เข้าสู่ระบบJulianI walk straight through, past the security men who know better than to stop me, down the hall to the study where I know he'll be, glass in hand, like always, like nothing in the world has ever touched him.Vittorio doesn't look up when I walk in."I just came from one of my warehouses," I say, no greeting, no patience left for one. "It got hit. Shipment burned. Did you have anything to do with it?"He finally lifts his eyes, swirls the scotch in his glass, unbothered. "You have some nerve, coming into my house with accusations.""Godfather." I stop a few feet from his desk. "I'm not trying to accuse you. But if there's anyone in this city who has animosity toward me right now, it's you. Because of my fallout with Katrina."Something flickers across his face, quick and cold, and then he smiles, and it's worse than if he hadn't."Good." He sets the glass down slow, deliberate. "Since you already know that, why are you here? Why don't you go cry somewhere? Go on. Find a cor
Julian"Now, how would you like your punishment, little girl?"Daphne doesn't answer right away. She just looks at me, considering, like I've asked her something far less loaded than what I actually meant, and then she walks past me toward the wall, fingers trailing along the row of implements hanging there, different lengths, different weights, some leather, some not.I fold my arms and watch her. Already imagining many ways to mark her pretty body with those whips. My dick impatiently jerking at the thoughts. She runs her hand over them slowly, unbothered, like she's browsing a shelf instead of standing in a room built for exactly one purpose. Her fingers stop on the longest one, wrap around the handle, and she glances back at me over her shoulder with that smirk that's gotten her in trouble more times than either of us can count."How about we start with this one?""As you wish."My phone rings before I can take a single step toward her.I almost ignore it. Almost. But the
DaphneI hear Julian’s footsteps before I see him, the front door closing with more force than necessary, footsteps coming up the stairs fast. I'm still in my dress from dinner, sitting on the edge of the bed, phone in my hand, when he pushes the door open."Why do you have your man following me?"He doesn't answer. He crosses to the small bar cart by the window, pours himself a scotch, and drinks half of it before he sets the glass down. His jacket comes off next, tossed over the chair, then his tie, then two buttons at his collar, unhurried, like I haven't said anything at all."Julian."He finally sits in the armchair across from the bed, glass in hand, and looks at me like he's deciding where to start."Why did you defy me?""Defy you?" I stand up. "Is that what this is about right now? I'm asking you why you have security trailing me. This is what you always do, and I've told you to stop. And you still sent Marco to follow me to dinner.""You haven't answered my question." His vo
JulianThe city looks smaller from up here, all those lives moving through streets I own more of than they'd ever guess. I take a slow sip of whisky, the glass sweating slightly in my hand, turning Marco's message over in my mind. Table for two. Detective Hunter. She didn't say a word about it before she left, just slipped out of the house like she thought I wouldn't notice.I made myself clear about that man. She heard me, argued with me, and apparently decided my answer didn't apply to her the moment my back was turned.My hand tightens around the glass hard enough that I feel it protest.My phone rings against the desk behind me. I don't need to look to know who it is."Report.""Boss, she's leaving the restaurant. Headed home now." Marco's voice is flat, professional. "You want me to keep on her?""No." I set the whisky down. "Come back in.""Copy that.”The door opens before I've finished pocketing the phone, and Luca steps in, closing it behind him with the quiet efficiency he's
DaphneI tell Eli I’m going out for dinner, and he sits up so fast his controller slides off the bed.“With Caleb? Daph, this is a bad idea.”“Eli, it’s just dinner.”“You didn’t tell Julian.”“No.” I fix my hair in the mirror by the door. “And you’re not going to either.”“He’s going to find out. Nothing about you ever gets past him.”“Then he finds out. I’m not doing anything wrong, Eli.”“You’re doing it to prove a point. And that’s wrong.”“Maybe I am trying to prove a point.” I meet his eyes in the mirror. “Doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”He sighs, the way he does when he knows he’s lost. “Text me when you get there. And when you leave.”“Yes, Dad.”The restaurant is small and warm, with candles in mismatched jars. Caleb is already at a table near the back, and he stands when he sees me, relief crossing his face before he covers it with a smile."Daphne,You came.""I said I would.""People say a lot of things." He pulls out my chair. "I half expected a text canceling.""
Julian The club is loud in the way expensive places are, bass thumping through the floor, bodies packed around the bar under red light. I ignore all of it and follow the host up the back stairs to the private balcony, where one man sits alone with a bottle of scotch and a view of the whole floor.He sees me coming and freezes with the glass halfway to his mouth."Julian?" Lancelot Veyron sets the drink down and stands so fast his chair scrapes the floor. "Julian Macini. I don't believe it.""Lance.""Twelve years." He laughs, shaking his head, and steps forward like he's about to hug me. I stop him with a look, and he pulls back, still grinning. "Same as always. You haven't changed.""You have.""Ouch." He spreads his hands. "You cut me off, you know. I called your office. I sent word through three different people. I even showed up at your wedding to Katrina, and you walked right past me.""I know.""Then why now?" He gestures to the empty chair across from him. "Sit. Please. Drink







