She exhales shakily, and I guide her toward the waiting car. Every step I match with hers, shielding her from the stares of my men, from the ruin behind us.
At the curb, I open the back door myself and help her inside, one hand steadying her as though she might break. For the first time since I stormed that warehouse, I let myself breathe—because she’s here, alive, in my reach.
When I close the door, her wide eyes find mine through the glass. I don’t speak, but I press my palm against the window. A vow without words.
Then I circle to the driver’s side, my blood still hot, my mind already planning the punishment for those who dared touch her.
As the car eases out of the lot, I pull back slightly, just enough to see her profile in the dim light of the passing streetlamps. She leans back against the seat, eyes closed, and I watch her breathe, trying to slow her racing heart. The city blurs past outside, but inside this car, time has contracted into the small space between us.
Finally, I speak, my voice low, careful. “Why…why did you leave?”
She sucks in a breath, sitting up straighter, shoulders tense. “I…I was worried about you.”
I frown, feeling my chest tighten. “Worried? About me?”
“Yes,” she whispers. “I got a text on my phone. It said…you wouldn’t come back. I panicked.”
The words hit me in ways I hadn’t expected. My jaw tightens, not in anger at her, but at the thought that she could ever doubt me. I let out a slow, controlled sigh, trying to shake the residue of rage from the night. “I’ll always come back for you,” I tell her, voice firm, unwavering. “No matter what. Please…don’t put yourself in danger for me.”
Her eyes open, glistening in the soft glow, and she gives me a small, tentative smile. “No, Niko. I’ll always have your back. Always. You think I’ll just sit and do nothing while you fight? That I’ll let you go alone?”
My chest contracts, a mix of frustration and fear knotting in me. “Noelle…you don’t understand. You shouldn’t. I won’t let you put yourself in danger for me. Ever.”
She shrugs, cool and unyielding. “My mind’s made up. You’re worth it. Always.”
I run a hand over my face, closing my eyes for a moment. Damn it. She’s relentless. Fierce. And I love that about her—but I hate that she’s willing to risk herself.
A long sigh escapes me. “Then I’ll have to step up,” I say, my voice low, almost a growl. “I’ll make sure you never have to risk yourself because of me. I’ll never…forget this, Noelle. I’ll never forget that I can’t let you put yourself in harm’s way for me. Not ever.”
She touches my arm, grounding me. And in that grip, in the weight of her trust and defiance, I swear to myself that I’ll carry the burden for both of us. Always.
Chapter 23 – Noelle
The car comes to a smooth stop in front of the building. The city lights are blurred through the rain-streaked windshield, but I barely notice. My chest is tight, my limbs still trembling from adrenaline.
Niko kills the engine and opens my door before I can even think of moving. He sweeps me into his arms without a word, and for once, I don’t fight it. I let myself be carried, feeling the solid warmth of him against me, the steady thrum of his heartbeat under my ear.
“Niko,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I’ve got you,” he says, low and steady, as though it’s the only truth that matters.
Every step toward home feels like the world is holding its breath. I close my eyes and rest my head against his chest, letting the rise and fall of his breath calm the chaos inside me.
When we reach the room, he gently sets me down, but he doesn’t let go. His hands are sure, skilled, as he helps me out of my jacket and checks my arms and legs for bruises or cuts.
“You’re bleeding a little,” he murmurs, brushing a damp strand of hair from my forehead. “I texted a doctor in the car, and she’s on her way. But until they get here, I’m not letting this get infected.”
He moves with precision, cleaning small cuts, applying ointment, wrapping bandages where necessary. His hands are firm but gentle, and every touch feels like reassurance, a promise that I’m safe now.
“I’m fine,” I whisper, but I let him continue. I don’t want to feel weak in front of him, yet every gentle action makes it impossible not to relax, to feel cared for.
“You were in danger,” he says quietly, voice low and possessed. “And I swear, I will never let anything happen to you—not ever.”
He’s said this promise a million times, and each time it’s more potent than the last. I nod against his chest, heart pounding, and for a moment, the world shrinks to just this room, just us, and the quiet intimacy of him taking care of me.
I tilt my head as he finishes bandaging a small cut on my arm, and his eyes meet mine—dark, intense, impossible to look away from. For a heartbeat, the world outside ceases to exist. There’s just him, the quiet of the room, and the lingering warmth of his hands on my skin.
Without thinking, I lean in. My lips brush against his chest first, testing, soft and uncertain. His breath hitches, and I feel it tremble through him. His hands move instinctively to my waist, drawing me closer, anchoring me against him.
