Page 18 of Forbidden Fruit

Zayn was strong, his movements fueled by desperation, but my fury gave me the edge I needed. I landed a hard punch to his jaw, sending him reeling back. Before he could recover, the door burst open, and Alejandro and the rest of my men stormed in, guns drawn. The local authorities were right behind them.

Zayn was outnumbered, outgunned, and defeated. The fight drained out of him, his face a mask of shock and disbelief as he realized he’d lost. He looked up at me, his eyes filled with hatred. “This isn’t over, Maxwell. You think you’ve won, but you have no idea what’s coming.”

I ignored his words, my only focus on Raya. She ran to me, her body trembling as she threw her arms around me, her tears soaking into my shirt. “Maxwell…I’m so sorry. I never should have doubted you.”

I held her close, my heart pounding in my chest as I buried my face in her hair. The fear that had gripped me since I realized she was in danger began to ease, replaced by a deep, overwhelming sense of relief. “Raya, you have nothing to apologize for. You didn’t know; how could you have? Of course I forgive you. I want you by my side, now and always.”

She clung to me, her body shaking as she fought to steady her breath. I could feel the intensity of her emotions, the rawness of her fear and relief mixing in a way that was almost palpable. I smoothed her hair, my fingers gently caressing her scalp as I tried to offer her some semblance of comfort. The chaos around us seemed to blur, the world narrowing to just the two of us.

“I thought I lost you,” she whispered, her voice cracking with the weight of her emotions. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her cheeks wet with tears.

“You’re safe now,” I said softly, holding her closer. “That’s all that matters. I’ll make sure you’re never in danger again.”

Alejandro approached us, his expression a mix of concern and professionalism. “We’ve got Zayn under control and the local police updated. The FBI is being brought in. They’ll be able to provide more information soon.”

I nodded, my attention still focused on Raya. “Thank you, Alejandro. I need to be with her right now.”

Alejandro gave a brief nod of understanding before turning back to the team, leaving us alone in the quiet aftermath of the confrontation.

Raya turned her gaze back to me, her eyes reflecting a deep sadness mixed with hope. “I hate that there is such evil in the world. What happens now?”

“We rebuild,” I said, pulling her into a gentle embrace. “We move forward, and we stay vigilant. The threat might be over for now, but there’s still work to be done. Raya, I’ve devoted my life to justice, to seeing that people like my father and Zayn are removed from power so they can no longer prey upon the most innocent and vulnerable of the world. But I will always have a target on my back. And that means that if you are with me, you will too by association. I vow to do my best to protect you, but as you know, there are no guarantees in this life. If you no longer wish to see me, I understand and will leave you alone.”

Raya’s fingers entwined with mine as she leaned into me, her eyes shining. “Maxwell, I want to be with you, now more than ever. I am willing to take the risk and the responsibility. I am yours if you will have me.”

I looked into her eyes, seeing the sincerity and strength that had been with her all along, and cupped her cheek. “My darling, I want nothing more than to have you by my side. We’ll face whatever comes next together.”

Raya tilted her head up, her lips finding mine in a tender, heartfelt kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of all the things we couldn’t yet put into words—of pain and healing, of trust and hope. It was a promise that we would face the future together, no matter what it held.

---