Page 57 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

Before I can answer, he lashes out with a swift kick, sending the chair–and Marcus–crashing to the floor with a loud crash. Marcus yells out in pain, but Atlas doesn’t even look back. He shifts, turning me gently in his grip, his body shielding mine from the hostage as though the man poses some kind of threat, even tied up and helpless.

Well,Christmas cookies. I guess I’m in trouble.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Iburst into the room, heart pounding in my chest, just in time to see Grace’s wide silver-blue eyes lock onto mine. She’s sitting across from the hostage, alone and without protection. The sight makes my stomach twist with fury.

Before I can even process what’s happening, my body moves on instinct. I rush to her, wrapping my arms around her waist, pulling her back from the hostage with a force that makes her gasp. Her tiny frame feels like nothing in my arms, but the panic in her eyes hits me hard.

“What the fuck, Grace?!” The words come out harsher than I intend, but my heart’s still racing from the sight of her standing so close to that piece of shit.For disappearing like that.I couldn’t help but think the worst.

“Atlas, I-” she starts, her voice shaking.

My adrenaline spikes. I slam my boot into the chair leg, sending the hostage crashing to the floor with a sickening thud. His scream of pain cuts through the room, but I don’t spare him a glance. Instead, I shift, pulling Grace closer, turning her gently in my arms so my body blocks hers from the asshole on theground. Even tied up and helpless, it’s instinct–I’ll always make sure she’s protected.

“I was just talking to him, Atlas.”

I grip her tighter, fury and confusion battling in my chest. “Just talking? You shouldn’t be in here. Especially not alone. Do you have any idea what could’ve happened?”

“I had it under control,” she protests, her voice soft but firm. “For the love of eggnog!He’s tied up!”

“Not the point,” my voice drops lower, and I realize I’m shaking. I look down at her, and suddenly all the rage and fear inside me meld into something else–something warmer, more protective.

I pull her even closer, my hand finding its way to the back of her neck, brushing her soft hair out of the way. “You don’t ever go near him again without one of us, you hear me?”

Grace huffs, trying to pull away, but I don’t let her. “Atlas, I’m not a child.”

“No,” I agree, leaning down until my forehead almost touches hers. “But you’re mine to protect.”

She blinks up at me, her lips parting slightly, the protest dying on her tongue. Her body softens against mine, and for a moment, it feels like the rest of the world fades away. The storm outside, the danger lurking in the cabin, none of it matters. It’s just me and her, her warmth sinking into me, grounding me in a way I didn’t expect.

“I wasn’t trying to get in the way,” she whispers, her voice soft now. Vulnerable. “I just thought...maybe he’d talk to me.”

I release a long breath, loosening my grip but not letting her go entirely. “I get it, Gracie. I do. But you can’t be this reckless. We’re not just playing games here–there are real dangers.”

Her eyes drop to the floor, guilt flickering across her face. “I just thought I could help.”

“You did help,” I admit, my voice softening. “But next time, we do it together. I don’t want to lose you.”

Her head tilts up, those silver-blue eyes locking onto mine, and I catch a spark in her gaze–something raw, something real that’s been simmering between us from the start. It hits deep, the kind of pull that claws at your chest and tears you open, leaving you exposed and marked forever.

Suddenly, her eyes flick behind me and widen, her entire body going stiff. Before I can react, she’s wiggling out of my grasp with a speed that catches me off guard.

“Grace, what-”

I don’t even get to finish the sentence by the time she’s a blur of movement. Rushing past me, her small frame collides with the hostage as she kicks out with surprising force.

A fork clatters to the floor as the man lets out a strangled gasp, his entire body crumpling in on itself as he doubles over in pain. Collapsing to the floor while clutching his groin, his face twists in agony.

I stand there, frozen solid. Did she really just-

Grace straightens, her eyes blazing with a mixture of fear and fury, her chest heaving as she turns back to me. Catching movement out the corner of my eye, I keep my eyes on Grace as I wrestle our hostage onto his front. Zip tying his hands and feet, I leave him and go to Grace.

I’m on her in an instant, my hands gripping her shoulders as I check her over, making sure she’s okay. "Are you hurt?"

Her breath comes fast, but she shakes her head, a shaky smile tugging at her lips. "No. I’m okay. I just didn’t want him to hurt you."

For a moment, all I can do is stare at her, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside me. Pride. Relief. And...damn it, something else entirely. Something that tightens my chest and makes my heart beat just a little faster.

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