Page 10 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Maid

"That's enough!" Dean grabbed Rafe's arm, but his brother shrugged him off with practiced ease.

The elevator doors closed behind him, leaving a heavy silence. Dean stood rigid, his hands clenched into fists, raw tension radiating from his powerful frame.

"Are you alright?" he asked, not looking at me.

"I'm fine." I drew in a shaky breath. "Dean, what was that about? What did he mean?"

"Don't." His voice was rough with emotion. "Just... stay away from him. Please."

"But—"

"Nina." He finally met my eyes, and something in his expression made my heart stutter. "Promise me."

I nodded slowly, unable to look away from the intensity in his gaze. "I promise."

He left without another word, leaving me with more questions than answers. The kitchen felt too quiet, too empty in his wake.

"Jenkins?"

"Yes, Ms. Sorenson?"

"What do you know about the Nightfang family?"

The AI was silent for a long moment. "I am programmed to protect Mr. Nightfang's privacy. However..." He paused meaningfully. "I would advise caution."

I sank into a chair, my mind racing. My fingers shook as I pulled out my phone, muscle memory finding Maggie's number. The line rang twice before my sister's warm voice filled my ear.

"Maggie? You got a minute?" I tried to keep my voice steady, but the slight tremor gave me away.

"Nina?" All traces of her usual teasing disappeared. "What's wrong? You sound shaken. Is it that boss of yours? Did he do something?"

"No, no, it's not Dean." I sank into one of the kitchen chairs, twisting a loose thread on my uniform skirt. "It's his brother. He showed up today." I swallowed hard. "Remember how you always say you can tell when someone's dangerous, like that sixth sense you got after what happened with Travis?"

"Yeah?" Her voice sharpened with concern.

"Well, Rafe Nightfang? He set off every alarm bell I have." The words tumbled out as I described the encounter, everything from the predatory way he'd moved, Dean's explosive reaction, the cryptic warnings about family business. I hesitated. "And when Dean stepped between us, Maggie, he was different. Almost inhuman."

"Different how?"

I struggled to find the words. "Like he was barely containing something inside him. Something powerful." The memory sent a shiver down my spine.

"Nina." Maggie's mom-voice came out, the one she usually reserved for when Max was about to do something dangerous. "I know that tone. You're intrigued instead of scared, aren't you?" She paused. "Trust your instincts," she said finally. "But be careful, okay? Sometimes the things we don't know about people can hurt us the most. You learned that the hard way with Travis."

"I know." I looked around the kitchen, at the space I'd worked so hard to organize and make my own mark. "But I can't just walk away."

"Because of the job?"

I thought of Dean's almost-smile, of the way he'd positioned himself between me and his brother, of the raw concern in his eyes when he'd asked me to stay away from Rafe.

"No," I admitted softly. "Not just because of the job."

After hanging up, I stood and straightened my shoulders. Whatever secrets Dean was keeping, whatever darkness lurked in his past, I wasn't giving up. Not yet.

Jenkins hummed to life. "Ms. Sorenson? The office needs attention."

I smiled, grateful for the normalcy. "On it."

I attacked the office with my dusting cloth, trying to lose myself in the familiar routine. The leather-bound books, the sleek monitors, the strange devices that hummed with mysterious purpose. Everything in this room spoke of Dean's brilliant, ordered mind. But now, after Rafe's visit, I saw the hidden edges. The way certain drawers were reinforced. The subtle security cameras in the corners of the room. The strange symbols that kept appearing in unexpected places.

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