LOGINIAN'S POV“Please, let us go.” The screams filled the room before we even stepped in.I pushed the door open, my mask firmly in place. Reed followed behind me, his face covered, steps hesitant. I could feel it…the fear radiating off them like heat from a fire. The silent wish to be killed even before it started. That was what my presence did to people. And I enjoyed every single second of it.I grabbed a knife from the table beside me and took slow steps toward them, trailing the sharp edge over the first girl's hand. She tried to pull away, but Kai grabbed her wrist and held it steady.“Which one is it?” My voice was barely a whisper. “Which hand touched her?”“I... I don't know what you're talking about.” Tears streamed down her face. “Just please…”“Fuck!” Her voice shattered the silence as my knife sliced through a finger.“Please!” She sobbed heavily. “Please, I knew nothing about it.”“You can either tell me.” I tilted my head. “Or lose both hands. Your choice.”“The left.” She
IAN'S POV“So that was the deal?” I leaned forward and clasped my hands on the desk. “Xavier, you have to let me know when you make deals like this with Victor.”“It's not like it could be avoided.” He filled his glass with more whiskey. “Besides, you were bound to find out sooner or later. That's if you don't know already.”I froze.“How did you know?” My voice dropped. “Jane told you, right?”“Told me what?” Xavier raised an eyebrow. “That my twin brother has spies all over New York City? I think I know that much about you, Ian.”This fucker always saw through me. Always.“The problem now is, how do we achieve that?” He continued, leaning back in his chair. “Aria loves kids, but I don't think it's the right time to tell her about the bet yet.” He downed his drink and slammed the cup down. “We are running out of time.”“There's no need to hurry.” I blew smoke from my cigarette, watching it curl toward the ceiling. “We just have to make sure Isa doesn't have a child before Aria does.
ARIA'S POV“Reed.” With a bag balanced on my right hand, I knocked with my left for the third time, my back leaning against his door. “Come on, you need to get out of bed.”I raised my hand to knock again, but the door swung open before I could.“Oh! Morning.” I smiled. “Can I come in?”Reed stood at the entrance with messy hair and sleepy eyes, rubbing them with the back of his hand.“Why?” He squinted at me. “It's only eight in the morning.”“Reed, it's ten.” I stepped closer. “And trust me, I'm not a morning person either. But I guess all mothers make this kind of sacrifice for their sons.”“What the…” His eyes snapped open. “Okay. I changed my mind. You can't come in.”He tried to slam the door closed.“Fine.” I hooked my left leg in the gap. “I won't call you my son again. Now, can I come in?”He hesitated, then pulled the door wide open.I stepped inside and looked around. His room was chaotic. Clothes were scattered everywhere. His luggage was wide open, with spilling contents
XAVIER'S POVThe street was wet with rain.I didn't remember walking here. I didn't remember leaving the penthouse, or getting in the car, or stepping out into the cold. But here I was, standing in the middle of a dimly lit alley, the smell of iron and damp concrete filling my nostrils.The sound of people screaming pulled me forward. A woman's voice, high and shrill, cutting through the rain like a blade. Then another voice. Then more.I rounded the corner, and my blood turned cold.A crowd had gathered. Dozens of people, their faces twisted with horror. Some were crying. Some were covering their mouths. Some turned away, unable to look.But I couldn't look away.Because on the ground, lying in a pool of dark, spreading blood, was Ian.His white shirt was soaked with blood, face was too pale, his eyes half-open and staring at nothing. “No.” The word came out as a whisper.I pushed through the crowd, shoving people aside, my heart slamming against my ribs. “Move! Get the fuck out of
ARIA'S POV I couldn't get his words out of my head.They echoed over and over, refusing to let go of my mind.And I knew, I just knew, he had meant every single one of them.I'd seen it in his eyes… sincerity, honesty, and the quiet vulnerability he'd never shown anyone else.He loves me.The realization hit me all at once, stealing the air from my lungs.He actually loves me.Not because he wants a child from me. Not because of some ridiculous contract. Not because he feels obligated to stay.He loves me simply because I'm... me.The thought sent a warm flutter through my chest, spreading through every part of me until I couldn't stop the smile tugging at my lips.I was loved. Truly, genuinely loved.Xavier threw me over his shoulder and spanked my ass hard. “Xavier!” I giggled, spanking his ass from behind.He placed me gently inside the car and climbed in from the other side, looking as handsome as ever with his bare chest on display.To hell with taking this home.I crawled onto
IAN'S POVFor the first time tonight, I'm grateful I was seated across from her instead of Xavier. It would have been so awkward, so unexpected for him to give an answer to this question. He would have stumbled, hesitated, given her reason to doubt.But I didn't hesitate. I couldn't afford to.“I know Ian loved me like a little sister.” She continued, her voice soft. “Hell you guys were always there for me each time I had it bad with Dean. And now I'm shamelessly married to his twin brother.” She shook her head. “I'm sure he’d be so disappointed if he was alive.”If only she knew.“Aria, listen to me.” I leaned forward, my eyes locked on hers. “If there's one thing I'm sure of, one thing I could bet my entire wealth on, is that Ian could never be disappointed in you. Never.”“Really? You think so?”“I know that for sure.” I squeezed her hands. “That man loves you more than you can ever imagine. And he has always respected your decisions.” I smiled. “You know that, Aria.”“Yeah.” Her
XAVIER'S POVEven while we owned a house in the same estate, going to my father's house had never been easy for me. The driveway was the same. The entrance was the same. The smell of polished wood and expensive candles never changed.But the problem is, walking through those doors always felt like
ARIA’S POV The hours blurred together until I completely lost track of time.At some point, the cold metal around my wrists stopped feeling uncomfortable and started feeling normal. That terrified me more than anything else.I sat quietly in the hard chair while officers walked past the room every
XAVIER’S POV“Pick up. Ian, please… pick up.”I paced across my office, my phone pressed tightly to my ear as the call rang endlessly.He had to know.He had to know that child wasn’t Dean’s before he did something reckless. Before he turned this entire situation into something bloody and irreversi
ARIA’S POV The loud crash from outside my door woke me from a deep sleep, making my heart leap into my throat.I groaned, blinking against the early morning light filtering through the curtains.“Isn’t it too early to piss people off?” I muttered under my breath.Dragging myself out of bed, I shuf







