THE AFTERMATH

Xander’s POVAfter Ashley basically bribed the cops who came to check out the war at the mansion, they had turned into her personal cleanup crew. They stayed behind, helping her dispose of bodies and sweep away the chaos. I watched it all unfold, and even though I understood the necessity, a part of me still held onto the dream of becoming an incorruptible detective, someone who stood for justice, not money. But right now, I had to let go of all that idealism. My sister’s life was on the line.Speaking of her, I hadn’t seen her since she was sobbing over her dead boyfriend. I needed to find her. But first, I needed coffee.I stood in the hospital lobby, filling two cups from a coffee vending machine that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned since the early 2000s. We hadn’t slept properly since the mansion raid, and Ashley had dragged me here after Chris rushed Jake in. She wasn’t crying, wasn’t saying much, but I could tell Jake mattered to her even if he was a royal pain.With both cup

LET ME GO

Xander’s POVMelody shoved his hand away, her voice sharp and tired. “Let me alone. Let me sleep. This isn’t the only bench in this park, and you are not the boss of me.”The man sighed, gesturing to the woman beside him. “You have to get up, miss. Can’t you see my wife is pregnant? She doesn’t like standing too long. Please, have some compassion.”I glanced at the woman. Her baby bump was small, barely visible beneath her maternity gown.Melody covered her ears. “I don’t give a fuck. I came here first. Just leave me alone.”The man tried again. “Please, miss. This isn’t fair. I heard from the locals you have been here all night.”I had had enough.I rushed over and stood beside the couple, looking down at Melody. She was still in that short purple floral dress from yesterday, stained with blood. Her hair was a mess, strands falling over her face as she tried to block out the world.The couple looked at me, the man asking, “Do you know this lady?”I didn’t answer. “Mel.”Her hands dro

NEW BEGINNINGS

Xander’s POVI felt like a new man walking into the station. Sleep had finally kissed me right, and after everything that went down, I needed it.The place hadn’t changed, the same ringing phones, same exhausted faces, but the moment I stepped in, heads turned. Cops in their cubicles waved like I was some prodigal son returning from war. I didn’t wave back. I was here to settle scores.I headed straight for Mr. Parker’s office, but my eyes couldn’t help drifting to Lacey’s. She was inside, locked in conversation with two men who looked like they belonged in cuffs. She didn’t notice me. Typical. She was always laser-focused when it came to work. I would deal with her later.A sigh pulled out of me as I stopped outside Parker’s glass box and knocked. He was mid-chat with someone, but his voice boomed, “Come in.”I stepped in, then froze in my tracks.The woman sitting across from him wasn’t just any client. I knew that face. Cold. Expressionless. Challenging. Mr. Parker’s wife. I had se

YOU USED ME

Xander’s POV“I didn’t ask you to,” I stated, cutting her off. “You offered. I’m not going to let you use that against me.”She groaned, clutching her head, turning away as the tears started falling harder, faster. “You used me, Xander,” she muttered. “I put myself out there. I confessed my feelings for you. And what did you do in return? You stabbed me in the fucking back.”I stood there, stunned. Confused. We hadn’t even kissed. We hadn’t slept together. Hell, I had turned her down more than once, told her I was still healing. But she was acting like we had been in a full-blown relationship and I had just dumped her in the middle of a wedding aisle.I glanced up and saw a small crowd of our colleagues gathered behind the station doors, watching us. Lacey was still muttering all kinds of things under her breath, trying to make sense of her own heartbreak.I felt awful. Not because I thought I had done something wrong, but because she was hurting. And maybe I had underestimated how de

HIS FETISH

Xander’s POVChrist, she’s soaked, so fucking wet for me, I couldn’t take it anymore, I had to give her what she wanted. I ripped the ruined dress down her shoulders, exposing pale skin gleaming under the water, nipples tight and pebbled.My cock sprang free into the cool water, hard and aching as she guided me to her entrance.Her cunt enveloped me in one slick, scorching slide that punched the air from my lungs. Fuck, she was tight, tighter than I remember. Sweeter. Like honey and heat at the same time, and I couldn’t get enough of her sweet pussy. Her head fell back, a choked moan echoing off the tiled walls as I thrust deep, water churning around our hips.The sounds of footsteps boomed from the hallway, someone was coming, heading this way. Shit, this was it, this was what I wanted, the thrill of getting caught. Ashley’s green eyes flew wide, locked on the doorway as footsteps clicked on marble, sharp and approaching fast.The thrill hit me like lightning exactly what I craved.

EPILOGUE

Xander’s POVThree years. That’s how long it had taken to get here. Three years of blood, sweat, and chasing shadows. And now, as the announcer’s voice boomed through the hall, calling my name, Detective Xander Aiden Carter, it all felt like a damn dream.“…for being the most successful detective in the whole of Miami and the most outstanding cop for being able to track and shut down a massive drug distribution business last month and for catching the most notorious serial killer and saving a lot of lives in the process…”The words barely registered. My eyes were locked on the golden medal the announcer held up, waiting for me to come take it. I was frozen in my seat, second row from the front, surrounded by my colleagues. Mr. Parker was on my right, Lacey on my left, her hand resting on the thigh of her new cop boyfriend from another station.The hall was packed with uniforms, even though only a handful of us were getting awards tonight. I hadn’t expected this. Not the biggest award