ログインThe moment Andreas set his eyes on Val, I could feel the air between them shift, heavy with accusation and restrained fury. Val’s usual arrogance faltered, just enough for me to notice, a twitch of a hand, a flicker in the eyes that betrayed guilt. Andreas didn’t speak; he didn’t need to. The tension was sharp, slicing through the space between us, a silent interrogation that m&z
The glass of whiskey in my hand was the only thing keeping me grounded. I stared out the window of my office, watching the city lights move about. Somewhere out there, the Vipers were crawling through the gutters, thinking they could touch what was mine. They thought because they had cornered Raine in an alley, they had found a crack in my armor.They were right. And that’s what made me want to burn the whole North End to the ground.I should have killed them all right there, I thought, my grip tightening on the glass. I should have left their bodies for the rats.But a boss doesn't just react. A boss plans. And my plan for the Vipers wasn't just a hit. It was an erasure. I wanted their warehouses emptied, their bank accounts drained, and their names forgotten by the end of the week.A knock at the door broke my focus. I didn't turn around. I knew the heavy, arrogant stride before he even spoke."You've been staring at that window for twenty minutes, Andreas," Dante said. I heard the
Ash's povThe room went very quiet after Dante spoke. His question still hung in the air like smoke after a fire. Adrian stood frozen near the table, his face pale and tight. "Do you even know who took your brother?" Adrian's mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. His eyes moved toward the floor, then back to Dante again.Adrian's fingers curled slowly into fists. "You said you would protect him," Adrian said quietly. Dante sighed like someone talking to a stubborn child. "I said I would try," he corrected. Bella leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, looking unimpressed.
Ash's POVThe footsteps stopped behind us. The hallway went very quiet. I could hear my own breathing and the soft hum of the hallway light above our heads. Slowly, I turned around.A man stood at the end of the hallway. He leaned casually against the wall like he had been there the whole time. His hands rested in his pockets. His lips curved into a calm, charming smile. My heart dropped into my stomach.“Dante…” I whispered.Bella swore under her breath. “You have got to be kidding me.”Dante pushed himself away from the wall and walked toward us slowly.
Ash's POVArthur’s phone hit the floor with a small crack that sounded far too loud in the quiet apartment. He stared out the window, frozen, his chest rising and falling quickly. The yellow streetlight below lit the sidewalk just enough for him to see the three of us clearly. Andreas stood closest to the building, his shoulders stiff, his eyes already locked on the second floor windows.Arthur whispered something under his breath. “Oh God… no.” His hands shook as he bent down and grabbed the phone again. The screen lit up his pale face in the dark room. For a se
Ash's POVThe Pit smelled like blood long after Val’s body was taken away. Even when the crowd was gone, even when the music stopped and the lights dimmed, the smell stayed. It clung to the floor, to the stage, to my hands.I stood near the bar, staring at the dark stain that cleaners had tried to scrub away. Bella leaned against the counter beside me. She crossed her arms and watched the empty room like it might explode again. Neither of us spoke for a long moment, finally she broke the silence.“You look like hell,” she muttered.I let out a tired breath. “That’s because
Ash PovThe gunshot exploded through The Pit like thunder. The music stopped so suddenly it felt like the whole world had choked. For one second nobody moved. People froze with drinks in their hands and fear on their faces. Then screams burst from the crowd like broken glass.My ears rang as I spun around. Smoke curled in the air near the stage lights. My heart slammed so hard I could feel it in my throat. Someone was on the floor.“Move!” I shouted, pushing past two guards. My feet almost slipped on the stage as I ran forward. Bella rushed behind me, grabbing my arm to keep me from falling.Then I saw him, Val. He was lying o







