“We don’t need to hide anymore, Mama. We can do it now,” Revelation said, her chest heaving as she paced her room. With every no that came from her mother, her anger coiled tighter. The plan had been simple: Red would come to the Blackwood Estate, and together they would reveal the truth to Genesis. But after the massacre with Takeshi’s men in the Estate, Red had hesitated.“We don’t need to follow the plan exactly,” Revelation pressed. “But we do need to tell her.”Red was quiet, her voice finally breaking the silence. “You’ve never told me what this thing is between you and Knight. Aside from the fact that he’s a two-faced, ruthless bastard. And even then, are we really so far from the same thing?”Revelation snarled. “We are nothing like him.”Red let the silence stretch, then asked softly, “This is personal to you, mija, isn’t it?”Revelation sighed, pacing harder. “It’s not personal. Nothing’s personal to me.” Her throat caught. “Though maybe it is. Because he’s in her head. He’s
Knight frowned, pushing up from the massive ergonomic chair in his office. His voice was sharp, commanding.“Princess. What happened?”No answer. Only the sound of her ragged breathing.And then—another voice. A voice that made every muscle in Knight’s body turn to stone.“You saw my little surprise, baby girl.”Keenan.Knight’s blood ran cold.“Baby, go back into the studio,” he said quickly, already striding toward the door. He yanked it open just as Damon appeared, heading straight for him.One look at Knight’s face and Damon knew. Something was very, very wrong.From the phone in Knight’s hand, Keenan’s voice slithered out again, mocking.“Is that Knight I hear on the line, my pretty?”Damon’s jaw clenched, his expression darkening instantly.Knight’s growl rumbled low, lethal. “Where the fuck are the men who are supposed to be with her?”His PA, sitting at her desk, jumped at the sheer force of his tone. She looked confused, pale, but didn’t dare speak.“Baby, leave that place. G
Genesis gasped as the video began to play in front of her. She had been there that day—she had lived it—but seeing it now, from another angle, made her stomach twist. There she was, strapped to the chair, helpless. She couldn’t scream, couldn’t make a sound. Her chest exposed as they snapped photos, and now it was undeniable—there were videos, too.Veronica’s voice drifted from behind the camera, crisp and cold. Her face never appeared, but that voice was burned into Genesis’s skull. The screen showed water pouring over her head, and instinctively Genesis shivered. For a split second, it was as if she was back there again—trapped, terrified, that small, broken girl who had no idea why this was happening.Melanie’s mocking voice cut through.“Who would’ve thought? Not only are you a slut who wormed her way into the Blackwoods, but you do things like this.”Genesis raised her head, staring into Melanie’s piercing blue eyes—eyes full of spite, full of hunger. To them, this wasn’t proof o
GENESISMy heart pounded so hard I swore it wanted to break free of my chest. I stared at Jaden’s hand for a moment, unwilling to place mine on his. My eyes darted around the room, searching—no, my body searching—for someone. And I knew exactly who.The piano swelled, its opening notes floating through the studio like silk. I had no choice. Slowly, hesitantly, I placed my trembling hand in Jaden’s.His fingers closed around mine, warm and firm. Suddenly, we were moving.The instructor’s voice cut sharp through the music. “First position. Partnering—support her port de bras. Genesis, open. Jaden, sustain her line.”Jaden shifted closer, his palm brushing down to the curve of my waist, steadying me as I lifted my arms. His touch made my pulse trip. His breath grazed the shell of my ear as he bent closer, pretending to adjust his hold.“Where have you been?” His whisper was low, hot.I kept my face forward, forcing my arm through the movement. “Focus,” I rasped under my breath, too quiet
“We’ve missed you so much! Where did you go without telling us?” Stacy asked, she and Calista hovering close to Genesis. They had been so worried about her, but neither of them had dared to step foot in the estate again—not after the last time, when Knight had gone wild after that balloon burst, making Genesis scream and wake up. Since then, they’d been too scared to go back.But Genesis hadn’t just ghosted her friends. With her stay at the academy, she rarely had her phone. She wasn’t allowed to use it unless she finished training, and that usually consumed her entire day. When she did get her phone, she tried calling Knight—and when he didn’t answer, she replied to the most important messages. Stacy and Calista’s texts came first, asking why she wasn’t in class. She only told them she’d gone on a “journey,” never saying where. Jaden had also messaged her, but she couldn’t bring herself to respond—not after he had kissed her without her permission. Still, she read his words, relieved
Genesis paused, her brow arching before she turned toward the source of the voice. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, but it vanished so quickly—like the blink of an eye—that if you weren’t looking closely, you’d have missed it. The truth was, Genesis had almost forgotten about Amelia during those weeks at the academy. And now, hearing her voice—not ajust words, but her voice—it reminded Genesis that not everything about this place she had returned to was perfect.Knight stepped forward, ready to speak, but Genesis caught his wrist lightly. A small smile touched her lips as their eyes met, a silent exchange passing between them. Knight nodded once, satisfied, though he didn’t say a word.Genesis moved forward, closing the distance until she stood directly before Amelia, though she left a small gap of space between them. Amelia’s expression shifted, guarded now, as she took in the woman standing in front of her. Genesis looked different—not so much physically, though Amelia noted