L ife can be a real fucking bitch, I'll say that.

Ten hours ago, I had the girl I love in my arms, moaning my name, kissing me with everything she had, and giving all of herself to me. Ten hours ago, with Rose, I was the happiest I've ever been in my life. For one moment in time, we escaped all of it, just her and me and the little bubble we hid ourselves in.

That's all gone now. That's all ashes and smoke now.

We're back at Nico's little porn studio under the bright lights, with the garbage set and cameras. And this time, there'll no backing out. No tricks this time, or smooth talking our way out of it. This time, it's going to happen. There’s a part of me that burns fiercely inside with the knowledge that they're not going to take from her what they think they are. They aren't going to get her innocence being stripped from her on tape.

Not after last night, when she gave it to me. Not after last night when I took it from her with every ounce of my heart and soul behind it, making her mine and all mine.

Today, they'll get the motions. They'll get a bullshit knockoff of what happened last night. Fuck them. Let them sell it. Let them think what they have is what they think they have. I'll know, and she'll know, that they don't. Only we'll have that.

She's sitting across the room from me, looking at her hands. There's a glow to her today, and I don't know if the rest of them see it, but I sure as hell do. It's the glow of last night. It's the flush of her sweet cherry having been plucked. It's the glow of a woman who now knows what it means to be well and truly fucked , and made to come like she's never come before.

I don’t give a shit if the rest of them don't see that flush, because it belongs to me anyways.

It's a packed house today. Gino's here, along with a bunch of his personal crew. Apparently, Nico wants to give him a tour of the new studio.

…What a fucking snake. I could tell him what Vinny told me before he died — about what he and Nico were planning to do with the money they were making sure got stolen. But fuck it, and fuck him. I doubt they'd listen to me anyways, and if anything, I'm betting Nico would find an excuse to kill either me or worse, Rose, before I even got the chance.

Nico strolls around the room chain-smoking, his face looking gleeful.

"Hey, where the fuck is Joey?"

One of his guys shrugs. "Dunno, boss. Problems at home I think."

Nico snorts. "Problems at home? With who?"

"Eh, his side chick I think," the guy shrugs. "She's missing or something."

"The one he was smacking around?"

The guy nods and Nico rolls his eyes, waving him off. "Whatever. Find him . I need him here today. And find that fucking lawyer too. Gray. I haven’t seen the guy in days, and he's been dodging my fucking calls."

My ears prick up, and my brow furrows.

"Get him here. I've got paperwork that needs filing."

"Nico."

The mob captain stiffens up and turns at the sound of his uncle's voice. Gino's an older guy, greying hair on the sides and perpetual scowl on his ugly mug. The joke behind his back is how the hell he got Quinn, but I'm guessing attraction or love doesn't really play a part in whatever that transaction was.

…Maybe I should ask Roman's dumb ass.

"Glad you made it today, Uncle."

Gino shrugs, glaring around the room. "You know this isn't my thing, Nico. So let's get it going so I can get out of this place"

"All in good time, Gino," Nico grins, before turning and clapping his hands. "Alright!" he bellows, silencing the room. He glances around at his own lieutenants, which gives me pause and has the hairs raising on the back of my neck.

He's up to something.

I've lived my life being able to read people's faces and trying and guess where things are coming from before they do, and something about Nico's whole body language and attitude has me on edge.

"Everyone ready?"

His lieutenants nod. Lieutenants , not his camera guys. I frown. Actually, where the fuck are his camera guys?

"Alright sweetheart, you ready?"

He grins at Rose, and my blood boils. She nods quietly. But suddenly, Nico starts laughing.

"Just kidding."

Rose's brow furrows along with mine, the both of us glancing warily at each other.

"What?" I hiss.

Nico turns and grins at me as the confusion swirls over my face.

"I said just kidding." His grin widens evilly. "No need to shoot the scene today."

He shrugs, and the next words out of his mouth floor me

"We already got it."

What ?

Nico grins widely.

"The penthouse? Your room?" He starts to laugh. "Yeah, hidden cameras, buddy."

The floor drops out from under me.

"What!? " I hiss through clenched teeth, feeling the room spin. "You're fucking lying."

Nico laughs. "Nope, afraid not fuck-o." He rolls his eyes and gestures around. "C'mon, man, all this? This is for later, when the studio gets going. But for something like what I set up with you two love-birds, it's all wrong. No set, no director, and real amateur footage?" He grins widely. "That shit is gold , my friend. And you fucking delivered ."

Oh fuck. Oh holy fuck .

All my bold thoughts about how they'd never get that part of her, and how they'd never take that from her? Well, they did. Last night. If Nico's telling the truth, they got all of it last night. Every moment of her and I coming together, and every bit of me claiming her innocence. I turn, my face numb as I see the color drain from Rose's.

"But ," Nico sighs dramatically. "But you also went against our deal, Dylan. I told you not to touch her off-camera, and you damn well did anyways. I mean, I was hoping you would, since that's what I was after, but you still went against our deal."

He jerks his head at some of his guys.

"Get him the fuck out of here."

"No!"

Rose screams and runs for me, but there are two other guys that grab her and haul her back. I roar, fighting the three guys holding me down and lashing out, but they pin me to the ground.

"Oh, and you, sweetheart?" Nico grins wickedly, stepping towards Rose even as I scream at him that I'll tear his fucking hands off if he touches her.

"I see a good career for you, baby."

Rose’s head shakes side to side slowly, her eyes hard.

"I did what you wanted."

"Eh, kind of . But a cute thing like you?" He chuckles. "Oh I see a lot of movies in your future."

I roar, but he ignores me.

"Please no," she whispers, her face fierce and defiantly trying to hold back the fear.

"How about, for our next little project together, I film you and a few of my buddies, all at the same time?"

Rose starts to cry.

I lash out, knocking away two of the men holding me as I lunge or Nico. But they pile on top of me, bringing me down and raining blows down on me as I scream her name.

"Get him out of here," Nico mutters, spitting in my direction. "Say goodbye to your co-star, dipshit. Next time you see her, she's gonna be a big star ."