Michael POV"Any leads?" I asked Vinnie, walking into his room that was across from mine. "I think you're right about your Uncle in Texas. He has been hosting a few Irish at his house the past few months. And get this," he turned his computer to me. "Killian arrived here months before you met with him, and guess where he flew into?" "Texas." I clenched my jaw. Every move I made was one my Uncles pushed me to make. I was so focused on killing Niko that I lost sight of everything else. I had never imagined Amy to be alive this whole time though. I was so fucking blind. I let them guide me, let my own thirst for revenge cloud every instinct I had. And now? Now my sister is gone, and I have no one to blame but myself."Yup!" He spun the computer back around and began clicking away. "We will be there in three days and he will tell me everything." I shook my head, pissed I missed all this. "I'm not sure if Amy is there though. My gut is telling me Killian has her." Vinnie eyes were sc
Amy POVAfter hours of watching the man that lied and kidnapped me, Killian finally moved from his desk to get me a large plate of food. The tension between us was getting to be unbearable, but I found it amusing. I had no idea where I was or what intentions this man had for me, but the mystery and danger spark something inside. "Is there any chance I will be going home anytime soon?" I asked, breaking the awkward silence once I finished my meal. "I haven't decided." Killian suddenly stood and nodded to the door for me to follow."When or if, I will be going home?" I asked coyly."More like where your home will be." His eyes narrowed at me, making me swallow hard. His hand slowly wrapped around my arm as if he was testing my reaction. My tongue licked my lips, eyes watching his thick fingers completely cover my skin. Probably not a good idea to make him think I liked this, but I was always a bit reckless.His lips cracked a sly grin and he moved us out of his office."This is your
Lucy POVWhispered arguments filled my ears as I moaned into the pillow. My body was heavy with exhaustion, but I felt... peaceful. That was weird."The so-called innocent Scarlet is awake," Ariel sneered.I stiffened at the sound of her voice. The second we met, she made it clear she hated me."Don't test me," Michael snapped, his voice edged with warning.Ariel rolled her eyes, slamming her laptop shut. "Oh, relax. I'm just saying...""What is everyone doing?" I cut her off, stretching under the covers. My muscles ached, but it was nothing compared to the mental exhaustion of last night."Waiting for the princess to wake up so we can actually get shit done," Ariel muttered, stuffing her laptop into her bag.Michael shot her a look, the kind that could shut down a grown man. "Ariel," he warned.Her smirk widened, but she backed off.I yawned and tossed the blanket off me, only to freeze when I saw what I was wearing. A silky pair of shorts and a loose button-up shirt. Not my clothes.
Michael POV"You ready?" Vinnie asked. Everyone was waiting next to an oversized SUV. I looked over the car and regretted my decision for us all to travel together. My main focus had to be on getting Amy back, then killing every Irishman, then killing my Uncles, and lastly, taking down my greatest enemy: Niko. But we had a lot of land to cross over, and time to waste in a large car. It could be spent in a more pleasurable way."Michael!" Vinnie tapped my shoulder when I didn't respond. My head was definitely not in the game. I needed to change that."Yeah, almost. Lucy is changing." I opened the door and began setting up my laptop. Ariel plopped down beside me and I shook my head at her. That girl didn't know when to quit, but it would probably be better having her next to me than Lucy. Whenever her body was touching mine, I just wanted to feel her. This fucked up crush, or whatever I had with her, was becoming too much of a distraction."Are we really taking her to Texas? She's go
Amy POVA deep hum vibrated beneath me, rattling in my bones.My skin was warm, my body sore in ways that made me shiver. Last night flashed through my mind, Killian's hands, his weight, the way he owned every inch of my body.I inhaled sharply, blinking awake. My vision cleared and face twisted. Clouds? What the fuck? My stomach dropped and pulse lurched. I was in the air. I was on a fucking plane. I sat up too fast, gripping the armrests. The cabin was dimly lit, sleek leather seats and polished wood lining the space. A private jet.And across from me, Killian sat, calm as ever, sleeves rolled up, scrolling through his laptop like this was any other day for him."Where are we?" My voice was hoarse, my heart still pounding.He didn't look up. "Not your concern. Eat." My hands curled into fists. "Excuse me?"This time, he did look up. Slow. Measured. Unbothered."Eat, Amy. Don't make me repeat myself."I was thousands of feet in the air. On a fucking plane.Panic rose in my throat.
Lucy POVWe'd been driving for what felt like hours, the monotony of the road stretching ahead of us as the SUV hummed along. I stared out the window for a while, the gnawing hunger in my stomach becoming harder to ignore, but I didn't dare complain. The tension in the car was thick, and while everyone else was busy typing away on their laptops, I didn't exactly feel like adding to the stress by whining about food.Occasionally, Michael and Vinnie would share some bit of information they found on the Irish mob, or, more often, some random, ridiculous fact that had nothing to do with anything. The back-and-forth between them was oddly comforting though."I'm telling you, if you're going to hack into an offshore account, you don't mess with Swiss banks. It's like trying to rob a fortress with a butter knife," Michael muttered, his eyes glued to his laptop screen."Yeah, but butter knives can still cut if you sharpen them," Vinnie quipped, not missing a beat.Michael snorted. "Or you cou
Lucy POVWe rolled into Roanoke just as dusk was settling over the city. We pulled into a parking lot behind an unassuming brick building. It didn't exactly scream fortress of security, but I'd given up expecting things to make sense."This is the safe house?" I asked as I climbed out of the SUV, glancing at the worn sign above the restaurant.Michael shut his door with a thud. "Food first. Safe house second."Thank god, I was starving, my stomach growling angrily from the lack of food during the drive. As we piled out of the car, I kept close to Michael. I didn't completely trust him, but he was at least predictable in his protectiveness. I wasn't sure if it was because of the baby I wasn't carrying or something else. But either way, I knew he would keep me safe.The warmth of roasted garlic and seared meat hit me the second we stepped inside. My stomach growled in response, loud enough that Ariel snorted from behind me. She was really getting under my skin.The place was surprisingl
Michael POVTo say I was pissed was a massive understatement. There were Irish lackeys lurking in my hideout. Very few people knew about this place, and the fact that Ariel had been grinning like she was in on a joke the rest of us weren't, made my blood boil.The moment Lucy got up to go to the bathroom I wanted to follow her. Ariel called me out about it too. They could all see how my fingers itched to move, to keep her in my sight every second. It was unnecessary, but now I knew it didn't matter. I can't let her be alone.If I had hesitated a minute longer, Lucy could have been dragged out that back door, and I might not have found her in time. The idea that I almost lost her... I didn't like it. Vinnie tried to clam me down, knowing by the way I completely shutdown and roughly dragged her from the restaurant that I was seconds from losing my shit. The last thing we needed was a mass homicide with a hundred witnesses to put me in jail. My focus was much bigger than some low level
Michael POV"Lucy," her name slipped right off my tongue like it was the only word I should ever speak. "I love you Michael, and I don't understand why." She roughly shoved my chest, forcing me to lay back down. Her long legs moved to straddle my waist, those thick thighs flush against me. It was sexy, but the look in her eyes was a little scary. Was she pissed? Horny? "Lucy, I...," It wasn't even a thought of how I felt, it just was, but she didn't let me finish. "No, don't say it. I can't hear it, Michael. I just need to tell you how frustrated it makes me. I don't understand how I could love you. I don't understand why I can't walk away and it pisses me off." Her tone became sharper."This isn't sounding like compliments, baby." My eyebrows knit together, a little unsure if I should move or say something to defuse the situation. "It's not! I'm mad at you and I want it to stop! I want my life back." She shouted even louder, confirming this was definitely a hostile situation. He
Michael POVI didn't know how I was going to let her go, but I knew I had to. Our time together was running out, and I wanted to stretch every moment until my last breath, maybe even beyond if that were possible."They so grown!" Viv cried on the large iPad Paul held up to watch the kids all get their diplomas. Dylan made a bit of spectacle, hugging the principal and jumping with his fist raised as he walked back down the other side. That one had me a little worried about the true value he had in my world, but Amy trusted him. She needed as many friends as she could get right now. "They sure are. It's only been ten years. How does that feel like both a lifetime and barely a year?" Paul wiped a few tears from his eyes and I gave him a look of disgust. This man was supposed to be my Second."Damn! Are we sure that one is really in high school?" Vinnie googled-eyed some girl with long tan legs in very high heels walking the stage. "Technically, no, since she just got her diploma," I sa
Lucy POVIt was a quiet and very awkward ride to School. Zander tried making conversation, noting how this was our last moment as Seniors. It felt more surreal than anything to me. Almost as if I was brought back in time to relieve this day. I was no longer a Senior or teenager the day those men snatched me up. "Where is my brother?" Amy asked Paul with scorn."He is resting but will be there before it starts. I got Viv on standby too. All the kids are excited to see you get your diploma." Paul spoke cheerfully but it was met with nothing but hate from Amy. She didn't say anything else about it because I don't think she could be mean to her Aunt and cousins like she has been to all of us. "I can't believe I'm graduating again." Dylan laughed and we all looked at him confused. "I'm ordered to stay close to the package." His knee tapped Amy's and she turned to look out the window. "I thought I would at least get a smile. You're really that pissed about going?" He said, sounding annoy
Amy POVI hated that everyone tried to calm me down. I had every reason to be pissed, and every reason to keep them at arm's length. "Amy, this is our day. I don't want to leave and I don't want to walk down that line without you and Lucy at my side. Can't we just pretend we are still friends, just for today?" He gave me those deep brown puppy dog eyes. Zander had a clean-cut navy suit on, his hands in pockets, and his hair purposely styled that cute bedhead look. "I can't." I fiddled with my dress on the bed. "I just want to be alone. It's easier that way." I admitted. "You've been anything but alone lately." Zander jabbed at me, and I knew it was about me sleeping with questionable men. "You know what I mean." I sighed and turned to him. "Can you please just go home? I don't want to go tonight with you or Lucy. I don't want to go at all." "I know you miss them, Amy. Niko and Viv would be here if they could. They weren't your only family though." He tried reasoning with me."It
Lucy POVWatching Michael at dinner was both terrifying and exhilarating. He held so much sway over hundreds of people. And now he held all their money too. I don't think I would have the balls to do what he did, and I definitely wouldn't have helped hack so many accounts if I knew this was the end game. I had to trust him though. We were in this now, and there was no turning back."You should get dressed." Michael appeared behind me, his hand smoothing over my dress. "I don't think I should leave. It feels wrong." My body trembled slightly. I was afraid to leave his side. I was afraid of what waited for me beyond his protection. He declared war, and I was an easy target."Paul will be with you every second. My men are already positioned at the school and have eyes on every inch of the stadium. Go, graduate, and enjoy this moment. I'll make sure you are safe." He promised and I did truly feel safe knowing he was watching out for me."Are you coming?" I looked back to him over my sho
Michael POVI pulled out the chair positioned to the right of mine. "Lucy," I nodded for her to come. Not only was it polite and damn swoon-worthy to hold out her chair, but putting her on my right gave her a higher position than some damn mistress I knocked up. Plus, that move should remove any chance of Jared so much as trying to speak to her again. She was mine and no one touched her.Vinnie moved to my left and I gave him a cross look. He can't take the position of my Second, not yet at least. Vinnie cracked a smile and pulled the chair out for Paul. I turned to my seat, half rolling my eyes that Vinnie was still being a wise ass. The games needed to end.I stood behind my chair, waiting for everyone to settle. Only those officially in the family were in this room. All the others had a more party-like setting outside. Amy stood at the door, arms and ankles crossed, daring me to kick her out. I didn't miss the glances at Lucy from her either. "Thank you everyone for joining us to
Michael POVThe tension from everyone around me was thick, and suffocating, but I had to ignore it. We all had our positions and if we didn't make every move exactly right we could all end up dead. Paul spent the next hour spreading whispers of betrayal, he conveyed his absolute disgust of my decisions to any that would hear. It would grab the attention of Niko's men and start a small riot within their ranks. Vinnie was the smart-ass jokester both unwaveringly loyal to me, and crazy enough to start a blood bath in my honor. Niko's men would never align with him, or trust him with a plan. But that would open the door for those disloyal within the Grasso's to take him under their wing. Amy played both sides by acting as the scared lost girl, someone tough who wanted revenge even at the cost of her life, but also someone who loved her brother dearly. She should be removed from all sides and none will be able to fully trust her. Last was Lucy, the one person in all this mess who was i
Michael POVI don't know what this woman was doing to me, but I didn't want it to stop. I needed her in a way I never needed anyone. She was always in the back of my mind, for months I found ways to single her out in my torment, but then it turned into something more, a touch, a kiss, a need. Now, since I woke from that night my whole world flipped upside down, I wanted her in a whole new way. "Help me get dressed?" I said casually as I grabbed my suit from the chair. Her dress was under mine and I couldn't wait to see her in it."Of course." Lucy jumped right up and followed me to the bathroom. I definitely didn't need help getting dressed, but I definitely needed to see her naked again."You like?" I watched her unzip the bag, revealing a sophisticated but sexy white dress. The neckline was to her collarbone, concealing those beautiful babies in her chest. I knew she didn't like revealing too much skin, and I preferred it that way too. I had enough jealousy swarming inside me with
Lucy POVThe moment I walked inside there was chaos everywhere. It seemed like hundreds of workers were renovating the house and I really just wanted some quiet. "I'll head upstairs. Maybe he won't wake until 3." I looked to Vinnie and Paul."I already sent him a text you were on your way because the dinosaur failed," Vinnie said and I closed my eyes. "Are you that afraid of him or just want us to get our asses handed to us?" I shot back at him. He was annoyingly loyal to Michael."Hey, I'm just doing my job. I don't need to get shot over this crap." Vinnie put his hands up in defense."No one is getting shot!" I yelled back, frustrated and so damn tired of this life. I half ran up the stairs, preparing my body for a fight that I didn't want to have. If I wanted to come home, I should be able to come home, and no one gets shot because of it.But the second I opened the door I froze. Michael was sound asleep in my bed, with no shirt or bandage over his long scar down his chest. I do