Violet’s P.O.V.“Alright, lets get things moving along. I don’t have all night and I’d like to play with Violet here before…well, that part doesn’t matter.” Lorenzo huffed, waving his hand dismissively. “Olive, you can leave now. Go home, take a shower, make sure your mother isn’t face down in a pile of her own vomit, crawl into your comfortable bed, and forget this night ever happened. Should Hael Ashford come asking questions, give him my name.”“Olive, don’t.” I warned her when she stiffened. Lorenzo wanted me, whether it was to piss off Hael or for something more, but he didn’t want her. He’d have no qualms killing her, and while I’d survived murdering my own share of people, I would not survive if my best-friend died trying to save me.Stubborn as ever, she shook her head. “I won’t leave you.”I’d never in my life heard the sound of a gun being loaded, but the moment the rapid ‘click’ hit my ears, I had no doubt what it was.In Lorenzo’s hand was a gun, and it was pointed right a

Hael’s P.O.V. “Cole, give her your shirt.” I ordered him. He tossed it at her face. She caught it just in time, flipping him off before shrugging it over her shoulders. It reached around mid-thigh and was the perfect length for what I had in mind. I darkened my features, drinking in the rage and hopelessness I’d been feeling these past few days, since I heard her and Violet’s conversation in the hall’s at Darling. Mykelle’s treatment of Violet had been my fault. I didn’t tell her to make her life hell, but I’d also done nothing to stop her. Hearing her say she wasn’t wanted, that it was a feeling she was used to, tore me to shreds. Even now, I could feel the soul deep agony and hear the mate-bond crying out, echoing Violet’s pain. Mykelle’s expression shuttered as she took in the obvious change. It pleased me more than words could express that she stepped back when I approached, glancing at Cole as though he’d dare help her. “You don’t get to know what this is about. You’re goin

Hael’s P.O.V. Rushing to ease her panic, I grabbed her trembling hands. “Yes, it’s me. You’re right.” In the very back of my head, I processed her words. The little boy she took. That meant it wasn’t her. Someone else kidnapped me. “Who is she, Evelyn? Did she hurt Violet too?” I asked without thinking. Evelyn let out a strangled croak. “Violet. Oh, my poor Violet. My sweet Violet. She didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve to die.” Die? She thought Violet was dead? I had no doubt that if someone were to blame, it was the same fucker who put her here—my father. “Violet isn’t dead, Evelyn. She’s alive.” Evelyn shook her head, going faster and faster until I wondered if I should restrain her. “No, no, no, no, no. She’s dead! Gone! I was there, I saw it. I saw it all! He got her….” I grabbed her by the shoulders, holding her firmly enough that she couldn’t escape. Each word that left my mouth was spoken carefully. “I just saw her, Evelyn. She is alive and well. I’m going to kee

Violet’s P.O.V.It was Olive, and she was pissed. Rarely ever did she raise her voice, or toss aside her cool and aloof persona. The octave she was hitting told me exactly who was on the receiving end of her wrath. “I didn’t know, Olive. Fuck! Do you think I’d knowingly put either of you in danger?”There was a sharp smack that had me stopping in my tracks, my feet sinking into the dark carpet I stood on. Erik wouldn’t have hit his sister, no matter what stupid mistakes he’d made. If it was Olive that resorted to violence, then I was truly worried for their relationship.“She has someone after her, Erik!” She hissed venomously. “Someone who wants to kill her. If you had come to us with this instead of going behind my back, we could’ve told you that the person who wants Violet dead knows the Santino family.”I didn’t dare let myself think about the fact that my mother’s stalker hadn’t wanted her dead. No, he wanted to keep her. In a way, that was worse.Erik was silent for several se

Hael’s P.O.V.All night, I fought sleep.It would creep up on me, tugging at my eyelids. Without moving, not wanting to wake up the pale-haired angel clinging to me, I’d chase it away.I didn’t want to miss out on this—on any of it.When Violet told me to get into bed with her, I thought she’d finally lost her mind. Insanity wouldn’t have changed things between us, not one bit. Even if she were as unhinged as Ariana, I’d still want her.It was the fact that she wanted me close—wanted me touching her—that rendered me speechless.Playing with her, edging her towards a mind-shattering orgasm, was much different than this. In a way, this felt more intimate. It was something my mind screamed at me to run away from, while the mate-bond and my wolf beckoned me in closer.For hours I listened to her soft snores, watching the way her eyes moved beneath her lids, peppered with lavender veins that ended at her long lashes. Every pass my fingers made down her spine was met with a breathy, content