdid yourself taking care of him.”That made Julian’s heart swell with pride.“I told you I’ll take care of him,” he said as she shifted closer with such speed that Lena didn’t realize when he trapped her between his legs and caged his arms around her shoulders. “What are you doing,” she gasped, her muscles tightening.“Relax, baby. I’m not about to swallow you whole or something,” he said playfully.“Personal space, Julian.”“Yes, whatever.” He rolled his eyes as h
“Surprise!”That was the first thing Lena heard the moment she stepped into her house.She almost squealed as she jerked back, hand pressed against her chest, her eyes frantically moving from Julian to the toddler who was playing with a balloon and then around the living room which was decorated with balloons and a welcome home sign—plus gifts.“What the fuck is this?” Lena asked.“No cussing around the kid,” Julian chastised as he lifted Junior, turning his attention toward Lena. “Your aunt is home, potato.”“Mama!” Junior squealed, stretching his arms towards Lena.Though she was apprehensive, she stepped forward and took Junior in her arms, kissing his cheeks over and over until the boy was giggling.“What’s this, Julian? I leave you alone in my house for a few days and this is what you’ve turned it into?”“I did this for you.” Julian leaned down, catching Lena off guard when he suddenly placed his head on her shoulder, close enough that his breath brushed against her skin. “I want
Julian left Jack behind without another word.The conversation had gone exactly as he expected.Jack had folded and it was no surprise. People liked to pretend they couldn’t be bought. Most simply hadn’t been offered the right price yet.The underground corridors stretched ahead of him as he walked. Men nodded respectfully when he passed. Conversations lowered. Doors opened before he reached them.Even if he had been absent quite a lot lately, he could tell the underground establishment was being run to perfection.Which meant he could still take more time off to focus on rebuilding his relationship with Lena.Julian’s destination sat near the far end of the complex.A private lounge.One he rarely used.The room was lavish. Dark wood paneling lined the walls. Gold accents glimmered beneath warm lighting. A fully stocked bar occupied one corner while floor-to-ceiling windows displayed a false nighttime skyline projected onto reinforced glass.And seated on one of the velvet sofas was
Jack woke up to the sight of Lena sitting by the window nook, a steamy cup of something he presumed to be coffee in hand, and her mind quite far away. “Maybe I should perform better, seeing how you always wake before I do,” Jack jested.Lena’s head turned towards him. Though her lips were curved i
Lena woke up with tears and a splitting headache.For hours, she’d cried and cried and cried until she decided that crying would not save her marriage. So she decided that perhaps having a conversation with Julian would change his mind. Perhaps if she begged enough, perhaps if she offered him more
Years ago, before the marriage, before the arrangement, before she tucked herself into Julian’s quiet house and learned to want less, Lena used to party.It was how she processed things: a loud room, a dark dance floor, a glass in her hand. It wasn’t elegant and she knew it. But it worked. Tonight
“Hello, this is the assistant of Pedro King. I saw that you had put up an article stating that Mr. Julian Black was out with his wife. As his associates, we are unaware of any such information. Might I know if you have any other details about the woman in question?”“Pedro King?” The reporter asked







