Page 27 of Cruel Hero

Once we’ve caught our breath, I get up to discard the condom and grab a towel to wipe us down before tossing it into the laundry basket. It’s impossible for me not to be captivated by her beauty even more in this vulnerable post-sex state, her breasts glistening with sweat, her hair wild around her face.

Satisfied with the clean-up, I pull Tiffany close to me once more, her skin against mine, our hearts pounding in sync.

“Are you okay?” I run my fingers through her curls.

Tiffany nuzzles her face into my chest, her voice muffled as she speaks.

“More than okay. It’s crazy how right this feels.”

“It is right.” I press a kiss to her temple. “It always has been with you.”

Tiffany snuggles closer, her body molding against mine. It’s peaceful here, lying in bed with her. It’s like we’re in our own little world, sheltered from the chaos of the outside world.

She falls asleep in my arms, her body lax and at ease.

I hold her close, overwhelmed by possessiveness and protectiveness.

My father let the love of his life slip away, little by little, too busy with work to notice she was slipping away.

I won’t make the same mistake.

The moonlight seeps through the window and illuminates her sleeping face, casting a soft glow over her features. With gentle fingers, I trace the curve of her cheekbone and revel in the fact that I am the one who gets to witness this vulnerable side of her.

As I watch her sleep, I silently vow never to take her for granted. To never lose sight of how lucky I am to have her in my life, to have her in my bed, in my arms.

I’ll give her the world, as long as she lets me.

Chapter 13

Tiffany

My body trembles as I strain against the restraints, cold metal digging into my wrists and ankles. The bright lights above me make it hard to see, but I can sense the looming figures surrounding the table. My throat burns from screaming, and tears stream down my face as I plead, “No, no... please...”

“Where are the goods?” a deep, menacing voice demands.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

A searing pain shoots through my body as something sharp pierces my skin. I scream, writhing against the restraints.

“Wrong answer,” another voice says.

They want something from me, but I have no idea what it is. Panic rises in my chest as something cold and metallic presses against my neck. A blade.

“Tell us where they are,” the first voice threatens. “Or we’ll make sure you never see the light of day again.”

With a jolt, I wake up covered in sweat, my chest heaving with each panicked breath. The room is dark and oppressive, and it takes a moment for me to realize it was all just a nightmare. But the fear still lingers, and my fingers tremble as they grip the damp sheets.

I force myself to take deep breaths, trying to calm down.

It was just a dream, I tell myself.A nightmare.

But as I lie there in the darkness, my body still trembling, I can’t shake the feeling that this nightmare might be more prophetic than I want to admit. With everything that’s happened lately, with Dean and the growing web of lies and danger I’ve found myself in, could this be a warning of some kind?

I reach out, seeking the comfort of Adrien’s warm body next to me, but my hand finds only an empty space. My eyes snap open, my heart racing anew.

Where is he?

Sitting up, I strain my ears, listening for any sign of movement in the apartment. That’s when I hear it—the faint strains of music drifting from down the hall. Piano notes are soft and melancholic.

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