Sophia’s POVKayla and I settled into the plush chairs at the nail salon, the soothing melody of soft music blending with the faint scent of lavender in the air. It was a welcome reprieve from the chaos of life, and I could already feel some of the tension lifting from my shoulders.“This is exactly what I needed,” I sighed as the nail technician began working on my hands. “Just some peace and quiet with my best friend.”Kayla grinned from the chair next to me, her toes soaking in warm, bubbly water. “Tell me about it. Between Asha’s teething and Connor’s latest work crisis, I feel like I haven’t sat down for five minutes in days.”I chuckled. “Motherhood. Marriage. The joys of adulting, right? Remember when our biggest problem was whether our outfits matched for the weekend parties?”“Or whether that cute guy from history class would notice us,” Kayla added with a laugh. “Life was so simple back then.”We both laughed, and for a moment, it felt like we were back in those carefree day
Sophia’s POVThe dim glow of the club’s neon lights danced across our table as Kayla and I leaned in, laughing over the rim of our cocktail glasses. The music thumped in the background, a pulsing beat that seemed to sync with the energy of the room.“See?” Kayla grinned, tossing her hair back. “Aren’t you glad you came out?”I took another sip of my drink, nodding. “I’ll admit, this is fun. It’s been forever since I just let loose like this.”Kayla gave me a playful nudge. “Good. That’s the whole point. Forget your worries for a bit.”A few minutes later, we were on the dance floor, swaying to the music. The crowd around us moved as one, and for the first time in weeks, I felt free—untethered by work, responsibilities, and the heavy weight of my recent thoughts.As we returned to our table, a man approached Kayla, flashing a charming smile. “Hey there. Can I buy you a drink?”Kayla raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching with amusement. “Appreciate the offer, but I’m good, thanks.”He h
Sophia’s POV“I’m fine,” I said quickly, waving him off even though my legs felt like jelly. “Just a little dizzy, that’s all. Nice to see you, but I’m heading out now.”I took a shaky step forward, determined to get outside and wait for Elijah. But the room tilted again, and I swayed dangerously. Before I could catch myself, Lucas’s hands shot out, gripping my arms and balancing me. “You’re not fine,” he said firmly. His hands were warm against my skin, and I hated how grounded they made me feel. “Come on, let’s sit down. You need water. Let me help you.”“Lucas, no. I’m okay,” I insisted, trying to pull away, but my legs betrayed me, another wave of dizziness forcing me to lean on him. My heart raced, not just from the physical sensation but from the sinking fear of what Elijah would think if he walked in right now.“Stop arguing,” Lucas said, his voice soft but insistent. “You can barely stand. Just sit down for a minute. I’ll get you some water.”I had no choice but to let him gu
Sophia’s POVWe reached the car, and as soon as I settled into the passenger seat, I leaned my head back, pressing my fingers to my temples in a futile attempt to dull the pounding. Elijah slammed the door shut on his side, the sound making me flinch. He didn’t start the engine right away. Instead, he turned to face me, his jaw tight and his eyes blazing with fury.“You were meeting him,” he said, his voice low but sharp. “Weren’t you? After Kayla left, you knew he’d show up.”“What?” I snapped, sitting up despite the dull ache pulling at me. “Are you serious right now?”“I trusted you, Sophia,” he continued, his voice rising. “And you—what, you think I’m stupid? You think I wouldn’t figure it out?”My chest tightened, anger and disbelief surging. “If you trusted me, you’d believe me when I tell you the truth. I didn’t plan any of this. Lucas just showed up. What was I supposed to do? Ignore him and pass out on the floor?”“You could have called me,” he shot back. “Or Kayla. Hell, any
Elijah’s POVI leaned back in my chair, tapping a pen absently against the edge of my desk. My mind was a mess, tangled in thoughts of last night—of Sophia’s quiet, tearful face, of the widening gap between us.I shouldn’t have agreed to meet Camille today. Hell, I shouldn’t have even taken her call last night. But when she’d been crying on the phone, asking to meet, saying she wanted to quit modeling and come back to Sinclair Realty, I’d felt cornered. There was desperation in her voice, and while I didn’t trust her motives entirely, I didn’t feel right dismissing her outright.Still, I couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that this was a mistake. Sophia must have overheard the call last night—I’d caught the faintest shift of movement in the hallway after I’d hung up. But she hadn’t said a word, neither last night nor this morning. We’d gone about our routines in silence, our conversations limited to the kids and logistics. A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I
Elijah’s POVI stepped back quickly, putting as much distance as I could between myself and Camille. My mind raced, trying to process Victoria’s unexpected appearance. “What are you doing here?” I asked Victoria, straightening my shoulders and pretending that she had not just witnessed what she did. “I should ask this girl the same thing…” Victoria said meaningfully, narrowing her eyes at Camille. Then turning back to me, she added, “Well, I dropped by because I wanted to talk to you about the legalities of Bella Sera.”Camille didn’t seem fazed, at least not outwardly. Her lips curved into a smirk, though her eyes darted to Victoria warily. She spoke before I could respond to Victoria. “I’m not sure what you think you just walked in on,” she said smoothly, brushing an imaginary speck of dust from her sleeve. “But it was nothing.”Victoria stepped fully into the room, positioning herself between Camille and me like a shield. “I saw enough,” she said coolly. “Camille, let me make som
Sophia’s POVThe snow was blinding, a relentless swirl of white that pressed against me, freezing my skin and stealing my breath. My small legs stumbled as I trudged through the icy wilderness, calling out, my voice hoarse and cracking. "Mom? Dad?"But the only sound was the howling wind.“Sabrina,” a voice whispered, low and chilling, carried by the storm. I froze, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. It came again, closer this time. “Sabrina…”I spun around, trying to find the source, but all I saw was the snow and shadows. Then I spotted her—Morgana—walking away in the distance. She wasn’t alone. A man I didn’t recognize had his arm around her, and they laughed as if they didn't have a care in the world.“Hey!” I screamed, tears freezing on my cheeks. “Don’t leave me!”She didn’t turn back. I ran after her, my small boots slipping on the ice, but then I felt it—strong hands grabbing me, dragging me backward. Panic surged as I kicked and flailed, but my captor held me ti
Sophia’s POVThe days blurred into a strange rhythm of forced professionalism. Working with Lucas wasn’t as unbearable as I’d feared—not because I was suddenly comfortable, but because he’d been on his best behavior. He hadn’t crossed any boundaries or tried to rekindle the tension that lingered between us after that night at the bar.Maybe he’d finally understood where the line was drawn, or maybe he just didn’t want to provoke Elijah any further. After all, Elijah had been making a habit of dropping by Urban Next with valid yet transparent excuses whenever Lucas was around. Whether it was about an upcoming project at Sinclair Realty or checking in on a mutual client or even about one of our kids, Elijah’s presence was a clear signal.And it worked—mostly. Lucas stayed polite, professional, and focused. But despite his cooperation, I couldn’t shake the emotional stress pressing down on me. Elijah and I still barely spoke at home. Our conversations were limited to logistics about the
Elijah’s POVThe sharp scent of salt and oil dominated the surroundings, underscored by the industrial clatter of machinery and the distant shouts of Vito’s men echoing through the shipyard. I stayed pressed against the cold metal crate, my breaths shallow and measured. The sound of boots and angry voices reverberated through the maze of containers, too close for comfort.“Split up and cover the south end!” Vito’s voice boomed, carrying above the chaos.I cursed under my breath. They were organized, and their numbers made it clear—this wasn’t going to be an easy escape.My earpiece came to life. “Elijah,” Joe’s voice whispered urgently. “Get to the northwest corner. There’s a stack of containers near the crane. I’ll meet you there. Stay low.”I peeked around the edge of the crate. The narrow path ahead was littered with shadows, but further down, I could see the towering crane Joe had mentioned. It loomed like a beacon of hope—or a final destination.“Got it,” I whispered back, clutch
Elijah’s POVThe air inside the van was tense, thick with the kind of anticipation that made every sound sharper, every shadow more menacing. Joe sat beside me, his focus sharp as he scanned the live feed on the monitor. His men were positioned around the warehouse, their voices low over the comms as they reported their positions.“Movement at the rear entrance,” one of them said. “Two men unloading crates from a truck.”I leaned forward, squinting at the grainy black-and-white footage. The warehouse was nondescript, a hulking concrete building that blended into the industrial sprawl. But we knew better. This was a key hub for Les Ombres Écarlates, and tonight, we were here to confirm something that had kept me up for days—Vito’s survival.“There’s more activity near the side gate,” another voice crackled. “Four armed guards. Looks like they’re expecting something.”Joe exchanged a glance with me, his expression grim. “It’s definitely a big shipment. Whatever’s in those crates is imp
Chris’s POVThe boat cut through the dark water, its motor humming steadily beneath the sound of waves slapping against the hull. The air was crisp, tinged with salt and the faint scent of diesel.I held Emily close, her trembling frame tucked against mine as if I could shield her from everything that had happened. Her hair smelled faintly of the forest, damp and earthy from our time on the run. But for the first time in what felt like an eternity, her breaths were even. She was safe, and that was all that mattered.Luc sat at the helm, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. He didn’t look relaxed, not completely. His hand hovered near the firearm strapped to his side, his fingers tapping the edge of the wheel.“We’re clear for now,” he said, glancing back at us. “The mob scattered. No sign of them in the port, no tails on us. We’ve got a bit of breathing room.”I nodded, but the tension within me didn’t ease. “What about Marc?” I asked, my voice low, careful not to disturb the fragile
Elijah’s POVThe message arrived at midnight, just as I was about to call it a night. My phone vibrated softly on the desk, the glow of the screen casting eerie shadows across the room. An unknown number. No subject. Encrypted.A chill ran down my spine as I opened the email. The message contained a single image: a grainy photograph of a man at a port, captured mid-motion as he unloaded a crate from a shipping container. His head was tilted slightly, his face shadowed, but I’d recognize those features anywhere.Shit, it can’t be… But it is. It’s Vito. The man we had all believed was dead.A single line of text accompanied the photo: Some ghosts refuse to stay buried.My heart pounded in my chest. The timestamp on the image was recent, taken just three days ago. The location—a port I didn’t immediately recognize—was blurred in the background, but the shipping crates bore the logo of a company long suspected of being a Les Ombres Écarlates front.I stared at the photo, my thoughts raci
Sophia’s POVThe warm scent of baked rosemary chicken and freshly baked bread greeted me as I stepped into Phoebe’s cozy apartment, immediately putting me at ease. Roxy and Jared scurried ahead, their laughter bouncing off the walls. Reese was the first to greet them, her face lighting up as she jumped up from the playmat in the corner.“Mommy!” Reese ran over, wrapping her arms around me in a quick hug before joining her siblings. “We’re playing house! Jared is the baby!”I laughed, kissing the top of her head. “You all behave, alright? And no bossing Jared around too much, Reese.”Kayla emerged from the small kitchen, balancing baby Asha on her hip. Her warm smile widened when she saw me. “Sophia! Finally. I was starting to think you’d gotten stuck in another snowstorm.”“Trust me, I almost did,” I said, exhaling as I set down my bag. “Thanks for picking up Reese. You’re a lifesaver.”“No problem,” Kayla replied, adjusting Asha in her arms. “You know I love spending time with your l
Sophia’s POVAs I stepped into my car, the cold leather seats sent a sharp chill through me. The afternoon sun, shy but persistent, peeked through scattered clouds, bathing the pristine snow in a gentle radiance. Thankfully, the blizzard had blown over quickly, and the roads were clear enough to navigate. It was the kind of crisp day that made the world feel brand new, but my thoughts were far from fresh.Lucas stood near the entrance of the ski resort, his hands shoved into his coat pockets. He waved, a warm smile on his face as I rolled down my window.“Thanks for coming, Sabrina,” he called, his voice carrying easily in the still air. I forced a polite smile, not knowing how to feel about him still calling me Sabrina up to now, especially after what I'd just discovered about my childhood. “Thanks, Lucas. The resort has so much potential. I’ll send over the updated designs soon.”“I’m looking forward to it,” he said, stepping back. “Drive safe. Roads might still be icy in some spot
Emily’s POVThe biting cold wrapped around me like a vice as the forest settled into an eerie stillness. The sounds of the chase from the night before had faded, but they seemed to continue echoing in my head. My legs ached, my hands were raw, and my breath fogged in the frigid air as I stumbled forward, searching for something—anything—that could serve as a refuge.It’s getting late. I have to find shelter first. The darkness was suffocating, but then, faintly, through the trees, I saw a glimmer of light. My heart leaped as I cautiously approached, praying it wasn’t a trap. What I found instead was a small, dilapidated hunting shack, nearly swallowed by the forest. Its wooden walls were warped, the roof sagging in places, but it was shelter. For now, it was enough.Inside, the air was stale and cold, but at least it shielded me from the howling wind. I found a dusty lantern and managed to light it with trembling hands, its soft glow pushing back the shadows. There was an old cot in
Sophia’s POVThe memory hung in my mind like a shadow, vivid and unsettling. Lucas’s voice—the one I had heard in my dream, the one calling for Sabrina—now felt too real to dismiss as just a fragment of my imagination.I tried to focus on the snow, its mesmerizing dance beyond the glass, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing.And then Lucas stepped closer, his presence pulling me from my turmoil. His eyes searched mine. “What are you remembering?” he asked carefully. I turned to face him fully, my heart thundering in my chest. “It’s… hard to explain,” I began, forcing the words out through the lump in my throat. “I had a dream—a nightmare, really—about when I got lost in the snowstorm as a child. I mean, I already know that it was Morgana who actually left me behind because she’d met with her lover then. But now…”Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “Now what?”“Well, in my dream, I thought I heard Elijah calling my name. He’d been there with his family too, so…”Lucas’s expression tightened, but he s
Sophia’s POVThe view outside the window was breathtaking—snow-dusted hills stretching endlessly under a pale blue sky. The cozy lounge, with its crackling fire and soft golden lighting, felt like the perfect setting for a romantic moment. It should have been calming, but my mind was anything but calm.That photo of Elijah and Victoria burned in my memory. Her sitting so close to him, their laughter captured at just the right moment. It made my chest tighten with anger and something I didn’t want to name—jealousy. The thought alone made me queasy, but it also left me vulnerable. Vulnerable to Lucas.I glanced at him. He stood just a few feet away, his expression soft but intent, watching me like I was the only person in the world. His confession still echoed in my ears, and I couldn’t deny the pull of the moment. It was too perfect, too charged. For a brief, fleeting second, I let myself wonder what it would feel like to bask in his affection, to let myself be swept up in something s