ログインI hit send, shoved the phone away, and turned back to lock my bedroom door with a sharp click.Then I walked down the corridor and stopped in front of the master bedroom.I raised my knuckles and knocked once."Yes. Come in," Tony’s deep voice vibrated through the heavy wood.I pushed the door open, my gaze immediately settling on him.Tony was sitting casually on the edge of the unmade king-sized bed, wearing nothing but the silk pants of his dark pajamas.His broad, muscular chest was bare, and his eyes slowly lifted from his phone screen to lock directly onto mine.Behind him, Lily was lounging back against the pillows.Her long fingers were moving in slow, rhythmic circles against the bare skin of his lower back."I'm heading to class," I said, stepping just an inch past the threshold, my voice tight."My babysitter is running late. I want to keep my room key with you. Please help me give it to her when she gets here."My eyes darted nervously between Tony's face and Lily’s cold
AVAOne Week LaterThe Glass Penthouse— 8AMI stood frozen in front of the expansive bathroom mirror, my hands gripping the cool porcelain edge of the marble sink as I stared at my own reflection.I was completely dressed.The light makeup on my face was blended so seamlessly into my skin tone that it looked practically nonexistent, a subtle cover hiding the exhaustion underneath.The baggy blue button-down shirt I wore felt light against my skin, fitting my frame perfectly but doing little to comfort me.My eyes flickered downward to my wrist.The hands of my watch showed a few minutes past eight o’clock.I still had time.My first class wasn't until nine.Yet, a tightening ache seized me deep in my lower belly, one that had nothing to do with the time.It had been over three weeks since my car had been stolen from the library lot. Three weeks of absolute silence. And now, I had begun to completely lose hope of ever recovering it.But what truly paralyzed me was him.Tony.For twenty
Tony’s expression remained distant, his eyes darkening slightly at the mention of all that had happened since he met Ava."Trust me. I've thought about that a few times.""You should be careful around her," Jerry continued, his voice dropping slightly. "Don't contract whatever negative energy she's carrying."Marcus let out a soft, mocking chuckle."Come on, Jerry. You don't actually believe in all that voodoo shit, do you?""What if it's real?" Jerry shot back, his eyes snapping from Tony to Marcus, dead serious.A very faint, razor-thin smile touched Tony’s lips, though it carried no warmth.Something cold and calculating flashed behind his eyes, and his voice dropped into a lower, darker register that made both of his friends go quiet."Whether it's real or not, I don't care. What I do know is that by the end of this week, if that car is not found... I will find a way to retrieve every single dime it cost from her. Every single cent."Marcus watched him for a beat, picking up on th
Moments later, the black McLaren turned sharply off the main road, its low nose sweeping into the long, paved driveway of Marcus’s flat off campus.The engine hummed with a deep, mechanical growl as Tony steered the supercar to a smooth halt behind Jerry’s Chevrolet Corvette and Marcus’s sleek Audi R8.Tony killed the ignition.Then reached down to the center console cup holder, he picked his phone and wallet, and pressed the door release. The dihedral wing door lifted smoothly into the air.Tony swung his legs out, lowering his feet to the pavement, and stood up, his tall frame cutting a sharp silhouette against the late afternoon light.With a casual downward pull, he brought the wing door shut with a solid, pressurized thud, clicking the lock button on his key fob without looking back.The McLaren beeped, its mirrors folding inward.Tony turned toward the front porch, his footsteps light but entirely confident as he navigated the tight space between the three high-performance vehic
TONYTwo Weeks LaterThe Glass PenthouseThe afternoon sun filtered softly through the massive dining area window, casting blocks of warm light across the sleek, polished surface of the table.Tony sat back in his chair, a half-eaten plate of rice resting in front of him. He unhurriedly scooped another spoonful, lifting it to his mouth under a heavy, unwavering gaze."How is it?" Lily asked.Her tone was sharp with inquisitiveness, her eyes tracking the movement of the spoon."Mmm-hmm," Tony mumbled around the food, nodding slowly.His mouth was entirely full, his brown eyes shifting from the plate up to her face."Mmm-hmm as in... good or bad?" Lily pressed, locking her gaze onto his.A single, perfectly sculpted eyebrow shot up in a demand for clarity.Tony merely nodded again, taking his time to chew and swallow the rice before attempting to speak.Across from him, Lily gestured lightly with her spoon, cutting a small arc in the air to prompt him.A gentle smile broke across Tony's
I remained standing entirely alone in the empty hallway, the crushing weight of what had happened pinning my feet to the floor.---TONYAfter Returning to His RoomTony strode into the master bedroom, his face a mask of simmering tension, and sat heavily on the edge of the king-sized bed.Lily closed the heavy door behind herself, her eyes locked on his rigid posture.She walked over with a slow, deliberate grace, settling on the mattress right beside him."Is that all you'll say?"Lily began, turning her head to study him.Tony raised his gaze from his lap, turning his head toward her.Their eyes met, and he slowly raised a single eyebrow."Is that all you'll say?" Lily repeated, her voice dripping with an intense, quiet gravity as they locked eyes."I overheard your conversation out there."Tony shook his head softly, his gaze shifting away from her to stare blankly across the room."What would you have me do?""I don't know. Maybe more," Lily spoke again, reaching out to place her
TONY.Two Days Later.The Glass Penthouse.8:00 AM.Tony's eyes slowly opened.For a few silent seconds, he simply stared at the ceiling above him.The room was washed in the soft glow of the morning sun filtering through the thin curtains that covered the floor-to-ceiling windows of the master bed
Moments Later.We pulled into the labor and delivery parking lot.The tires slowed, rolled, then stopped completely.The engine cut off.For a second, everything went quiet except my breathing.Tony turned toward me. “Are you okay?”I nodded quickly, too focused on the contraction tightening throug
AVA.A Week and Some Days Later.The Glass Penthouse.6:15 PM.I rolled slowly from my left side onto my back, then onto my right, trying to get comfortable. The ache that had been living in my lower back and belly all day refused to leave.A slow breath slipped past my lips.I shifted again, caref
Hours Later.Lily’s Chevrolet Colorado rolled down the quiet road leading to the Glass Penthouse on her way home.The woods stretched endlessly on both sides of the road.The evening sun filtered through the trees, scattering patches of gold across the asphalt.Her fingers rested lazily on the stee







