Knight Blood, known in the underground as the Black Knight, stood calmly behind the Royal Mirage Casino & Resort, his sleek black car parked just a few feet away. Flames licked the night sky, the building groaning under the weight of its destruction. Wood cracked. Cement blocks fell like thunder. Screams and shouts pierced the smoky air.Knight smiled.His eyes glowed with the fire’s reflection as he watched the chaos he’d created unfold. There was no joy in his grin. No sense of relief.Just a sliver of satisfaction.A tiny flicker of calm buried beneath the inferno of rage boiling in his chest.Because this wasn’t over.Not yet.One of his men stepped forward, voice tight with urgency. “Boss, we have to leave now. The police are…..”“Tell me that’s not the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen.” Knight interrupted, catching the man off guard.The guy hesitated, unsure how to respond. His eyes darted to the fire, then back to Knight, searching for the right words. He glanced around, but n
Kier"You're late," my dad said the moment I stepped into the dining room, barely a second after spotting me.I rolled my eyes and glanced at Genesis, who sat in the chair closest to him. She looked at me, then quickly looked away, her eyes dropping to her plate.I tore my gaze from her and looked toward Donald at the head of the table. Without a word, I moved to the seat opposite her and sat down."And you're still here, Father? I thought you'd have left by now."I smiled at him, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I snuck another glance at my wife, who still refused to look at me. She stared at her food like it was more worthy of her attention than I was. My hand clenched into a fist. It was ridiculous to feel jealous of a plate of food—but I was. I wanted to toss it across the room just to force her to look at me."So that was your plan all along?" he said, voice laced with something darker. "Stay behind and wait for your old man to finish eating and leave? Or were you up to something els
GENESIS"How much for a smile?"Huh?My head tilted before I could stop it. I blinked up at him, confused.I scrunch my nose slightly. Was this... a game? Was I supposed to smile now? But why would he pay for that?He pushed me gently against the wet, smooth stone wall. The coldness against my back contrasted sharply with the heat of his bare body pressing into mine. I could feel something else, too—hard, stiff—pressing against me.Heat rushed up my neck, blooming across my face.He lifted one hand from my waist to wipe the water from his face. The shower kept pouring over us, but since I was backed against the wall, my view wasn’t blocked. I saw everything.Then he cupped my cheek with a rough, warm palm.“Did I upset you, kitten? Since I came home, you haven’t smiled at me. You haven’t even looked at me.”Oh.Guilt slammed into my chest, hard. That’s what had been clawing at me since the moment he walked through the door. Every time my mind drifted to that tiny bottle filled with po
KIERAN"Stop making that face," I muttered, adjusting the cuff of my shirt. "He got himself fired."She was still staring at me—lips slightly parted, eyes wide, like I’d just confessed to murder. Maybe in her innocent little brain, I had. But that bastard deserved it.I leaned closer, gripping the headboard behind her, caging her in. Her breath caught. She tried to move back, but there was nowhere to go.Just how I wanted it."He looked at you too long.""Smiled too wide. And then he touched you. I saw it on the footage."Her brows drew together. She grabbed her notebook, scribbling fast and furiously:NO HE DID NOTLIAM IS NICE TO MEI gritted my teeth. "See, that's the problem. I didn’t hire him to be nice. And that—what he did—that wasn’t him being nice. That was him wanting something else.”She shook her head. I didn’t care. I grabbed her waist and lifted her up off the bed. Her legs instinctively wrapped around me as I carried her down the stairs."I’ll get you a new tutor. Maybe
GENESIS“Yes, Lily, do ballet! It’s so fun and amazing, and you get to dress up so beautifully,” Daisy said, bouncing in her seat as she looked at me. I glanced at the dancers again, watching them move with such grace. It was beautiful, like they were speaking with their bodies. But it also looked incredibly difficult. Daisy called it “fun,” but I had a feeling this kind of dance wasn’t to be underestimated. The way their legs moved so high... I was amazed.But my mind wasn’t fully on the decision about which class to choose. My eyes kept gravitating toward the bruise on Kieran’s face. And it wasn’t just that—he had bruises on his wrists too, like he’d slammed them against something. The one on his face looked like he’d been hit.What happened?He’d gone to work hours ago and now came back like this.He turned away from the iPad in his hands and looked at me. “What do you like...?” His voice trailed off as I pressed my hand gently against the injury, and he smiled softly.“What is it..
GENESIS“First position, second position… Stacy, leg down, not up—you’re not trying to kick anyone,” Miss Reneta said with a patient but firm tone.The room giggled softly. Even I cracked a small smile. Stacy rolled her eyes dramatically. Miss Reneta didn’t notice, but Stacy did as she was told.Miss Reneta clapped her hands twice. “Alright, everyone. Let’s try that again, but this time with music.”As a soft piano melody filled the room, I tried to mimic the movements. Heels together. Toes pointed out. Arms curved like I was holding a giant invisible ball. I moved slowly, cautiously, trying to remember everything she had taught us.My body didn’t feel graceful. My arms were stiff, my balance shaky. But I was trying. I wasn’t going to give up.“Good, Genesis,” Miss Reneta said as she passed by, gently adjusting my elbow. “That’s it. Nice control.”I blinked, surprised by the praise. My chest swelled just a little with pride. Across the room, Calista caught my eye and gave me two enthu
“Ahhhh, I hate that fucking bitch!” Veronica screamed, hurling a vase against the wall. It shattered into sharp, glittering pieces that skittered across the floor. On the couch, her two friends—Amanda and Mika—exchanged uneasy glances.Veronica stood a few feet away from the wreckage, chest heaving, her face flushed with rage.Mika leaned in closer to Amanda and whispered, “What is she mad about this time?”Amanda sighed, already sounding tired. “What do you think? The little wife of Kieran.”Mika nodded. “But why is she still hung up on that? I thought she was over him.”Veronica whipped around to face them, her hair a wild mess that looked like a bird’s nest, her makeup smeared and chaotic like a melting mask. She looked like she was teetering on the edge of a breakdown.“Over that? You think I’d be over it?” she growled. “Do you know how long I’ve stood by Kieran? My mind was set—he was going to be mine. And then that silent little thing just waltzes in from nowhere and takes him l
GENESIS“Damn, they’re so good,” Calista mumbled, resting her head on the barre.Yes, barre. That was a new word I’d learned today, and I was proud of it—even if I can’t say it out loud.We stood there, watching the ballerinas move gracefully across the studio floor until the instructor finally called for a break.Some of the girls plopped onto the floor, chugging water like they’d just crossed a desert. Another new word I learnt.Others kept practicing, pointing their toes and stretching their legs like perfection was one pirouette away.I was watching one girl in particular, completely mesmerized, when Stacy suddenly grabbed my hand.“Don’t look, don’t look—but Jaden is coming over here,” she whispered urgently.Calista shot upright like she’d been electrocuted, fussing with her hair.Was something wrong with her hair?Jaden strolled over and stood beside us, his gaze flicking between Stacy and Calista.“How are you girls today?” he asked, smiling.Calista flushed red—like tomato-sa
KADE“Get them in, Fang,” I barked, swerving the car as the tires screeched across wet asphalt.“But boss, we haven’t heard anything from Alpha yet,” Fang said, hesitation bleeding through the line.My brows pulled tight. “What do you mean? He was supposed to notify you about the drop an hour ago.”There was a pause, filled with nothing but static and Fang’s uneasy breath. “We got silence. No code, no ping. I thought maybe he was stalling for a reason.”“He’s not stalling,” I growled, weaving past a slow-moving truck. “He’s either compromised or playing a game he shouldn’t be.”“What do you want me to do?”“Lock down the south exit. Now. No one leaves the district unless they’re tagged.”“But if they’re tagged, that means…”“Yeah.” I cut him off. “That means they’re part of this.”Another pause. Then Fang said, “Copy that. South gate's ours. I’ll ping you if anything moves.”I ended the call, jaw tight.If Alpha was off-script, this was bigger than a missed drop. But I shoved that tho
GENESIS“Damn, they’re so good,” Calista mumbled, resting her head on the barre.Yes, barre. That was a new word I’d learned today, and I was proud of it—even if I can’t say it out loud.We stood there, watching the ballerinas move gracefully across the studio floor until the instructor finally called for a break.Some of the girls plopped onto the floor, chugging water like they’d just crossed a desert. Another new word I learnt.Others kept practicing, pointing their toes and stretching their legs like perfection was one pirouette away.I was watching one girl in particular, completely mesmerized, when Stacy suddenly grabbed my hand.“Don’t look, don’t look—but Jaden is coming over here,” she whispered urgently.Calista shot upright like she’d been electrocuted, fussing with her hair.Was something wrong with her hair?Jaden strolled over and stood beside us, his gaze flicking between Stacy and Calista.“How are you girls today?” he asked, smiling.Calista flushed red—like tomato-sa
“Ahhhh, I hate that fucking bitch!” Veronica screamed, hurling a vase against the wall. It shattered into sharp, glittering pieces that skittered across the floor. On the couch, her two friends—Amanda and Mika—exchanged uneasy glances.Veronica stood a few feet away from the wreckage, chest heaving, her face flushed with rage.Mika leaned in closer to Amanda and whispered, “What is she mad about this time?”Amanda sighed, already sounding tired. “What do you think? The little wife of Kieran.”Mika nodded. “But why is she still hung up on that? I thought she was over him.”Veronica whipped around to face them, her hair a wild mess that looked like a bird’s nest, her makeup smeared and chaotic like a melting mask. She looked like she was teetering on the edge of a breakdown.“Over that? You think I’d be over it?” she growled. “Do you know how long I’ve stood by Kieran? My mind was set—he was going to be mine. And then that silent little thing just waltzes in from nowhere and takes him l
GENESIS“First position, second position… Stacy, leg down, not up—you’re not trying to kick anyone,” Miss Reneta said with a patient but firm tone.The room giggled softly. Even I cracked a small smile. Stacy rolled her eyes dramatically. Miss Reneta didn’t notice, but Stacy did as she was told.Miss Reneta clapped her hands twice. “Alright, everyone. Let’s try that again, but this time with music.”As a soft piano melody filled the room, I tried to mimic the movements. Heels together. Toes pointed out. Arms curved like I was holding a giant invisible ball. I moved slowly, cautiously, trying to remember everything she had taught us.My body didn’t feel graceful. My arms were stiff, my balance shaky. But I was trying. I wasn’t going to give up.“Good, Genesis,” Miss Reneta said as she passed by, gently adjusting my elbow. “That’s it. Nice control.”I blinked, surprised by the praise. My chest swelled just a little with pride. Across the room, Calista caught my eye and gave me two enthu
GENESIS“Yes, Lily, do ballet! It’s so fun and amazing, and you get to dress up so beautifully,” Daisy said, bouncing in her seat as she looked at me. I glanced at the dancers again, watching them move with such grace. It was beautiful, like they were speaking with their bodies. But it also looked incredibly difficult. Daisy called it “fun,” but I had a feeling this kind of dance wasn’t to be underestimated. The way their legs moved so high... I was amazed.But my mind wasn’t fully on the decision about which class to choose. My eyes kept gravitating toward the bruise on Kieran’s face. And it wasn’t just that—he had bruises on his wrists too, like he’d slammed them against something. The one on his face looked like he’d been hit.What happened?He’d gone to work hours ago and now came back like this.He turned away from the iPad in his hands and looked at me. “What do you like...?” His voice trailed off as I pressed my hand gently against the injury, and he smiled softly.“What is it..
KIERAN"Stop making that face," I muttered, adjusting the cuff of my shirt. "He got himself fired."She was still staring at me—lips slightly parted, eyes wide, like I’d just confessed to murder. Maybe in her innocent little brain, I had. But that bastard deserved it.I leaned closer, gripping the headboard behind her, caging her in. Her breath caught. She tried to move back, but there was nowhere to go.Just how I wanted it."He looked at you too long.""Smiled too wide. And then he touched you. I saw it on the footage."Her brows drew together. She grabbed her notebook, scribbling fast and furiously:NO HE DID NOTLIAM IS NICE TO MEI gritted my teeth. "See, that's the problem. I didn’t hire him to be nice. And that—what he did—that wasn’t him being nice. That was him wanting something else.”She shook her head. I didn’t care. I grabbed her waist and lifted her up off the bed. Her legs instinctively wrapped around me as I carried her down the stairs."I’ll get you a new tutor. Maybe
GENESIS"How much for a smile?"Huh?My head tilted before I could stop it. I blinked up at him, confused.I scrunch my nose slightly. Was this... a game? Was I supposed to smile now? But why would he pay for that?He pushed me gently against the wet, smooth stone wall. The coldness against my back contrasted sharply with the heat of his bare body pressing into mine. I could feel something else, too—hard, stiff—pressing against me.Heat rushed up my neck, blooming across my face.He lifted one hand from my waist to wipe the water from his face. The shower kept pouring over us, but since I was backed against the wall, my view wasn’t blocked. I saw everything.Then he cupped my cheek with a rough, warm palm.“Did I upset you, kitten? Since I came home, you haven’t smiled at me. You haven’t even looked at me.”Oh.Guilt slammed into my chest, hard. That’s what had been clawing at me since the moment he walked through the door. Every time my mind drifted to that tiny bottle filled with po
Kier"You're late," my dad said the moment I stepped into the dining room, barely a second after spotting me.I rolled my eyes and glanced at Genesis, who sat in the chair closest to him. She looked at me, then quickly looked away, her eyes dropping to her plate.I tore my gaze from her and looked toward Donald at the head of the table. Without a word, I moved to the seat opposite her and sat down."And you're still here, Father? I thought you'd have left by now."I smiled at him, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I snuck another glance at my wife, who still refused to look at me. She stared at her food like it was more worthy of her attention than I was. My hand clenched into a fist. It was ridiculous to feel jealous of a plate of food—but I was. I wanted to toss it across the room just to force her to look at me."So that was your plan all along?" he said, voice laced with something darker. "Stay behind and wait for your old man to finish eating and leave? Or were you up to something els
Knight Blood, known in the underground as the Black Knight, stood calmly behind the Royal Mirage Casino & Resort, his sleek black car parked just a few feet away. Flames licked the night sky, the building groaning under the weight of its destruction. Wood cracked. Cement blocks fell like thunder. Screams and shouts pierced the smoky air.Knight smiled.His eyes glowed with the fire’s reflection as he watched the chaos he’d created unfold. There was no joy in his grin. No sense of relief.Just a sliver of satisfaction.A tiny flicker of calm buried beneath the inferno of rage boiling in his chest.Because this wasn’t over.Not yet.One of his men stepped forward, voice tight with urgency. “Boss, we have to leave now. The police are…..”“Tell me that’s not the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen.” Knight interrupted, catching the man off guard.The guy hesitated, unsure how to respond. His eyes darted to the fire, then back to Knight, searching for the right words. He glanced around, but n