“If I was going to kill you, I would have back then.” Shit. My hand tightened on the steering wheel. I meant back there, not back then. Did I just admit I had no intention of killing him? Do I? Could I?
He let out a soft chuckle. “No, Petal. Thank you for giving me an out. Giving me that choice.”
Holy shit… an out… the safe word…
I didn’t know how to respond. Every second with Cezar made me more curious. About everything. Every piece of him. Every part he tried to hide and every part he didn’t want to.
He pushed the seat all the way back, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. He trusted me with all of it, with whatever this was turning into, and I didn’t know if I could carry that without ruining it.
Chapter 16
CEZAR
Watching Lina had become a habit. Her schedule was unpredictable, but I’d learned enough to track her movements. She hated certain parts of this world—anything to do with child trafficking sent her into a cold, focused rage.
Most missions were for chaos, vengeance, and power… I think. But that… that was the one thing she fought for with something almost holy. She tore those rings apart one by one. An unstoppable force, hasty enough to burn the whole world if it meant saving a single kid.
Hidden in the shadows, I watched her move like she was made for this, watched the way her clan ran with precision. Brains and beauty—lethal together. Still, her need to save every child made her reckless as hell, ignoring consequences, ignoring backup. I admired it. It also drove me fucking insane.
Tonight, she cut down an alley that led deep into a sprawling compound with too many buildings and blind spots. I knew she’d called for reinforcements, but she didn’t wait. Typical. I followed, knowing the layout by memory. I wasn’t letting her get taken. I’d blow my cover before I let that happen.
As she navigated between buildings, I maintained my stealth, catching the occasional trace of her scent. It wasn’t the time for distractions, but she had a way of getting under my skin. Luckily,no children were in sight, but we both heard distant sounds. Too many enemies for her to face alone, and I couldn’t defend her while dealing with a horde. Before she got herself killed, I grabbed her and ran, hauling her through the nearest building to get out of sight. I threw open a door and pulled her in with me.
Yeah. Not an exit.A utility closet.
Fuck.
“What the fuck—Cezar?”
Her shocked protests were stifled as I covered her mouth. She was going to have to get over it in silence. We listened, bodies pressed tight, as the men swept the room beside us. Step by step, they moved farther away.
My hand dropped to my side when the danger passed. Her face was inches from me, breath warm, her glare burning holes through me. It was the smallest utility room I’d ever been in, which meant her body was plastered up against mine.
Nowhere to run.
I lowered my head, inhaling her just because I could. She jerked, trying to get away, and I smirked, knowing exactly how much she hated loving it.
“You almost hit my face with your head,” I teased, because I knew it would piss her off.
“If you weren’t so tall, I would have.”
“If you weren’t so short, you could have.”
The tension between us thickened instantly, the tiny space magnifying every shift of her body. Desire hit me hard. It was impossible to hide.
She rested her head against my chest, closer than she needed to be. My stance stiffened on instinct. What the hell was she thinking?
Lina exhaled. “Really? Is there ever a moment when you are not hard?”
“Yeah, sure. When you’re not around and when I am not thinking of you.” I chuckled, fully aware I was risking my life. She probably wasn’t going to stab me.Probably.And even if she did… honestly, it might be worth it. Wrapping my arms around her, I lifted her a little and buried my nose into the warm crease of her neck.
Her fucking scent was going to ruin me.
She tensed like she was about to shove me off, but the footsteps outside kept her still. When I set her down, I didn’t let go. Instead, I moved her with me, backing her into the wall—only a couple of inches of air remained between us. No escape. Not from me. Her body eased, the tension slipping out of her.
“You know, Petal… I didn’t take you for a cuddler,” I muttered, savoring the way she couldn’t do anything about this moment.
“Goddammit, Cezar. I swear you’re everywhere. I’m convinced you’re following my every move, and then you just—what? Wait and watch? Creepy pervert.” She leaned her head back, her green eyes piercing my fucking soul.
