LOGINCiara's POV The power went out right after Simon slammed the study door behind me. Thunder cracked overhead like the damn house itself was splitting open. I stood in my room, my chest still heaving from the fight. My hands shook as I wiped my face and put on a hoodie over what I already had on. I needed air. Space. Anything that wasn’t Simon's calm voice telling me how he was going to fix us. I ended up in Cain's garage. Rain hammered the windows so hard it sounded like stones and darkness swallowed everything the second the lights died. I backed up until my spine hit the wall, trying to steady my breathing. The door creaked open as lightning flashed and lit up Cain’s silhouette. Tall. Shoulders tense. Water was already dripping from his hair like he’d been outside looking for something. Or someone. “Ciara.” He stepped inside and shut the door. Then he stopped moving and I didn't move either. “You should be in bed,” he said. His voice came out rough. “So should you.” I
Ciara's POV After Cain left, I found Simon in the study with the lights low. He sat there with his sleeves rolled up, and glass in his hand. When I stepped inside he didn’t look surprised. He just watched me close the door with that new calm of his. I stood near the entrance, my arms crossed tight over my chest. My dress still carried the faint scent of Cain. “Tell me about Jess,” I said. Simon leaned back in his chair. He studied me for a long second, then gestured toward the seat across from him. I didn’t take it. He shrugged, then took a slow sip from his glass. “Jess trusted Cain,” he started. His voice stayed even. “She came to him when things got bad, thought he could fix it... fix her.” He snickered with a shake of his head. “She was always like that. Believing the wrong person could save her.” I swallowed. “And then?” Simon set the glass down. “Then she vanished. One day she was here, asking questions, pushing buttons she shouldn’t have pushed. Next day? Gone. There was n
Ciara's POV I tossed my phone aside as it went dead in my hand while Cain’s body still pinned me to the wall, and his fingers were still buried deep inside me like he couldn’t let go. My legs shook around his thigh. I could feel my own wetness coating his hand and sliding down my skin. He pulled his fingers out slowly, dragging them over my clit one last time. I bit my lip so hard. “Jess is back,” I whispered, repeating Boris’s words like they might make sense if I said them again. Cain’s forehead stayed pressed to mine, his chest heaving against my breasts. His thigh was still wedged between my legs, pressed tight against my core. I was already wet. I hated how much I wanted him right now, even with the new secrets I've just discovered. “Cain…” I called breathlessly. His hand tightened on my thigh, his fingers digging into the soft flesh as he rocked his hips forward, grinding his cock against me. I whimpered as he dragged right over my clit, sending sparks up my spine.
Ciara POV After Simon’s cruel parting words, sleep was impossible. I sat on the floor of the guest bedroom with my laptop, phone, and a bottle of wine I barely touched. My hands shook as I typed her name: Jess Voss. A million thoughts flooded my mind. What happened to Jess? Did Cain destroy her? Did he hide her? Did Simon love her too? The first article appeared within minutes. I read it aloud. “Business Associate Linked to Cain Hale Vanishes After Corporate Leak” The photo showed a beautiful girl with wild dark hair, leather jacket, and a defiant smile. Twenty-four years old. She had been linked to illegal street racing circuits and, according to one anonymous source in the article, had been romantically involved with Cain Hale for several months before her disappearance. My stomach twisted. Don't get me wrong, I still disliked the bitch... but she's gone now. I read every article I could find. Jess had been helping Cain expose corruption in the racing scene... money laun
Ciara's POV As I sat on the floor sobbing at my misfortune, fragments of memories from the time my younger sister stayed with us slowly returned to my mind.I had never actually sat before to rethink everything she had to go through. I don't know why the thought just crossed my head so suddenly. Is it because of the confrontation I had with Simon... or last night's message from Cain?THE PAST. The black SUV pulled up to the mansion steps just after sunset. I was waiting on the porch with the rest of the family, heart hammering so hard I felt dizzy. When the door opened and she stepped out, supported gently by a private nurse, the breath left my lungs in a painful rush. She looked smaller. Her once-bright eyes were dull. Her hair — the beautiful chestnut waves I used to braid for her — hung limp. She clutched a grey blanket around her shoulders even though the evening was warm. “Alice…” I whispered, moving forward. She flinched at the sound of my voice. I stopped instantly, my
Ciara's POV Natalia had finally moved out, but her awful scent still lingered in the air. I couldn’t breathe in this house anymore. I emptied the last piece of my breakfast into my mouth as I got up from the dinning. Last night, after I deleted the scandalous picture of Cain and I from Simon's phone, while I pretended to sleep, a message from Cain entered my phone. I clenched my fist so tightly to stop myself from throwing a punch at the nearest wall. Cain had indirectly shown me Simon was involved in my sister's kidnapping. I groaned and kicked the chair closet to me as I swallowed in a curse. And just a few days ago, my mother had also confirmed she sold me to Simon Hale. , I couldn’t pretend anymore. I needed the truth from Simon’s own mouth, no matter how ugly it was. I moved angrily, kicking open every door I past until I found him in the study. He's sitting behind the massive oak desk. A glass of whiskey sat untouched in front of him. He looked up when I entered,
Ciara's POV Simon pulls me upstairs, his fingers tightening around my wrist like he already knew I’d done something unforgivable. I whimper, struggling to free myself, but he doesn't let go until we are finally in the room with the door shut. He gently places me on a stool and kneels before me.
Ciara's POV I shouldn’t have slept, not after what almost happened in that kitchen but I forced myself to sleep as soon as I made it back to bed without getting caught. And the next day,I woke up to an empty bed. Simon is already up. I sigh and rub my hands over my face. I hope he doesn't brin
CIARA'S POV I totally forget what I came here for. All I can see is a tattoo, sweaty abs and a V-shaped that was lost somewhere beneath his waistband— "My face is up here." He snaps his fingers. Oh! I lift my head to meet his face. "Can you turn down the noise? I need to get work done ups
Ciara's POV That touch meant nothing. So why do I still feel it? I rush out and lean against the wall in the hallway trying to steady my breathing. Cain’s follows me, striding forward and only stopping when he's very close to me. Standing in a tight hallway, we hold each other breath, neithe







