Page 46 of Claws and Controllers

Relief washed over him. “Always,” he murmured. “I’ll always be there when you need me.”

She grinned, then winced as the movement pulled at her injuries. Zy’s expression immediately shifted to concern.

“Easy,” he murmured. “You need to rest. The doctor wants to keep you here for observation, but once you’re cleared, I’d like to take you somewhere safe.”

Ellie’s brow furrowed. “My apartment?—”

“Isn’t secure enough,” Zy interrupted gently. “Grant is still out there. I have a penthouse with top-notch security. Will you stay there, just until we’re sure you’re not in danger?”

She hesitated, clearly torn between independence and practicality. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. But only for a few days. I can’t hide forever.”

Relief washed over him. “Thank you. I promise, we’ll figure this out together.”

True to his word, Zy whisked Ellie away to his penthouse as soon as she was discharged. The sleek, modern space with its floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of the city skyline was a far cry from the sterile clinic environment.

“Wow,” Ellie breathed as she took in the opulent surroundings. “This place is incredible.”

Zy shrugged, suddenly self-conscious. “It’s home. Make yourself comfortable. Are you hungry? I can order something in.”

Ellie’s stomach growled in response, making them both chuckle. “I could eat,” she admitted.

“Chinese?” Zy suggested, already reaching for his phone.

“Perfect.”

While they waited for the food to arrive, Zy gave Ellie a tour of the penthouse, showing her to the guest room where she’d be staying. He’d had Adonis arrange for some of her clothes and personal items to be brought over.

“I hope this is okay,” he said, gesturing to the neatly arranged belongings. “I didn’t want to overstep, but I thought you might like some familiar things.”

Ellie’s eyes softened. “It’s more than okay. Thank you, Zy. You’re so thoughtful.”

The arrival of their food provided a welcome distraction from the intensity of the moment. They settled on the plush couch in the living room, an array of takeout containers spread before them on the coffee table.

“So,” Ellie said around a mouthful of lo mein, “since we’re apparently having a slumber party, want to watch something?”

Zy quirked an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind?”

“How do you feel about crime dramas?”

Which was how Zy found himself, hours later, utterly engrossed in aLaw & Order SVUmarathon. He’d never been much for television, but there was something oddly compelling about the procedural format.

“Wait,” he said as the credits rolled on their third episode. “That’s it? We don’t find out what happened to the victim’s family or with some of these victims?”

Ellie laughed at his indignant expression. “Welcome to the frustrating world of episodic TV. Sometimes you don’t get all the answers.”

Zy frowned. “But how can you stand not knowing? Don’t you want closure?”

“Of course,” Ellie replied, reaching for the last spring roll. “That’s half the fun. I usually end up googling similar real-life cases afterward, trying to piece together what might have happened.”

“That seems... inefficient,” Zy mused.

Ellie poked him playfully in the ribs. “Not everything has to be about efficiency, Mr. CEO. Sometimes it’s fun to let your imagination fill in the blanks.”

He caught her hand, his touch gentle but firm. “I prefer certainty,” he murmured, his gaze intense. “Especially when it comes to things I care about.”

The air between them crackled with tension. Ellie’s breath hitched, her eyes searching his face. For a moment, Zy thought she might lean in, closing the distance between them.

Instead, she cleared her throat and reached for the remote. “Another episode?”

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