All Chapters of Velvet and vengeance: stripped by the enemy : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Lucian's Pov The barrel of the gun was cold against the side of my head. I didn’t even remember grabbing it, but there it was, pressed to my skin, safety off.The nightmare had dragged me under again—the same one that owned me every night, that kept me on edge.I still remembered it like it happened yesterday. My father’s body on the floor, his blood spilling across the tiled floors, the gunshot echoing in my skull until it rattled my bones.I woke drenched in sweat, chest heaving, the shadows in the corners of the room, they’d come alive to mock me.Then my door creaked open. I spun, pistol raised, finger squeezing the trigger, ready to put a bullet between the eyes of whoever dared to...“Boss?”The word made me stop abruptly.Jace stood in the doorway, tray in hand, his eyes widening when he realized I was pointing a gun straight at his face.Fuck. I'd totally forgotten that I'd asked him to make dinner for me.I blinked at the realization that I had almost shot him. For one insan

Jace’s POVI sat on my bed, staring at the ceiling, but all I could see was Rosaline’s painted nails digging into Silas’s skin. The sounds from her room still echoed in my ears—the groans, the breathy commands, the way she used him like he was nothing more than a toy.I clenched my fists. Rosaline had the eye of a hawk, because how was she able to see through me? She wasn't certain that I was an enemy yet, but I knew she'd have her eyes on me and I had to move carefully now.Silas. What the hell was he hiding?Rosaline's little puppet would have his eye on me, reporting whatever he heard or saw to her. I glanced at his side of the room where his duffel bag was there, carelessly thrown against the wall. If Silas was hiding something, it was probably in there or maybe in his drawer that was unlocked. Whatever I expected to find, I didn't see it, only some pair of boxers that had holes in them like a rat had eaten through them. With all the money he made, he couldn't afford new boxers?

"I'm just letting you know before it's too late," Rosaline rose to her feet, smoothening the creases in her nightie. "Goodnight." With that, she walked out leaving Lucian deep in thought.Jace had retired for the night after having dinner. Ever since he caught Silas with Rosaline, he'd refuse to speak to him, which was fine by Jace. At least, he wouldn't feel pity for him when a bullet was lodged into his forehead. He took off his shirt and hopped into bed, drawing the duvet over him.Within minutes, his snoring was the only thing that could be heard. "I think he's asleep," Silas, who'd been faking sleep, rose from the bed. He carefully got off the bed and tiptoed to Jace. He slowly drew down the duvet to check, and he stood there for two minutes until he was sure Jace was fast asleep.Silas threw on a shirt and left the room but decided to linger outside the door, eyes narrowing. He could have sworn he’d heard movement inside, but the room was quiet now. If Jace thought he could ou

Jace’s POVThe moment Lucian stepped out tye kitchen, I exhaled deeply. Everyone was suspicious but none had tangible proof to link me to all the crimes. The earlier I diverted their attention, the better for me."Fuck! I cursed as I dropped the ladle inside the stew. The longer I spent cooking, the more frustrated I was. Did Rosaline have to demand for so many dishes?Lucian returned to the kitchen just as I was scrubbing the counter down, sleeves rolled up, apron still stained with stew. He didn’t bother clearing his throat or announcing himself.“You’ll be in charge of the food tonight,” he announced, taking a piece from the bowl of fried chicken. “I’ll have a few chefs brought in to assist you.”I wanted to protest because I wasn’t a chef, I was a fraud, and I'd end up messing up the food, he had already slid a folded sheet across the counter. I opened it, scanning a list of dishes, some I barely recognized, let alone knew how to make. "Is there a problem?" Lucian gave me a once-

Jace’s POVThe party had ended,yet the feeling it left on my skin disgusted me. I'd taken a hot bath, wiping away all the filth I had touched then came to lay on my bed . Markus’s voice still echoed in my head with his threat. “Lucian found himself a new boy toy.” One reason I hated these freaking mafias; they thought they could have their way with every fucking person.If not for Lucian's timeline intervention, I had plans of burying the kitchen knife in his chest. Maybe in his next life, he'd let a man breathe.I turned to the side, only then did it occur to me that I'd seen every bodyguard at the party except Silas. What the hell was he and his mistress up to? "Maybe they were having their little fuck session," I thought but something about it sat wrong in my chest, and I wasn't one to brush off my fears.The next morning........Morning came faster than I wanted. I forced my tired body into the bathroom,brushed my teeth and splashed water on my face before walking into the room