Darian WolfeI stared at the ceiling, my body heat not yet dried from the sex with Linda, and the bedsheets were wrinkled and knotted around my legs.Linda was standing at the other end of the room, putting on her dress. As she pulled the fabric, it slid down her body slowly and gracefully. It was quite thick and floral, her perfume. It mated with the lingering odor of stale sex.As she was putting her hands bra on her fingers moved in a serene manner, and the light was hitting her body selectively, revealing and exaggerating her curves. That made my stomach turned tightly. She was always like this—calm, in control, a predator who knew exactly how to toy with her prey. I watched her, my chest heavy with a feeling I couldn’t shake."How did you find me?" I asked, my voice rough, scratched raw from the tension inside me.Linda turned her head slightly, her lips curling into a small, knowing smile."You are not a hard man to find, Darian." Her tone was light, almost teasing, as she smoo
I stood in the middle of my apartment, my chest tight, my hands clammy. The cops had just hauled Viper out, his wrists locked in cuffs, his eyes burning into mine until the van door slammed shut.Now, the place was quiet—too quiet. The air felt heavy, pressing down on me. My head spun with questions. What just happened? What do I do now? Viper’s voice scratched my brain: "Your house isn’t safe anymore, we gotta move. Now."He’d said it a few hours ago, his tone sharp, urgent. I’d ignored him, too tangled up in him, in us. The sex had clouded my head, and now regret hit me hard. If I’d listened, if we’d left when he asked me to, he wouldn’t be gone.I paced the room, my socks scuffing the cold hardwood. My eyes darted around, looking for something—anything—to hold onto. Then I saw the backpack he shoved under the table, half-buried under a tipped-over chair. The cops had missed it.My heart skipped. I knelt down, pulled it out and unzipped it. Inside was my laptop, its smooth surface c
Naomi VelezI was still catching my breath when the knock came at the door. My heart jumped, and I froze, standing in the middle of my apartment. Viper behind the door holding a pistol pointed to the ceiling.Everything had been a blur lately—hiding, running, lying. I hadn’t had a second to think straight. Now someone was at my door, and I had no idea who it could be.I peeked through the peephole. It was Mrs. Jenkins, my neighbor from down the hall. She was old, with white hair pulled into a tight bun, and she was the kind of person who noticed everything. She’d been my friend for years—I’d helped her carry groceries, fixed her leaky faucet once, even sat with her when her cat died. She was sweet, but nosy as hell.I cracked the door halfway, sticking my face out so she couldn’t see inside. "Hey, Mrs. Jenkins," I said, forcing a smile. "What’s up?"She squinted at me, her wrinkled hands clutching her sweater. "Naomi, where’ve you been? I haven’t seen you in days. I was worried sick.
Maria Reyes I woke up slowly, still feeling peaceful from a deep sleep. My mind went back to earlier—Darian and me in the bathtub. Water splashed as he touched my skin and kissed my collarbone. The memory made me feel warm and content. For once, the chaos of our world felt far away, and I let myself believe, just for a moment, that I was more to him than a fleeting desire. I stretched, the cool air brushing my bare legs as I slid out of bed. The castle was still, its usual hum of tension absent. Darian wasn’t beside me, he slipped away, leaving me with nothing but the echo of his touch. I pulled on a robe, tying it loosely around my waist, and padded toward the door, my bare feet silent on the stone floor. But that peace broke suddenly. A voice, low and unfamiliar, drifted down the hall from the direction of the study. A woman’s voice moaning. My stomach tightened, curiosity tugging me forward. I walked down the hall. The stone floor was cold under my feet. As I got closer to the
Darian Wolfe I stood in the bathroom doorway, watching Maria relax in the bubble bath. The Wolfes’ castle surrounded us, with old stone walls full of history that I was just beginning to understand.Steam rose from the large, fancy tub, wrapping around her like a gentle embrace. Her chestnut hair floated on the water, and her hazel eyes fixed on mine, drawing me in. I couldn’t look away. She was beautiful—too beautiful—and it stirred something dangerous in me. My plans swirled cold and sharp in my mind, but my body reacted, warming at the sight of her.Maria was no longer just a way to fight Hector Reyes. She was my cousin, connected to me by blood and secrets, and that made my feelings more complicated.I stepped closer, my boots thudding on the tile, my phone buzzing in my hand with updates from Viper. Naomi was safe, Alex was giving me information on Project Phoenix, and Hector was out there, confused and desperate.The paparazzi were still crowded around the Wolfe Hotel, but I ha
Naomi VelezI rubbed my wrists and glared at him. "How did you find me? How did you know where I live?"He smirked slightly. He pointed at the hoodie I was wearing. "You're smart, Naomi. Sometimes too smart. But also, kinda dumb. You wore my hoodie and brought Darian's wallet home. What did you expect?"The thought hit me hard. "You have a tracker in all your stuff?" I felt disgust mixed with a fearful respect for how thorough he was."Something like that," he replied, acting casually as he looked around my small room."You are so weird," I said, my anger helping to shield me from the fear I felt.He turned back, his face serious now."Do you have a laptop? A phone? Anything I can use? We need information. Now."My mind clicked. I had a way to bargain. "I'll help you," I said coldly. I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed to face him. "But I want one thing."He raised an eyebrow, waiting. "What is it?""I want proof. Right now. A live video stream. I need to see Maria. I