MasukGabriel POVThe address Marcus Volkov had given me led to a warehouse on the eastern edge of Crescent Harbour's industrial district.My men had found Rowan in under twelve hours. That alone told me everything I needed to know. He wasn't hiding. He was waiting.A man who runs is afraid. A man who waits thinks he's already won.I stepped out of the car and adjusted my cuffs. Two of my men flanked me — Leo and Dante — both armed, both silent. They knew the drill. No one spoke unless I spoke first. No one moved unless I moved first.I had them come in from Bangria a few hours ago; no matter how foolish I am, facing Rowan alone would be suicidal. The warehouse door was already open. A single fluorescent light buzzed overhead, casting everything in a sickly yellow glow. Crates and pallets lined the walls, and in the centre of the open floor, seated on a metal folding chair with his legs crossed like he was waiting for a dinner reservation, was Rowan Brice.He looked like me. That was the t
Evelyn POVVincent appeared in the doorway with an easy smile that almost — almost — hid the tension behind his eyes."Sorry about that," he said, crossing to me. "Building management. Something about a water pipe on the floor below. Absolutely riveting stuff."A water pipe. At this hour. With a man carrying a tablet and talking about Porto Vecchio."Must have been serious if it took that long," I said lightly."You know how building managers are. Give them an audience, and they'll talk for an hour." He stopped in front of the chair, looking down at me with that warm, slightly lopsided smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Now — where were we?"He extended his hand to me.I looked up at him — this man who'd just learned someone was stealing millions from his company and had walked back in here wearing a smile so I wouldn't worry. My chest ached with something I couldn't quite name. It w
Evelyn POVVincent set me on my feet with a look that promised murder toward whoever was on the other side of that door, then crossed the room, buttoning his shirt as he went.I sank into the warm chair he'd just left, my pulse still hammering, my lips still tingling. The air felt cold without him. I pressed my fingers to my mouth, trying to gather whatever scraps of composure I had left, and listened.The front door opened, and I heard a male voice. It sounded urgent, but apologetic cut through the quiet of the apartment."Mr Hayes, I'm so sorry to bother you this late. I tried calling, but your phone was off, and this couldn't wait until morning.""Cyril." Vincent's voice had already shifted, the warmth stripped out, replaced by the clipped tone of a businessman. "What happened?""It's the Seravino shipment, sir. The one scheduled for Tuesday."A pause. Then Vincent: "What about it?""It's gone."Silence.I sat up straighter in the chair, my curiosity sharpening. I knew pieces of Vi
Adrian POVThe hot water pounded against my back as I pulled Isabella closer. Her skin was slick under my palms, warm and pliant, and she melted into me with a soft hum of satisfaction that vibrated against my collarbone.I pressed my mouth to the curve of her neck, tasting water and the faint sweetness of her body wash. My hands moved with practised ease — one sliding up the dip of her waist, the other resting flat against her stomach, holding her back against my chest. She responded immediately, one arm reaching back to thread her fingers into my wet hair, arching into me."I knew you'd come around," she breathed, tilting her head to give me better access.I didn't answer. My mouth traced along her shoulder while the water cascaded over both of us. I turned her slowly to face me, and her dark eyes found mine through the steam — half-lidded, hungry. She looped both arms around my neck and pulled me down into a kiss.It was deeper this time. Urgent. Her mouth opened under mine, and I
Adrian POVThe penthouse was dark when I walked in, save for the warm glow spilling from the living room. The faint scent of jasmine and vanilla hit me before I'd even set down my keys. It was Isabella's signature candles, the ones she lit whenever she wanted to set a mood.She was curled on the leather sectional in one of my dress shirts, the hem skimming her thighs, her dark hair falling loose around her shoulders. A glass of red wine sat on the coffee table beside her, barely touched. She looked up when I entered, her doe eyes softening into a smile that most men would cross oceans for."You're late," she said, unfolding herself from the couch with a catlike grace that used to stop me in my tracks. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me.""Long day," I said, loosening my tie as I crossed to the bar cart. I poured two fingers of whiskey without looking at her.I heard the soft padding of her bare feet on the marble before I felt her. She came up behind me, her arms slidin
Evelyn POVI came awake slowly to warm sheets, the faint scent of cedarwood, clean linen and a pillow that was softer than anything I owned. For a few blissful seconds, I just lay there with my eyes closed, letting the comfort soak into my bones.Then I opened my eyes and remembered — this wasn't my bed.The room was bathed in the amber glow of a single lamp on the nightstand. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined one wall, stuffed with paperbacks and vinyl records crammed sideways into every gap. A half-empty mug of tea sat on the coffee table beside an open laptop, its screen long gone dark. Vincent's apartment — tasteful but lived-in, warm in a way that expensive places rarely were.And there, in the easy chair beside the bed, was Vincent Hayes.He was asleep.His head was tilted to one side, his honey-brown hair falling across his forehead in soft, messy waves. One arm hung over the armrest, his long fingers loosely curled. His tie was gone, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeve
Vincent POVThe conference room at Hayes Acquisition was organised chaos.I sat at the head of the table, reviewing the final details of a merger that had taken months to negotiate. My team was scattered around the space—some standing, some seated, all of them focused on the documents in front of t
Evelyn POV“What’s fuck, Gabriel?” I demanded as he got out of bed. “You’re confusing me.”He dragged a hand through his hair, then muttered something under his breath that sounded like a curse. Then again.“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”He stopped, turned sharply and punched his fist lightly against the wall
Gabriel POVI'd been pacing the length of my office for the better part of an hour, my phone in my hand, Evelyn's contact pulled up on the screen.Three days.It had been three days since I'd reacted the way I had after discovering she was a virgin. Three days since I'd pushed her away and she'd le
Evelyn POVThe first thing I became aware of was pain.A dull, throbbing pain at the back of my head made it difficult to think clearly.My eyelids felt heavy, weighed down by something. I tried to open them but I couldn’t. Eventually, I managed to crack them open, blinking as I tried to make sense







