All Chapters of Velvet and vengeance: stripped by the enemy : Chapter 201 - Chapter 203

Alone TimeJace's POV Coming here had been a joint idea. We were looking for a safe house, but this also coupled as a resort. At first, the loft had been a lovely change of scenery, a safe space of sorts. But after a little over twenty fours hours, it started feeling like a cage. I was either typing furiously or staring aimlessly, taking in the beautiful sight that was the frozen Neva river. I hummed, protein bar in hand and a flurry of thoughts bouncing in my head. I soon heard footsteps walk towards me and arms wrap around my waist. "You've been awfully touchy, huh?" I said, trying to add a little bit of a teasing tone to my voice, but I imagine it fell flat to whoever could hear, though Lucian didn't seem to mind. Instead, his grip grew tighter and he pressed his face into the crook of my neck. "Can you blame me?" He whispered then took a large breath and sunk deeper into the position. I turned around, feeling his muscles tense against my skin, only to relax when I was facing h

A VirtueThird Person's POV Patience was a virtue, and it was one Maraleona possessed. It was one of her strong suits, a skill she had honed for years on end. Years of keeping her emotions to herself, waiting on flip that came too late and training from her youth, she was sure she had it in the bag. She walked into that conference room with delicate poise that called for authority, so much that it didn't matter that she was over ten minutes later. She greeted the men with a charming smile and a curt bow that alleviated the tension in the room. "Gentlemen," She started speaking as she sat down at her assigned seat. "We meet again." The table was surrounded by powerful men. International power houses that commanded towers with a single word. They ran operations that could ruin even politicians. Their eyes followed Maraleona's every movement. That she was able to gather them all here was a testament on its own, so just how far could she go. Neither of the men said a word, but it was