GIOVANNI'S POV “Later, Tristan, you’ll experience what it’s like to be thoroughly ravished. Until dawn.”Vlad’s last words echoed in my head, a malevolent promise delivered with a chilling smile. The live feed cut, leaving me staring at a frozen screen, the image of Tristan’s terrified face seared into my mind. Then came the barrage of gunfire, the sickening sounds of destruction, light bulbs shattering, vases exploding – each noise a hammer blow against my control.The thought of Vlad Kuznetsov touching Tristan, of him ravishing him until dawn… it was an unbearable, agonizing spike of rage that tore through me. Hatred, raw and visceral, clawed at my throat. In that moment, I silently vowed to tear Vlad limb from limb, to make him understand the true meaning of pain. He was deliberately pushing me, taunting me, and succeeding beyond his wildest dreams. The picture he’d sent earlier, of him standing close to Tristan, a possessive hand on his arm… it was all calculated to provoke this
TRISTAN'S POVThe rough ropes chafed against my naked skin, digging deeper with every futile struggle. Vlad Kuznetsov, that smug, entitled bastard, watched me with a predator’s gleam in his eyes, clearly relishing my every snarl and writhe. He’d ripped my shirt off earlier, a deliberate act, just to capture a photograph for Giovanni – a twisted game of provocation. I spat a stream of curses at him, each word laced with the venom of my confinement.“Enjoying the view, Vlad?” I spat, my voice hoarse. “Or are you just admiring your handiwork?”He chuckled, a low, guttural sound that did nothing to endear him to me. “Patience, Tristan. The night is young. And there is much we can learn from each other.”“Learn?” I scoffed, testing the ropes again. They were tight, unyielding. “The only thing I’ve learned from you is that your family tree must be a straight line.”His eyes narrowed slightly, but the smile didn’t falter. “Still so fiery. I like that. It makes the conquest all the sweeter.”
GIOVANNI'S POVThe frantic energy thrummed inside me, a caged animal desperate to break free. Kuznetsov! The name tasted like ash in my mouth. I had underestimated him, treated him like a fly I could swat away. Now, that fly had stung me, right where it hurt. My estate, my home, violated. And Tristan… the thought of Tristan in Vlad's clutches ignited a rage that threatened to consume me."Faster, Dmitri! Faster!" I barked, my voice tight with barely suppressed fury. Dmitri, bless his unflappable soul, simply tightened his grip on the steering wheel and pushed the pedal to the floor. The world blurred outside as we raced towards the estate. Each second felt like an eternity, each mile a personal insult.Vlad had used the warehouse attack as a pathetic excuse to invade Sokolov estate. He used it so that he can show that he is capable. Damn him!I clenched my fists, the leather of my gloves creaking under the pressure. I had to get to Tristan. I had to make sure he was alright. Had my me
TRISTAN'S POVGiovanni’s departure had left a lingering hollowness in me, a gnawing dissatisfaction that echoed the unfinished intimacy. His hand had brushed mine, a fleeting, tantalizing touch that had ignited a slow burn within me. I’d felt myself succumbing to the heat, the promise of something more, only for him to be ripped away by Dmitri’s summons, by the urgent whispers of the mafia business. Now, I slumped against the cool, empty expanse of Giovanni’s king-sized bed, the sheets still faintly warm from his presence, a cruel reminder of what had been so abruptly stolen.My gaze drifted to the window, a portal to the darkening night. A convoy of sleek, black cars, their headlights cutting through the gloom, was led by Giovanni’s distinctive vehicle. I watched, a knot tightening in my chest, as the taillights receded, swallowed by the inky blackness, taking with them the warmth, the anticipation, the hope of a shared night.A quick, lukewarm shower did little to wash away the lin
GIOVANNI'S POV The throb behind my eyes was a nasty echo of the violence I’d just unleashed in the gym. Those pathetic excuses for men… they used to writhe beneath me, begging for more. Now, they laid in a heap, whimpering, their bravado dissolved in a pool of their own blood and piss. All because they thought they could touch Tristan. They thought they could bully him just because they were jealous he had my attention? They were wrong. Dead wrong.I stalked towards my bedroom, a knot of anticipation tightening in my stomach. I expected to find him asleep, maybe still whimpering from the bruises those bastards inflicted. I imagined smoothing his hair, whispering apologies, making it all better.But the scene that greeted me stole the air from my lungs.He was standing by the window, bathed in the ethereal glow of the moon. Naked. His back was to me, the moonlight sculpting the planes of his shoulders, the curve of his spine. It was an image ripped straight from a fever dream, a silen
TRISTAN'S POV The throbbing in my back flared with every shallow breath. I peeled my eyelids open, disoriented. The low light told me it was night. How long had I been out? My last memory was hitting the gym hard this morning, then… those harpies. Giovanni's past, present, and probably future flings, all vying for his attention, and apparently, seeing me as an obstacle.... a cock greedy slut.A growl rumbled in my chest. They’d ganged up on me, all claws and venomous whispers. One of them, that blonde bitch, had landed a solid power twister to my back. The memory brought a fresh wave of pain. I blinked again, trying to focus. This wasn't my room. Or even the sterile, impersonal medical wing. This was… Giovanni's room.My throat felt like sandpaper. I croaked, clearing it, and spotted a pitcher of water and a glass on the nightstand. Bless Giovanni for at least having that much foresight. I poured a glass, the cool water soothing the dryness. As I swallowed, another unsettling realiz