Ricardo's POVAs Mitch hesitated by the car door, I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a low, menacing whisper. "Oh, and Mitch?" I said, my tone cold and calculated. "My boys will be taking care of your son Lucas, so do not even try to help him hide or escape."A flicker of alarm flashed in Mitch's eyes, his bad left eye flickering as he blinked rapidly. His look of horror was quickly masked by a look of determination. He nodded slowly, swallowing hard before speaking. "Y-yeah, sure," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. "Do what you have to do."I studied Mitch for a moment, taking in the fear and uncertainty etched on his face. Satisfied that he understood the gravity of the situation, I gave him a curt nod. "Good," I replied, my voice dripping with malice. "Now get out of my sight."With that, Mitch hastily stepped out of the car, disappearing into the darkness of the night. I watched him go, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips. Everything was

Lily's POVI took a shuddering breath, my tears subsiding as I slowly pulled away from Aiden's comforting embrace. His presence alone felt like a balm that soothed me, and I found all the trauma I had carried around for years slowly ebbed away.I wiped my tear-stained cheeks with the back of my hand, managing a weak smile as I looked up at him. "Well, looks like I've managed to wet your shirt again," I noted, a snort of laughter coming out of my lips. "I should start carrying tissues around or something."Aiden chuckled softly, his eyes filled with warmth. "You know what, Lily? I'd gladly let you wet any of my clothes any day," he replied, his voice holding a hint of playfulness. "As long as I get to hold you tight like this, I am perfectly fine."His words caused a surge of emotion within me, and my heart skipped a beat. Despite the pain and darkness that had haunted my past, that I had just dug up from my memory, this man still loved me like no other.It made me feel extremely grate

Lily's POVThe eerie silence that followed the gunshot sent a jolt of fear coursing through my veins. My heart raced as I scanned the surrounding area, trying to pinpoint the origin of the alarming sound."Did you hear that?" I asked, my voice trembling with unease, as I turned to Aiden for reassurance. His expression mirrored my own apprehension, his eyes scanning the perimeter with furrowed brows."Yeah, I heard it," he replied, his tone tense as he surveyed the estate grounds for any sign of danger. "It's probably just... just..." He trailed off, his words faltering as he struggled to come up with a plausible explanation."Just what?" I pressed, my voice tinged with anxiety. "That sounded very dangerous."Aiden's gaze flickered towards the distant tree line, his jaw clenched with determination. "It's probably just my men doing some target practice," he finally offered, though his words lacked the conviction to fully ease my fears."But what if it's not?" I countered. My voice was b

Ricardo's POVThe long pier overlooked the Hudson River, and the Statue of Liberty loomed in the distance like a silent guardian of the city. I was standing on the pier, trying to let the cool air from the river wash away my fears.Sighing loudly, I stared at the small fishing boats that floated lazily on the river's surface. But my thoughts were far from the iconic monument or the floating boats before me. Instead, they were consumed by one burning desire: to hear that Aiden was finally dead.The mere thought of his demise filled me with a vile sense of satisfaction, coursing through my veins like a toxic elixir. For years, I had plotted and schemed to rid myself of that pestilential thorn in my side, and now, it seemed, my efforts might finally bear fruit.Maybe....just maybe that Mitch man would be successful in killing my archenemy. Then I would kill Mitch and dump his body in this very river.But even as I relished the prospect of Aiden's demise, there was a nagging voice at the

Lily's POV"I thought... I thought I was going to die," Lucas choked out between sobs. "When those men... when they shot me, all I could think about was how I would never see you again."My heart shattered into a million pieces as I listened to his anguished words. The realization of how close we had come to losing each other flooded my mind, and tears streamed down my face once again."Oh, Lucas," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. "I can't even begin to imagine what you went through. But you're here now, and I'm here. We made it through together."Lucas dried his tears, his gaze was wary as he looked at me. "I suppose you'd want to hear about how I got shot," he said, his voice tinged with hesitation. "You might have wondered..."I smiled gently, reaching out to hold his hand. "Lucas, I already know everything," I assured him. "I know about what happened, about your dealings with Ricardo. You don't need to explain anything to me."Confusion flickered across Lucas' face as