It had been a month.A month since the fire. Since I lost my men. Since Sofia slipped into a coma.I moved to my second house in Manhattan—one of the most expensive penthouses in the city. The place was high above the streets, private, secure. It had everything—floor-to-ceiling windows, marble floors, a rooftop pool. But none of it mattered. Not when Sofia was still lying in a hospital bed, unmoving.Every day, I visited her. Sat by her side. Watched the machines beep, the ventilator helping her breathe. The doctors said there was no telling when she’d wake up—if she’d wake up. But I refused to believe that.Then, today, everything changed.I was in her room, sitting in the chair like always, when I noticed it.A twitch.Her fingers. Slight, almost unnoticeable. But I saw it.I shot up from my seat. "Sofia?"For a second, nothing. Then, her eyelids fluttered. A shaky breath. A soft groan.Then, finally, her eyes opened.Relief slammed into me like a tidal wave. My hands clenched at my
The moment the words registered, I bolted.I barely heard the phone clatter to the floor as I sprinted toward the door, my heart hammering against my ribs. The air around me felt thick, suffocating, my breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps.Sofia.I tore through the halls, ignoring the startled looks from my men as I shoved past them. My driver was already waiting, sensing the urgency in my steps. The moment I threw open the car door, he floored it.The drive was a blur. A mess of flashing streetlights, screeching tires, and the pounding of my pulse in my ears. My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to breathe.Then, as we turned the final corner, I saw it.Flames.The house—my house—was engulfed in a raging inferno. Smoke billowed into the night sky, thick and suffocating. The heat hit me like a wave the moment I stepped out, my skin prickling, my throat burning.Screams echoed in the distance. Shouts. Chaos. My men were scrambling, some trying to
Elianna’s gaze remained steady, but I saw the flicker of calculation behind her eyes. Then, with a slow inhale, she lifted her chin.“I don’t know.”I chuckled, low and sharp, shaking my head. “Huh.”She didn’t waver, didn’t blink. But I knew that was a lie.I let the silence stretch, studying her, watching the way her shoulders squared, the way her fingers curled subtly against her sides. Holding her ground. Holding her secrets.Then, like a switch flipping, something clicked in my mind. A memory. A phrase.I narrowed my eyes. “That’s funny.”She said nothing.I took a slow step closer, tilting my head. “You know why?” I asked, voice deceptively calm.She didn’t answer.I smirked. “Because I’ve heard those words before.”Another step.Elianna’s breath remained steady, but I saw the slightest shift in her stance. Preparing. Bracing.I exhaled, a slow, mocking laugh. “Oh, that’s right.” I let my voice drop, my tone thick with amusement. “Your lover said the same thing.”And just like t
Elianna's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she lifted the glass to her lips, taking a slow sip, watching me over the rim. She was trying to read me, trying to figure out my angle.I let her.After a moment, she set the glass down and stood, smoothing out the silk of her dress. “Fine,” she said, voice even. “Let’s go.”I offered my arm, and she hesitated—just for a second—before taking it. Smart girl. She knew better than to trust me completely.The ride was quiet at first. She stared out the window, the city lights reflecting in her eyes. Then, finally, she spoke.“You’re in a good mood,” she murmured.I smirked, keeping my gaze ahead. “Why wouldn’t I be?”She studied me for a beat. “Because I know you, and when you’re in a good mood, it usually means trouble.”I chuckled. “Maybe I just want to spend some time with you.”She raised a brow. “Is that what this is? A date?”I didn’t answer right away. Let her sit with the thought. Let her wonder.Finally, I turned t
The morning light seeped through the heavy curtains, casting long shadows across the room. I sat on the edge of the bed, the sheets still slightly wrinkled from sleep, but my mind was already alert.Reaching for the pack on my nightstand, I pulled out a cigarette, placing it between my lips as I lit it with a flick of my lighter. The first inhale was slow, controlled, the burn settling deep in my lungs before I exhaled, watching the smoke curl in the air.Another day. Another move to make.The estate was silent, save for the distant hum of activity outside—guards switching shifts, engines purring as cars came and went. Business as usual.I stood, taking another drag as I moved toward the window, pushing the curtain aside. The estate grounds stretched before me, perfectly maintained, perfectly controlled. Just like everything else in my world.I had work to do.Crushing the cigarette into the ashtray, I turned away, heading for the shower. Steam curled around me as I stepped out of th
The drive back to my estate was quiet. The scent of blood and smoke still lingered on my clothes, but I didn’t mind. Victor’s screams were still ringing in my ears, a soundtrack to the satisfaction simmering in my chest.He gave me what I wanted.Sofia.Elianna wanted her dead.That bitch really thought she could manipulate me—play her little games and come crawling back after wiping out what she saw as an obstacle.Pathetic.I leaned back in my seat, rolling my wrist as I checked the time. It was late, but Elianna would still be up. She always stayed up, waiting. Hoping.As if she still had a chance.The car pulled through the front gates of my estate, the guards nodding as we passed. I stepped out, adjusting my cuffs as I made my way inside.The second I walked in, I spotted her.Elianna was lounging on the velvet couch in my living room, a glass of red wine in her hand, dressed in silk that barely covered her body.She looked up when she saw me, her lips curling into a knowing smir