LOGINReed’s POVWe had spent the last thirty-six hours tearing through every Sullivan hideout in the northern district. By the time Victor called a halt to the sweep, the half of the Sullivans were practically wiped off the map, their soldiers buried, and Diego Sullivan and his father were hiding somewhere underground like a cornered rat.Victor didn't look tired. He walked down the corridor of the clinic’s private wing with heavy, menacing steps, his coat slung over his shoulder. Beside him was Marcelo, his face cold and unreadable, hands jammed deep into his leather jacket pockets. I walked a step behind them, my hand resting casually near the holstered piece inside my coat.The private floor where Kai was admitted was on total lock: four of our best men stood guard at the elevator, backing up immediately as Victor approached."Everything clear?" Victor rasped, his voice low and dangerous."Clear, boss," the lead guard said. "Miss Saint Claire went down the hall to rest about twe
Hazel’s POV Two days had passed since the shooting, and Kai still hadn't opened his eyes. The VIP room on the top floor of the Valentino private clinic was quiet, except for the soft hum of the machines and the steady rhythm of the heart monitor. I sat in the armchair right beside Kai’s bed. My fingers were wrapped around his hand. His skin felt cooler than usual, and his palm was still, lacking the firm warmth I was used to feeling whenever he held me. I picked up a small cloth from a basin of warm water on the bedside table, squeezed out the extra liquid, and gently wiped his forehead and cheek. His breathing was shallow, supported by an oxygen tube under his nose. Bandages were wrapped tight around his lower stomach, hidden under the clean hospital blanket. Every time I looked at his pale face, my mind rushed back to that highway—the sharp sound of gunfire, the sudden crash of glass, and the terrifying way Kai had slumped against me with blood soaking through his cloth
Clara’s POV I sat back on the plush Italian leather sofa, swirling the pale amber liquid in my crystal glass. Opposite me, Joseph leaned back in his high-backed armchair, one leg crossed over the other, puffing lazily on a Cohiba. Beside me, Melissa paced the polished hardwood floor, her heels clicking a sharp, frantic rhythm against the timber. "Will you sit down, Melissa?" I snapped, setting my glass down on the marble coffee table with a heavy clink. "Your pacing isn't going to speed anything up." "How can you be so calm, Mom?" Melissa shot back, stopping in her tracks to glare at me, her hands trembling slightly as she smoothed the fabric of her designer skirt. "We’re playing with fire here. If anything goes wrong—" "Nothing will go wrong," Joseph interrupted smooth as silk, blowing a thin ring of smoke toward the recessed ceiling lights. "My contacts on ENH's board of directors have already primed the executive committee. The moment we release the forged wire authoriz
Hazel’s POVThe VIP suite on the top floor of the clinic was vast and quiet, illuminated only by the soft, rhythmic green glow of the heart monitor.The low beep... beep... beep filled the room—a steady, comforting rhythm that was the only proof Kai was still with me.I pulled a high-backed armchair right up to the side of the hospital bed, refusing to sit anywhere else. Kai lay still beneath the white linens, his tall, imposing frame looking unnaturally quiet against the pillows. An IV line was taped to the back of his hand, there was oxygen covering his nose to help him breathe properly, a thick bandage was wrapped snugly around his waist beneath his gown. His face was still pale, but the deadly gray tint from earlier was finally fading, replaced by a touch of warm color.I reached out and wrapped both of my hands around his cold fingers, bringing his knuckles up to press them against my cheek."You idiot," I whispered softly into the quiet room, a small, tearf
Reed’s POVTen minutes later, the central courtyard of the Valentino estate looked like a war staging ground.Six black armored SUVs lined the cobblestone drive, their engines rumbling in unison. Fifty fully geared soldiers—wearing black tactical vests with the Valentino crest embroidered on the shoulders—stood in formation, checking their automatic rifles and heavy sidearms.Victor stood near the lead vehicle, slapping a fresh magazine into his rifle as Marcelo sprinted down the steps to join us."Is it true?" Marcelo asked, his face pale with shock and fury as he reached me. "Is Kai really in surgery?""He's under Lorenzo's knife right now," I told him tightly. "And Signor Valentino is leading the hit team himself."Marcelo looked toward the grand steps just as Signor Valentino walked out, flanked by his personal bodyguards. The chatter among the fifty soldiers instantly died out into absolute silence. Every man snapped to attention.Signor Valentino st
**Reed’s POV** I turned away from the red light glowing above the surgical doors and looked down at Hazel. She was trembling on the bench, her hands caked in Kai's blood. "Hazel, stay here," I said, my voice leaving no room for argument. "Keep your eyes on those doors and don't step foot outside this clinic. I'm going straight to the estate to inform Kai's father." "Kai's father?" Hazel whispered, her eyes wide with shock. "Reed, if Mister Valentino finds out—" "He needs to know," I cut her off sharply. "His son was just shot in broad daylight. The head of the family is on an operating table. Signor Valentino will mobilize the entire front-line force himself, and then we are marching directly onto the Sullivan compound." "Reed, please be careful," she choked out. "Don't worry about me. Worry about Dr. Lorenzo doing his job," I barked, turning on my heel. I stormed down the corridor, pulling my phone from my b
I had the divorce papers ready by evening.I called my lawyer, Mr Hartley, someone who didn't ask too many questions. I told him exactly what I wanted-a clean break. No alimony. No fighting over assets. I just wanted my freedom and my dignity, what little I had left of both.He prepared the papers q
The emergency room was chaos.Doctors and nurses rushed past us in a blur of white coats and urgent voices. Melissa was already being taken deeper into the hospital, away from us, and Damon was following her, his hand on her shoulder, his expression a mixture of rage and desperation.I came through
I stood at the top of the stairs, completely frozen, unable to move, unable to process what had just happened."No," I whispered. "No, no, no. Melissa!"I hadn't pushed her.I hadn't meant for this to happen.It was an accident.But she was lying at the bottom of the stairs, not moving, and Miss Mia
Damon left early in the morning.He didn't tell me where he was going or when he would be back. He just kissed Melissa goodbye at the kitchen table while I was making breakfast, and then he was gone. Gone to handle the Moretti family business. Gone to do whatever it was that men like him did when th







