(Author's POV)
It's a new day for the Vales,they were all in their luxurious, secluded mansion. The mansion stood tall with sweeping glass windows that gave way to a panoramic view of the surrounding forests and lake below.
Marble floors gleamed under natural light spilling in from crystal chandeliers above. Every room held a blend of opulence and sensual warmth,plush velvet curtains, gold-accented furniture, and scents of lavender and sandalwood lingering in the air.
But Krystal's room was her own little kingdom,a sultry, private haven. She sat naked feeling the heat between her thighs.
Krystal had just gotten back from the gym a few minutes ago. After a quick five-minute shower, she had dropped her towel and remained bare, too aroused to dress.
She needed a tongue fûck so badly. The thought alone made her squirm. She didn't want to use her toys,those no longer gave her the thrill she craved. She was tired of doing it alone.
A knock on her door made her groan.
"Mmm," she exhaled, pressing her fingers against her clit and rubbing slowly. She spat into her palm and rubbed herself, hoping it would help relieve the ache building inside her.
F*ck, she was burning up. Another knock came, firmer this time. Her hips bucked slightly as her fingers went deeper.
"Come in," she said breathlessly, quickly checking her phone to confirm who it was.
She smiled when she saw the name. At least he came. She didn't think he'd be this eager.
A tall man stepped in, dressed in a sleek black uniform,her personal bodyguard. As soon as she saw him, her eyes lit up and she bit her lower lip seductively. His name is Rybeena, and she had dreamed of his cock filling her night after night.
He looked away immediately. It wasn't the first time she had tried to seduce him like this, but he had always resisted her.
Krystal stood and strutted toward him, breasts swaying slightly with every step. She traced her fingers along her curves, cupping her breasts and gently caressing them.
His jaw clenched; he was breaking.
"Don't you dare," she moaned, grabbing his face and forcing him to look at her.
"Ohh, f*ck," she whimpered, placing his large, gloved hands directly onto her breasts.
"I want you to f*ck me right now," she breathed into his ear, "or you lose your job for good today, Rybeena."
"Ma'am… this isn't right. I can't do this," he muttered, pulling his hands away,though not too forcefully.
Krystal ignored him. He wasn't resisting,not really. And he wouldn't dare push her off completely.
"I gave you an order, didn't I?" she said desperately.
"Touch me. Hold me. F*ck me. I want you. I need anything inside me as long as it's from you."
That did it.
Rybeena pushed her against the wall, roughly. She moaned at the contact, loudly
"I'm going to make you regret this," he growled, his hand slipping between her thighs. She gasped,he was so warm, so strong, and she had tempted him long enough.
"If you think so…then let me give this a try. Be my f*ck mate."She whispered hotly.
Rybeena smirked darkly. He spun her around, her breasts pressing firmly against the cold wall. He spanked her hard, the sound echoing in the room.
"Ouch, baby," she moaned, arching her back, grinding against him.
"What do you want?" he teased, sliding a finger inside her. Then another. His pace was rough and deliberate,it made her crave more.
"Ahhh, yes… deeper!" she screamed.
"Answer my damn question," he snapped, pulling his fingers out just as she was about to come.
"Rybeena! It's you, Rybeena! Please let me come," she pleaded wildly.
He shoved his fingers back inside with no mercy, and she cried out, her legs shaking with need.
A LOUD BANG ON HER DOOR.
She jolted upright in bed,her breath ragged,her body damp with sweat. She looked down at her naked body,she was wet, dripping.
It was all a dream. A wet dream,her bodyguard fûcking her.
"Crap,do I want him that badly?"She groaned and ruffled her hair.
"Ma'am, your brothers are waiting downstairs for you"Rybeena muffled through the door.
"Get out!"She screamed at him,still dripping on the bed sheet.
****
(Smith's Compound)
Outside, a sleek car rolled into the mansion's driveway. Grey stepped out first. Thorfinn followed. Krystal wasn't with them this time.
Two large guards stepped forward to block their path.
"Do you love your life?" Grey asked flatly, eyes dark.
Before either guard could reply, Thorfinn spoke coldly.
"Move aside."
They obeyed, stepping back, but followed cautiously behind.
From the hallway, Zinnia burst out excitedly. She ran to Grey and jumped into his arms.
"Grey,I missed you"She muttered.
He caught her, then set her down without a smile.
Thorfinn didn't stop. He kept walking, distracted as his phone rang in his hand. Not paying attention, he bumped into someone , hard.
Lorraina let out a sharp gasp as she fell to the ground.
Thorfinn paused, standing above her but made no move to help.
"Were your eyes shut while walking?". He lashed out at her.
He hated being touched,especially by women except his family.
"You weren't watching either,so I am not blind" Lorraine replied, standing up slowly and meeting his gaze confidently, because it seems every one of them has gone mad and just want to blame her for everything.
(GABRIEL'S POV)
There was a charge in the air,it wasn't just about wealth, money was the bait,power was the meal,and today, I was feeding.
The meeting was set in my private high-rise conference suite-marble floors, a long obsidian table, and a view of the city that made even the bravest men feel small.
They came in: politicians, power-hungry and admirable. Men who ruled towns and manipulated masses,but not here,in here they were all just players in my game.
Udofia, always squirming ,Eloka, a clown with cash,Dangiwa,too quiet for comfort, but I kept eyes on him. And yet, despite all their titles, it wasn't me that had them shifting nervously in their seats.
It was Levander.
He stood at the corner of the room, leaning against the wall like a phantom carved from shadow,he didn't speak,he didn't need to,his presence was enough. The air shifted the moment he entered.
Even the boldest men gave him a second glance.
He was dressed in all black,tailored, clean, threatening without effort. His eyes, unreadable. Calm like the eye of a hurricane. No one in that room could guess what was going on in that dangerous mind of his.
And that alone terrified them.
Levander is my son in law which I'm proud of,he brought my business back to life.
I know what he was capable of. They did too,or at least they'd heard the rumors.
Then,Lagatha's Sons emerged inside as well,what are they doing here?
"They're with me"Levander said and I nodded.
Grey and Thorfinn glaring daggers at me,if eyes could stab me,my blood would be available to drink by now.
When I began speaking, their eyes darted between me and him.
"Gentlemen" I said, slow and clear, "what I'm offering today isn't charity. It's not a partnership. It's a throne. And you can sit on it with me,or find yourself buried beneath it."
"Go straight Gabriel"Grey muttered.
"We don't bloody fûcking care about all that"Thorfinn added.
Levander nodded at me and I smiled nervously. What on earth is Lagatha planning,must she send her pawns to me!
Eloka chuckled nervously. Udofia tried to interrupt, but I raised one finger and glanced at Levander. That was all it took. Levander stepped forward just slightly.
Udofia froze.
"I'm not a politician," I continued. "I don't debate,I don't campaign,I conquer. And with Levander watching my back, there is no battle I don't win."
"Not just Levander, we're watching him as well"Grey corrected me with a mad glare.
"Can you let me finish?"I blurt that out angrily.
"Raise your tone one more time and you'll be finished right away"Thorfinn shot me a deadly glare.
Levander moved again, this time walking slowly behind me. The sound of his shoes tapping against the marble echoed with menace.
"Gabriel,do as he says"He whispered to me.
I can't say a word now,to attack them won't be a good idea, I'll go straight to Lagatha tonight.
"You've heard the stories," I said. "Some of you may even believe them."
Levander paused behind Dangiwa, who didn't flinch. Impressive. I made a mental note of that.
"But I'll tell you this,everything you've heard is true. And what you haven't heard… is dangerous."
Grey clenched his fist.
I let that settle. Watched their confidence rot behind their eyes. Then I ended it, calm and controlled:
"Decide now. Align with me, and you become untouchable. Refuse, and you'll learn what it means to regret in silence."
The silence that followed was long, delicious. One by one, they nodded. Hesitant at first tho!
When the last man signed the agreement, I met Levander's eyes across the room. He gave a slight nod,almost imperceptible.
Approval...That was all I needed.
(AUTHOR'S POV)
The room was dark but not silent. A single lamp glowed over the round table in the middle of the room, casting golden rings of light that danced against the shadows.
Three men sat around the table,Grey, Thorfinn, and Levander.
Levander lounged in his seat, one leg crossed, his long fingers lazily spinning a silver ring around his index like he had all the time in the world. Calm, smooth, unreadable,as always.
"So, Levi… are you really married or it's just a show?" Thorfinn asked, raising a brow with a teasing smirk.
Levander's lips curled.
"Would I spend millions for a show? You should know I don't do that."
Thorfinn chuckled, but Grey wasn't smiling.
He sat stiffly, sipping from his drink, eyes locked on the tablet in his hand—on the wedding photos of Levander and Lorraina. The images looked perfect. Too perfect. A glittering lie frozen in pixels.
Grey's jaw clenched. Without a word, he swiped the photos away.
"Did you move on so fast from Laura? I thought you loved her," he asked coldly, facing Levander now. His voice trembled beneath the sharpness, like something was barely holding together.
Levander didn't flinch.
"Yeah" he said coolly. "I loved your sister. But she's been gone for five years, Grey."
"You can't say that"Grey growled, standing suddenly and grabbing him by the collar.
"You don't get to talk about her like that!"
Levander's eyes darkened, his hands remaining at his sides. "You don't expect me to stay single forever because of her, do you?"
"You caused her death, Levander!" Grey shouted. "You might not have pulled the trigger, but you killed her. If you hadn't been so goddamn cold, so indifferent—if you'd just shown up when it mattered—she'd still be here."
[FLASHBACK – FOUR YEARS AGO]
It was raining so heavily that night.The sky cracked open in fury as thunder roared across the city, and Laura sat on the edge of the bed, soaked to the skin, mascara streaking down her face.
She had been waiting for hours.
Her hands trembled as she held her phone, reading Levander's last message for the tenth time:
"I'll call you tomorrow."
She stared at the door. He wasn't coming. Again.
Not for her birthday. Not when she got promoted. Not even tonight,when she had told him she was scared and she needed someone with her.
[PRESENT]
The silence in the room was suffocating. Levander finally stood, brushing Grey's hand off his collar.
"You think I don't know?" he said quietly.
"You think I don't regret every night?because of that, You think I don't blame myself? you think I wasn't fighting for justice?".
Grey's chest heaved, fists shaking. His voice dropped.
Levander turned away.
"I don't have the luxury of mourning, Grey. People like us—we bury, we burn and we keep pushing it."
"We're not we, I'm Lagatha's son and you're Andrew's son, fûcking let that sink, don't mix anything. The only reason I'm still standing under the same roof with you is because of Gabriel once he's out of the way,STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME". He walked out of the room with so much anger.
Thorfinn sighed,he doesn't know what to say, should he go to his brother or pacify Levander?
Levander turned to face him.
"My reception party....
"Zinnia told Grey already"Thorfinn nodded cutting him off.
"I'll be there if Grey permits me"He said and Levander chuckled.
(BLACKWOOD'S MANSION)
Gabriel entered his mansion,it was so quiet,and not even a single noise could be heard.
"Javier!"He called out,no reply.
No guards,no maids, no footsteps,no voices, nothing.
He checked the rooms, one by one, with concern,his daughter doesn't go out and his wife she has no other job than to stay right here in his mansion.
By the time he reached the living room to check there as well,it was so silent.
Then he found a phone on the couch lying there, immediately he took it and touched the phone a video played.
In the video,Jarnie tied to a pole, and Celine tied to a chair, with chains.
A call came in afterwards,he swiped the green button.
"Long time no see Gabriel"The dangerous voice came in.
He grinned recognising the voice.
"Lagatha"