A DEBT PAID IN FLESH AND SECRETS
They've called me a lot of things; Desperate, reckless and stupid.
My name is Arthur Rowen, and three months ago, my world ended. My father was murdered—skull branded on his forehead like a sick calling card, Lionel family signature marking him as a traitor. My twin brother Asher vanished the same night without a trace, like he never existed.
The police won't help because Lionel's own them.
So I did what any desperate, reckless, stupid person would do: I got myself hired at The Pit of Lust, the Lionel family's underground sex club.
The plan was simple: infiltrate, investigate, find Asher, get out.
Then Andreas Lionel noticed me.
Seven years older, dangerously beautiful, rumored to have appetites that would make a devil blush. The man who might have signed my father's death warrant. He wants me in his private suite, in his bed and under his control.
Maybe I should run and while I'm at it, I should remember why I'm here but Andreas touches me like I'm something precious, not another pretty body in his collection. Fucks me like he's trying to ruin me for anyone else, while somehow making me feel whole for the first time in my life.
The worst part? It's working and my legs are spreading with each passing night shamelessly.
I'm falling for the man who destroyed my family. My brother is still missing and my father is still dead. And I'm still lying to the one person who's made me feel alive.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold.
No one warned me it would taste like whiskey and sin on Andreas Lionel's tongue Or that I'd crave the flavor like an additive.
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Chapter: The Crimson BoothThe silence in the villa had become a wall. A few nights after the morning in the bathroom, the air was still thick between us. It wasn't a peaceful quiet; it was the kind of quiet that made you want to look over your shoulder. Andreas noticed it too. He didn't like the way I looked at the floor when he entered a room. He decided we needed to leave the glass walls behind for a few hours.He drove us down to the harbor. The town was old and the streets were narrow. He parked the car and led me down a dark alley that smelled like salt and rain. At the end of the path was a small, hidden restaurant. There was no sign on the door, just a single red lantern hanging from a hook.The inside was dark. The only light came from more red lanterns and the glow of candles on the tables. It smelled of thick smoke and very expensive wine. It felt like a place where secrets were bought and sold.The waiter didn't say a word. He just nodded to Andreas and led us to
Last Updated: 2026-05-06
Chapter: The Weight of the WallsThe villa felt too big today. Every room was filled with the sound of the ocean, but the air felt thin, like I couldn't get enough into my lungs. Andreas had been watching me all morning. He didn't say much, but his eyes followed every move I made. I could feel the tension in him, a restless energy that made the hair on my arms stand up. Every time I turned around, he was there, leaning against a door or standing by a window, just staring.I tried to keep myself busy. I walked around the living room, picking up books and putting them back down. I looked at the view of the water until the blue started to make my head ache."Do you want to go for a walk?" I asked him at one point."No," he said. He didn't move. He just kept his eyes on me. "I like where we are."I couldn't take the pressure. I went into the large bathroom near the master suite, needing a moment to just breathe without him looking at me. I leaned against the cool counter and closed my eyes. I counted to ten, trying to se
Last Updated: 2026-05-05
Chapter: The Shadow on the CliffI woke up before the sun was fully over the water. The room was cool and quiet, but my mind was already moving. I looked at the boy sleeping next to me. He was curled up into a small ball, his face pressed against the pillow. Even in his sleep, he looked like he was trying to hide.I slipped out of bed and walked to the kitchen. I made some coffee and stood by the large glass wall. The ocean looked like a flat sheet of blue. It was peaceful, but I couldn't lean into it. My brain wouldn't turn off. I was a man who lived by watching for shadows, and even here, I was looking for them.I watched Raine when he finally woke up. He came into the kitchen with his hair messy, wearing one of my shirts that was much too big for him. He gave me a smile as soon as he saw me."Good morning," he said."Morning, baby," I replied. I poured him a glass of juice. "Did you sleep okay?""I did," he said. He sat down at the counter. "The bed is very soft."
Last Updated: 2026-05-05
Chapter: The Salt in the WoundThe sun went down, leaving the sky a deep, dark blue. I sat on the wide balcony of the villa. The air was warm, and the sound of the ocean hitting the rocks below was steady. It was the kind of sound that should have made me feel calm, but it only made the silence in my head feel louder.Andreas came out of the glass doors. He was carrying a tray with two plates of food. He had changed into a soft white shirt, and his face looked relaxed in the dim light of the candles he had set out. He placed a plate in front of me."I asked them to make something light," Andreas said. He sat down across from me and smiled. "You didn't eat much lunch.""I wasn't very hungry," I said. I picked up my fork and pushed a piece of fish around my plate. "It looks good. Thank you.""We can stay here as long as you want," Andreas said. He leaned back in his chair, watching me with a look that was almost soft. "I was thinking about the future. Once you are fully healed, maybe we could look at a place like thi
Last Updated: 2026-05-04
Chapter: The Blue EscapeThe private jet was very quiet. The only sound was the low, steady hum of the engines as the plane moved through the sky. Raine sat by the window, staring out at the white clouds. The bright sunlight hit his face, making his pale skin look almost clear. His hands rested in his lap, the bandages still white and clean.Andreas sat across from him for a while, just watching him breathe. He felt a strange pull in his chest. He couldn't stay on his side of the aisle anymore. He stood up and moved to the seat right next to Raine.Without saying a word, Andreas reached out and pulled Raine closer. He tucked Raine’s head under his chin and held him tight. He knew he was being clingy. He knew he was touching Raine too much, checking the pulse at his wrist and kissing the side of his head every few minutes. But he couldn't stop. He needed to feel the heat of Raine's body to know he hadn't lost him."We are almost there, amore," Andreas wh
Last Updated: 2026-05-03
Chapter: The Paper PromiseThe hallway was quiet as Andreas led Raine toward the back of the club. It wasn't the way to the rooms or the bar. They stopped at a heavy door that Andreas opened with a small beep of a key. Inside, the room was dim. The only light came from a small lamp sitting on a large desk. The air felt still, like no one had been inside for days.Andreas let go of Raine’s waist. He stood by the door and watched as Raine walked toward the desk. His steps were slow and careful, his body still stiff from the bruises. In the middle of the desk sat a single piece of paper. It looked heavy and white against the dark wood."What is this?" Raine asked. He kept his hands at his sides. He looked like he was afraid that touching the paper would make something go wrong."Read it," Andreas said. His voice was soft. He didn't move from his spot by the door, giving Raine the space he seemed to need.Raine reached out with a shaky, bandaged hand. He picked up the paper and held it close to the lamp. His eyes m
Last Updated: 2026-05-02
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