“You a-are the idioch,” she yelled, hitting my back as she tried to repeat the last word a few times. Ultimately, she was unable to do so, which made her burst out laughing. “You think you can just stay in my head, but you're not that cool. Cool guysaren’t mean like you.”
As If I had been mean to her at all.
I reached up, slapping her ass. “All I’m hearing is that I’m in your head.”
“Hey, don’t t-touch—”, her body stilled as she pushed her hands into my back. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
Oh, great.
I tensed, expecting vomit to hit my back. To my pleasant surprise, it never came. Instead, Ember's body tensed and then went completely slack in my arms. I realized she had passed out the moment Kyrin returned.
“Fuck man, did you kill her?”
Why does everyone keep thinking that?!
“No! Just help me get her in the damn car.”
With one nod, he trailed me as I took the side door out of his bar and headed toward my car. Once I reached the Lexus, he pulled open the passenger door, and I eased her into the seat. Adjusting the belt across her chest, I pulled away as my eyes locked onto a rectangle clasp attached to her necklace. Without needing to look at it for too much longer, I knew exactly what it was. I snapped the chain off between my hands and popped open the piece of metal, watching as a small microchip fell into my palm.
Another tracking device,one that didn’t belong to me.
Kyrin peered over my shoulder as his voice went quiet. “Please tell me that’s one of yours.”
I straightened slowly but didn’t answer his question. “I needa camera I can place that has live access. Give me whatever you have that will work.”
Understanding flashed across his face as he pulled a small device free from the inside seam of his jacket. “This links to the security team for the bar, but I'll disconnect it from them.”
I nodded briefly as I pocketed the microchip and the wired camera before closing the car door. “Thanks. I need an hour.”
He said nothing but backed up, pulling a small radio from his pocket.
Ember stayed asleep for the drive, which gave me some time to sort through my thoughts. My hand moved to her chest every few miles, checking for any type of change in her breathing. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up having alcohol poisoning.
That’s how out of it she was.
I sighed into the space between us, because it wasthisexact thing I found myself drawn to. There was no warning label with her, just that damn fire that burned without apology. I was still so eager to watch it, to press my hands into the heat and see who screamed first, her or me.
Looking over at her now, I could see it. Through her matted hair and faded make-up, she was still that same burning chaos but in a different shape. Tonight, she had been too reckless. I thought the fire within her had burned me on purpose, but the truth seemed to be that she had no idea how to control it. Her flame didn’t just destroy what it touched, it was the kind that consumed itself if left unchecked. Seeing her on that video, itwas clear how close she was to turning herself into ash.
Her fire was something sacred to me now, but the truth was she was damaging herself too. With that realization, something in me shifted. My need for her didn’t soften but redirected into something new. The urge to destroy her curled in on itself, reshaping into something heavier. This new feeling was possessive in a way that sank deeper than desire. She wasn't just mine. She was mine to tame. If her fire was going to rage, it would do so within the boundariesI set.I would be the restraint she wasn’t giving herself. Settling into my new purpose, I drove the rest of the way with a calm mind.
Night had fallen by the time we arrived. From the outside, the house seemed completely empty which meant Kyrin had kept his word. It seemed that everyone from her house was still at the bar. Once I was parked a little ways down the street, I stepped out and walked to her side. Opening the door, I gathered her into my arms and carried her the few yards to her house. As I tugged at her doorknob, it clicked, and I immediately knew she had left the house unlocked.Yet another thing I’d have to fix—her common sense.
Moving inside, I guessed at which room was hers. The first one had bubblegum pink walls and a bedazzled comforter.Nope.
Moving into the second one, I turned on the light. This one fit her personality more, with simple designs and a purple comforter. Walking straight to the bed, I laid her down and covered her with the blanket. Looking down at her for a moment, Idecided to let my impulses win,yet again.Shifting her to her back, I carefully pulled off the outfit I’d planned on burning later. Once it was all off, I turned toward the closet to find her something else to wear. After sifting through a few things, I finally settled on a large shirt.
Once she was dressed, I tucked her back into bed and took out the camera that Kyrin had given me. It was small and attached to a wire, similar to the ones that my bodyguards wore at the club. Looking around the room, I tried to find possible locations to place it. I already knew this would just be temporary—a placeholder until Knox had this all figured out.
I eventually found patterned molding on the farthest wall that would hide the wire well. Angling it straight toward her bed, I positioned it to catch most of her room. This model wasn’t great for long-range vision, but it would do.
The bed dipped as I sat next to her, watching her sleep for a few minutes. Every now, and then her eyebrows furrowed, as if a headache was already forming. Part of me wanted to go search for pain relievers, but ultimately, I denied myself. She deserved whatever repercussions her body had in store for her—much like the ones she would be receiving from me.
I eventually stood and pulled my eyes away from her, determined to use my remaining time here wisely. Taking a lap around her room, I let my hands skim over her piles of clothes and scattered books—things that made sense now that I understood her. In some places around the room, there were pictures of her and other people, which I admit I didn’thate.
A loud vibration pulled my attention to her phone—which to no surprise, wasalsounlocked.
Add that to the list.
