LILY'S POVI could feel the world coming to an end.Was it the world, or my world? It was mine. My world was getting closer to its last minute on Earth. The darkness hovering over the night sky seemed like the angel of death had come to visit me.Who were these men? I wondered to myself what sort of mess I had gotten into. I should have listened to Aiden when he asked me to stay back at home.Here I was, encircled by hefty men in black, staring at how soon my life might be sapped out of me. Who would save me? How would I get out of here? "Wh…who are you people?" I managed to speak, staring at all of them. They had no smiles on their faces, each of them wore a cap, and I could not make out what their faces looked like. Maybe, I might recognize one of them.I got no answer from them, which made me even scared. Why were they not talking? I needed to know who they were."Who are you?" I asked again, "Why are you following me?" I muttered a little courage to raise my voice, hoping tha
Lily's POVThe drive back home with Aiden felt oddly comforting. His presence gave me a sense of security, shielding me from the chaotic world outside. I turned to the window of the car, watching as the busy New York night seemed to whizz past me. The city that had felt so safe and familiar to me suddenly looked dark and desolate and strange. Steadily, we eased from downtown Brooklyn into Manhattan and the posh part of it where Aiden lived. It suddenly struck me just how different our lives were. We lived in the same city of New York, but we seemed to exist in different spheres of life. Our experiences and backgrounds were polar opposites.As we approached the gate of his mansion, it swung open, granting us passage into the grand estate. The chauffeur guided the car across the grounds, parking it before the mansion."We're here," Aiden announced. He gracefully exited the car and extended his hand to help me out, a gesture so chivalrous and noble that it surprised me. I hesitated. "
Aiden's POVThis morning was different. Much different from every other morning I've had in a long time.I awoke with a start, but this time not from a nightmare, or the usual restless tossing in bed. Instead, I found myself calm, as if the storm inside me had quietened for a while. I stirred groggily, as my eyes slowly became accustomed to the room. Lily was sleeping on the other side of the bed, dark brown hair tousled across her face, her breathing soft, yet deep, and her mouth slightly open.I longed to take that mouth in mine and wake her up with a kiss.Slowly, I realized that I had slept by her side, and we hadn't had sex the previous night. Every single strand of memory from the previous night came rushing back, and I marveled at the way this woman had changed me.I hadn't slept beside another human in years and years.Lily's presence had worked magic on me.I glanced towards Lily again, where she lay peacefully asleep and smiled faintly. She looked serene, almost angelic in
Aiden's POVCook's gaze softened, her understanding eyes fixed on me. "I get your concerns, Mr. Blackwood. But sometimes, the heart knows what it wants regardless of the dangers. You can't protect her by shutting her out. Sometimes, you protect her by letting her in."I turned away, my jaw clenched. "It's not that simple, Cook. There's too much at stake. Do you know what Ricardo Gambino did to her yesterday?"Cook's frown deepened. "What did he do?""He fucking sent his men to attack her!" I roared. "They were about to kidnap her! If not that I'd placed a tracker on her phone, I might not have been able to get to her. She could have been in Ricardo's clutches as we speak!""But isn't Miss Lily worth the risk? Isn't she worth fighting for?" Cook's voice held a gentle persistence. "Even if Ricardo kidnaps her, best believe he can never and will never hold her heart. Only one man holds her heart, and that man is you."I sighed heavily, grappling with my inner turmoil. "But Lily is....she
Aiden's POVThe ominous ticking continued, filling my ears and sending shivers across my skin. The box sat there, like a macabre warning of death.How had it gotten there?I turned back to Joe with those questions in my eyes. As though reading my mind, he answered. "One of your gardeners heard the ticking sound coming from one of the hedges. He spotted the bomb in no time, and called me first to alert you.""How the fuck had this entered my house?" I roared. "Someone must have planted it here. Bombs don't walk into mansions, do they?"Joe sighed in concern. "I have no idea, Mr Blackwood."I stared at Joe, as the ticking continued in the background. The sound matched the tempo of my heartbeat, and I felt adrenaline pumping through my body."Joe...." I started. "How many seconds more before it detonates?" I watched as Joe swallowed hard. "Thirty seconds, boss...."My heart lurched in sudden, absolute fright. I glanced up, at the window of Lily's room which overlooked the swimming pool.
Aiden's POVThe entire basement went silent after that one gunshot. I heard a dull thud as Kellan's body hit the ground hard, and slowly I turned to face my men.The silence was thick and almost tangible, and I could feel their eyes on me. I walked past Kellan's unmoving body, standing in the loose semi-circle of these men."That," I started, pointing at Kellan's body. "Is what happens to anyone who tries to defy or betray Aiden Blackwood."Standing before my men, I felt a weight of disappointment as I addressed them. They were one of the people I trusted; I'd had them trained in the way of the mafia, and their behavior went against everything we ever stood for."Guys, you know how vital loyalty is to us. It's more than just a word; it's our backbone. Betrayal doesn't just hurt me; it endangers all of us," I stressed, trying to convey the severity of the situation without letting my frustration show too much. "In this family, we do not stab each other's backs the way Kellan did. We do
Lily's POVThe bomb explosion had much less effect than I thought it would.The impact of the bomb against the pool created a sky-high jet of water, but the result on Aiden's mansion had been minimal at best. The water had splashed against my window, and I had flinched almost instantaneously, as though I wasn't being protected by my windows.I flinched the way I used to flinch when my stepfather would take drunken swings at me.Now, several minutes after Aiden and Joe had walked away, I stood by the French windows, my gaze fixed on the calm surface of the swimming pool. It was night-time already, and the full moon was settled high in the sky, casting a pale light over the pool, its reflection shimmering in the depths of the pool.The vision from this afternoon was still vivid in my mind—the sudden splash of the box, followed by the explosive eruption of water. Aiden's actions had left me both shaken and curious, raising questions that clamored for answers.Whoever had placed the time
Lily's POVAiden's suggestion caught me off guard. "Move to Pennsylvania?" I exclaimed, my heart racing at the thought."Yes, just for a while. It's safer there," Aiden replied, his voice calm but resolute. "I have two houses in Pennsylvania. We'll stay in the more reclusive one until all this drama with Ricardo Gambino dies down.""But we cannot just....leave! What about Lucas and Mira?" I countered, my worry for them immediate and intense. "I can't leave them here. They're not safe! Ricardo could capture them and use them to torture me!""They can come with us. I'll arrange it," Aiden reassured, his determination unwavering.I shook my head, feeling torn. "No, Aiden. I need to be here for them, to protect them. I can't just leave them behind."Aiden placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Lily, I understand. But your safety matters too. We need to ensure you're secure before anything else.""I can't just think about myself when they're in danger," I insisted, my voice tinged with