“You weren’t supposed to do that,” I say quietly.
“I know,” he replies.
“Do you understand what that could have started?”
“Yes.”
“And you did it anyway.”
“Yes.”
I step closer. “Why?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Because you’re mine.”
The words land deeper than any accusation did.
“You don’t get to carry everything alone,” he says softly. “Not anymore.”
I take the gun from his hand gently.Sweetheartglints under the lights.
“You escalated a room full of armed men,” I say.
He shrugs slightly. “They were already escalating.”
I smile, pulling him close to me.
“You test me,” I murmur against his hair.
He huffs softly. “You let me.”
I pull back, studying him.
“You understand what this means?” I ask.
“That my father now answers to you?”
“To us.”
Elias smiles and pushes out of the conference room.
The elevator doors slide open with a quiet chime.
My security team moves automatically, instinctively forming a perimeter around us as we step inside. The building is ours, but habit doesn’t disappear just because the meeting ended in our favor.
Elias walks beside me, shoulders squared, chin lifted slightly. He still carries that fire from the conference room—the same fire that had him pressing a gun to his father’s skull without hesitation.
It does something to me.
I step into the elevator first.
“Next one,” I tell Johnny without looking at him.
He hesitates for half a second, reading the shift in my tone.
Then he nods. “Yes, boss.”
The doors slide shut before anyone else can enter.
