Page 55 of Crime Lord’s Captive

He didn’t move or speak for a long minute. They were locked in their own world, just the two of them. When he pulled back, he smiled at her. She was stunned by the joy that made him look ten years younger. He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips and unwrapped himself from her.

“Are you good?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“I have work to do,” he said and rose.

“What?”

“The sooner I get rid of the title, the sooner we can move on.”

“Oh. Who are you going to pass it off to?”

“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get that other fucker. He isn’t allowed to live.”

Lyla didn’t bother to contest that. She would feel better knowing that demon in human flesh was dead. “But you won’t...?”

“No. I’ll get someone else to make the hit. You okay if I go to the office?”

She didn’t want to be alone, but she knew he had to work and get this other shit tied up. She nodded.

He cupped her chin in his hand and brushed his thumb over her bottom lip as he considered her. “You want to see my dad?”

Her eyes filled with tears and she nodded.

“Come, I’ll drop you off when I go to work.”

Twenty minutes later, Gavin dressed in a flawless suit while she opted to stay as she was, in her oversized sweater and yoga pants. Gavin drove his own car while Blade and another group of men followed.

“I won’t stay past eight,” he said as he grabbed her hand and placed it on his thigh.

Lyla glanced at his intimidating face as his fingers threaded through hers.

“Blade and several others will stay with you. My dad will be insulted if I let more than five of my men on his turf. He has his own security.”

She nodded.

“You want me to come and get you, you call me. You have your new phone?”

“Yes.” She had a small bag with a change of clothes, pain killers and a new phone he gave on their way out the door.

“It’ll take me some time to put things in order.”

“I know, Gavin.”

The Pyres had been running the underworld for generations. There was a niggle of doubt in her mind that he could get out, but she pushed it away. Gavin didn’t make false promises.

Gavin drove as his thumb stroked her absently. She stared at his possessive hold and thought of the deal she made. Permanent. No future of independence, no Jonathan. Lyla closed her eyes and said goodbye to the man who had been there for her when she needed him. Jonathan deserved more than what she could give him. She had given her love to Gavin Pyre before she was old enough to understand the consequences. She committed willingly this time, knowing what he was capable of and witnessing the stain on his soul. She sensed yearning in him and something else... Need? He was capable of unspeakable cruelty and incredible gentleness. He was complicated, possessive, calculating andhers. He was her monster and she loved the hell out of him, always had, always would. The experience with her captors knocked down all barriers between them.On impulse, she raised his hand. Lyla kissed his raw and bruised knuckles.

“What are you doing?” he asked hoarsely.

“Loving you.”

His fingers flexed around hers. The look he shot her made her stomach jitter. She cradled his hand in both of hers and placed it on her lap.

“You won’t regret it,” he said gruffly.

Lyla relaxed in her seat and closed her eyes. When Gavin pulled up to Manny’s house, they saw him standing on the steps. He rushed to her door and shouted in Spanish as he pulled her into his arms. Manny pulled back to look at her, crushed her against him and then pulled back once more to make sure she was whole. Gavin replied in Spanish and the words were spoken too rapidly for her to catch. Manny stiffened. She looked up and saw his dumbfounded expression. Gavin pulled her away from his father and into the house. Manny came after them, spewingangrySpanish. Father and son faced off. When Gavin took a threatening step towards his father, Lyla stepped between them.

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