HARSH TRUTHS~ ALEXANDRO'S POV ~The door to the safe house burst open with a bang. Mario rushed in, looking like he'd been through hell. His usually perfect suit was wrinkled, his hair messy, but at least he wasn't bleeding."Thank God," he said, eyes immediately finding me. Then his gaze shifted to Lauren, who was silently packing away the first aid supplies, her movements mechanical. "You're both okay."I finished buttoning a fresh shirt I'd found in the bedroom, wincing as the movement pulled at the fresh stitches in my side. Lauren had done a remarkable job…steady hands despite the tears streaming down her face. Now she moved like a statue, face blank, eyes distant. In shock."What happened?" I asked Mario, keeping my voice low.Mario glanced at Lauren again before answering. "Viktor escaped."I had expected as much. My father was too clever, too cautious to get caught in his own trap. But the confirmation still sent a wave of frustration through me."But we did some damage,"
I CHOSE US~LAUREN'S POV ~I couldn't stop pacing.Back and forth across the hardwood floors of the safe house, my bare feet silent against the cold surface. The silver dress I'd worn to the gala lay discarded on a chair, replaced by a silk nightgown someone had thoughtfully left for me.My phone remained clutched in my hand, screen dark and silent. No messages. No calls. Nothing since those threatening texts from Viktor.I moved to the window, pushing aside the heavy curtain with one finger to peer into the darkness. The safe house was somewhere in upstate New York—Antonio had been deliberately vague about our exact location. A stunning lake house with floor-to-ceiling windows that would have been beautiful under any other circumstances.Right now, it felt like a prison."Ms. McQueen," Antonio's voice came from behind me. "You should try to rest."I turned to find him standing in the doorway, his expression as stoic as ever, but I could see the concern in his eyes."How can I rest?
MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS~ ALEXANDRO'S POV~The countdown had begun, voices rising around us like a wave."Ten! Nine! Eight!"Lauren looked radiant in my arms, her hazel eyes reflecting the golden light of the chandeliers. All night, I'd been fighting battles on multiple fronts…Julian's machinations, Leonardo's threats, Patrick's jealousy….but here, with her, everything else faded to background noise."Seven! Six! Five!""Are you ready for the new year?" she asked, her voice almost lost in the chanting crowd.Was I ready? For whatever storm was coming? For Viktor's inevitable vengeance once he discovered how much she meant to me? For the moment when she would learn the truth about who I was?"Four! Three!"I cupped her face, my thumb tracing the curve of her cheekbone. She leaned into my touch, trusting and open in a way that made my chest ache. I didn't deserve her trust, but I craved it like oxygen."Two! One!""HAPPY NEW YEAR!"The room exploded in cheers as confetti rained from the
NEW YEAR GALA ~ALEXANDRO'S POV~I watched Lauren from across the ballroom, unable to take my eyes off her. The silver dress she wore caught every light, making her glow as if she were made of stardust. Short enough to show her long legs but still elegant, it hugged every curve of her body perfectly. She had pinned her dark hair up, exposing the graceful line of her neck where my diamond necklace rested against her skin—a Christmas gift that had made her gasp when she had opened it.Mine. The thought settled in my chest, possessive and warm."Castello," Julian Blackwood appeared at my side, uninvited and unwelcome. "Magnificent party, isn't it?"I didn't look at him, keeping my gaze fixed on Lauren as she sipped champagne near the orchestra. "What do you want, Julian?"He chuckled, swirling his drink. "Can't I simply congratulate a fellow businessman on his exquisite taste?" His eyes followed my line of sight to Lauren. "In all things."My jaw tightened. "Careful.""She is stunning
NOT LETTING GO ~LAUREN POV~The moment Alexandro's lips left mine, I was breathless, my heart pounding against my ribs like a caged bird desperate to break free. His hands moved with purpose, sliding down the straps of my gown, letting it fall to the floor in a pool of silk. I stood there in nothing but my lace underwear, my skin flushed and tingling under his gaze. He smirked, his dark eyes devouring me, and I felt a rush of heat between my legs. "Damn it, You're so fucking beautiful," he murmured, his voice rough and low, sending shivers down my spine.He stepped closer, his hands cupping my breasts, thumbs brushing over my hardened nipples. I gasped, arching into his touch, my head falling back as he leaned in to take one peak into his mouth. His tongue swirled, sucking gently, and I moaned, my hands tangling in his hair. "Alexandro," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Please."He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated against my skin. "Please what, Lauren?" he teased,
SIN & DANGER.~LAUREN'S POV~I stood outside Shadows, the cool night air a welcome relief after the heat of the club. Three black SUVs idled at the curb, their engines purring quietly in the darkness. The sight of such ridiculous security still felt strange to me—a reminder of the world I had stumbled into when I had lied about dating Alexandro.Vanessa whistled low. "Someone's paranoid."Emily folded her arms across her chest. "Or paying back for something."I shot my sister a warning look, but she merely shrugged, the tension between us still simmering beneath the surface. Sophia linked arms with Emily, her smile bright but determined."Don't worry about us," she told me, squeezing Emily's arm when she tried to pull away. "We'll be fine. I'll make sure this one gets home safely."I hesitated, still uneasy about leaving Emily after our argument. "Are you sure? I can…”"Go," Emily cut me off, her voice softer than before. "I'm a big girl, Lauren. I don't need you to babysit me."Befo
CRISIS AVERTED ~LAUREN'S POV~I moved through the crowd like a woman possessed, my eyes locked on my baby sister pressed against the wall with Mario—a man who probably had more blood on his hands than I could imagine—hovering over her. Emily's hands were on his chest, her head tilted back in that familiar way that meant she was about to make a terrible decision.Not on my watch."Emily!" I grabbed her arm, pulling her away from Mario. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"Mario's hands shot up in a gesture of innocence, though his eyes gleamed with something dark and amused. "Easy, New York. We were just talking.""Is that what you call it?" I snapped, positioning myself between them. "She's twenty years old, for god's sake!"Emily yanked her arm from my grip, her cheeks flushed with alcohol and anger. "Stop treating me like a child, Lauren! I'm an adult!""Then start acting like one!" I hissed, aware we were creating a scene despite the pounding music. "You're drunk, and he's…
ENEMIES WITHIN THE WALLS ~ALEXANDRO'S POV~I watched Lauren's car disappear around the corner, the weight of what lay ahead settling on my shoulders."You look like a lovesick puppy," Mario said, blowing smoke from his cigar. I turned to him, my expression hardening. "Update."Mario’s smirk faded, professional ruthlessness replacing his casual behavior. "Julian Blackwood confirmed for the summit. Viktor's men are still tracking Isabella's movements, but our decoys are working. We've got eyes on Ethan Miller—still digging into your past, but finding nothing useful yet.""And the bodies?""Three so far. All Castello associates. All made to look like accidents."I checked my watch. We had twenty minutes to reach the Peninsula Hotel for the Titan Summit—an exclusive gathering of the most powerful business leaders in the country. Or as Mario liked to call it, "a dick-measuring contest with champagne.""Let's go," I said, sliding into the waiting car. "And Mario?""Yeah, boss?""No guns
BROKEN MOMENT ~LAUREN’S POV~I stood in the doorway of Alexandro safe home, my throat tight with surprising emotion as I hugged her goodbye. Despite only knowing her for days, I felt like I was leaving family."I'm going to miss you," I said, meaning it more than I'd expected.Isabella cupped my face in her hands, her green eyes, studying me intently. "You're good for him," she said. "He smiles now. Do you know how rare that is?"Before I could respond, she turned to Alexandro, who was checking his watch behind me. "You," she said sharply, pointing a manicured finger at him, "keep this one.""Mother," Alexandro warned, but Isabella wasn't finished."I should be hearing church bells soon," she continued, ignoring his darkening expression. "I'm not getting any younger, and I want grandchildren while I can still chase them around the garden."My cheeks burned. "Isabella, we haven't….”"Bah," she waved away my protest. "When you know, you know. And my son, for all his faults, knows what