Simon’s hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. The Satisfaction System blinked its dull glow in the corner of his mind, offering prompts he half-read through the haze of anger clouding his thoughts.[Track her. Control her. Own her]The road stretched ahead, dark and empty. Emma was with Chad now, safe. But Mary—Mary was another story. She had taken things too far, pulling Emma into whatever twisted scheme she had concocted. Simon’s chest tightened at the thought. He’d deal with Chad later. For now, Mary was the target.He shook his head, trying to clear the growing fury, which apparently also prompted his system to start offering suggestions—a thing it never did before.As the car sped through the city streets, memories of Mary clawed at him. Her betrayal. The night he’d found out she was with Tom, that smug bastard. And now this? Whatever game she was playing with Anne had to end tonight.The dingy apartment block where she lived came into view. He sl

The guard’s breath hitched as Simon’s words settled over her, the promise of something more than her monotonous life swirling in her mind. She looked at him, eyes flicking over his face, searching for any hint of insincerity but finding none. The desire, long buried under routine and apathy, flared in her eyes. Simon could see it now—she was close, teetering on the edge of her own unspoken desires.Her voice came out in a whisper, barely audible but heavy with longing. “There’s this place... above the walls, one of the lookout points.” She swallowed, as if the words themselves were forbidden. “I always thought about it—having a man take me there. The thrill of being above the entire prison, knowing someone could be watching... knowing we’re being seen, but no one able to stop us.”Simon’s smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with amusement and satisfaction. She had handed him everything he needed. The guard shifted under his gaze, clearly nervous but unable to stop the pull she felt towar

Rose’s tears welled up, her trembling body a sharp contrast to the fierce woman Simon once knew. He couldn’t shake the memory of how they had once been close—how they had shared more than just whispered secrets, how he’d found himself drawn to her in ways that surprised and confused him.That night was vivid in his mind, the electricity between them undeniable. It was as if something had snapped, pulling them together in an unspoken understanding. They were both trapped in Anne’s orbit, both trying to claw their way out. But now, seeing her broken and bound, Simon felt something twist deep inside him—something close to guilt.“I need more than just pieces of this, Rose,” Simon urged, his voice softening but his eyes still sharp. “What did Anne do to Lisa? Why would she kill her? And why did she throw you in here?”Rose wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, her voice shaky but more controlled. “Lisa found out too much. She found out about Anne’s dealings with Steven. Anne is tied t

Simon dragged Marcus outside, the rain soaking both of them. Michael’s men stood watch, their eyes scanning for any signs of retaliation.“The Broker,” Simon said, his voice dripping with disdain. “Who does he work for?”Marcus shook his head frantically. “I don’t know! I swear! He’s just a middleman! The money—”“Where did the money come from?” Simon interrupted.Marcus hesitated, fear flashing in his eyes. “Parker Holdings. I don’t know from whom exactly, but the funds came through that company. That’s all I know, I swear!”Simon released Marcus, letting him collapse onto the wet pavement.The streetlights above cast harsh shadows over Simon’s face, making him look every bit the predator he was in that moment.“You’re lying,” he said, his voice low but razor-sharp. “You’ve got more than that. Talk.”Marcus shook his head, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “I swear, man, I swear—”Simon crouched, grabbing Marcus by the front of his shirt and yanking him close, their faces inches apa

The Parker family estate was a fortress of wealth and power. Inside, John Parker sat in his expansive study, the glow of his antique desk lamp illuminating his cheekbones. His icy demeanor reflected in the highball glass he swirled absently, the amber liquid sloshing like a storm in a bottle.Across from him stood his trusted confidant, Victor Black, a man as ruthless as he was loyal. Victor’s tailored suit was as sharp as his tone as he laid a file on the polished mahogany desk.“You’re not going to like this, Mr. Parker,” Victor said, his voice low.John’s piercing blue eyes flicked to the file, then back to Victor. “What is it?” he asked, his tone calm, but there was an edge to it, the calm before the storm.Victor hesitated for half a second before continuing. “It’s Simon. Your daughter’s husband.” He leaned forward, tapping the folder. “He’s been... involved with Rose.”The name hit John like a slap. His jaw tightened, and the glass in his hand came down with a sharp thud. “Ros