That made her look at him.
Sharp. Direct. Wary.
And God help him, he wanted to kiss her so badly it hurt.
But this wasn’t about taking.
It was about proving.
That Evelyn didn’t get to define her.
That no one did.
Not in his world. Not anymore.
His fingers tightened around hers slightly before letting go, before he did something she wasn’t ready for.
Her throat moved as she swallowed. He could see the war happening behind her eyes.
But then—
She turned her hand over, palm up, fingers open.
And she laced them through his.
Gideon Blackwell, a man who built empires on control, nearly came undone.
She didn’t say a word, but exhaled audibly—a soft, fragile sound.
But he felt it.
The walls. Cracking.
Her fingers tightened around his, a whisper of pressure.
Then she let go.
Not rejection.
Just space.
Just breath.
Just a promise.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly, heartbeat a steady riot.
“Okay,” she said, quiet but steady. “Let’s go.”
He didn’t ask where.
He didn’t need to.
Because wherever she was, that’s where he’d be.
CHAPTER 48
The Cost of Control
