Chapter Thirteen
Alora
“Keep your eyes closed,” Kreos murmured, his hands resting on my shoulders as we moved down the hall.
Butterflies danced in my stomach as the air shifted, becoming much cooler as we moved through what felt like a doorway. He’d woken me up in the morning to tell me he had a surprise for me. Then devoured every inch of my body until I was crying out his name.
I’d gone to bed last night determined not to let what happened in the office happen again. But all it had taken was one filthy whisper in my ear, one soft bite on my shoulder, and I’d turned to putty in his hands. I’d thought I was stronger than that.
Apparently not.
Things had started to change in the last few days. Well, maybe it was me doing all the changing. The thing was, I’d thought I’d have to try a lot harder to fake being a happy fiancée. But in reality, it was—natural. Being happy here in this home was natural. Even worse? Being with him felt natural.
I was supposed to be using him for his money so that I could escape with Dove. Instead, I was becoming more conflicted with each passing day. When he insisted on removing my birth control implant, I barely put up a fight. Afterwards, I convinced myself it was fine. Dove could sneak me a new prescription, and Kreos would never have to know.
I’d had a plan. Then he’d gone and fucked up my plan by being sweet and caring and giving me the wildest orgasms of my life. Last night, he’d even massaged my calves and feet when I’d said they hurt from walking in heels for most of the day.
Bela had insisted I wear them so I would be prepared to walk in them on my wedding day. She’d been so enthusiastic and insistent that I try on every single accessory, even though I’d told her a diamond crown would be way too much. Yesterday had seemed normal. The ease of our friendship, the champagne, the laughter had been more than just fun, it had been exciting. But it made me miss Solene, Mira, and Margot even more. I’d have to talk to Kreos about letting me see them.
I understood that things were different now, that I could potentially be a target and had to be careful. The thought should have scared me, but for some reason, I believed him when he said he’d keep me safe. Just like yesterday. You would have thought being escorted around town by six armed guards would have been jarring. But it wasn’t. I’d never felt more protected in my life.
Bela and I drank champagne, shopped in luxury boutiques I would have never dreamed of going to, and even ate at an exclusive restaurant that had a six-month waiting list. Not for us, though. The mere mention of Kreos’ name and management had been scrambling to serve us .
A devil’s bargain, that was what it was. Freedom for protection and luxury. The worry about paying bills, taking care of Dove, even the daily struggle of trying to survive—it was all gone because of Kreos. My old life seemed to be slipping away, and a part of me was angry with myself for being so OK with that.
I was seeing firsthand what happiness could look like with him.
And I was terrified of it.
Not to mention the whole mole situation. That I hadn’t been expecting. I had a feeling that was what Dylan and I had walked in on all those weeks ago. Someone was trying to sabotage his business, and we’d just strolled right into the middle of it.
I should have told Kreos about the dying man and the coin. I’d had so many opportunities to say something, but the longer I kept it a secret, the more it seemed like a betrayal. And well, I knew how he felt when he thought someone betrayed him. I just hoped I would never have to explain it to him.
I’d examined the coin so many times that I was finally able to figure out the design. Two double-headed eagles holding a shield. On the shield, there was a snake wrapping around a sword. I’d written the phrase and showed it to Grig, who said it translated to “loyalty, honor, victory.” The outer edge of the coin had an intricate vine pattern with tiny, engraved stars. I’d tried to google it on Dove’s iPad, but nothing had come up.
I was sure if I just told him about it, Kreos would have an explanation. Maybe today I would finally get the courage.
After a few more steps, Kreos gripped my shoulders, making me stop walking .
“Open your eyes, kotic .”
I gasped as my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.
This was worse than I could have ever imagined.
Because the monster had a heart, and he was showing it to me right now.
We were standing inside a massive photographer’s darkroom, easily four times bigger than my old apartment living room. Sleek black countertops ran along the walls, along with a wet area with stainless steel sinks and shelves filled with serums, fixers, and toners. There was even a professional print washer humming in the corner.
It was a photographer’s paradise. Tears sprang to my eyes, and I bit my bottom lip to stop them from spilling.
He watched my face intently for my reaction. A smile spread across his face. “You like it? I brought in a professional who said this would be everything you need.”
“Kreos.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. Why did he have to be so damn thoughtful? “It’s perfect. I’ve never… I never thought…”
He held up his hand, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “Wait, there’s more. They insisted you would love these.” He pulled out a series of camera cases, opening each one.
My eyes widened at the cameras. A Hasselblad, a Leica M Series, and a rare vintage camera I’d only ever dreamed of touching.
“And this.” He pointed to a panel with various buttons, pressed one. Soft music filled the room. “I remember you said music helped you focus.”
I was at a loss for words. A tear spilled down my cheek.
“What’s wrong, milaya ?” The concern in his tone just made more tears fall. “Did I get it wrong? I’ll kill that fraud for making you cry.”
I giggled, wiping my tears. “No, it’s wonderful.” He lifted my chin with his thumb, so I was forced to look at him. “It’s just… this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.” I lifted on my tiptoes, placing a soft kiss on his lips. “Thank you.”
His grin turned wicked as he pulled me against his chest. “You’re welcome. You deserve this, and so much more.” His lips crashed into mine. Possessive. Greedy. When he released me, I was gasping for air, my fingers gripping his shirt in bunches.
This was dangerous. I knew if I let him kiss me again, I would probably end up on one of these tables with his head between my legs. He was insatiable. The thought had me squeezing my thighs together.
His phone pinged at that moment, breaking our spell. Which was probably for the best. I couldn’t spend all day just lying around having orgasms. I mean, technically I could, but I probably shouldn’t.
I could tell something was wrong by the way his shoulders tensed, but his expression didn’t waver. If there was one thing he was really good at, it was hiding his emotions. But there were little signs that gave him away, like the way his eyes darkened or his back straightened. He could transform right before your eyes, but if you blinked, you would miss it.
“My parents have arrived.” His jaw ticked, and he shoved his phone back into his pocket. “They’ll be staying at their penthouse in Manhattan, but we’ll be seeing them for dinner tonight. ”
OK, good mood ruined. All I could think about was how crazy his mother was and how inappropriate it would be to stab your future mother-in-law.
“Nothing to worry about.” He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear.
“You keep saying that,” I muttered, then squealed when he lifted me up onto the table and stepped between my legs.
“Because it’s true.” He threaded his fingers through my hair, tugging my head back. “Understood?”
I nodded, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.
“That’s my good girl,” he whispered, his fingers digging into my thighs.
I knew I shouldn’t like it, but every single time he called me a good girl, I wanted to strip off all my clothes and crawl into his lap. Another new kink I hadn’t known about. Let’s just add it to the list right below spanking and his hand wrapping around my throat.
We both groaned a second later when his phone rang. He held it up to his ear, and I could barely make out a voice on the other end. A moment later, he hung up, pressing his forehead to mine.
“Business calls. But please, enjoy your new sanctuary. And try out the cameras. We should be filling the walls of our home with your work.” He pressed his lips to mine, then, a moment later, he left.
My head was spinning at all of this. I couldn’t understand how a mafia boss and ruthless killer could be so sweet. Was it all a trick? It wasn’t that many weeks ago that he was telling me he owned my life. Was that what this was all about? Was he just being nice so that I would stay compliant ?
It would be in my best interest to keep to my plan. Use him like he was trying to use me. Get the money, get the trackers out, then run. There was nothing wrong with having a few orgasms in between it all. Just so long as I remembered not to involve my heart.
I loaded film into the Leica M Series and headed down the corridor. Might as well test out this beauty while I had access to it. Since Kreos had covered my eyes on the way down here, nothing looked familiar, and soon I was completely turned around. It was like a maze down there.
Movement through a window caught my eye, and I peeked through it, then jerked away. Kreos’ soldiers were out there, maybe thirty of them. They were loading large crates into unmarked black vans. A crate slipped. One of the soldiers smacked the other on the back of the head and yelled in Russian.
Even from where I was hiding, I could see the glint of the weapons. Guns, and lots of them. Before I could second-guess myself, I raised the camera and snapped several photos. Photos of the crates and numbers on the side, some of the men’s faces, and the license plates of the vans.
The voice inside my head screamed at me to stop. That I was being a traitor, that Kreos would kill me if he found out what I had just done. But the other voice, the survivor in me who had dug through dumpsters in alleyways to feed her family, who had fought back when men had tried to take from her, that voice screamed, Hell yes, get your leverage. This is your insurance policy so that you can be free.
Either way, I hoped I never had to use it .
I lowered the camera just as one of the soldiers glanced at the window. My heart stopped for a moment and I pressed myself into the wall, hiding more in the shadows. When he looked away, I slowly walked backwards, then ran down the hall.
I found my darkroom and slammed the door. As long as I kept this hidden, then I would have nothing to worry about. And as long as Kreos eventually let me go, then he had nothing to worry about.
An hour later, I was in a bikini lounging by the pool, contemplating all the decisions the last two months that had led me here. Guilt coursed through my veins at what I had just done, but that was ridiculous.
Right?
I wished I could talk to Dove about what I was feeling, but she and Gavriil were in the workout center. He had gotten it in his head that she needed self-defense lessons and was insistent on teaching her. When I’d asked Kreos if I could join in, he’d pinned me against the wall with my hands over my head and said he’d be the only one teaching me. Apparently, we were doing that right after the wedding, which was in three days.
Anya came out with a tray of champagne, Nadya following behind her with two large trays of fruit, meats, and cheeses. I cocked an eyebrow as Nadya set the trays down on the table.
“This is unexpected.” I chuckled and sat up. “Are you ladies joining me for a snack?”
Anya laughed as she set the tray down. “No, dear, the Pakhan said your friends would be stopping by.”
My heart stopped for a moment as I registered what she’d said. “My friends?”
Just then Mira, Margot, and Solene came barreling down the back steps, yelling my name.
My heart swelled with happiness at their beaming faces. I ran to meet them, my arms open as they grabbed onto me, squeezing me into a tight hug. My entire body was humming with pure joy as I held on to my best friends. Damn, I’d missed them so much.
“You guys, how did you get here?” I pulled back, taking in every detail about them.
“Well, your new fiancé said we could finally see you after we threatened extreme violence.” Mira chuckled as she set her oversized bag down.
The thought of Kreos buckling under the pressure was laughable. There was no way he’d allowed this because they threatened him.
“Yeah, you have a lot of explaining to do,” Solene added. I recalled how Agent Greene had said that Solene had called her, worried out of her mind. More guilt settled deep in my stomach for not trying harder to talk to them. If I’d explained to Kreos how important they were to me, I was sure he would have been reasonable. On the other hand, he wasn’t really that reasonable of a guy, so maybe not.
We lounged by the pool, sipping champagne and snacking on the delicious treats Nadya had brought us. Margot and Mira spent the first hour gushing over the estate, their eyes wide at all the luxury. They nearly lost their minds when I told them about the underground tunnel system on the estate. Kreos had shown me the secret passageways in the house, and then tried to take me down to the tunnels, but it was dark and creepy and I wanted no part of it.
Mira tapped my leg playfully with her foot, giving me a pointed look. “Remember when I told you that if you see anyone with that wolf and Z tattoo, that you should run the other way? I didn’t mean to run directly into the arms of the actual mafia boss.” She giggled.
Solene swirled her drink. “You still haven’t really explained how you two met. One minute you’re bartending, the next you’re engaged to a billionaire?” There was an edge in her tone, and rightfully so. In their eyes, I had abandoned them, but they didn’t know it wasn’t my choice.
“Actually, I met him a long time ago. We just happened to reconnect recently. It’s complicated.” I shrugged, trying to keep my answer casual without making them want to ask more questions.
“Everything about this is complicated.” Solene leaned forward. “Look at all this security, the armed guards, all the hoops we had to jump through just to see you. Alora, he’s a criminal. Like a really bad one. You know that, right?”
“He’s not a really bad criminal, Solene.” I rolled my eyes, but every muscle in my body tensed. This conversation was about to go south really quickly if she persisted.
“That’s not what Agent Greene told me.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “She said he’s a killer and that you could be in serious danger.”
“Do I look like I’m in danger?” I raised my hands and waved them around me.
“No, you look like you’re in a luxurious prison. And what about your photography? The competition? Have you just given up on all of your dreams so you can be a trophy wife?” Solene scoffed.
“I haven’t given up on anything.” I pushed the tray of fruit to the side and leaned forward. “I’m still doing the competition. Actually, I only need three photos and then my submission will be complete. And honestly, you should not be talking to Agent Greene about me or my business. She’s only looking for trouble.”
“Solene, not cool,” Mira scolded as she squeezed my hand. “Can’t you see Alora’s happy? We should be supporting her, not trying to bring her down.”
Solene rolled her eyes at her sister’s comment. “You don’t belong here, Alora. He’s trying to buy your love. The woman I met all those years ago would have seen through all this.” She waved her hands at the mansion and the pool.
My fingers drummed against the table as I tried to control my breathing. I was angry, but mostly at myself, because she wasn’t even wrong. Not that I could explain the truth to her anyways, though.
Before I could respond, a shadow fell across our group. Kreos stood at the pool’s edge, his presence immediately commanding attention. He was dressed in a dark suit that clung to his muscles; his expression was unreadable.
“Ladies.” His voice was like steel. “I trust you’re enjoying yourselves?”
Mira and Margot practically tripped over themselves responding, but Solene narrowed her eyes at him. You could feel the tension crackling around us, and I tried to ease the situation by smiling brightly at him. I didn’t know how much he had heard, and I was scared to find out.
“Your concern is noted.” Kreos nodded at Solene, his tone deceptively gentle. “It shows how much you care about her. But I can assure you, everything I do is for her protection and happiness.”
The way he said “protection” had Solene’s eyes widening. She opened her mouth to respond, but decided against it when he stepped closer to the table.
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Now, if you’ll excuse me”—he smiled—“I have business to attend to. Kotic , dinner with my parents will be at eight.”
As he walked away, the tension seemed to grow. Mira and Margot asked a million questions about where we were going and what I was going to wear, but Solene watched us with a scowl on her face. I could see it in her eyes that she was afraid for me.
And I understood exactly why. If the tables were turned, I would do everything I could to make sure she was OK.
There was just no way to explain this to her without telling her the truth. And I didn’t even know what that was anymore.
*** ***
The restaurant Kreos’ father chose for dinner was perched high above Manhattan. From up top, the view of the city took your breath away. Kreos gripped my thigh under the table, offering me some comfort. Especially after the way his mother, Evelina Zokrov, had been staring at me all night.
She sat at the table like she was the queen and we were all her peasants. Her dark hair was pulled tight into a bun, diamonds dripping from her ears. When she smiled, it never really reached her eyes. I was pretty sure she was one of Satan’s demons put on this earth to only cause misery and fear .
Speaking of Satan, Gavriil signaled the server to refill our wine glasses, and I realized I was happy he’d joined us.
“So, Alora.” The way she said my name made my back straighten. “How are you adapting to our lifestyle now that you’re no longer bartending?”
Fuck, here we go again. This was the third comment she’d made about my former job.
Kreos squeezed my thigh under the table, and I relaxed a little bit. He’d already told me that if she stepped out of line, we would leave. He was only having this dinner out of respect for his father, even though their relationship seemed tense as well.
Before I could answer, Gavriil interjected. “Alora has quite the list of accomplishments, Evelina. She’s a finalist in a photography comp—”
“Photography?” Evelina laughed, the sound making me cringe. “How… quaint. Although I guess it’s better than serving drinks to a room full of drunks.”
“Evelina.” Kreos’ voice held a warning, and this time I was the one squeezing his thigh. I didn’t want him to do anything crazy or cause any more of a rift between his parents. I’d handled worse people than her before in my life.
Kreos’ father, Viktor, who had seemed to give me a nod of approval earlier in the night, glanced up from his phone. “The girl’s background is irrelevant. What matters is loyalty and the utmost discretion.” His voice was cold and calculating. Kreos and his father shared similar features, dark hair and eyes that seemed like they could see inside your soul. But his father was more heavyset and about five inches shorter than him.
“And children, of course.” Evelina scowled as she glanced down at my stomach, as if I’d offended her by not being pregnant already. “An heir must be produced right away.”
I sipped on my wine to stop myself from saying something to make the situation worse.
“We will have children when we are ready.” Kreos’ tone had an edge to it that meant it was the end of the discussion.
Well, that was news to me. Wasn’t he the one who kept saying we needed to have a child right away? Hell, I wasn’t going to argue with him about that.
“Kreos, Gavriil.” Viktor nodded toward the bar. “A word.”
Oh, no.
My head snapped to Kreos, my eyes begging him not to leave me alone with his evil mother. He had the decency to look sympathetic as he leaned over, brushing his lips against my ear. “I’m sorry, kotic . We’ll be right back. You can stab her with the fork if she steps out of line.”
I chuckled, biting my bottom lip. Oh, I would have no problem doing that. The three men left the table, and I chugged the rest of my wine.
“Good, now we can really talk.” She leaned closer, her hand snaking out to grab my wrist. “Being a Pakhan’s wife is not easy.” Her voice dripped with venom and I tried to break free from her grip, but she held on tight. “It’s exhausting, honestly. Always looking over your shoulder, wondering if tonight is the night he’ll finally be taken out by a rival.”
Her words were like ice over my skin, but I straightened my back, keeping my face neutral.
“Kreos is very careful.” I kept my voice steady. The last thing I wanted was for her to think she had any power over me.
“Oh, yes, my son is remarkably difficult to kill. Trust me, many have tried. Not even a Pauki Teney could take him out,” she said, a strange smile on her face.
“Pauki Teney?” I arched my eyebrow.
“Spiders of the Shadows. A well-known organization in Russia. Professional hitmen, so to say.” Her eyes had a faraway look in them, as if reminiscing about something.
My skin crawled at her words. Spiders of the Shadows? That night I’d saved Kreos, hadn’t he found a spider tattoo on that man? How would Evelina know about that? Something told me Kreos wouldn’t just tell something like that to his parents. But maybe I was wrong.
“It’s like he has a sixth sense for danger. But Constantine did as well and look at him now.” She shrugged, not an inch of remorse in her voice.
What a batshit crazy woman she was. Talking about her son being in a coma as if she were discussing the weather. God, she really was evil, just like Kreos had said.
I yanked my hand free, rubbing my wrist where she had grabbed me. My gaze traveled around the room, looking for Kreos. My heart stopped for a moment, then sped up as I saw him at the bar. Katia was there, her perfectly manicured hand on his arm. She was leaning in close, whispering something into his ear, while Gavriil and Viktor were deep in conversation.
A red haze clouded my vision, my hand instinctively reaching for the steak knife. Kreos was nodding at whatever she was saying, but I couldn’t read his expression. Evelina followed my gaze, a smirk on her face, when she saw Katia.
“Ah, yes. Are you prepared for when he takes a mistress? They all do. You’ll get used to it, though. You can have your own fun as well. Just don’t let him catch you.” Her scowl returned to her face.
Wait. Hadn’t Kreos said his mother was the one who had affairs, not his father? Had he lied to me? Did he think he was going to trap me into a marriage, make me have his children, and then have the audacity to take a mistress?
Suddenly, the room seemed way too hot. “Excuse me, I need the restroom.” I stood and hurried away without waiting for her to respond.
My breath came in short, rapid gasps, as if I couldn’t get enough air. I opened the door to the bathroom, the attendant giving me a nod. “Miss Wolfe.”
Of course this five-star restaurant had a bathroom attendant who knew who I was. Everything was white and pristine. Fresh flowers, champagne and ice, and several plush seats took up the space. Down a little further were the toilets, and I slammed the door of one cubicle shut, leaning my back against it.
I couldn’t get the image of Katia smiling up at Kreos out of my head. She had been the one who looked like a predator as she had leaned in close to him. A weight settled in my stomach as I tried to control my breathing.
Just relax.
Honestly, none of this was a surprise. His insane mother, his controlling father, the snake of a woman trying to take him away. I had to remind myself that this wasn’t supposed to bother me, because it was supposed to be fake. Would a fake fiancée with no feelings for her partner care if his mother was a bitch to her? No. Would she care if another woman flirted with him? Also no.
So what was the problem?
Probably the same thing that had been bothering me all day.
This whole thing didn’t feel fake. And my jealous reaction just proved my fear.
I might be falling for Kreos.
Fuck.
Don’t be stupid.
I leaned against the door for a few more minutes, letting myself catch my breath and calm down. After a moment, I went to the sink, nodding at the attendant. The water was cool as I dabbed some on my neck. My peace was interrupted when none other than Katia walked in a moment later.
“Feeling out of your league? Poor thing.” Her voice dripped with a pretend sweetness that just ignited my rage all over again. She placed her purse on the sink, pulled out her lipstick.
I smiled, accepting the towel from the attendant. “Enjoying chasing someone you’ll never get?” I leaned against the counter.
Her smile faltered as she glared at me. “You’re just a phase, darling. Kreos will tire of you soon enough. And then he’ll come for me.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” I chuckled.
She stepped closer, her eyes blazing with fire. “I’ve known Kreos for years. I was the one who was supposed to marry him, not some low-class bartender.”
“And yet here I am about to become his wife, while you’re over there looking like a desperate groupie.” I held out my hand, admiring my ring. “Your life must be really sad.”
She balled her hands into fists. “You better be careful, or I’ll—”
In one fluid motion, I grabbed the silver tongs from the ice bucket and pressed the clawed edges against her throat. “You’ll what, Katia?” I let the claws graze against her skin, and she gasped. “Let me be crystal clear. Touch Kreos again, and I’ll show you exactly how creative I can be with these ice tongs.” I pressed deeper, the claws digging into the delicate skin of her throat. Her breath hitched as she met my gaze.
“You’re insane,” she whispered, but her voice trembled slightly.
“And it would be in your best interest to remember that.” I handed the tongs to the attendant, who could barely contain her smile.
I left Katia in the bathroom and headed back to the table. Kreos, Gavriil, and Viktor had returned and the dessert was waiting for us. Kreos wouldn’t take his eyes off of me, but I wasn’t in the mood for any of his questions. The rest of dinner went about as smoothly as expected, with Evelina drinking way too much and complaining about not being able to stay at Kreos’ estate.
On the car ride home, Kreos and Gavriil were deep in conversation, but I couldn’t understand anything they were saying. I would have to learn Russian if we were going to stick around here.
But we’re not, remember?
When we got home, Kreos took my hand, and we walked to his office. Gavriil handed him a black binder that Viktor had given him, then left us. I was still fuming over the whole incident with Katia, but I knew I shouldn’t let it get to me.
He handed me a crystal tumbler of Scotch, studying me over the rim of his own glass. “Care to explain why you’re so angry? Was it my mother?”
Before I could respond, he moved behind his desk, pressing something that triggered a panel on the wall to slide. A safe was hidden there, making the one in our room look like a piggy bank. I stepped closer, unable to hide my curiosity. “What’s in there?” From where I stood, I could see tablets, flash drives, and other binders.
“Curious little kitten,” he murmured. He placed the binder inside, next to similar-looking ones. “Information about certain business dealings. You could say… all my darkest secrets, and now my father’s too.” The safe closed with a click as he turned to face me.
“Speaking of secrets”—I set my glass down, crossing my arms over my chest—“are we going to discuss how you let Katia throw herself at you?”
His eyes darkened as he stalked over to me. “Is that what has you so heated, kotic ? Seeing another woman’s hands on me?”
“Well, yeah. Your mother said—”
“My mother,” he cut me off as he closed the distance between us, “is a snake who poisoned her own marriage with hate and numerous affairs. I am not my father, and you are nothing like my mother.” He weaved his fingers through my hair, tugging my head back. “I’m sorry for allowing Katia to touch what belongs to you.” His lips were soft as they brushed against mine, my anger suddenly forgotten.
I melted into his touch, getting lost in his kisses as they became more urgent.
“Wait,” I panted, placing my hands on his chest. “There’s something else.” I nibbled on my bottom lip, not sure how to approach the subject. “I thought you said you didn’t tell anyone except Gavriil about the assassination attempt six years ago.”
His expression shifted immediately. “I didn’t. Why?”
I took a deep breath. “Your mother… I think she knows. She said something at dinner. But if you didn’t tell her…”
“Then she orchestrated it.” His jaw ticked, the room suddenly seeming a lot colder. “Tell me everything she said. Word for word.”
I repeated the conversation, beginning right when the three of them had left the table. Kreos’ nostrils flared when I mentioned the mistress, but I didn’t tell him anything about almost stabbing Katia with the ice tongs.
“Thank you for telling me, kotic .” He kissed me. “I’ll handle it. I’ll take care of everything.”
That was kind of what I was worried about.
If his mother had tried to kill him, would she try again?
The thought of someone trying to hurt him, especially his mother, made me realize something I’d been afraid to admit.
Apparently, my traitorous heart hadn’t gotten the memo that this was supposed to be fake.
And now I had feelings for him.
The realization settled over me, terrifying yet somehow comforting. While I’d been busy building up walls and trying to keep him out, he’d somehow managed to slip past all my defenses. The truth was, I didn’t think I wanted to run anymore.
He might be the most dangerous man in New York, but to me, he was becoming something else completely.
Home.