Snow’s Point of View:

I walked down the hall, my thoughts spinning in a dozen directions. I’d come downstairs just to thank my dad, but now Kingston Grey was all I could think about.

His smirk, his tattoos, the way he looked at me like I was some kind of game he was playing. I shivered at the memory of his voice calling me little bunny, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to brush off the strange thrill it gave me.

I need a distraction.

I took a deep breath, my grip on the phone tightening as I rounded the corner toward the back lounge, where I knew my brothers would be. Sure enough, Karsten, Dimitrios, and Zino were sprawled out on the couches, laughing over something on TV. When I walked in, they looked up, their faces lighting up with smiles.

“Snow!” Zino greeted, waving me over. “Come hang out. We were just about to order food—what do you feel like?”

I tried to match their energy, slipping into my usual seat beside Dimitrios. “Whatever you guys want. I’m not picky.”

Zino raised an eyebrow, giving me a mock look of surprise. “Really? You used to be the pickiest eater on the planet.”

I laughed, relaxing a little. “Guess things change.”

Karsten glanced at me, an amused glint in his eyes. “So... I heard you ran into Kingston in the living room,” he said, waggling his eyebrows. “How was that?”

My face heated up as I remembered Kingston’s smirk, his confident gaze, and the way he’d left me speechless. “It was... nothing,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “I just saw him for a second.”

Dimitrios, who had been watching me with a slight frown, leaned in. “Just be careful around him, alright? Kingston isn’t exactly the type you want to get too close to.”

I looked over at him, feeling a small flare of defiance. “I wasn’t planning on ‘getting close’ to him. He’s... he’s just...”

“Trouble,” Dimitrios finished for me, his tone serious. “I mean it, Snow. Grey isn’t just some guy who drops by for coffee. He’s got a reputation, and it’s not one you want to get tangled up in.”

I nodded, though a part of me didn’t like how protective they were being. “I know. Trust me, he’s the last person I want to... well, you know.”

But even as I said it, I couldn’t shake the image of him from my mind.

The way he’d looked at me, his tattoos showing through his unbuttoned shirt, the way he seemed to know just how to get under my skin.

I forced myself to push those thoughts away. Focus, Snow. You came here to thank your dad, not to get sidetracked by Kingston Grey.

“So, what did Dad say about Kingston being here?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

Dimitrios’ expression turned serious. “Not much, honestly. Just that he’s handling it. Apparently, Kingston has some business in the area, but Dad doesn’t trust him near us, especially near you.”

I shifted uncomfortably, the weight of Kingston’s lingering presence settling over me.

It seemed like no matter how hard I tried to escape him, he was everywhere—just beyond the corner, hidden in every shadow.

Zino, sensing the tension, leaned over and nudged my shoulder. “Come on, Snow. Don’t let that guy get in your head. We’re here to have fun, alright?”

I managed a smile, grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood. “Alright. What are we watching?”

Karsten grinned, holding up the remote. “Just some action movie. Nothing serious, just mindless explosions and car chases. Thought it might be a good way to, you know, keep things light.”

“Perfect,” I replied, settling into the couch and letting myself sink into the comfort of my brothers’ presence.

As the movie played, the room filled with the sounds of gunfire, roaring engines, and dramatic music. The action on the screen was over-the-top and ridiculous, but it was exactly what I needed.

For a while, I managed to forget about Kingston, my dad’s secrets, and the lingering weight of everything that had changed since I came here.

I laughed with my brothers, poked fun at the cheesy dialogue, and let myself enjoy a small slice of normalcy.

But as the movie wound down and the credits started to roll, I felt the weight of reality creeping back in. Kingston’s words echoed in my mind, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was watching, waiting, like a storm gathering on the horizon.

I glanced at my brothers, who were already debating which movie to watch next, and a sense of protectiveness washed over me.

I didn’t know what Kingston Grey was planning, or why he seemed so interested in me, but I had a feeling that whatever it was, it wouldn’t leave any of us untouched.