His thumb strokes once along my jaw, then he straightens and heads for the door.
At the last second I call after him, “If they make me eat something green, I’m blaming you.”
He doesn’t turn around, but I hear the smile in his voice.
“Be difficult. I like you like that.”
Then he’s gone.
And the room feels too quiet without him in it.
I sit up and run my fingers through my hair, wincing when they catch.
My phone starts ringing.
I glance toward the nightstand and almost smile. Maksim must have forgotten something again.
I grab it and answer without checking the screen. “What did you forget?”
A low chuckle slides down the line.
“Oh, Tavsan… so domestic.”
My blood goes cold.
Gabriel.
My fingers tighten around the phone. I drag the sheet higher over my chest on pure instinct, my stomach turning as I jerk a look at the screen.
Unknown number.
Fuck.
“Wrong number,” I say coldly. “Unless you’re finally ready to stop hiding and let Maksim find you.”
A beat of silence stretches between us.
Then Gabriel laughs softly. “Still pretending he can protect you from everything?”
I clutch the sheet. “You sound desperate.”
“No, Tavsan. I sound informed.”
“Don’t call me that. Men who are informed usually don’t need blocked numbers.”
His chuckle is quiet. Mean. “Andyetyou answered like a wife waiting for her husband.”
My jaw locks.
He keeps going before I can cut in. “Tell me—do Maksim’s men know who you are now?”
I go still.
That pleases him. I can hear it.
“Did you enjoy that little slip?” he huffs out a laugh. “Now they all know exactly who they let into their Pakhan’s bed.Exactlywho he chose to keep close. Exactly who can beusedagainst him.”
“Well, your little plan didn’t work. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
