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C H L O EI have been staying over at Marco’s place for almost a week and it has been the best. What was supposed to be a little visit has turned into a temporary move. I was supposed to leave yesterday morning but I never did.I couldn't bring myself to. He's been taking care of me, making sure I eat and holding me at night. He hasn't brought up Xavier again and for that, I'm grateful.I'm healing, but the pain is still there.I was in the kitchen making coffee when Marco came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist."Morning, beautiful," he said, nuzzling my neck."Morning," I said, leaning back into his embrace. "What do you want for breakfast?""You," he said, his voice husky with desire.I laughed, turning around in his arms to face him. "You're a menace.""You love it," he said, leaning down to kiss me. As we kissed, I felt something hard pressing against my stomach. I pulled away, a sly smile on my face."Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just too happy to see me

B I A N C ASomething was up with Chloe and Marco and I was glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed their weird behavior. As usual, Damian saw it too."They've been quiet," Damian said, looking at me over his morning coffee. "Too quiet. Did you talk to Chloe?""Not yet," I said, stirring my own coffee. "She hasn't been answering my calls. I'm getting worried. I went over to Chloe’s place yesterday, her place was empty. Her neighbor said she hasn't seen her in a few days."Damian’s expression darkened. "And Marco? Have you heard from him?""No," I said, shaking my head. "I called him too, but it went straight to voicemail. His house is empty too. I'm starting to get a really bad feeling about this."He put down his coffee cup, his gaze intense. "I'll make some calls. See if I can find out anything.""Thank you," I said, reaching across the table to take his hand. "I just have this feeling that something is wrong. Really wrong."He squeezed my hand, his expression serious. "I know, baby.

B I A N C ADamian walked over to the window, peering out into the darkness. "Volkov doesn't just stop at money. He sends a message. And that message usually involves a lot of pain and a body bag.""We know," Chloe said, her voice firm. "That's why we're here. To figure out a plan.""A plan?" Damian scoffed, turning to face her. "What plan? You have no money, no resources, and no way to fight back. You're sitting ducks.""I do have some money. We are already trying to take my savings to pay off the debt," Chloe said, and I felt my heart sink. "It’s all I have, but at least Marco wouldn't die."My heart went out to her. She was willing to give up everything she had to save the man who broke her heart."No," Damian and Marco said at the same."It's my choice," Chloe insisted, her gaze locked with Damian's. "And I'm not going to let Marco die because of some stupid gambling debt.""It’s not your debt to pay," Marco said, his pained. "I can’t take your money. I will not. I will find anoth

B I A N C AI busied myself with making breakfast while Chloe set the table. The guys sat at the kitchen island, their coffee cups in their hands.Ian came down sleepily rubbing his eyes with one of Damian's t shirts that almost swallowed him whole. The sight of my son brought a much needed light to the tense atmosphere."Mommy," he said, his voice still heavy with sleep as he made a beeline for me. I scooped him up into my arms, burying my face in his hair, breathing in his sweet scent."Good morning, my sweet boy," I said, kissing his cheek. "Did you sleep well?"He nodded, his head on my shoulder. "I'm hungry.""Of course you are," I said, laughing. "Mommy's making breakfast."He cheered, his little arms wrapping around my neck. I looked over at Damian, who was watching us with a soft expression on his face. Ian was his world, and he was ours."Auntie Chloe!" His eyes widened as he finally noticed her.Chloe's face softened. "Hey, my little man! I've missed you. Heard you've been a

M A R C OIt bruised my pride to sit in the passenger seat of Alejandro's sleek black sedan, a man I knew only as Damian's fixer. And now it felt like I was being escorted to my own execution. The silence in the car was suffocating. Alejandro didn't do small talk and did that, I was grateful. I was too busy stewing in my own shame. I kept seeing Chloe's face, the worry in her eyes. She deserved so much better than this. Better than me.All I've ever done is hurt her and hurt her, but she was still there for me. She saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. She believes in me even when I don't believe in myself. And I had almost gotten her killed. And that was why I would do everything in my power to become a better person. To become the man she deserved because she was indeed my better half. The one person I couldn't stand to lose.The briefcase sat on my lap, my failure glaring at me. Two million dollars. A life's fortune for most, a drop in the ocean for Damian. It was a debt