ied, "You, Ryan, the boss of the Dark

down hard on her injured neck. The pain made Echo let out a soft whimp

y let go, glancing at the

your guard down is the

risk, being the boss didn't guarantee you a long

ully grasp this reality. Although there was only a slight differen

irected at her. The pain in her neck served as a constant reminder that this man was a monster-mor

e said, "Aren't you af

rubbing the bite mark on her neck. With a chill

wly closing her eyes. Provoking a monster was a foolish mo

resigned manner, seemingly surrenderin

said, "Obey me, and maybe I'll

r firmly by the back of the neck, forcing her to keep her face buried a

the people in her crew must be in deep trouble too. Skye, her partner, w

e Ryan has some use for her, but S

rsed si

" Echo said in a raspy, muffled voice as she la

than any family. Skye was the one person who mattered most to her, a pre

y thing Echo felt was the tightening grip arou

tly telling her that she had n

t don't hurt her." As she slowly released her grip on Ryan's waist, s

eact

Ryan, who was still holdi

onceded, so what w

d she slightly raised her head to c

d and tightened his arms around h

ed that she didn't

Echo realized that all he'd done was hold her while he slept. Although he

sleep any longer, she finally drifted of

villa was shattered by a cold voice

laced with suppressed an

ing the annoying noise. Annoyed, she bur

an's iron grip, she was finally comfortable. I

t g

opened her eyes, irritated by the pain that felt l

and met Ryan

ich Ryan was gripping tightly. No wonder it hurt so much. Her other hand was

he pulled away, letting go of Ryan without any expression

. When would you like to review the findings?" Hawk's steady voice

nd said, "Hand

briskly, not even questioning whether the day's schedule should be canceled after yesterday's events

and replied in a deep vo

udible footsteps faded away, while Echo

and the bruises marring her skin. Splashing water on her face, she looked out at the vast

one into the water. She would l

e he

ed, water dripping from his hair. He was only wearing a towel, with n

dry his hair. If there was one thing she'd lea

relaxed. Over the years, plenty of people had dressed him, but his head-

ure, normally on high alert, had been softened by the night they spent together. Th

ow close she'd com

unwrapping the towel from around Ryan's waist. His naked body instantly made her

m, her eyes couldn't help but notice the scars crisscrossing his tanned skin-small, round marks and long, jagged lin

ust been handed his position as boss-those scars to

yan left the room without a word

ightened her clot

sn't on escaping; it was on

ye go was harder than hopi