A chill ran through Lucas. His attention sharpened instantly.

"And Dominic..." she continued, her voice dropping even further, "he won’t last much longer. The gang will be wiped out. No one will survive. Tell me, Lucas—are you willing to die for someone who doesn’t even value you anymore?"

She studied his face carefully, searching for cracks.

"Think about it," she pressed. "What do you gain by staying with him? Nothing. But with Victor, you could have everything—money, power, influence. You’d be unstoppable."

She stepped closer, placing her hand lightly against his chest.

"And you have me."

Lucas held her gaze, something dark flickering in his eyes.

Serene didn’t look away. "I can be yours," she whispered.

Something shifted in him. In the next instant, he pulled her in and crushed his lips against hers.

Serene stiffened for a moment and then pulled back. She pressed her hands against his chest. She could feel his strong heartbeat beneath her palm and his uncontrolled desire.

Her lips curled slightly in satisfaction. "Not here," she whispered. "Come with me."

She held his hand and led him out of the hospital.

They came to a hotel.

Serene barely had time to react before she was pushed against the wall, his hand gripping her waist with a force that made her breath hitch.

His mouth crashed against hers again—nothing gentle, nothing restrained. It was fierce, demanding, almost punishing.

Serene stiffened for a heartbeat, then responded just as fiercely. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer instead of pushing him away. She matched his fire, feeding it, provoking it further.

Lucas’s hands moved impatiently over her, gripping and pulling as if he couldn’t get enough.

Clothes became nothing more than obstacles. Within moments, they were scattered across the floor.

He cupped her face again, kissing her harder than before. "You think I’ll just switch sides like that?" he muttered against her lips.

Serene brushed her lips against his, her tone teasing. "You already are."

Something in him snapped at that. Whatever control he had left vanished. He lifted her effortlessly, pressing her harder against the wall as he claimed her in one swift motion.

"Uh," she gasped at the fullness, her head jerking back.

His movements were rough, impatient—driven by something far deeper than desire.

Her breath grew uneven with each thrust. "Lucas, you are so good," she rasped, her nails digging into his shoulders.

"You like it," he growled.

"Yes," she gasped. "Uh... harder..."

Her words were enough to drive him crazy. His pace intensified, pushing both of them closer to the edge.

"Oh, Lucas...um...yes..."

He was wild, and Serene let him be. Because this was exactly what she wanted.

Her lips curved faintly against his. "You are angry," she whispered.

"Not anymore," he shot back.

But that wasn’t true. He was still burning. And he took it out on her.

The tension built, sharper and sharper, until it snapped all at once.

"Uh..." Serene’s whole body stiffened and then trembled in his arms. The pleasure hit her in waves.

But Lucas wasn’t finished.

He carried her to the bed and threw her onto it. Before she could recover, he turned her over and took her again, leaving no room for pause.

A cry slipped from her lips as he continued, relentless and unyielding.

He didn’t slow down. His hand tangled in her hair, pulling her back as he moved with even more force.

He leaned over to her and whispered in her ear, "You gave yourself to me. If you betray me, I’ll kill you with my own hands."

Serene quirked her lips. "I won’t," she whispered back.

Lucas tugged at her hair, jerking her head backward. The next minute, he came inside her.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Lucas pulled away and stepped off the bed.

Serene reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Stay with me for a while."

Lucas’s expression was cold. There was no warmth in his eyes. He glanced at her over his shoulder. "You are not my girlfriend. And don’t try to be one."

He pulled his hand free. "What happened was just physical. Nothing more."

He looked away from her. "This is a one-time thing. It won’t happen again."

He strode into the bathroom.

Serene lay still, her lips curling into a sly smile. "You will come to me again and again. No one can resist my charm."

Lucas came out of the bathroom sometime later. He picked up his clothes and began dressing silently.

"I’m meeting a valuable client," Serene said slowly. "Come with me."

Lucas glanced at her.

She rose from the bed and walked toward him slowly. "This man is powerful," she said. "One of the six members."

Lucas’ eyes lit up.

Serene stepped closer, running a finger slowly down his chest. "You should get to know him. If you gain his favor, you could become even more powerful than Dominic."

Lucas pinched her chin, narrowing his eyes. "Are you trying to use me to get revenge on Dominic?"

Serene smirked and clasped his hand gently. "Right now, I’m only thinking about myself. I want a luxurious, peaceful life. And for that, I’ll do anything."

She cupped his face. "You can also have such a life—a life which Dominic can never give."

Lucas stared into her eyes silently. Something dark flickered there, but Serene failed to understand what it meant.

Finally, he spoke. "Fine. I’ll go with you."

Later that day...

The black car stopped in front of the Blue Lagoon Club.

Men in expensive suits and women in revealing dresses moved in and out of the entrance. Even from outside, the heavy bass of the music vibrated through the air.

Lucas followed Serene inside.

The club was packed. Bodies moved recklessly on the dance floor. Bartenders slid endless glasses of alcohol across glowing counters.

The scent of liquor, smoke, and expensive perfume.

Lucas scrutinized the surroundings, his senses sharper. Nothing here was clean. Every inch of the place screamed temptation, danger, and corruption.

In the darker corners of the club, deals were happening quietly. Small packets exchanged hands beneath tables.

Some patrons were already too intoxicated to stand properly. Women circled wealthy men like predators, draping themselves over shoulders, slipping onto laps, whispering something.

Serene moved closer to him, her lips brushing near his ear. "The client is waiting upstairs in a private booth."

She pointed toward the upper floor.

"Let’s go."

Lucas followed her up the winding stairs, his curiosity deepening. "Who are we meeting?" he asked.

"Steven Miller," Serene replied. "In the business world, he is known as a billionaire investor and entrepreneur. He owned hotels, casinos, shipping companies, construction firms, and luxury resorts spread across different countries. His influence reached politicians, police departments, and corporate giants."

She paused right outside a private room and turned to him. "But beneath that polished public image hid his dark business."

Serene paused briefly before saying, "Steven Shaw is one of the six shadow figures who secretly controlled the entire underworld network from behind the curtains. Drug routes, illegal weapons, underground gambling, trafficking rings, black-market deals—everything moves under their approval."

She put a hand on his chest. "They are the real rulers. Gang leaders like Dominic and Victor fight openly in the streets, but men like Steven remain untouchable, pulling the strings from luxurious offices and private rooms like this one.

Lucas’s expression turned pensive. He had been in this world, fighting every single day for years. But he had never heard of them. He had never known that some rich people would run everything from behind the shadows.

"Together, Steven and the other five men decide who rises to power... and who disappears forever."

Lucas’s eyebrows creased slightly.

"If you get his favor, you can be a gang leader," Serene continued. "You don’t need to work under anyone else—not Dominic, not Victor."

"Why?" Lucas frowned ever harder. "Why are you helping me?"