like a storm waiting to break. Tina leaned back into the couch, her fingers still tracing the edges of the tracker Dimitri

The city skyline stretched out in front of him, but Tina knew his mind wasn't on the view. He was always a

e did she fit into this

threat?" she asked, her voice breaking t

's not a matter of if he's a

st let things go. She had witnessed firsthand his ambition, his desire for control. An

down, a part of her still remembered the man she had once loved. The man wh

d, her voice sof

thing in his gaze, concern, maybe even vulnerability but it was fleeting. Jesse Santos was a

of the couch, towering over her but not in an intimidating way. There was something protect

said, his voice firm. "And I wi

er said than done. How could she trust a man she barely knew? A man who cam

l had shattered her trust long ago, and her fam

admitted, her voic

ing slightly under his weight. He was close now, close enough for her to feel the

o try," he said.

y for that, but something about the way he said it made her want to. Made her want to t

hand. "What if Nathaniel's plan is bigger than just business? What

expression immediately. He was always in control, alwa

iel doesn't just want what I have. He wants to destroy ev

est tight

f he's with Linia now, he can't stand the idea that you've moved on, that

ad always known Nathaniel was possessive, bu

, her voice firmer than

"No, you're not. But that doesn't mean he'll see it that way. He's not t

ng to steady herse

y here, under my protection. I have people watching his ev

her voice betraying the exhaustion she felt. "Livin

on her knee, a gesture of reas

n who didn't back down from a challenge, and that both comforted and terrified her. Because the st

, suffocating in its intensity. She had thought Nathaniel's betrayal had been the worst thing that could happen to her,

to meet his gaze. "What if... what if this is all

e to know seemed to fade. "You're stronger than you think, Tina. You've been through

his, that she could face whatever was coming. But the fear was still ther

admitted, her voic

ee to her hand, his fingers in

he outside world faded away, leaving just the two of them si

, his voice low and serious. "I can't protec

tightening on his hand

eaking through his normally composed exterior. "Good. Bec

She wasn't just a bystander anymore. She was in the

y way out w

id quietly, more to

es respect, maybe even admiration. But before she could process it, the m

eleasing her hand. "Tomorrow, we start prep

toward the door. But before he c

es

urning back

u," she s

, but he gave her a small nod bef

into the couch. She was deeper than she had ever imagined. But s

ied her more th