I tossed and turned in bed, tightly wound with frustration after Kian’s abrupt departure during our heated encounter. My body still thrummed with unfulfilled desire, aching for his touch. With a huff, I rolled onto my side, glaring at Kian’s broad back as he slept beside me. The man was an infuriating enigma. Resigned to a restless night, I closed my eyes and tried to quiet my racing thoughts. Eventually, exhaustion won out, and I drifted into an uneasy slumber. The next morning, Kian was already gone when I woke. A servant informed me he had instructed her to escort me to one of the mansion’s training rooms after breakfast. Confused but curious, I quickly ate and followed the maid’s lead. The training room was massive, with padded floors, racks of weapons, and various training dummies and equipment. A tall, muscular man with close-cropped dark hair stood in the center, looking imposing in his all-black workout gear. “Ah, you must be Isadora,” he greeted with a charming smile as I

Kian’s eyes narrowed dangerously at the trembling servant. “What situation?”The man swallowed hard, clearly terrified of angering his boss further. “It’s…your brother, sir. Luca. He’s been shot.”A tense silence fell over the room as the weight of those words sank in. My heart thudded against my ribs as I watched a countless amount of emotions flicker across Kian’s chiseled features - disbelief, fury, and finally a cold, calculating focus.“Details. Now,” he bit out in a tone that brokered no argument.The servant rushed to explain. “We don’t know much yet. Luca was ambushed outside a club downtown about an hour ago. His men got him out and to a safe house, but he took two bullets - one to the shoulder and one to the abdomen. The impact vests saved his life, but he’s lost a lot of blood. The family doctor is with him now, but they need you there right away.”Kian’s jaw ticked, the muscle tensing with barely leashed rage. When he finally spoke, his voice was glacier cold. “Ready my ca

Boom! Another big loud noise made me jump. Bullets came flying through the walls, breaking them into little pieces. Kian’s men moved quickly to the windows and started shooting back.“Get down on the floor!” Marco shouted at me. He dropped to one knee and fired his gun.I laid flat on the dirty floor and covered my head with my shaky hands. Everything was crazy around me. The scary sounds of fighting - people screaming, guns booming, and bullets hitting metal - filled my ears until I thought I might throw up because I was so scared.Kian moved really fast and dangerous behind a table that was flipped over. He kept firing his gun towards the people attacking us from outside. His face looked tough and like he had been in lots of fights before. His eyes shined like a man who knows all about fighting.Suddenly, a bunch of really fast gunshots ripped across the room, blowing up the couch I was hiding behind. I screamed and scrambled backwards as the stuffing from inside it flew everywhere.

The van rumbled to a stop in front of the remote cabin, and Kian’s men immediately began unloading their weapons and gear. I hesitated, uncertain if I was expected to get out as well. Kian fixed me with a hard, unforgiving glare. “Out,” he ordered gruffly, his tone brooking no argument. “All of you, move.” I swallowed heavily and quickly climbed out, not doubting for a second that Kian would make good on any threat. As intimidating as he usually was, the cold fury simmering in his eyes now told me he was done playing games. His massive hand clamped down on my arm the moment my feet hit the ground, his grip bruising. Kian jerked me forward, forcing me to stumble along behind him towards the rundown cabin. I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves, his entire body coiled like a spring about to snap. The interior wasn’t much better - just a couple of small, sparse rooms furnished with old cots and a rickety table. In one corner, Luca lay unconscious on a stained mattress as t

The drive through the winding country roads seemed to stretch on endlessly, the oppressive silence inside the van only broken by the occasional creak of the old springs. My heart pounded in my ears, nerves frayed as I waited with bated breath for our destination. Beside me, the nameless driver kept his gaze fixed ahead, his expression carved from stone. I couldn’t help but glance nervously towards the back, where I knew Kian sat, his intense stare burning into the back of my head. The tension was suffocating, the air thick with unspoken threats and the looming uncertainty of what awaited us. I had to resist the urge to squirm under the weight of Kian’s scrutiny, knowing any sign of weakness would only further embolden him. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the van rumbled to a stop in front of a sprawling, nondescript safehouse. Kian’s men sprang into action, efficiently unloading Luca’s unconscious form and hustling him inside. I hesitated, unsure if I was supposed to fo