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 POVLucy sucked in a sharp breath as I slowly slid the zipper down, my fingers dipping inside just enough to tease her through the fabric of her underwear.Fuck. She was already soaked."I..." she tried to form words, but her body betrayed her, instantly melting, trembling, arching against me."This... good... mmm," her voice was so sweet, a little afraid but wanting more, just as I did. Her words cut off as she moaned, loud enough to make me groan in response. It was the hottest fucking thing I'd ever heard.I slipped my fingers beneath her panties, brushing over her clit before sliding one finger deep inside her.Her whole body tensed, then immediately gave out. My finger went to work, slowly, and her hips rocked back into me, hands pressing harder against the wall, breath ragged and desperate. Her stomach sucked in, moans dancing in her throat. She just needed to relax a minute, take a beat to let me show her everything I can help her with."This feels good, doesn't it?" I
Lucy POV"Tell me no, and I'll stop."Michael, this dangerously arrogant, sinfully gorgeous man, was on his knees in front of me, waiting. Begging. His blue eyes were dark with hunger. He could have taken whatever he wanted, he was stronger, faster, deadlier. But instead, he gave me all the power.And God, I loved it. He had no idea how badly I needed to have this control, his submission to me... although it was Michael. The man that knew things before anyone else. Maybe he knew this was exactly what I needed to quiet the fears that lived inside me. "I want you," I admitted, my pulse hammering. "I do."His lips curved into a knowing smirk as his large hands slid up my thighs. He helped push my jeans down, his fingers grazing my skin like he was savoring every inch."I want everything," I whispered, my heart pounding. "But...""I just want a taste, baby girl." His voice was low and thick, warm breath between my thighs, urging me to let him have me.I should have stopped this, but the
Michael POVSomething wasn't right. Something so far off that I knew it would change everything. Yet, I couldn't move, and I didn't want to. For hours, I lay on the hardwood floor, arm half-asleep, body heated to a thousand degrees from both the thick comforter and the small body wrapped around me. I should have been uncomfortable, irritated even, but I wasn't. Not when every shift of her body pressed her curves closer to mine.Lucy snored softly against my chest, her breath warm over my skin. Every time she did, I had to bite back a laugh, not wanting to wake her. She slept like a damn menace, a knee wedged between my legs, arm draped over my stomach, clinging to me like I was her lifeline.I always woke early, but Lucy? She was barely alive at 8 a.m. How the hell did she even function? How did she ever get to class on time?My phone buzzed with another message from Vinnie. I sighed knowing we had to leave. But Lucy just hummed in her sleep and snuggled closer, her leg sliding highe
Amy POVKillian had been gone all day, and all I could think about was that kiss he left me with. It had been brief but seared into my mind, making it impossible to focus on anything else. In his absence I decided I should at least attempt to get an upper hand. I tried searching for anything that might tell me more about him, his plans, or where the hell we were even going.I'd managed to get into his computer, but there wasn't much. The only thing of value was a connection to Texas, which I assumed was our next destination. There was no service out here, and despite my best efforts, I couldn't crack the WiFi password. Frustrated, I'd given up, knowing getting caught snooping wouldn't end well.Now, I was stretched across the bed, lazily flipping through a magazine as I tried not to let my thoughts drift back to him. But then his voice cut through the silence."I see you've found a way to occupy your time," he said, his gaze sweeping over me. I wasn't wearing much than a short, silk
Amy POV"Fuck! You're so damn tight. I have to own this part of you too. I have to have everything you offer, Amy." His voice was lost in pleasure, just his tip moving inside me, a little deeper with each thrust, ripping through my ass and causing so much pain. "Do you understand? Hmmm, do you..." his body twitched in pleasure as he pushed back in. "This is heaven, Amy. This body is blissful sin, wrapped like an innocent Angel for me to destroy." He grunted, grabbing my waist and with one hard thrust, he finally pushed all the way inside me. "Killian!" I shouted, jolting up as tears rolled down my cheeks. My hands pushed at his thighs but he didn't budge. He was completely inside me, his dick filling me to the brim that I felt I could burst."That it's Angel, start relaxing those muscles and accept your fate. You can't escape me." His one hand slithered up my body, twisting me some so he could hold my neck in his fingertips and watch how I shivered in pain. "You're mine, Amy. Do yo
Amy POV"What did I do now?" Lucy whined like I was some nuisance. She was the one causing so many problems. She almost killed my brother because all of a sudden sex didn't freak her out."Why are you moving the Grasso on the same floor as us?""Michael wanted them close. He has the entire house wired with cameras, but just in case they try to make a move no one from Niko's side is hurt.""Then why am I still on the third floor? I should be moved with Niko's men." "Amy." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I thought you liked your room and wanted to be close to your brother. Besides, you seem more than happy to shoot some people if the occasion arose.""My brother is down here. I'm only close to you." I shot back and Lucy got nervous real quick. "Great!" I shouted in disbelief. She actually plans to share a room with him. "Are you trying to stay here now? You don't belong here, Lucy. You don't want to be here! You by Michael's side will only get you both killed. You can't
Lucy POVThat night with Michael felt like another reality. The way he was with me, how open and vulnerable he became. How he loved me without any concern or fear about what it all meant. He wasn't anything like I thought he would be but was everything I wanted. We came together like we were always meant to be. But the next day, he slept, a lot. He was awake only a few hours to eat, took his medicine, and passed back out. I felt like a total idiot. I was so worked up from everything and just wanted to feel him. I shouldn't have even considered having sex. He seemed so strong though, and we had fooled around before."Michael wants you." Vinnie came into the kitchen and my entire body tensed. I knew he wouldn't be mad at me, but it was kind of embarrassing. "Ok." I nodded to Vinnie and finished a few arrangements for our new guest arriving. The entire house was about to be turned upside down, and no one was sure if this was the right move."Don't worry, you didn't break him," Vinnie
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