Lahat ng Kabanata ng His Little Temptress : Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

Lila and Asher were walking side by side, Tessa following close behind and chatting, when Lila suddenly stopped and pressed a hand to her chest.“What’s wrong?” Tessa and Asher asked at the same time, both moving closer to her.But Lila didn’t answer. Her breathing quickened as she gripped her chest tighter, as if trying to hold something inside, to stop the ache building there. A cold rush of dread swept through her, heavy and sharp. Something wasn’t right. She could feel it deep in her bones.Her hands trembled as she fumbled for her phone, stepping away from them to make a call. The unease gnawed at her, familiar and terrifying all at once.It wasn’t the first time she’d felt this way. And every time that feeling came, someone she loved was in danger.The last time she’d felt this way, it had been Tessa.That day, the same cold fear had crept up her spine, and she’d immediately called her uncle. Lucien had assured her he was fine, laughing it off in his calm, steady voice. But when

Graves slid off the settee and also sat on the floor, his gaze distant, as if he were staring through the walls.“My old man had a little body shop in Queens,” he began, voice low and rough. “He didn’t make much, but it was enough. He was the kind who worked with his hands, oil under his nails, always smelled like metal and smoke. My mom kept the books and my sister followed her everywhere.”Lila and the men stayed silent, watching him carefully.“One day,” Graves continued, “a guy showed up and said he needed his car repainted overnight. My father told him no. The guy didn’t like that. Then he smiled when he left and said he’d ‘be back.’”Graves’s jaw flexed, a muscle ticking near his temple.“He came back that night. Three cars, maybe four. I was upstairs, by the window. I saw them pull in.” His voice faltered for a second before hardening again. “I thought it was a dream, at first. The noise… it didn’t sound real. Then I heard my mother scream my father’s name. Then the first shot

Blade and Karim stood the moment they saw Vladislav emerging from between the trees, the weapon bag slung over his shoulder.His steps were slow, even but the pain on his face said everything words couldn’t.He was drenched in blood, dirt, and grief.Neither man spoke as he approached.They just watched as he reached the rocks where Damien lay shirtless, his skin pale under the flickering firelight, his chest barely moving, so it made them wonder if he was still breathing.Vladislav stopped beside him, stared for a heartbeat then dropped to his knees.The sound that tore from his throat was low and guttural, a mix of rage and grief that made even Blade flinch.“It’s better you stand up now, Wolfe,” Vladislav rasped, grabbing Damien by the shoulder, his voice trembling. “I just lost Sergio… I can’t lose you too.”He tugged weakly at Damien’s chest, desperate enough to believe that if he held on tight enough, Damien would start breathing again.Blade turned his head away, blinking hard

Damien, Blade, and Karim finally emerged from the forest with the girl, Grace, on Karim’s back. She hadn’t stopped weeping softly the entire way.Grace never thought rescue was possible, not after watching Rafael, her supposed father, slaughter every man Silvano had sent before.But Damien had come for her like an angel carved from darkness. He’d destroyed Rafael as if the man were made of nothing.While Blade and Karim dealt with the remaining guards, Damien had dragged Rafael back to his chair, bound him tight, and ignored his frantic pleas.“T–this isn’t what you think, boss,” Rafael stammered, trembling as Damien pulled another knot taut. “I wasn’t going to hurt her. She’s my daughter, I just—I just wanted her back!”Damien didn’t look at him. His movements were organized, deliberate, as he stuffed a cloth into Rafael’s mouth and secured it with another rope. Then, wordlessly, he began laying out his knives on the table one after another. Each one gleamed under the weak lantern l

Lila didn’t know how long they kissed; time blurred into the soft press of lips and the slow, startling warmth that spread under her skin. When Damien finally broke away, the room felt too big, the men were gone and the silence that followed was loud enough to make her blood roar in her ears.She stumbled back a half-step, cheeks burning, eyes darting anywhere but his. “Y—you can’t just kiss me in front of them like that,” she said, voice small but shaking enough that he could hear.Damien said nothing. He closed the space between them again with a single, deliberate pace, his hand sliding to her waist. The contact was both claim and comfort; his palm was steady, anchoring her. Then he tipped her chin up with a fingertip so she couldn’t look away, his face inches from hers, his breath warm and steady.“I don’t plan to hide what I feel for you from anyone anymore,” he said, each word measured, almost ordinary and infinitely dangerous. “I want to unleash everything, and I’m ready to kil