MasukDANIEL BLACKWOOD PENTHOUSE ~ NEW YORK CITY That your body never stopped belonging to me. That this little phone call is just you being pissed you couldn’t walk away clean.”He glanced at the phone still pressed to her ear.“Go on. Keep talking. I’ll wait right here. I want to hear how you explain the marks I left on your neck and the way your jeans are still half down.”Ariana’s face went tight. She turned her shoulder away from him, still holding the phone to her ear, but her voice came out sharper than she meant it to.“Shut up, Daniel.”She gave the address and hung up. She looked down at Daniel, who was still writhing on the floor."Enjoy your arrest, Daniel. I hope the other inmates treat you the way you treated me."Ariana walked down the hallway, her heart pounding, her hands shaking. Aiden was crying now, startled by all the shouting."Shh, shh, it's okay, baby," she whispered, bouncing him gently. "Mama's here. Mama's got you."She reached the elevator and pressed the but
ALEJANDRO'S PENTHOUSE — LEO'S BEDROOM — MORNINGThe morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting soft golden light across Leo's bedroom. The eight-year-old boy was still half-asleep, his face buried in his pillow, dreaming of his mother. In his dream, she was smiling at him, her hand reaching out to touch his face.Then his bedroom door burst open.Leo sat up with a jolt, rubbing his eyes. His heart was pounding as he saw his father standing in the doorway with Gabriella right behind him. Alejandro's face was stern and cold, like a judge about to deliver a sentence. Gabriella was smiling like she had just won the lottery.Leo's stomach dropped. He knew something bad was coming. He had seen that look on his father's face before—the look that said he was about to make a decision that would change everything."Leo," Alejandro said, his voice flat and businesslike. "I need to talk to you. It's important. Get up and sit properly."Leo slowly swung his legs off the bed and sat up
DANIEL LUXURIOUS PENTHOUSE ~ NEW YORK CITY A soft moan slipped out of her before she could stop it. She bit her lip hard, trying to kill the sound, but he heard it. He smiled against her breast and sucked harder, drawing another longer moan from deep in her throat.She tried to twist away, but there was nowhere to go. His thigh pushed between hers, spreading her legs wider. The hand on her hip slid down, under the waistband of her jeans, past her underwear. Two fingers found her already wet and slipped inside without warning.Ariana’s head thumped back against the wall. A broken moan left her throat, louder this time. “Daniel—ah—”He kept sucking on her breast while his fingers worked her, slow at first, then deeper, curling just right. Every time he pressed that spot inside her, another moan spilled out of her. She couldn’t hold them in. Her hips jerked against his hand even as her mind kept shouting that this was a mistake.He kissed his way back up to her mouth and took it
WENT-WORTH CORRECTIONAL CENTER — LAUNDRY ROOM — 9:00 A.M.Sophia was escorted through several heavy metal doors before she entered the prison laundry room.The moment she stepped inside, the heat hit her like a wave. Sweat immediately formed on her forehead as the loud sounds around her overwhelmed her. The huge washing machines shook while they ran, dryers buzzed constantly, and inmates shouted to each other over the noise.The smell was just as unbearable.The room was filled with the sharp scent of bleach, detergent, sweat, and old clothes.Sophia looked around in disbelief.This was where she was expected to work.A prison officer walked toward a table holding a clipboard. She was a tall woman with a serious expression and a voice that made everyone nearby become quiet.“Langston?” the officer called.Sophia turned around. “Yes.”The officer looked down at her file before looking back at her.“Your work assignment is laundry duty. You’ll be working on the ironing station.”Soph
WENT-WORTH CORRECTIONAL CENTER – CELL BLOCK C – 6:00 A.M.The loud morning buzzer echoed through the prison, pulling everyone awake.Sophia’s eyes flew open.Pain hit her the moment she tried to move.Her ribs burned. Her face throbbed. Her head felt like it was about to split open. Every part of her body ached from yesterday’s beating.She had barely slept.Instead of a bed, she had spent the entire night lying on the cold concrete floor because Amelia had refused to let her sleep on the bottom bunk.“Get up,” Amelia said in a firm voice. “There are rules in this cell, and you’re going to learn every one of them.”Sophia bit her lip and forced herself to stand. Her legs were so weak that she had to steady herself against the wall to keep from collapsing. She took a slow breath before looking nervously at Amelia.“What… what rules?” she asked in a shaky voice.A small, cold smile spread across Amelia’s face.“The first rule is very simple,” she replied. “You don’t touch your food unt
A cold smile spread across her face. “Survival isn’t about money in here.”She looked Sophia up and down with open contempt.“It’s about power.”She took one final step toward the door. “And you don’t have any.”She turned and walked out of the infirmary.The guards grabbed Sophia by both arms before she had a chance to resist.She cried out as they yanked her off the infirmary bed.Pain shot through her broken ribs, forcing a scream from her lips.“Let go of me!” she shouted, struggling against their grip. “I paid her! She took my money! She promised she’d help me!”The guards ignored her.They dragged her toward the door as if they couldn’t hear a single word she was saying.Sophia twisted and fought, but every movement sent another wave of pain crashing through her battered body.“Nurse Patricia!” she cried desperately. “Please! Tell them what happened! You saw everything!”Nurse Patricia stood frozen beside the bed.There was sympathy in her tired eyes.She wanted to help. But she
Marisa jabbed a finger at Amelia. “Yes. You.”The room went quiet.Alejandro tensed. “Mother, don’t.”“No,” Marisa said, her voice cold. “You don’t get to shield her. Let me speak.”She stepped closer to Amelia. “You show up here… and suddenly the Guerras strike. You have ties to the Blackwoods. To
THE FAVINO ESTATE — LATE MORNINGThe house felt different after Marisa left.Amelia noticed it first.The servants moved softly, avoiding eye contact. Phones were kept on silent. Even the sunlight pouring through the tall windows felt restrained, like it didn’t want to interrupt whatever storm was
VIVIAN OFFICE~ NEW YORK Then she saw Mia’s expression puzzled, a little worried, waiting for her boss to recognize her own approval. Vivian’s survival instinct kicked in, cold and swift. She could not let Mia know.She forced a weak, dismissive laugh and rubbed her temple. “Oh, for heaven’s sake.
“You didn’t mess up anything,” Serena said.Elena added, “Gabriella did. She insulted the host’s guest at the dinner table. That’s suicide in this family.”Amelia sighed. “I didn’t tear anything apart. Gabriella did that by herself. All I did was not collapse.”Elena’s eyes softened. “And that’s wh







