[Brielle’s POV]The next morning, I wake to find I'm alone and can't help but wonder if everything that happened last night was a figment of my imagination to stop the spiral I was going through. However, when I look down and find signs of L's presence all over my body, I know that it was real.“He was here,” I sigh, slowly sitting up while my pussy stings as a reminder of L's merciless attack.L was, in fact, here. He was in my home, and despite that, I still didn't know what he looked like since he was wearing a mask the whole time.Was that the trick to getting him to appear? To breakdown in despair and spiral out of control? I wasn't sure, and honestly, I wasn't brave enough to test it.When I remembered the night that my parents were killed and I was attacked, all I could see was darkness, and all I could feel was pain. To even dig up those memories left me drowning, and because of that, I didn’t like to remember them. Some would say it meant I never truly dealt with my demons, b

[Leo’s POV]My fist connects with the punching bag, sending tingles of pain rushing up my arm, but it isn’t enough to make the images of my songbird with that british bastard go away. Stepping back, I prepare for another attack and then move.Again and again, I hit the bag in front of me, pretending that it is the bastard who dares even attempt to have ideas about my songbird, until my breathing is coming out in labored puffs and my knuckles are bloodied.“I think you’ve shown that bag who is boss,” Jackson chuckles from his seat along the wall. “Don’t you think we should get down to business now?”Business? I didn’t want to focus on fucking business. It was already five in the afternoon, and my songbird hadn’t contacted me. Where the fuck was she, and what was she doing? When my driver called me and told me she never showed up, I attempted to call, but it went straight to voicemail.“FUCK!” I rumble, hitting the bag again.“That’s enough,” Jackson sighs, getting up and making his way

[Thad’s POV]My eyes slowly take in the scene in front of me from Brielle, who is on her hands and knees with a masked man positioned behind her. I don’t have to look closely to understand what is happening here, given Brielle’s flushed cheeks and where his hand is positioned.Fuck, what the hell is this? Some kind of freakish foreplay? Her whole fucking backside is red and welted from him hitting her, and she still seems to be enjoying every damn minute, to the point where I was sure she was still oblivious to my presence.“You!” The man growls, yanking his hand free and surging forward so that his body crashes into mine. “What the fuck are you doing here?”Letting out a huff from the force that I’m hit with, I try to dig my feet into the carpet beneath me to stop myself from crashing into the wall.“The door,” I hiss, lashing out and pushing him away from me. “You left the bloody door open!”As I speak, the masked freak moves forward again, attacking with his left hand while I attac

[Thad's POV]“Welcome back, little brother.”Darlene's voice is too damn chipper after what I just went through, and it grates on my last nerve.“Why are you here?” I huff, collapsing on my bed and throwing an arm over my eyes. “Do I look like I want to see you right now?”Honestly, if Darlene didn't insist I return Brielle's purse to her, I wouldn't be a human pin cushion, nor would Brielle and I be walking on damned eggshells. So in retrospect, this whole fucking situation was her fault.“I came to keep my cute brother company while he is in the hospital.” Darlene responds unphased. “What kind of sister would I be if I didn't?”As she speaks, she flips her long, dark hair behind her shoulder and wiggles into a more comfortable position in her seat.“Anyway,” she continues now. “How is your lady? You were just visiting her, yes?”How was she? Completely out of her bloody mind and defending the bastard that hurt not only her but me. Even if it happened because I walked in unannounced,

[Brielle’s POV]I open my mouth, preparing to bear my heart, but stop as my phone begins to buzz. Frowning, I lift it up, and my eyes widen as I take in L’s name on the screen. With shaky fingers, I press the open option to the message that is waiting for me while fearing for the worst, but instead of that, I’m met with something more jarring.L: Make him leave before I do.Gasping, I turn my gaze toward the door just in time to see a shadowy form just beyond my window, but instead of getting up to chase it, I remain in place.“Are you alright?” Thad asks, not missing my sudden change. “If talking to me about whatever it was you wanted to is too hard, then..."“You need to leave,” I squeak, knowing that L would remain nearby until he saw Thad leave my room. “Now.”For a moment, Thad stares at me in disbelief, but when his eyes snap to the phone, I still clutch it in my hand, and a look of understanding appears. I know he knows what the message is.“The scary bloke must be nearby,” he