Alyssa The building is painted in blood-red and white, its main entrance leading directly into a dimly lit strip club. Fully naked women in heels swing from poles and dance on raised platforms, their bodies cast in flickering lights as if they're putting on a show just for us. It's unsettling.
Gray grits his teeth. "First of all, it wasn't funny the first time you said it, and it's still not funny now." "I'm not trying to be funny!" I snap, my voice shaking with anger. "That's what I was. Dad gave me shit, and I sat on his buddies' laps, getting them all hot and bothered so they could g
TW: Child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, murder, emotional damage Alyssa "Aly, Logan...stay in my office. You know the drill. Don't come out until one of us says so," Daddy orders. "Okay, Daddy." I spin around in his big chair, the leather all soft and smooth under my fingers. "Fine.
My chest aches. How can he say that about Logan? Suddenly, Daddy's heavy footsteps thud from the other side of the door, and my heart pounds like thunder. I hold my breath, hoping he doesn't hear me. Then, I tiptoe past the door, glancing back to make sure they're not coming out. When I reach the
Logan Now that Alyssa's right here in front of me, I can't take my fucking eyes off of her. God, she's beautiful. The last time I saw her, she was only seven, standing by my hospital bed with tears streaking down her face. I was barely awake most days, but that guilt-ridden look she wore burne
Nothing hurt worse than knowing my first and only friend forgot I fucking existed, and it was all thanks to Daddy dearest. "So, everything just went back to normal? Like it never happened?" she asks, confused. I glance at Gray, giving him the floor. He grits his teeth and tosses back another s
Alyssa The moment War takes over, I feel it. His posture changes, his shoulders square with a hardened, unsettling confidence, his jaw sets with a sharpness completely different than Logan's. His steel-gray eyes narrow and darken, and a slow, wicked smirk slithers across his face. The air seems to
I narrow my eyes at him. "Do you have a problem with me or something?" War shrugs, a wicked glint sparkling in his eyes. "I'm just wondering where all of this was when your husband was beating on you for three years." He tilts his head. "Why is he still alive, little psycho?" His words sting, bu
And I'll make sure he never gets close enough to hurt her again. Even if it means I never see her again. Even if it kills me inside. I'll just keep myself busy. The Iron Serpents belongs to me now. This place is my home to rebuild. The drugs stay. I don't give a shit what anyone snorts, smoke
War "You can't keep me in here!" Logan's voice ricochets through the bars of the cage he built for me—now the same one I've slammed shut on his pathetic ass. "Oh, I can, motherfucker," I growl. "You're the reason we can't have her." I kissed her twice tonight—the first time, not because I deser
I never thought they'd actually propose—or actually want to be married.Especially King.But he did say one day he wanted me to have his ring and property patch. I guess that day is today.I try to keep it together—really fucking try—but the grin's already pulling at my mouth."Don't you think this
AlyssaThe house we pull up to hours later actually looks... normal.Not some abandoned, half-collapsed shithole like I'd pictured. No broken windows. No graffiti. No front door hanging off the hinges. Just a small, weathered house tucked in the woods, its cracked driveway swallowed by weeds, a wra
The van rumbles low behind us.Somewhere in the distance, police sirens whisper on the wind."Can I kiss you?" he asks, his voice rough around the edges. Holy shit. Was he just asking the guys for permission to ask me?"Okay," I breathe.His mouth claims mine—slow, bruising, deliberate. Nothing li
AlyssaThe container door stays shut after they leave me with Gray, not wanting me to inhale any more fumes. Gray shifts restlessly beside me, having already ordered the other Reapers guarding the perimeter to clear out. He's ready to get the hell out of here, but we have to wait for the guys to fi
Mason exhales slow, like he's counting to ten through murder.For a second, I think we all might kill this crazy motherfucker at the same time. Rip him to pieces and not even feel bad about it.But then Alyssa raises a hand.And we freeze instantly."Is that why you locked War away?" she asks quietl
NikolaiAlyssa stands naked, a gun aimed steady at Logan's head, and the three of us stand around her like guard dogs—tense, alert, waiting to see which way this moment breaks.No one says a word. Not even him.But it's obvious now. He's not War.Hasn't been since last night.While our girl was tak
King smirks, then presses the blade just beneath Isaac's shoulder blade and slices.The sound is thick. Wet. The kind that stays with you.Isaac jolts, a raw, broken sound tearing out of him, like a scream that never makes it all the way out of his shredded lungs."Oh, fuck," I mewl. Wetness pools o