Page 70 of Ruthless Kings of Obsession

The sincerity in his voice cracked something inside me. I nodded, unable to speak past the knot tightening in my throat.

“And anyway,” he continued, his grin returning as he shifted beneath me, “if you’re really feeling that guilty, I can think of a few ways to distract you.”

I arched a brow, smirking despite myself. “Oh? Like what?”

“Well,” he drawled, his hand slipping back to my hip, “we could start with you letting me tug on those pigtails like I’ve been dying to. Or...” His grin turned wicked. “Maybe we call Matteo in for that experiment after all.”

I smacked his chest lightly, only to freeze when he hissed. “Oh my god, Zander, I’m so sorry?—”

He chuckled, his lips pressing to my forehead. “Relax. Didn’t hurt. I’m too drugged up on the happy stuff to feel anything right now.”

“Great,” I muttered, glaring at him. “You’re just asking for me to knock you out again.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” he quipped, his grin widening. But then, the humor in his expression dimmed, giving way to something more somber.

“This time, though,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, “I was scared.”

I stilled, my fingers tightening against his chest. “Scared of what?”

“Dying,” he admitted. “I’ve never really cared before. Never thought much about it. But when that bullet hit, Eva... all I could think about was you. And what it would be like if I didn’t have you to come back to.”

The raw vulnerability in his confession shattered me. My vision blurred with tears, and I didn’t bother trying to stop them this time. They fell freely, spilling onto his face as he reached up to wipe them away.

“Don’t cry, Sweet Dynamite,” he whispered, his thumb brushing over my cheek.

“I can’t help it,” I choked out. “I thought I lost you, Zander. And the last thing I wanted was for you to leave me while I...” My voice broke, and I struggled to find the words. “While I made a mistake that might cost us everything.”

“You didn’t,” he said firmly, pulling me closer. “And even if you did, Eva, I’d forgive you. Every time.”

I buried my face in his neck, letting his words wash over me. His fingers combed through my hair, his voice a low murmur against my ear.

“Let’s just focus on this,” he said, his tone soft but commanding. “On us. The rest can wait.”

I nodded against him, my tears soaking into his skin.

“Good,” he said, his grin returning faintly. “Now, are we going to lie here all night, or are you finally going to let me tug on those pigtails?”

His teasing earned a watery laugh from me, and I pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”

“And you’re addicted,” he shot back, his smirk widening.

“Maybe,” I admitted, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “But only to you.”

The Past That Revealed The Present

~MATTEO~

Two weeks after the incident that nearly shattered our world, the private recovery room at Wright Medical Centre has become an unofficial gathering spot for the Ruthless Kings. The space feels more like a luxury hotel suite than a hospital room, thanks to Marcus's influence – plush armchairs, ambient lighting, and enough expensive medical equipment to fund a small clinic.

Zander looks better than he has any right to after taking two bullets to the chest. The color has returned to his face, though dark circles under his eyes suggest sleep remains elusive despite the medication. He's propped up against a mountain of pillows, idly flipping through his phone while the rest of us lounge around like we don't all have empires to run.

"Where's Moonflower?" Ren asks suddenly from his perch by the window, his teal and black hair catching afternoon sunlight. "Haven't seen her since breakfast."

The nickname makes everyone pause. Ares looks up from his tablet where he's been reviewing upcoming photoshoots. Marcusstops organizing whatever complicated medication schedule he's created. I set aside the contract I've been pretending to read.

"Moonflower?" Ares repeats, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised. "Why do you call her that?"

Ren's answering smirk carries hints of secrets none of us are privy to. "That's between me and her," he says with deliberate casualness. "But I'm curious – what do the rest of you call her? Besides her actual name, obviously."

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