Page 78 of Untamed

I swallow hard to stifle a sigh. I can’t help but imagine that this is my life, that I’m his, and this funny, sexy, protective man is… mine.

But I don’t really know him.

And he doesn’t knowme.

Still, I like the casual way we just… fit. It feels easy. It feels natural. It feels… right.

I open my email, scrolling through a flood of work updates and invoices. It’s quiet between us, but it’s not awkward. For once, I don’t feel the pressure to fill the silence. I let myself relax, sinking into the rhythm of the drive, his presence strangely grounding.

Then he speaks, breaking the stillness. “The gala is in three days.”

I look up from my phone. “And?”

“And my family will be there. All of them.”

Oh my god.

His family.

His wholemafiafamily.

My stomach lurches. “You didn’t mention that part before.”

He gives a casual shrug of his massive shoulder. “You didn’t ask.”

“Rodion…” I grip the edge of my phone, suddenly on edge. The thought of meeting his family—their sharp eyes, their inevitablejudgments—it’s overwhelming. But there’s another thought creeping in, too, one I’ve been avoiding.

And if he’s mafia, that means…

Whatdoesthat mean?

Are they as ruthless and possessive as he is?

And if Shawn… wait. I haven’t heard from Shawn. A sudden thought crosses my mind.

“Did you do something to Shawn?” I blurt, my heart pounding.

His head turns slightly, his expression unreadable. Not sure I like how good of a poker face he has. “Why?”

“Because he hasn’t texted me. It’s not like him to stay quiet this long.”

Rodion’s smirk is slow, deliberate. “Maybe he finally got the message.”

“Rodion.What message?”

He doesn’t answer, just turns onto my street, the tires crunching softly against the pavement. As we pull up to my apartment, I can’t decide whether to be relieved or more freaked out.

“We’ll talk about it later,” he says smoothly, parking the car. “You’ve got bigger things to worry about. And no, Ember. I haven’t touched Shawn.” With a scowl I feel straight between my legs, he mutters, “Not because I didn’twantto.”

I glance over at him, my pulse thrumming in my ears. The way he’s looking at me—like he owns every thought in my head—is both thrilling and terrifying. I’m so into him, and it’s making me feel raw and exposed. Vulnerable in a way I’m not used to.

How can I hateandlove it?

The door to my apartment feels wrong before I even touch it. The faintest shift in the air, like it’s been disturbed. My stomach knots as I reach for the knob, but Rodion’s hand closes over mine, firm and steady.

“You look nervous.”

I lick my lips. “Something is… off.”

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