Reina’s POVThe car sat waiting, black and beat up like it had been through the toughest storms. Its trunk was already open. As if it had been waiting for me. My heart sank.“No,” I choked, voice hoarse.He didn’t respond. Just pulled me forward with renewed strength. My knees buckled and scraped the gravel. Still, I dug my heels into the ground, struggling against him with every last ounce of energy I had.That was when he struck me.A sharp backhand to the face that sent stars exploding behind my eyes. The taste of blood filled my mouth. My lip split open. Before I could cry out again, he yanked a cloth from his pocket—already tied in a knot—and shoved it between my lips.“Shut the fuck up,” he hissed. “Or I’ll cut you open right here.”I screamed anyway, or tried to. The gag silenced me. My head thrashed. Tears spilled down my face.Then he grabbed the back of my neck and shoved me forward—hard.My torso slammed into the edge of the trunk. My ribs burned with the impact. In one bru
Cassian’s POVReina? How long has it been since she went missing? A day? Two?Fuck! How could I forget my perfect distraction? Maybe that’s why I’ve been overwhelmed by anger and frustration. At least when she was here, my mind stayed preoccupied with how to break her down—how to make her bend without snapping. It kept the rage at bay.But when Ethan showed me that footage—her wrists bound, her body shoved into the trunk like she was nothing—something in me snapped.All I could think about was carving that bastard into pieces. Tiny, bleeding pieces. Scattering him across the fields like fertilizer and letting the vultures handle the rest.I’ve never seen anyone look so broken. So small. And yet, so…desirable.How fucking dare he?She’s mine. Mine.While my men rode out to drag that bastard down here and return my nurse safely, I ordered the maids to draw a warm, scented bath, soften every corner of her room, and prepare a hearty lunch that would chase away any chill.The mansion cam
Cassian’s POVDinner was served. But she didn't show up.The long table stretched endlessly before me, golden light dancing on polished silverware, untouched plates, and bowls of food prepared with precision.“Where is she?” I asked, voice sharp enough to pierce glass.One of the maids, Tara, flinched slightly. “She… hasn’t come out since she arrived, sir. She didn’t touch her lunch either.”I pushed back from the table, my chair scraping violently against the floor. “She hasn’t eaten anything?”“No, sir.”My pulse spiked.I didn’t know if it was anger or… something far more dangerous.I wheeled out of the dining hall, each turn of the wheel sharp and fast. The hallway was quiet—too quiet—except for the distant patter of rain against the windows. I hated the sound tonight. It reminded me of the bruises on her skin. The silence in her eyes.Two guards stood outside her room, but when they saw me coming, they bowed their heads and stepped aside without a word. The scent of lavender le
Reina's POVThe water was warm, scented with oils and lined with rose petals, but it couldn’t soothe the ache burning beneath my skin.Neither could it stop my limbs from trembling.I had seen Leon’s face the moment the trunk of the car burst open, and for a fleeting second, gratitude lit up inside me like a match in a dark room. I shouldn’t have felt relief. This wasn’t freedom—it was just another cage with velvet walls. But when he pulled me into his arms, when I heard his voice bark orders and watched the shadows of Morelli’s men close in like hounds, I let myself crumble. Just for a moment.Because the monsters I knew… were safer than the ones I didn’t.Now, in this oversized marble tub, with gold faucets and expensive soaps, I let the tears fall freely.I am no longer a free woman.If I left this place, the wolves would be waiting.The police would tear me apart in interrogation rooms. The Vance family would paint a target on my back, parade my corpse through the streets for the
Reina's POV Curled up in bed, I clutched the sheets like they were the only thing keeping me tied to reality. My mind refused to rest. It played cruel tricks—spinning vivid reels of everything that had happened this past week. Each memory came crashing through like a storm, loud and unrelenting.I wanted to forget. God, I tried. I begged for the thoughts to quiet, for my heart to stop aching. But it was useless. I was trapped—caged in an endless loop of waking nightmares that clawed at me every time I closed my eyes.Then, like a punch to the chest, that moment in the bathroom slammed into me. Mr. Morelli—his voice smooth like poison, his eyes gleaming with that twisted kind of confidence—had the audacity to make that insane proposal.He wanted to own me?As if I were some possession to collect. A prize to cage behind glass.What tore me open wasn’t just the arrogance of it—it was that, for a brief, breathless second, I almost said yes. The thought had thrilled me, ignited something
Reina's POV “Come here, Reina,” he said, voice low and smooth.The room was quiet, heavy with shadows and something far more suffocating—desire laced with danger.Morelli didn’t move much when I entered. He didn’t need to. Just the way his eyes latched onto mine—dark, unreadable, and burning with something primal—was enough to steal the air from my lungs.He watched me like I was the only thing in the room worth breathing for.I approached carefully, setting down my medicine bag beside the bed. His chest, bare and scarred, rose and fell with slow, controlled breaths. A glass of whiskey rested in his left hand. His right hand, bandaged at the knuckles, hung low—threatening in its stillness.I reached for the stethoscope, but before I could lean in to check his vitals, his voice cut through the silence.“Sit.” He patted his lap.I blinked. “What?”“You heard me.”I hesitated. He tilted his head, the edge of his mouth curling into something between a smirk and a dare.Against my better
Reina's POV It was almost midnight when one of the guards summoned me.“Mr. Morelli wants you in his room,” he said simply, before turning away.What exactly did I signed up for?I paused in the hallway, heart tapping a strange rhythm in my chest. Something about the silence behind that door felt loaded. Off. Still, I knocked once before stepping in.He was there, seated in his chair near the window, shirtless, the shadows of the room hugging the sharp lines of his body. The glow from a single lamp painted him in amber and darkness."Close the door,” he said.I did.“Lie on the bed.”My brows pulled together. “What?”He tilted his head, that signature smirk curling his lips. “You want to leave the house for your little assignments, don’t you?”I stayed silent, wariness creeping down my spine.“Or would you rather I lock you in here and keep you where I can see you?”That shut me up. My throat tightened.“Good girl,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “Now… lie down.”I crossed the r
Reina's POV When his fingers slid just beneath the waistband of my pants, the soft brush of skin against skin, my breath caught again.Fuck.I turned my face to the side, trying to steel myself. “Stop.”He didn’t listen.Instead, his touch turned gentle—too gentle. He reached for my already wet fold, his hand resting causally, causing another wave of heat to pool.It started almost immediately. A slow, deliberate stroke that sent fire crawling beneath my skin. My body reacted before my mind could catch up. My back arched just slightly, involuntarily reaching for more.He hit the right spot, his eyes never leaving mine as he watched me struggle between anger and need.My mouth parted on its own will, my back arching further for more. But just then, he stopped.Just like that.I gasped at the sudden stillness, the loss of heat. My eyes darted back to him, wild and unsure.I had never felt so shameless and embarrassed all my life. And to think I was almost moaning?Fuck!How could I? Ha
REINA’S POVI wasn’t sure if I blacked out or dissociated after hugging Roman, but the next thing I knew, I was floating.Warm. Solid. Moving.I peeled one eye open, slowly, like lifting an iron curtain.Roman.He was carrying me. Bridal style. Through the main lobby of the police station like he didn’t just find me half-dead in a holding cell that belonged in a Netflix prison documentary.What of officer Rodney… the file. What if Mr Morelli asked how I carried out the tasks? This is not good.“Is that—?” someone whispered.“She was in the women’s cell…”“Holy sh—”Are they wondering if I’m his wife? Because it doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.Roman didn’t blink. Didn’t flinch. Didn’t look at anyone. His jaw was sharp enough to cut glass, his grip so careful it made me feel fragile—which was annoying, because I hated feeling fragile. But also kind of nice. In a broken Barbie-doll-left-in-the-rain kind of way.“The file… Put me down,” I mumbled against his chest.“No.”“Roman…”“No
Reina’s POV My heart thundered against my ribs.I backed into the corner of the cell, pulse racing, but the girls moved in like a pack of wolves scenting fear. The one with crimson nails led the charge, her hips swaying with too much confidence, her smirk curling wider with every inch as my heart beat faster than ever.Uh-oh. Today was supposed to be perfect. I had a clear picture in my head and none included getting cornered by a bunch of wild looking girls.“I asked you a question, pretty girl,” she sneered. “You think you're better than us?”“I didn’t say that,” I said quickly, voice trembling but trying to find footing. “I didn’t mean anything—this is just a mistake. I’m not even supposed to be here.”“Oh, you’re here now,” another girl said as she stepped forward, chewing her gum like she was chewing glass. “And you gave us that look. That ‘you people’ look.”I shook my head, holding my hands up. “No, no—listen, I don’t want any trouble, okay? I just came to see an officer—”“Ai
Reina’s POVI skipped.Not walked. Skipped. Like a schoolgirl with a prize in her hands.The file pressed against my chest like it was made of gold, my boots thudded softly down the corridor, my smile wide, my heart hammering with victorious rhythm. That was too easy, I thought giddily. My fingers curled tighter around the file. Mr. Morelli hadn’t even looked twice when he handed it over. Didn’t question my competency. Didn’t doubt me for a second.I shoved open my bedroom door and darted inside, already fishing my burner phone out from under the vanity table.Finally, finally they would take me seriously. The police would listen. Officer Rodney would congratulate me. Maybe even apologize for treating me like some worthless street rat with a grudge and a supposed criminal record.I dialed.No answer.I dialed again.Still nothing.A third time.Click.“Yeah?” came the voice—fast, strained, breathless. The background was chaos. Phones ringing. Shouting. Dozens of voices overlapping.“
Cassian’s POVShe stood at the doorway, barely composed from what had nearly happened minutes before. Hair tousled. Lips pink and bitten. Her chest rising and falling under that damn blouse she thought would be the bait.“I’d like to accompany you,” she said, clearing her throat, lifting her chin like she hadn’t nearly lost herself grinding on my body. “You’ve stretched your bones more than you should have. If anything happens, I want to be there to handle it.”Of course she did.Of course that’s why she dressed like that this morning. A sweet seduction, pretending it was just a coincidence. Oversized hoodies all these while, and now this?I almost laughed.If only she knew she didn’t even need to try. She could wear one of those awful worn-out sweatshirts and I’d still be hard under the table. Still want to press her against a wall and make her forget whose side she was on.She didn’t have to play the sexy spy to get my attention. She had it the moment I set my eyes on her picture. T
REINA’S POVHow can I forget what happens if I disobey when he taught me that yesterday?“You’re dressed like that to provoke me?” His gaze slid down my legs, to the soft silk blouse tucked into the short. “Or do you think being pretty earns you control?”I stayed quiet. Every instinct told me to push back. But I needed him to crack first.“You disobeyed,” he said. “And now you’ll learn.”He grabbed one of the resistance bands and tossed it toward my feet. “On the floor. On your knees.”“I’m not here to be punished. I’m here to help you move again.”“You’ll help me when I say you can. Right now—” He wheeled closer, his face barely a breath from mine. “—you’re going to remember your place.”My heart thundered, but I sank to my knees on the mat. Not because I wanted to surrender. Because I needed him to believe I would.And because I knew how ruthless his punishments are.He looped the resistance band around my wrists, tight enough to make my skin prickle.“Hold that position,” he said,
Reina’s POVI stood under the shower far longer than necessary, letting the hot water beat down on my skin as if it could erase the night. As if it could scrub away the filth, the shame, the ghost of his touch still seared into my flesh.But no matter how hard I scrubbed, it wouldn’t come off.By the time I stepped out, my skin was red and raw.I should’ve thrown on my usual oversized hoodie and sweatpants — my armor, my invisibility cloak.But they wanted evidence, didn’t they?They wanted me to seduce the devil himself?Fine.Let them choke on the smoke of what they asked for.I reached for something different. A silky blouse that clung just a little too well to my curves, tucked into a high-waisted short that stopped just above my knee. Not slutty. Not overt.But it whispered of temptation.A brush of color on my lips. A spritz of perfume behind my ears. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and almost didn’t recognize the woman looking back.I hated her.But she would survive.S
Reina's POVThe morning sun mocked me.It slipped through the velvet curtains in warm shafts, lighting the corners of my room like a spotlight on shame. I lay on top of the blankets, wondering how I got to my room. The last thing I remember from last night was being in the garden. Maybe I came up half asleep, that's why I can’t remember. I looked down. Wait, I took my clothes off too?Strange.My body felt wrung out, like someone had twisted every nerve, every bone, every thought, and left me in pieces.I should’ve gone back to bed. But I couldn’t.My thoughts immediately shifted to the feel of his hands still seared into my skin. To the shameful moments of choking on his cock and the sick memory of the tub, of his body brushing mine under the water like it belonged there.My thighs clenched together involuntarily at the thought, and I groaned in disgust.What the hell is happening to me?Last night, I’d tasted something I’d never wanted to know existed inside me — something dar
REINA’s POVShame. That was all I could feel.I have never felt so humiliated in my life.Not even when Anthony ripped me apart years ago, body and soul.Not even when he and his mother left me bleeding and trembling, cursing myself for surviving.Because at least then, I knew what monsters looked like.Now?Now the monsters smiled.They whispered sweet promises with one hand, while wrapping a noose around my neck with the other.Why are men such beasts?Why do they get off on seeing women shatter, on grinding dignity into dust?I hate Cassian Morelli so bad it hurts to look at him.I wanted to run — to tear myself out of this room, lock myself away in some abandoned island and scream until my lungs gave out.I wanted so badly to plot a thousand ways to make him pay for this, to return the kindness in full.But then Joshua’s face flashed in my mind.That radiant smile that I dragged into my mess. An image flashed in my mind. The look on his face when the bullet pierced his body. His
Cassian’s POVShe stiffened.“It won’t be the first time now, Mr Morelli. Or do I need to remind you how many times you’ve done this. How many times you’ve seen me naked,” she spat angrily amidst tears.“And yet, I never seem to get enough of you. Now, sweet Reina. Hands at your sides.”Slowly, miserably, she obeyed, lowering her arms and standing there — naked, humiliated, trembling — under my gaze.Her cheeks were burning, streaked with tears, but she didn’t speak again.Didn’t plead.She was learning to take it all in.I let the silence stretch out, savoring the way her shame grew heavier with every second, until it pressed down on her like a physical weight."Now," I said, voice light, almost playful. "Touch yourself for me, little nurse."She hesitated — just for a heartbeat — before one trembling hand slipped between her thighs.But I leaned forward slightly, voice turning sharp."Eyes on me."She jerked like I’d slapped her.And then — slowly — she raised her tear-filled angry