Page 22 of Toxic

“Hawk,” Olivia warns, but I cut her off with a look that would make most men tremble.

“No one threatens Devin. No one.” My voice is low, dangerous. “I’ll burn this entire city to the ground if that’s what it takes to keep her safe.”

Olivia studies me for a long moment. “You really love her, don’t you?”

The question catches me off guard. Love? Is that what this all-consuming need is? This desire to possess Devin completely, to keep her safe from the world and claim her as my own?

“She’s mine,” I say simply as if that explains everything. And in my mind, it does.

“Did she... was there anyone else?” The question burns in my throat, jealousy clawing at my insides. “While you were away, did she...”

Olivia’s expression softens. “No one, Hawk. A few guys tried to be friends, but?—“

“Names,” I interrupt, my voice like ice. “I want names.”

“Hawk, you can’t be serious?—“

“Names, Olivia.” My tone leaves no room for argument.

She sighs, recognizing the futility of resisting. As she lists off a few meaningless names, I make mental notes. These men dared to think they could have a claim on Devin. They need to be... dealt with.

“—but you were the only man she ever really talked about,” Olivia finishes, eyeing me warily.

Satisfaction blooms in my chest, dark and possessive. “Good,” I murmur, already planning how to eliminate any potential rivals.

“Now, about Kazanov,” Olivia says, clearly trying to steer the conversation to safer ground. “What exactly happened?”

The reminder of Kazanov’s attack reignites my rage. In my mind’s eye, I see Devin surrounded by his thugs, and something inside me snaps.

“He sent men to her apartment,” I snarl, my fist connecting with the wall hard enough to crack the plaster. “They put their filthy hands on her. They tried to take her from me.”

Olivia flinches at the display of violence, but I’m beyond caring. “I’ll destroy him,” I continue, my voice eerily calm despite the storm raging inside me. “I’ll dismantle his entire operation piece by piece. And then, when he has nothing left, I’ll make him watch as I take everything he values before I end his miserable existence.”

“Hawk,” Olivia says softly, reaching out to touch my arm. I jerk away, not wanting to be soothed. “We need to be smart about this. Rushing in could put Devin in more danger.”

Her words penetrate the haze of my anger. Devin. Everything comes back to keeping her safe. Keeping her mine.

“Fine,” I concede, reining in my rage with considerable effort. “We’ll do this your way. For now. But make no mistake, Olivia. Kazanov is a dead man walking. It’s just a matter of time.”

Olivia nods, relief evident in her eyes. “I’ll keep digging, see what I can find out about Devin’s connection to Kazanov. You focus on keeping her safe—without smothering her. You know how she values her independence.”

I scoff at the idea. Independence. As if Devin could ever truly be separate from me now. We’re entwined, our fates interlinked. She just doesn’t want to accept it.

“I’ll protect her,” I say, my tone leaving no doubt as to the lengths I’ll go. “Whatever it takes.”

As Olivia prepares to leave, a thought occurs to me. “Liv,” I call, stopping her at the door. “Don’t tell Devin about thisconversation. About any of it. She doesn’t need to know... the depths of my concern.”

Olivia gives me a long, searching look. “All right,” she says finally. “But Hawk, be careful. This obsession... it’s not healthy.”

I smile, and there’s nothing warm in it. “Health is overrated, little sister. Power is what matters. And I have enough power to keep Devin safe with me. Forever.”

As the door closes behind Olivia, I turn back to the window. The city lies before me, full of threats to eliminate and obstacles to overcome. But none of it matters. Only Devin matters.

My Devin. Mine to protect. Mine to possess.

Mine to love in my own dark, all-consuming way.

Let Kazanov come. Let the whole world try to take her from me. They’ll learn the hard way what happens when someone touches what belongs to Hawk Rivers.

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