LOGINTHIRD PERSON POVGiselle made her way into the conference room, clad in a sleek black dress and sharp heels that clicked against the marble floor. She had received the text early that morning, a summon to the Russian tower. When she stepped inside, the air was thick with cigar smoke.It was obvious that they had been waiting for quiet sometime. “I received your message, Ivan,” she said, voice sharp as she got to the long table in the middle of the room. “To what do I owe this unexpected invite?”Arriele was not new to this game, she knew what men like Ivan wanted, and why they would go to any extent to get what they want.Ivan Volkov stood slowly from his chair at the head of the long table, his bandaged hand resting on the surface. The other men all clad in dark suits with cold, watchful expressions remained seated, silent observers to the unfolding scene.Ivan’s ice-blue eyes dragged over her slowly, a mix of amusement and calculation in his gaze. “You’ve been busy, Giselle, doin
THIRD PERSON POVThe argument in Nikolai’s penthouse had stopped after Arriele and Matteo left. All his life he had trusted and listened to Matteo's commands, but this was different. He was smitten by Sophia and certain that he would never stop, because his family wanted him to. Not Frederico, Matteo or even his father. Nikolai helped Frederico into the guest room, half-carrying his brother despite Frederico’s weak protests. He eased him onto the bed.“Doctor’s on the way,” Nikolai said flatly. “Don’t move.”“We still need him to come over and make sure everything is okay.”Frederico managed a pained grin. “Bossy as always. Go deal with your nurse before she bolts again.”Nikolai didn’t answer. He left the room and found Sophia exactly where he’d left her standing in the middle of the living room, arms wrapped tightly around herself, the oversized black shirt still swallowing her small frame. Her bruises looked even darker under the soft lighting.She flinched when he approached.“
THIRD PERSON POVThe tension in Nikolai’s penthouse was thick enough to choke on.Matteo and Nikolai stood locked in a silent standoff near the floor-to-ceiling windows, Sophia worked frantically on Frederico’s wound, her hands steady despite the fear in her eyes. Arielle stayed beside her, handing over fresh gauze, but her attention kept drifting to the two brothers.“You’re in love with her, Matteo,” Nikolai said, voice low and cutting. “Don’t stand there and lecture me about innocent women when you did the exact same thing.”Matteo’s jaw clenched so hard it looked painful. “This isn’t the same.”“Isn’t it?” Nikolai shot back. “You took Arielle thinking she was Giselle and kept her anyway. Now you’re wrapped so tight around her you can’t see straight. At least I’m honest about what I want.”Before Matteo could reply, Arielle stood up, wiping blood from her hands on a towel.“Enough,” she said sharply, stepping between them. Both men turned to look at her. “Frederico is bleeding on t
THIRD PERSON'S POV The Velvet Room had turned into a slaughterhouse in seconds. Matteo dragged Arielle through the side door, his body shielding hers as glass rained down around them. “Move!” Matteo barked, kicking open an inner door that led into the dimly lit VIP corridor.They pushed deeper into the club, the heavy bass from the main floor now drowned out by the sharp gunshots. Arielle’s heart slammed against her ribs. She kept her head down, following Matteo’s lead, but her eyes scanned every shadow.“Stay here babe…” She barely heard his words when she saw her.Giselle stood at the end of the corridor, half-hidden behind a velvet curtain, Marco’s hand tight on her arm. Her red dress clung to her curves. When her gaze landed on Arielle, a slow, vicious smile curved her lips. “Well, well,” she smirked. “If it isn’t the little whore who thinks she’s queen now.”Arielle froze for half a second. Matteo’s grip on her tightened, but she yanked free and stepped forward, eyes lock
THIRD PERSON POVThe car ride was suffocatingly silent.Sophia sat rigid on the opposite side of the backseat, arms wrapped tightly around herself, tears still drying on her bruised cheeks. Her heart hammered so loudly she was sure Nikolai could hear it. She had thrown those cruel words at him. “fuck me and dump me like you always do…” expecting rage, expecting him to take what he wanted right there in the car.Instead, he had gone completely still.And then… nothing.Nikolai didn’t speak. He didn’t look at her. He simply stared out the window, jaw locked, his big body radiating tension that made the air feel thick and heavy. Every time she glanced at him, he looked unreadable, dangerous.The silence stretched in the car.Sophia couldn’t take it anymore. “Say something,” she whispered, voice cracking. “Yell at me. Threaten me. Just… don’t do this.”He didn’t even turn his head.The SUV finally slowed and turned into a quiet, upscale residential street. Sophia frowned as the car pulled
THIRD PERSON POVNikolai Moretti moved through the hospital corridors like a storm barely contained. Nurses froze mid-step as he passed, their cheeks flushing pink. Whispers behind him “That’s one of the Morettis…” “The dangerous one…” “God, he’s even hotter in person…”He ignored them all.His stitches pulled with every stride, but the pain only fueled him. Sophia had run. She had dared to leave after he had claimed her. No one walked away from Nikolai Moretti.He reached the nurses’ station on the fourth floor. Two young women behind the counter straightened instantly, eyes wide.“Where is Sophia?” he demanded, voice low and cold.One of them stammered, “S-She… she doesn’t work today, sir. She called in sick.”Nikolai’s jaw flexed. He leaned forward, dark eyes pinning the speaker in place. “Her address. Now.”The second nurse hesitated only a second before quickly scribbling something on a scrap of paper and sliding it across the counter with trembling fingers. “Please don’t… don’
Arielle’s POVThe next morning arrived too quickly. I moaned softly as my eyes fluttered open, the sheets tangled around my legs. The room was quiet, too quiet. It dawned on me that Matteo was gone. I sat up, frowning at the empty side of the bed. That man is something else. One minute he’s kill
Matteo’s POVThe sitting room smelled of cigar smoke and whiskey.I sat in the high-backed leather chair at the head of the low table, legs crossed, fingers drumming once on the armrest before stilling. Xavier lounged across from me, one ankle propped on his knee, swirling his drink like the world
Arielle’s POVI groaned as my eyes fluttered open. Morning already. My head pounded like someone had taken a hammer to it.The room was silent. Matteo was nowhere in sight.I dragged myself out of bed, slipped on his oversized slippers, and sighed heavily.“You will grace my bed.”“You will bear me
MATTEO'S POVAfter the meeting between all of us, Arielle had to excuse us to carry on with our work.I was impressed by how she carried herself, but that didn't mean I was going to just let her into the business. It was risky.We continued talking about business for a while.The noise from downsta







