Page 26 of Make Me Your Hitta

I didn’t know if he was talking about the floor or the minefield we danced through daily. Maybe both. My heart raced, pounding so hard I was sure it would leave my chest. I stepped back, trying to distance myself, but Adonis’s warmth lingered on my skin. The pull toward him was maddening, and I couldn’t shake it.

“I’m fine,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. But I wasn’t fine. Not even close.

Every fiber of my being screamed to close that gap again, to feel the safety of his arms. But I couldn’t. I risked another glance at him, catching the intensity in his eyes before he masked it. God, how I wanted to—

“Xenobia!” My father’s voice cut through the air like a whip, making me flinch. “My office. Now.”

The irritation in his tone was clear as day. I’d seen that look before—the narrowed eyes, the tight set of his jaw. It never ended well.

“Coming, sir,” I called back, my voice steadier than I felt.

As I turned to leave, Adonis’s hand brushed mine, just for a second. But it was enough to send electricity shooting up my arm. I walked toward my father’s office, each step feeling like I was marching to my execution. The weight of unspoken words and forbidden desires pressed down on me, threatening to suffocate me.

I was halfway there when my phone buzzed in my pocket. The sudden vibration made me jump, my nerves already frayed from the tension with Adonis and my father’s aggressive summons. My hand trembled as I reached for it. Something in my gut screamed danger, and I’d learned the hard way to trust those instincts. I hesitated, fingers hovering over my pocket. Did I really want to know?

“Fuck it,” I muttered, fishing out the phone. The screen lit up, revealing a message from an unknown number. My heart hammered against my ribs as I swiped to open it.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut:“The sins of The Guardian will be paid in blood. Your days are numbered, Xenobia.”

The blood drained from my face. This was personal. How the fuck had they gotten my number? My knees suddenly turned to water, and I leaned against the wall for support. The worldseemed to tilt on its axis, reality warping around me. I’d known danger all my life, but this felt immediate. Visceral.

“Shit,” I whispered. “Shit, shit, shit.”

I glanced down the hall toward my father’s office as my mind raced. How the hell was I going to tell him about this? And what would it mean for all of us? Did we have a rat in the ranks? Or worse, had Adonis’s father found out he was here protecting me? The phone felt like a grenade in my hand with no pin in sight. I wanted to throw it, to pretend I’d never seen the message. But I couldn’t. This was my life—our lives. And ignoring it wouldn’t make the threat go away.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed off the wall and continued toward the office. Each step felt like walking through molasses, the weight of the threat pressing down on me. I needed a drink—or ten. But first, I had to face my father and somehow find the words to tell him our world was about to come crashing down around us. On the bright side, maybe he wouldn’t mention anything about Adonis. I knocked on the large door, my knuckles colliding against the dark wood. My heart was pounding so hard I swear he could probably hear it through the door.

“Come in,” his gruff voice called out.

I stepped inside, the familiar scent of cigars and leather hitting me like a punch to the gut. My stomach soured. My father was at his desk, looking every bit the mafia boss he was. His hardened brown eyes narrowed as he took me in.

“Xenobia, is there—” he started to ask, his tone sharp.

I swallowed hard before cutting him off. “Daddy, I… I just got a text. I think it’s from the Toussaints.”

His face darkened instantly. “Show me,” he demanded, holding out his hand.

As I handed over my phone, my fingers trembled. I watched his expression change as he read, his jaw clenched tight.

“Adonis!” he suddenly bellowed, making me jump. “Get in here, now!”

I heard rapid footsteps in the hall, and then Adonis was there, all coiled tension and alert eyes. His gaze met mine for a split second, and I felt that familiar jolt of electricity.

“What’s happened?” Adonis probed.

My father tossed him my phone. “The Toussaints. They’ve made their next move.”

As Adonis read, I sank into a nearby chair, suddenly exhausted and still queasy. The weight of our family’s legacy, all the blood and violence, it all came crashing down on me at once. I’d never felt so trapped, so utterly nauseous, so completely fucked.

“What do we do now?” I inquired, hating how small my voice sounded.

They exchanged a look that sent chills down my spine. Whatever was coming, I knew it would be worse than before. Much worse.

“We take the war to them,” my father announced. “I’ve been making alliances. We have men at the ready. All I have to do is make the call.”

As I left the office, those words echoed in my head.War.Fuck.I’d lived in a world of shadows and danger my whole life, but this… this felt different, like we were standing on the edge of a cliff, about to plunge into the abyss.

I caught my reflection in a hallway mirror, noticing the haunted look in my eyes. This was my life now—constantly looking over my shoulder, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. And for what? A family name? A legacy built on blood and fear? I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. The walls of our grand house suddenly didn’t feel so safe, not even with The Guardian standing across the room.

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