Page 15 of Make Me Your Hitta

I strode toward her table, keeping my face neutral despite the storm raging inside. Xenobia’s laughter cut off as she saw me approach. Her eyes narrowed, that familiar spark of defiance igniting.

“Ladies,” I said, nodding to her friends. “I’m afraid we’ll have to cut this short.”

“What? Why?” Xenobia demanded to know, her tone sharp enough to cut glass.

I leaned in close, pitching my voice low. “Security concern. We need to go. Now.”

She searched my face, looking for any sign of deception. I quickly lifted my shades and met her gaze steadily, willing her to trust me or try me just once. Either way, we were fuckin’ leaving.

“Fine,” she said finally, gathering her things. “But this shit better be good.”

As I ushered her toward the exit, I felt the suspicious man’s eyes boring into my back. My skin crawled, but I didn’t dare look back.Get her safe first, then deal with the threat.One step at a time, Adonis. One step at a time.Once we got outside, I motioned for my men to flank us until we got in the armored SUV and peeled off.

The drive back to the estate was suffocating. Silence hung between us like a physical barrier, thick and oppressive. I gripped the steering wheel tight, and my knuckles hardened as I wrestled with the storm inside me. Duty. It’d always been about duty. Protect Xenobia at all costs. But fuck if it wasn’t getting more complicated every day. I snuck a glance at her through the rearview mirror, sitting ramrod straight in the back seat. Her jaw was clenched, eyes fixed on the stretch of road ahead.

“You gonna tell me what that was all about?” Xenobia’s voice cut through the silence.

I swallowed hard. “Just doing my job.”

She scoffed. “Right. Your job. I wasn’t done there, you know. But as per usual, you ruin every-fucking-thing.”

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay focused on the road.Spoiled little fuckin’ brat.I’m here to keep you alive, not help you maintain a fuckin’ social life.I itched to teach her ass a lesson, to take her over my knee and spank the attitude right out of her. We pulled up to the estate, the iron gates swinging open to admit us. As soon as the car stopped, Xenobia was out, storming toward the house like a tornado. I scrambled after her, my heart pounding.

“Xenobia, wait—”

She whirled on me, eyes blazing. “No, you wait. I’m sick of this shit, Adonis. Sick of being treated like a child, like I can’t take care of myself.”

“It’s not about that,” I started, but she cut me off.

“Then what is it about? Huh? You get off on controlling every aspect of my life or overplanning so much that it sucks the joy out of everything?”

I felt my temper rising to match hers. “You think I enjoy this shit? You think I like watching your every move, wondering if today’s the day someone decides to take their shot at you?” I barked, clenching my fists while fighting to keep my voice steady. “We received intel that they’re close. I got a threat. The dangers lurk around every goddamn corner. I’ve seen it, lived it. I’m trying to keep your ass safe, and you’re making it impossible.”

“Safe?” she spat, taking a step closer. “You’re suffocating me, Adonis. This isn’t living. So, fuck it. I’m done worrying about it. I’ve cheated death before, and I’ll do it again. And even if I die, I’d rather die living the life I wanna live than locked up like some pretty bird in a cage. We all gotta go someday, right?”

Her proximity was intoxicating, her scent filling my senses. I could see the fire in her eyes, the determination set in her jaw.Damn, she was beautiful when she was angry. And that thought terrified me.

“I can’t lose you too,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Xenobia’s orbs widened, surprise flickering across her face. For a moment, the air between us crackled with tension.

Then my phone rang, shattering the moment.

I answered, turning away from Xenobia’s piercing gaze. “Cardelo.”

“It’s happening,” my informant’s voice crackled through the line. “The Toussaints are making a move in two days or less.”

My blood ran cold. I listened to the details, my mind already racing through contingencies. When I hung up, I turned back to Xenobia, my face a mask of stern determination.

“What is it?” she asked, worry creeping into her voice.

I met her gaze, steeling myself. “We’ve got trouble coming, so I’m going to need you to trust me, whether you like that shit or not.”

I moved like a ghost through the estate, my footsteps silent against the polished floors. Every shadow, every corner, every potential entry point screamed vulnerability to my trained eye. I’d been lax, too distracted by… other things. Not anymore.

“Get snipers in the tower,” I barked into my comm. “I want eyes on every inch of this place. Titus, get those new motion sensors up. Not in an hour. Not tomorrow. Now.”

My mind raced, trying to find a weakness in the defenses I’d been creating. The weight of my Glock pressed reassuringly against my ribs, but it wasn’t enough. Control was only anillusion. The police couldn’t offer the type of protection she needed. Nothing would ever be sufficient when it came to her. There was only me.

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