LOGINSurvival taught Elon Rivers that his body could be a weapon—just not in the way his stepfather intended. Now he works the con: dress pretty, play helpless, drug them, and disappear with their valuables. It's not honest work, but nothing about Elon's life has ever been honest. When he targets the wrong mark—Fort Thorne, a mafia enforcer with eyes like a winter grave—his carefully constructed world shatters. Fort knew exactly what Elon was from the moment he walked into that hotel room. The briefcase Elon stole contained information worth killing for, and Fort wants it back. There's just one problem: Elon's roommate has already stolen it from him, and now Fort is out two million dollars. Fort's offer is simple: return what was stolen, or work off the debt. Every single Penny. Trapped in Fort's world of violence and power, Elon discovers that his captor is as damaged as he is, and that the line between hatred and desire is thinner than he ever imagined. But in a world where trust is a luxury neither can afford, falling for the enemy might be the most dangerous con of all.
View MoreELON'S POV
The club was packed tonight. I walked through the entrance, adjusting the red dress that hugged my frame. The silicon implants felt uncomfortable, but they were necessary for the look I was going for.
Tonight, I wasn't Elon. I was Elena, the hot and sexy lady. I made my way to the bar, weaving through bodies on the dance floor. The music was loud—some remix I didn't recognize—but I tuned it out. I had work to do.
Sliding onto a barstool, I ordered a drink and started scanning the crowd. There were plenty of options tonight. Men in expensive suits, women dripping in jewelry, the usual clientele of Club Azure. I just needed to find the right one.
My drink arrived and I took a slow sip, letting my eyes drift across the room. That's when I noticed him—mid-forties, tailored suit, expensive watch. He was sitting in one of the VIP sections, surrounded by men who looked like they worked for him. More importantly, he had a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist.
Perfect.
I was still watching him when a bouncer approached me. He leaned in close so I could hear him over the music.
"Excuse me, miss." He held out a white piece of paper and a pen. "The gentleman over there would like your number."
I didn't even look at where he was pointing. "I'm not some cheap slut. Tell him I'm not interested."
The bouncer hesitated, then nodded and walked away. I took another sip of my drink, keeping my eyes on my target. The bouncer returned to the VIP section, spoke to someone, then walked away.
I was about to signal the bartender for another drink when I felt someone settle onto the stool beside me. I turned slightly, keeping my expression neutral.
"Hi," he said.
It was him, the man with the briefcase.
I raised an eyebrow. "What do you want?" I asked.
He chuckled, a low sound that suggested he was used to getting his way. "You're one feisty lady. I sent my guy over and you shot him down without even looking."
He turned to the bartender. "Hey, get her another drink. Whatever she's having."
I watched him carefully. Up close, I could tell that whatever that was in the briefcase that sat on the bar between us was very important.
"What do you really want from me?" I asked.
He smiled, his eyes traveling down to my chest and back up. "You're a very hot lady. I'd like to know you better."
I leaned in closer, making sure he got a good view of the silicon implants straining against the low neckline of my dress. "In what way do you want to know me?
Sexually or what?"
His smile widened. "You get it."
"Fort, by the way." He extended his hand.
I shook it briefly. "Elena."
"Elena." He said my name like he was tasting it. "Listen, there's a beautiful room upstairs. VIP access. Why don't you accompany me? We can have some privacy."
I pretended to consider it for a moment, then nodded. "Lead the way."
Fort stood, grabbing the briefcase—he never let go of it, I noticed—and gestured toward a staircase at the back of the club. I followed him up, my heels clicking against the steps. A bouncer at the top nodded at Fort and opened a door.
The room was exactly what I expected. Large bed, low lighting, a mini bar in the corner. A bit tacky but expensive.
Fort closed the door behind us and immediately reached for my waist, pulling me close. I could smell his cologne—something woody and overpowering.
I eased out of his arms, keeping my voice light. "Hold on. I like to have a drink first. Gets me in the mood, you know?"
He grinned. "I can work with that."
"Do you have red or blue lights in here? It makes it more fun."
"Yeah, the switch is over there." He pointed to the wall near the bathroom.
"Perfect. Why don't you turn them on while I fix us something?"
Fort walked over to the light switch while I moved to the mini bar. I heard the click as the lights changed, bathing the room in a reddish glow. Quickly, I reached into my dress, into the padding of the fake breasts, and pulled out the small vial I'd hidden there. The sedative was fast-acting—he'd be out in minutes.
I poured two glasses of whiskey, adding the sedative to one of them. By the time Fort came back, I was holding both glasses and smiling.
He wrapped his arms around me from behind. "Now this is more like it."
"Drink first," I said, turning in his arms and pressing the spiked glass toward him. "I like a man who can handle his liquor."
Fort took the glass from my hand and downed it in one go. He set the empty glass on the nearby table and pulled me toward the bed.
"Come here," he said.
I let him lead me to the bed. He lay back against the pillows, pulling me down on top of him. I straddled his hips, leaning down to kiss him. His hands roamed over my body, squeezing and grabbing. I forced myself to keep kissing him, to keep up the act.
One minute passed. Two minutes.
His grip started to loosen. His kisses became slower, less coordinated.
"What..." he mumbled against my mouth.
Then his head fell back against the pillow and his arms dropped to his sides.
I stayed still for a moment, listening to his breathing, that meant he was out cold
I climbed off him and checked his pulse just to be sure cause I wasn't trying to kill anyone tonight.
I went through his pockets first—wallet, phone, keys. The wallet had several credit cards and about three thousand in cash. I took the cash and left the cards. Less traceable that way.
Then I turned my attention to the briefcase. It was still handcuffed to his wrist. I'd need to take the whole thing.
I looked around the room and found what I needed in the bathroom—a first aid kit with scissors. They weren't strong enough to cut through the metal, but I didn't need to. I cut through the cuff of his shirt sleeve and slipped the handcuff chain through. The briefcase was mine.
I picked it up, testing the weight. Whatever was inside was worth the effort.
Before I left, I leaned down and kissed Fort on the cheek. "Thanks for the lovely evening."
Then I grabbed my clutch, tucked the briefcase under my arm, and walked out of the room. The bouncer at the top of the stairs didn't even look at me twice—just another woman leaving a VIP room.
I made my way down the stairs, through the club, and out into the night air. Only when I was three blocks away did I let myself smile.
Another successful night for Elena.
ELON’S POV The gunshot thundered through the mansion; my ears immediately started to ring. For a split second, everything froze. Then Fort yanked me backward by the arm just as another shot sounded from upstairs and glass shattered somewhere in the darkness. “Down,” he commanded. We dropped behind the staircase in one fluid motion. My heart pounded against my ribs while thunder cracked outside, illuminating the pitch-black rooms with each jagged flash. “What the hell is happening?” I whispered. No one replied. Footsteps pounded overhead—fast, running. I heard Nathaniel curse in the gloom. Then Evelyn’s sharp voice cut through the darkness: “They found us.” My stomach clenched at her words. Another gunshot cracked overhead, splintering wood near the railing. Fort was already moving, calmly drawing a pistol from inside his coat. “You had a gun this whole time?” I blurted. “Elon,” he said coolly. “Right. Bad timing.” Somebody slammed into a hallway wall upstairs, shak
FORT’S POVFor a few seconds, I genuinely thought I was hallucinating.Not metaphorically.Not emotionally.Actually hallucinating.Because there was no logical explanation for Evelyn standing at the top of the staircase looking calm and alive while rain battered the windows behind her like the world itself was trying to force its way inside.Two years.Two years of grief.Two years of silence.Two years of forcing myself to function after identifying her car at the bottom of the ocean cliffs.And now she stood in front of me wearing black silk and that same unreadable expression I used to spend entire nights trying to decode.Beside her, Nathaniel leaned lazily against the railing as if this entire situation wasn’t catastrophic.I hated him immediately.The mansion suddenly felt too small.Too cold.The scent of rain drifted through the open doorway behind us while thunder rolled across the ceiling overhead.Still, Evelyn didn’t move.Didn’t smile again.Didn’t look guilty.That part
ELON’S POVThere were certain sentences capable of ruining an entire evening instantly.“We found Nathaniel” was apparently one of them.“In Evelyn Vale’s old house.”That part somehow made it significantly worse.The atmosphere inside the penthouse changed so fast it felt physically violent.One second Fort had me pinned against the edge of the table kissing me like he was trying to forget the world existed.The next—every trace of warmth disappeared from him completely.It was honestly terrifying how quickly he could become cold again.“Mara,” Fort said calmly beside me, which was impressive considering his expression looked one inconvenience away from homicide, “how exactly did Nathaniel gain access to that property?”Her voice crackled faintly through the speaker.“The security system was manually overridden from inside the residence.”Silence.Oh, good.That sounded deeply horrifying.Fort held my gaze for one brief second before taking the phone from my hand.“Is he still there
ELON’S POVAdrian left forty minutes later.Not dramatically.Which somehow felt more dramatic for him.One moment he was leaning against the kitchen counter drinking expensive whiskey like a morally questionable cryptid, and the next he was buttoning his coat while the storm battered the penthouse windows.Before leaving, he paused near the doorway and looked directly at Fort.“You’re spiraling,” he said calmly.Fort didn’t even glance up from the documents spread across the dining table.“I’m working.”“No,” Adrian replied. “You’re avoiding.”I looked between them cautiously.Honestly, it felt less like a conversation and more like two dangerous men fencing emotionally.Fort finally lifted his eyes.“And yet you’re still here.”Adrian smiled faintly.“Unfortunately, I like you.”“That sounds like poor judgment.”“Usually.”Then Adrian’s gaze shifted toward me briefly.“Try not to let him isolate himself tonight.”Fort looked deeply unimpressed.“Elon is not my emotional support anim
Elon's POV "I've heard through reliable sources that you have informations that I might find valuable in your possession. But if you must know, I don't ask for free...I offer entertainment in exchange for whatever you might be offering..."The moment I said that, Chen's eyes narrowed sharply, this
Elon’s POVThey didn’t take me far.Just down a corridor, through a side passage, and into a room that felt like it had never seen daylight.The moment the door slammed shut behind us, Everything narrowed int
Fort’s POVThe moment the lights went out, something in me shifted.It was the knowledge that something or someone a lot more dangerous than we can assume, wanted that package desperate enough to play dirty.An emo
Fort’s POVThirty minutes, My eyes flicked to my watch again.It had been Thirty Minutes.My jaw clenched slightly as I lowered my wrist, forcing my facial expression to remain neutral as another guest passed by me with a polite smile I didn&






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