“You don’t need to worry,” I say softly. “I won’t make it a thing.”
His jaw tightens. I don’t know why. Anger? Relief? Regret? Something else?
He nods once, sharp. “Good.”
Good.It echoes in my head like a door slamming shut.
I move toward the door. My legs are unsteady, like they don’t know how to hold me anymore.
His voice stops me, low and strained. “Leoni—”
I go still. But I don’t turn around. Because if I look at him, I’ll break.
So I just whisper, “Don’t.” And I pull the door open only to find Erik standing there. He doesn’t look surprised. He looks like he’sbeen waiting. Listening.
One glance at my face, my swollen lips, flushed cheeks, and trembling hands clutching my bra, and his mouth curves into a slow, knowing smile.
“Well,” he murmurs, voice dripping with satisfaction, “that didn’t take long.”
My stomach twists. Shame, anger, confusion. It all crashes at once.
“Move,” I whisper, trying to step past him. But he doesn’t. He shifts just slightly, blocking my way, placing one hand on the doorframe above my head like he owns the ground I’m standing on.
His eyes flick behind me into the office. ToWarren.I don’t have to look to feel Warren’s presence there. To feel him watching.
Erik steps closer, too close, lowering his voice. “Did he break your heart already?” he asks, and the cruel softness of it nearly cracks me open.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Please get out of my way. I’m not playing your games.”
He tuts gently, like he’s soothing a child. His fingers lift, and he catches my chin between them, tilting my face up. “Sweetheart,” he breathes, “you already are.”
My vision blurs. I don’t know if it’s tears or fury. Behind me, a sound catches his attention. A shift of air. A presence.
Warren.
His voice is low, his tone warning. “Erik. Move.”
Erik’s smile widens, it’s slow, wolfish, and I frown, wondering if I have somehow played into their hands. A game I know nothing about.
He leans down, brushing his lips just close enough to ghost the corner of my jaw, not touching, just threatening it. And Iknowhe’s doing it so Warren sees.
“I’ll be seeing you soon, Leoni,” he murmurs, his voice like smoke.
Then he steps aside, giving me barely enough room to squeeze past him. I don’t look back as I gather my things. I stride from the office like I have purpose.
By the time I reach the bathroom, I’m barely holding together. I lock the door, press both hands to the sink, and finally, I let my knees give out. And the sob rips out of me.
WARREN
I don’t follow her. Iwantto. God, I want to.
But I stay frozen just inside my office, jaw locked so tight it feels like my teeth might crack. The door is half-open. And Erik is still standing there.
He leans one shoulder lazily against the frame, with his arms folded, he’s clearly enjoyed the show.
“You can stand down now,” I say, my voice low and calm. The kind of calm that means I’m one word away from tearing someone apart. “I’ve got Leoni right where we need her. Exactly like he wanted.”
Erik’s grin widens. It’s slow, delighted,taunting.“Right,” he drawls. “Except I’m fairly sure you missed the part wherethe plan changed.”
