Page 35 of His Ruthless Obsession

"And who protects you?" She starts unbuttoning my shirt.

I capture her mouth in a bruising kiss, pouring my frustration and fear into it. She matches my intensity, nails scraping my scalp. When we break apart, she rests her forehead against mine.

"Stay tonight," she whispers. "Actually stay. Not just dropping in for a visit."

"I should set up additional security first-"

"The building's already a fortress. What I need is you." She slides off my lap, tugging me toward the bedroom. "Come to bed. Let tomorrow be tomorrow's problem."

I follow, knowing I'm only drawing her deeper into my world. But with her fingers laced through mine, the blood and violence of the night seems distant.

And when I bury myself inside her, fucking her long and slow until the sun rises, I remember exactly why I'm doing this.

15

JAZZ

Isip my morning coffee on the terrace, watching the sunrise paint streaks of gold across the city skyline. My plants rustle in the breeze — a small piece of peace I've clung to as Nerio gets more and more protective.

I'm not sure when I stopped minding it.

The security panel by the door chirps. Three short beeps — his code. He didn't come by last night, and though he spends most nights here now, I didn't think much of it. I don't press too much of where he is or what he's doing…

Not that I don't wonder. But I'm trying to keep my crumbling walls up.

"Already awake?" Nerio's footsteps echo across the marble floor. "Good morning, little dove."

I don't turn around. "You're checking up on me at 6 AM?"

"Business never sleeps." He moves beside me, his presence commanding even in the soft morning light. His suit is impeccable as always, not a wrinkle in sight.

"Right. Business." I gesture to my coffee. "Want some?"

"Already had three." He leans against the railing, gray eyes scanning the horizon before settling on me. "The club's numbers looked good last night."

"They always do when I'm running things." I meet his gaze, chin lifted. After weeks of living under his watchful eye, I've learned to push back against his intensity. Sometimes.

And sometimes I'm his good girl. But I try not to think about that right now even if I ache for him. This man has always pulled that out of me.

His lips curve into that dangerous smile. "That's why I picked you."

"You mean that's why you keep me close."

"Both." He reaches out, tucking a stray curl behind my ear. His touch lingers, sending unwanted shivers down my spine. "I have a dinner meeting tonight. But I'll be by after."

"You know...." I step back, needing space from his magnetic pull. "Maybe I could come with you."

"No." His tone shifts, harder now. "You don't belong on the other side of the business."

"The side that requires bulletproof windows and triple-encrypted everything?"

"Exactly." He straightens his jacket. "You'll stay as far as I can get you from it with you running The Vault." He checks his watch. "I have to go, but I wanted to see you before I got too busy."

"Tonight then," I say, trying to shove away the whirlwind of emotions swirling in me. Maybe I could come with you? What was I thinking?

I watch him stride toward the door, every movement controlled and precise. This is my life now – luxury prison with a view, dancing between normalcy and the darkness that follows Nerio like a shadow. Part of me wants to run. The other part...

"Jazz." He pauses at the door. "I just want you safe."

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