More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Read between
May 22 - June 1, 2025
“Didn’t think you were a hider, Hellion,” I growl after a few silent seconds. “And I didn’t have you down as someone who wants to listen to me pee, asshole.” The corner of my lip twitches before I remember that nothing about this girl is meant to amuse me. I hate her. Hate. Her.
“Fuck me, you want another round too, don’t you?” “I wouldn’t touch her with yours now I know she’s that traitorous cunt’s daughter.” “Sure,” he laughs, “You keep telling yourself that.” “We need to tell my dad,” Theo announces. “No,” I bark. “Not yet.” “Why the fuck not?” “Well, for one, the boss has no clue that we know the truth about what went down. And second, you tip him off, he’ll go straight after Galen and scare him off. I wanna know why he thought it was a good idea to come back, let alone bring his devil spawn with him.”
It’s probably a good thing, because if he weren’t high right now, he’d probably be halfway to finding where she is, ready to burn her house to the ground for even daring to come near us—me—after what her father did.
There’s a reason they were banished all those years ago.”
The only reason we know about the existence of Galen Doukas in the first place is because we overheard a conversation between his father, the Family’s boss, and his uncle Evan, the underboss, a few years ago.
“I’m not asking you to babysit her. Stella is more than capable of looking after herself.” Don’t I fucking know it. My balls ache just at the thought. “So why do we need to look out for her?” “You just do.” Damien pins his son with a look that cuts off any argument he might have. “And needless to say, this stays between us.” Ripping his gaze away, he ensures that both Alex and I hear his silent warning. Nico and Toby are not a part of this. And Stella isn’t to know.
“I didn’t sign up to be a babysitter for the ball buster,” Alex mutters as we pile back into the lift, ready to go and give Marco a gentle nudge in the right direction. “Seb’s got it covered, right, man?” Theo asks once the doors have closed. “He wants back in her pussy again, after all.” “No. I want to use her to get to her old man.” “Right, sure. So you won’t mind if my sitting comes with a side of cock then,” Alex quips. “I dunno, she looks like she could be a handful. Maybe she’d need both of us,” Theo adds, making my teeth grind at the thought of her pinned between the two of them.
...more
He moves faster than I expect, his hand wrapping around my throat a beat before my back collides with a car. “And that would just be another mistake you’ve made.” I quirk a brow in an attempt to look bored by his big scary bad boy act. But I also hope that it’s enough to stop him reading into how his possessive hold affects me.
How’s the fancy new school treating you?” Groaning, I fall back into the seat and give her a very basic rundown. “You’ve been there two days and annoyed both the queen bitch and her king already. That’s got to be a record, Stella, even for you.” “They’re a bunch of assholes,” I scoff.
“Can’t I just be a good guy?” he asks innocently, although he doesn’t look like he’s taken offence to my unspoken words. “When you’re friends with the devil himself, probably not.” A smile curls at his lips. “Don’t let Seb hear you call him that, it might go to his head.” “Not possible. His ego is already bigger than belief.”
His manly scent immediately assaults my senses, and I almost tell him to get the hell back out. I don’t want my baby smelling like boy—or at least that’s what I tell myself as my mouth begins to water. He’s the douchebag’s friend. Rein it in, Stella. “I’m Toby, by the way.” “Stella,” I say, instantly regretting it when his lips curl into a smirk. “But you already knew that.” “I would usually say that news about hot new girls spreads pretty quickly around here, but it seems you’re a bit of an enigma.”
“I’d kill for him. Doesn’t mean I have to agree with everything he does.” My brows rise at his blunt statement, but I think I understand. Not having all that many friends over the years, especially no lifetime ones, means I’ve missed out on those kinds of connections. “Kinda like a brother, then.” “Exactly that. The five of us, we’re family in all the ways that matter.” “Great, so if one of you hates me then ultimately you all do.” “I’m reserving judgement. He’s not given me anything concrete to go on yet, so I’m following my gut.” “You trust me?” I ask. “I dunno. You’re just…” He looks over
...more
What the hell are you doing? My heart slams in my chest as I rest back against the door. I’m playing with fire, inviting one of Seb’s friends here, but the wicked part of me loves it. There’s nothing more entertaining than tormenting jerks who think they’re in charge.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I ignore the temptation to track Toby’s to discover where she lives and instead connect to the Bluetooth so I can blast my angry workout playlist through the building.
A shudder rips through me the second I open the front door. The house stinks. It’s stale, musty and unloved. Once upon a time, it used to be entirely different. But I’ve only seen evidence of that in photographs or heard my sisters talk about it. A time I don’t remember. A time I barely even experienced. A time that died right alongside the heart of this home. We might all meet here every two weeks and pretend to be a normal family, but we’re far from it.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” I mutter, taking in the state of the place before my eyes land on the heap of a woman who’s on the old carpet between the sofa and the coffee table, surrounded by bottles and needles. She has good times. Times when she might just be able to keep her promises about cleaning up and becoming a mother once more. But those times are always followed by this devastation. I get it, to a point. Loss is hard. Hell, I feel it every fucking day. I fight it every fucking day. And I didn’t even know one of them. It was hard to deal with as a kid surrounded by women and having my
...more
I didn’t just lose my dad that day. My sisters didn’t just lose their father, my mum lost her husband. Our entire family lost everything. Everything that’s important. And then to be struck again only fifteen years later. It’s cruel. Really fucking cruel. Damien Cirillo would never have allowed us to be on the street—nor would I, which is why I demanded I be brought into the Family much younger than I’m sure he’d have liked. But there was no way I was sitting around watching everything turn to dust around me.
I’ve suffered for almost eighteen years. One bullet through the head seems too kind after everything he’s put us through. It needs to be better than that. Which is why I’m starting with his daughter. He tried to protect her all those years ago, so I’ve no doubt it’s his top priority these days. Ultimately, if I break her, I ruin him. And that’s exactly what I need. What I crave.
“Where’s Toby?” I spit, feeling even more flustered than I was when I bolted from the house and hating that he’s witnessing me being less than focused and composed. “Fighting off the hangover from hell.” A smirk twitches at his lips, and it tells me everything I need to know. “You got him wasted so he couldn’t pick me up, didn’t you?” “I didn’t know he was definitely going to pick you up so… call it a lucky break.” “You’re driving his car,” I point out. “Well done, Hellion. Nothing gets past you, does it?” “You’re infuriating.” His threatening smile finally emerges, as if he’s actually pleased
...more
Despite the fact that I’m covered in my school uniform, his eyes still drop like I might have just flashed him. “Are you finished?” He sucks his bottom lip into his mouth and drags it between his teeth as his eyes roll up to meet mine. They’re darker than they were when I first climbed into the car, and it sends a wave of desire through me.
“What do you want from me?” I force out as his grip only gets tighter. He smiles once more, but this time, there’s no amusement in it. Only malice. “I want to hurt you. Punish you. Ruin you. Break you,” he hisses, almost as if he’s actually talking to himself. “I want to make you cry, beg, plead with me for mercy despite the fact that you know it’ll never come.”
“That’s some heavy shit for someone you just met.” “You have no idea who you are, do you, Doukas?” I shake my head slightly, because I think it’s more than clear that I don’t have a fucking clue what he’s talking about. “Your mortal enemy, by the sounds of it,” I sass. “Not that I really think you’re brave enough to do anything about it.” He moves closer, his body hovering over the centre console. “You really need to watch what you say, Hellion. You really shouldn’t be challenging me.”
The second he moves and something cold gently presses against my thigh, I know I was right to be nervous. Although, hell, I can’t deny that his fingers wrapped around his switchblade don’t look hot as hell. “Seb,” I breathe. It’s meant to be a warning, but as I watch the tip of his knife trail up my thigh, scratching my skin ever so slightly and leaving light red marks, it sounds anything but. He stops when he gets to the edge of my skirt and his eyes lift from my leg to mine. My chest heaves as they connect. I hate that he can see exactly what the sight of his knife against my skin does to
...more
His knife digs in a little deeper, making my breath catch. Both of our gazes drop to the blade as a tiny pool of blood surrounds the tip. Dragging the knife up, Seb swipes his thumb through the redness before lifting it to his lips and sucking it into his mouth. His eyes darken more than I thought possible until the only thing staring back at me are the dark orbs of the devil. “Almost as sweet as your cunt,” he murmurs when he pulls his thumb free.
“Nice fucking try, asshole.” I press the blade against his skin, forcing him to sit back in his chair. The desire in his eyes morphs into fury as realization slams into him about what just happened. “I warned you,” I breathe, getting right in his face much like he was mine not so long ago. “I’m not a fucking toy you can play with, intimidate. I am not that fucking girl, and the sooner you realize that, the better this whole thing will play out for you.”
“You look even prettier when you’re at my mercy.” “You’re playing with fire,” he warns. “Oh, baby. I’m the one who ignited the motherfucking flames.”
My panties are in tatters, and I make the most of the privacy he allowed us by tucking my thumbs under my skirt and letting them fall down my legs. He watches my every move, his jaw tics and that vein at his temple pulsates. “Oh,” I say innocently, “did you want these?” I throw my panties into the car, ensuring they hit his face before falling onto his lap.
The wind whips around me despite the fact that the early morning sun warms my skin and my heart skips a beat when it catches my skirt. That slight panic is soon replaced with satisfaction, because I know his eyes are drilling into me and there’s no way he missed it. Spinning around, I find I’m right. His dark and dangerous eyes are fixed right on me as I lift my hand and flip him the bird, the widest smile I can manage breaking across my face.
My hand lifts and my fingers touch the tender patch of skin that was just under the blade of my own knife as I watch her walk away. I’m not sure if I’m mortified that she managed to get the upper hand on me yet again, or impressed at how easily she turned the tables. She’s definitely one of us, and I’m not sure I like knowing that given the chance, she could fit right in.
The second I saw his reaction to her, I knew that dragging him away was the right thing to do. He didn’t tell us anything happened, and I was too scared to ask, but Stella sure took pleasure in announcing that he was better than me. My fist curls at the thought of him touching her, at taking what’s mine, when a gust of autumn wind blows and makes my morning a whole fucking lot better. It’s only for the briefest moment, but the sight of her bare, knickerless arse makes my cock harden even more than it already is and forces all the air out of my lungs.
I’m about to lift them when she suddenly turns and locks her light blue eyes on mine. They’re full of achievement and joy. And when she lifts her middle finger up at me, her smile would knock me on my arse if I weren’t already sitting on it. I shake my head, my eyes narrowing in warning, but it’s a fight not to let my true feelings show at this very moment. Stella Doukas is a mystery that I might want to destroy, but hell if I’m suddenly not interested in finding out a little more about the missing mafia princess before I put an end to it all.
“You don’t just get to piss all over her and claim her as yours,” Toby mutters. “Oh yeah?” I ask, turning around to see him still being restrained by Nico. “Watch me, motherfucker.” “Seb,” Theo hisses. “What? I saw her first,” I deadpan. “Yeah, don’t we fucking know it.”
“What’s going on?” he asks, clearly sensing the tension. “Stella fucking Doukas happened,” Theo deadpans. “Toby wants her.” “Oh fuck.” He glances over his shoulder. “How’s that going?” “Shut the fuck up. She’s mine.” “You don’t actually want her though, do you?” “No. But I sure as fuck don’t want Toby anywhere fucking near her.” “I don’t think you need to worry about Toby exposing just how much of a cunt you are. Something tells me she already knows.”
Sitting back in her seat, she crosses her arms across her chest, a smug smile curling up one side of her mouth. “Mate, you’re in fucking trouble,” Theo mutters. “Nothing I can’t handle,” I say as Teag’s lips connect with my neck.
take back what I said earlier. Eat your heart out trying with that one, Seb. She fucking hates you,” Toby says. “Huh, you noticed that too,” I mutter. “Makes winning all that much sweeter. Game on, Tobes. Game fucking on.”
“All’s fair in love and war, Toby. Didn’t you learn that already?” I disappear out of the room, leaving him standing on the spot and probably planning a million ways to kill me. Get in line, motherfucker. Something tells me that Stella is right at the very front.
You should just go over there and fuck her, get it out of your system so you can focus.” “Stellar advice there, Theo. Thanks.” “What? It’s what you would usually do,” he argues, resting his elbows on the counter of his kitchen and looking over at me. “Yeah, well. This is different.” “Because she’s our missing princess?” “No, because she… because her father ki—” I cut myself off, not allowing myself to say it out loud. “I know, Seb,”
“There’s no right or wrong, but… you’re not the only one who’s lost people.” Silence stretches between us as I try to read into his words. The realization hits me. “Fuck me. You’re on her side.” “What? No. Never. But did you ever consider that maybe she’s hurting just as much as you?”
If only we knew how bad it was going to get when we lost Demi as well. There was barely a year between the two of us, and aside from the guys who’ve always been by my side, she was my best friend. And then one day, she was no longer there. Gone to be with Daddy, I remember Sophia trying to tell me, as if it would make it all better. It fucking didn’t. Nothing could ever make it better.
That move was so tender that it threw me for a loop, but that’s what this is. It’s a game. I might have no clue where the finish line is, but I already know who’s going to win. With each flash of his wicked eyes, I already feel myself willingly handing myself over to him. It’s a dangerous place to be, but right now, I’m not sure I want to be anywhere else.
“You really think I’m going to make it that easy for you? All you need to know right now is that you’re mine, Doukas.” His knife continues over my chin and to my throat, where he pushes that little bit harder into my skin. Not enough to cut, but enough to ensure I’m aware of just how much a predicament I could be in right now. “Mine to do with as I please. I deserve it, after all.”
His knife moves again, dragging over my collarbone with enough pressure that it stings. His eyes flare, and I know instantly that he’s drawn blood. As he dips his head, I have to lock down the moan of pleasure that wants to rip from my throat when his lips close over the small wound and his tongue laps at the sensitive skin.
His lips leave my collarbone, brushing up my neck until his hot breath tickles around my ear, making a violent shiver rip through me. “Mine,” he whispers. “And I love nothing more than ruining everything I own.”
The blade of his knife is beneath the fabric of my bra, poised ready to slice it from my body. “Tell me no, Hellion. I dare you.” I tilt my chin up in defiance, and he smirks. “Fuck you, Seb.” “Nah, the only one getting fucked here tonight is you.”
“Seb,” I cry when he pinches my nipple so hard I swear I feel it in my clit. “Oh shit.” He twists, and it fucking burns, but fuck… “Fuck…” My hips roll, my thighs rubbing together with my need for more. “I was right. So fucking beautiful falling apart beneath me, Hellion.” “Make the most of it. You won’t see it again.” “You’re full of shit, Doukas.” And just to prove his point, he dips his head, circling my nipple with the tip of his tongue,
“I think that only one of us is going to get what we want tonight.” His free hand moves to his waist and I watch as he snaps his belt open and awkwardly shoves the sopping wet fabric of his pants down enough to release his cock. My mouth waters as he wraps his fingers around himself, sitting up slightly so he’s hovering over my chest. I watch him shamelessly stroke himself for long minutes, my thighs rubbing together in a pathetic attempt to dull the incessant throb of my pussy. But it won’t help. Nothing but his touch, his mouth, his cock will give me anywhere near what I need. It’s just a
...more
Pure unfiltered hate stares down at me. It’s such a weird sight mixing with the movement right above my tits. He might hate me, but it’s obvious that he wants me just as much as I do him. I shouldn’t. I should want Toby. Hell, even Theo. Both of them have at least shown me a little decency since I turned up at Knight’s Ridge on Monday, unlike the guy currently jerking off to the high of his hate for me. It’s fucked up. It’s wrong. So why the fuck does it feel so right?
The moment he’s done, he tucks himself away and leans over me, pulling something else from his pocket. “Smile, you filthy whore. I bet Daddy would love to see the truth about his precious little princess.” “Fucking cunt,” I bark, thrashing against his hold as he takes photo after photo of me covered in his spunk, soaking wet and caked in mud. Safe to say, I’ve looked better.
My heart pounds and my stomach churns as I think about what he just did to me. The way he touched me, used me, degraded me. I should be disgusted. He treated me like nothing more than the whore he accuses me of being. But I liked it. Hell, I wanted more. I still do. My cunt is still slick with need, desperate to feel something, anything. And I know for a fact that if he turned around right now and came back, I’d let him do it all over again.
How unlucky is it for your father and sister to die on the very same day fifteen years apart? That kind of loss is enough to fuck anyone up. But this is more than that. It’s more than just the pain of losing someone you love.
