**Demetri's POV** “Did you see them?” I asked one of my men operating the mini drone we had deployed to scout the interior. We were communicating through our encrypted earpieces. “Yes, Boss. I’ve got visuals,” he confirmed. “Is she okay?” I asked without hesitation, referring to my wife. The tightness in my chest refused to ease. After everything that had happened, I couldn’t shake the fear. For all I knew, Ryndell’s group might’ve already laid a hand on her. “She looks unharmed. Marcus is with her. Tiara’s farther off—tied to a chair, guarded on all sides.” “Alright. We move fast, we move smart,” I said, my voice low but firm. “This is Ryndell’s territory. Expect more men inside, not just the ones stationed outside. No noise. We go in silence. Silencer guns only. The mission is to retrieve all three. We don’t leave anyone behind. Failure isn’t an option. Understood!?” “Yes, Boss!” they answered in unison. “Move!” I ordered, wasting no time. My team, trained in stealth, sprea
The moment we arrived at the Sapphirean building, we headed straight for the private elevator. My pace was slow and deliberate, my steps heavy with exhaustion. Behind me, Tiara and Tyron followed in silence. Demetri was already seated in a wheelchair, being pushed by Rogue. Just the sight of him like that made my chest tighten. My husband would never allow himself to be in a wheelchair unless it was serious. And that worried me. Inside the elevator, I moved beside my husband, even though I knew he was still distant and mad. The silence between us was suffocating. As the elevator began its quiet ascent, fatigue began to seep into every inch of my body. So much had happened today, one unexpected event after another. I glanced at my watch, surprised by the time. Three in the morning. I hadn’t even noticed. A deep yawn escaped me before I could stop it. When we finally reached the penthouse, the others quietly excused themselves and left. I yawned again more than once, and I knew Demetr
“You’re saying I don’t know how to love?!” Demetri roared, his grip on my hair tightening with every second. The pain was sharp. It felt like he was going to rip my scalp right off. “W-Why wouldn’t I say that?!” I screamed back. “You destroyed my relationship because you wanted me. But what you feel... that’s not love. It’s lust, Demetri! You married me because you wanted someone to warm your bed. You chose me out of envy of your own brother!” “You don’t love me! You’re just afraid of losing. You’re scared of letting me go because you don’t want to bruise your damn pride!” I didn’t hold anything back. I had no idea where I found the courage to scream those words, but I did. Demetri’s eyes flared with rage. Then, without a word, he pushed me hard. I stumbled back and crashed to the floor. My body ached, but I couldn’t stop myself from laughing bitterly, full of disbelief and disgust. Son of a bitch! I refused to be defeated by the man standing in front of me. I forced myself up
DISCLAIMER This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. --- T-R-I-G-G-E-R W-A-R-N-I-N-G: This book contains mature themes and explicit content intended for adult readers. It includes graphic depictions of intimacy, intense emotional situations, and elements of dark romance. Reader discretion is strongly advised. --- WHAT'S TO COME: Step into a world where desire and danger are inseparable. In this story, love is not always sweet, and the lines between passion and pain blur. Prepare yourself for a journey through obsession, temptation, and secrets that will leave you breathless. --- AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi, Dear Reader Before you begin this story, I want to say thank you. Writing this book has been a journey filled with long nights, deep emotions, and a lot of hear
**Snow's POV** I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement as I approached Sylvestre’s mansion to meet my handsome fiancé, Marcus. It had been almost a week since we last saw each other, and I was more than ready to be wrapped up in his arms again. The past few days had been a whirlwind, with endless hours spent on the set of a movie that was scheduled to release in a couple of months. Today was the final taping day, and I could finally exhale. I’d been so caught up in the chaos that I hadn’t had time to rest, but now, I could finally take a breath even if it was just for a few short days. Though I was still new to the world of showbiz, I didn’t regret stepping away from my budding career for a relationship. Acting was never the dream I had in mind; my heart had always belonged to writing. I longed to be a professional novelist, someone whose stories could be adapted for television. That was my true passion. But, fate had a funny way of steering me in different directions.
**Third Person POV** As the limousine cruised down the rain-slicked highway, the driver, Sed, glanced at the rearview mirror and cleared his throat before speaking. "Miss Snow, that is sir Demetri. He’s Sir Marcus’ older brother," he introduced, glancing at the man seated beside her. Snow turned her head in surprise, her hazel brown eyes meeting the strikingly handsome yet intimidating gaze of the man next to her. Demetri Sylvestre barely acknowledged her presence, offering only the briefest glance before shifting his attention back to the window. Feeling slightly uneasy under his gaze, Snow forced a polite smile. "Nice meeting you," she said hesitantly. Extending her hand, she added, "I’m Snow Hidalgo, Marcus’ fiancée." Demetri’s sharp, unreadable eyes flickered down to her outstretched hand before they traveled lower, lingering a moment too long on her chest. The thin, white blouse she was wearing had gotten damp from the rain earlier, causing the fabric to cling to h
**Morning** A ringtone shattered my sleep. I groaned, reaching blindly for my phone on the nightstand. My fingers found it, and with a sluggish swipe, I answered the call. "What?" My voice was rough, still heavy with sleep. [ Boss, sorry for disturbing you. Is the deal still on for tonight?] Pluto’s voice came through, steady and businesslike. I let out a slow exhale, rubbing a hand down my face as I tried to shake off the haze of sleep. "Of course, it’s still on. Mr. Torres is waiting for his supply—écstasy, côke, whatever his spoiled clients are begging for. You know how impatient he gets." [ Understood. I’ll take care of it.] With a faint click, the call ended, leaving me in the dim glow of my bedroom. I sat up, rolling my shoulders before running a hand through my hair. My body still ached from exhaustion, but sleep was long gone now. With a quiet sigh, I pushed myself to my feet and stretched, then made my way toward the window. I pulled the curtain aside. Ou
The moment they left, I let out a sharp breath, and then my fist slammed into the wall, the impact rattling through my bones. Pain shot up my knuckles, but I barely noticed. It didn’t matter. Nothing I did would ever be enough for him. And yet… I still loved him because his my father. Even if he never chose me. Even if I spent my whole life in Marcus’s shadow. Even if I would never hear the words I had always longed for. I still wanted his approval. I looked down at my knuckles, blood streaks running down my fingers. Then, movement caught my eye. Snow. She had just entered the room, pausing briefly when her gaze landed on my bleeding fist. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but instead, she merely turned away and walked toward the couch where she had left her purse. I watched her, my heartbeat steadying as I forced myself to breathe. By the time I returned from the kitchen after washing my wound, something on the coffee table caught my ey
“You’re saying I don’t know how to love?!” Demetri roared, his grip on my hair tightening with every second. The pain was sharp. It felt like he was going to rip my scalp right off. “W-Why wouldn’t I say that?!” I screamed back. “You destroyed my relationship because you wanted me. But what you feel... that’s not love. It’s lust, Demetri! You married me because you wanted someone to warm your bed. You chose me out of envy of your own brother!” “You don’t love me! You’re just afraid of losing. You’re scared of letting me go because you don’t want to bruise your damn pride!” I didn’t hold anything back. I had no idea where I found the courage to scream those words, but I did. Demetri’s eyes flared with rage. Then, without a word, he pushed me hard. I stumbled back and crashed to the floor. My body ached, but I couldn’t stop myself from laughing bitterly, full of disbelief and disgust. Son of a bitch! I refused to be defeated by the man standing in front of me. I forced myself up
The moment we arrived at the Sapphirean building, we headed straight for the private elevator. My pace was slow and deliberate, my steps heavy with exhaustion. Behind me, Tiara and Tyron followed in silence. Demetri was already seated in a wheelchair, being pushed by Rogue. Just the sight of him like that made my chest tighten. My husband would never allow himself to be in a wheelchair unless it was serious. And that worried me. Inside the elevator, I moved beside my husband, even though I knew he was still distant and mad. The silence between us was suffocating. As the elevator began its quiet ascent, fatigue began to seep into every inch of my body. So much had happened today, one unexpected event after another. I glanced at my watch, surprised by the time. Three in the morning. I hadn’t even noticed. A deep yawn escaped me before I could stop it. When we finally reached the penthouse, the others quietly excused themselves and left. I yawned again more than once, and I knew Demetr
**Demetri's POV** “Did you see them?” I asked one of my men operating the mini drone we had deployed to scout the interior. We were communicating through our encrypted earpieces. “Yes, Boss. I’ve got visuals,” he confirmed. “Is she okay?” I asked without hesitation, referring to my wife. The tightness in my chest refused to ease. After everything that had happened, I couldn’t shake the fear. For all I knew, Ryndell’s group might’ve already laid a hand on her. “She looks unharmed. Marcus is with her. Tiara’s farther off—tied to a chair, guarded on all sides.” “Alright. We move fast, we move smart,” I said, my voice low but firm. “This is Ryndell’s territory. Expect more men inside, not just the ones stationed outside. No noise. We go in silence. Silencer guns only. The mission is to retrieve all three. We don’t leave anyone behind. Failure isn’t an option. Understood!?” “Yes, Boss!” they answered in unison. “Move!” I ordered, wasting no time. My team, trained in stealth, sprea
**Snow's POV** “T-Tiara...” I whispered as we sat side by side in the back of the vehicle that had taken us. My hands were cold and shaking as I reached for hers, still locked in metal handcuffs. Tiara looked at me, calm as always, her face showing no emotion. It was like being taken at gunpoint didn’t even bother her. “I h-hope Tyrone and Rogue are okay,” I added, the tremble in my voice giving away the fear I couldn’t suppress. Earlier, while we were on the road, we didn’t even get a chance to react. The road was already blocked, and several cars were waiting there to trap us. There was no way to escape, no time to fight back. I didn’t fight when they took me. And when they went for Tiara, I begged them not to hurt her, not to do anything bad to her. It felt like I was the only one they needed, but they still decided to take her with me. The car slowed, then stopped. The four vehicles behind us halted as well. Wherever we were, this was it. I heard footsteps approaching. A
“Demetri, your body’s a mess—wounds, scars everywhere. You need to rest,” Grace said, her voice firm but laced with concern as she carefully stitched the wound on my side that had reopened when I forced myself to sit up. “I can’t,” I said flatly, my tone cold as ice. She was Vaughn’s sister, a doctor, but right now, she was just another person telling me what I already knew. “Rest, not just as a patient but as a Mafia Boss. Show some mercy to your body… and maybe even your soul,” she said, her eyes fixed on the thread she was pulling through my skin, her voice low and serious. “Tell Vaughn that. Not me,” I said with a sneer, irritation curling in my chest. Grace exhaled sharply, frustrated. “Fine. Do what you want. Just know this is the last time I’m patching you up,” she muttered, defeated, before applying a fresh bandage over the wound and smoothing it down. A knock on the door cut the tension. “Come in!” I called out, not bothering to hide my impatience. Pluto stepped into
**Demetri's POV** I’m gasping for breath, drenched in sweat, crouched behind a massive rock, frantically scanning the area for any hint of danger. We’ve been relentlessly pursued by our enemies for hours, and still, backup has not arrived. I’ve lost all contact with Pluto, and I’m in excruciating pain from a gunshot wound in my shoulder. I peer over at my companion, who is slumped on the ground, his head bowed in defeat. I grip the man's hair, lifting his head to check if he is still breathing. I sit down next to him, only to see the lifeless body of my comrade fall over onto the ground. It’s as if I am the last one left alive. If I stay here for just a few more minutes, I will surely meet my end in this godforsaken jungle. I suddenly jolt with alarm at the sound of snapping branches and crunching leaves. I know my enemies are drawing closer, relentless in their pursuit. Clutching my remaining weapon tightly, I steel myself for the onslaught ahead. I flinch as a dagger embeds itse
“We should c-contact the police by now. Oh my God... oh my God... I don’t want something bad to happen to Marcus,” Feurene said, her voice cracking under the weight of panic. Her hands trembled so badly she couldn’t even type properly on her phone. I was worried for both Marcus and Demetri, but I didn’t expect to see Feurene like this—on the verge of collapsing. Her entire body was shaking, and it looked like she might faint at any moment. That was when it really hit me, Feurene’s love for Marcus wasn’t shallow. It was intense. And for the first time, I saw how deep her feelings for my ex-fiancé truly ran. Still, I reminded myself who I should be most concerned about—my husband. I reached for my phone and dialed Demetri’s number. My heart thudded. I should be panicking more for him, right? He’s the one I married. And yet... I kept glancing at Feurene and her breakdown. At the same time, my eyes darted toward my three bodyguards, who were already on their own calls, probably trying t
**Snow's POV** "Are we making any more stops, Ma’am?" Tiara asked me, her voice breaking the silence that had filled the van. We’d been parked in the lot of a condominium for a while now, just sitting there with the engine off. Tiara glanced back at me when I didn’t respond. I kept my gaze fixed outside the window, lost in thought. The sadness in my eyes must’ve been obvious especially since I had just stopped crying. Tiara didn’t press me with any questions, likely sensing it was something personal. "Just let me know what time we’re heading back to the Sapphirean Building," she said. Only then did I turn my head and look at her. She was seated in the front beside the driver, her expression cold and unreadable as always. Honestly, even if someone slapped her, I doubt her face would change. "Let’s go to Rubbean Building. I need to stop by there," I said calmly. Tyrone immediately started the engine. Rubbean Building was the sister tower of Sapphirean. Both buildings were owned by
"How’s my wife, Tiara?" I asked, my voice calm but firm as I spoke through the micro earpiece. We were on our way back to the city, the convoy moving steadily along the long road toward our destination. My men were silent, focused, as always. "She just finished her taping. She's still inside the Sandstorm Building," Tiara reported clearly. "Let her know I’ll be home late. There’s an important meeting I need to attend tonight." "Yes, Monsieur," she acknowledged before the line went silent. I adjusted my posture and looked down at my phone, its screen lighting up with the image of my wife. Snow’s smile greeted me, warm and bright, framed by the deep dimples I knew so well. I found myself staring longer than I meant to, my lips curling into a quiet smile. There wasn’t a time I didn’t miss her. Her eyes were soft and expressive. Her lips were the kind that invited every kiss. Her dimples always stole my focus. Everything about her was a weakness I couldn’t afford but fully embraced. I