Page 37 of Masked Seduction
Jenna’s brow furrows slightly, concern flickering across her face. “And you’re going to discuss how to handle him.”
It isn’t a question, but I answer anyway. “Yes. He’s been trying to interfere in businesses that belong firmly in our territory. Sending his people into establishments under our protection, trying to sow discontent. We can’t let it stand.”
She exhales a soft breath, and I can practically see the wheels turning behind her eyes. She’s sharp, perceptive. That’s part of what makes her so intriguing—both professionally and otherwise.
“I’ll be taking notes?” she asks, glancing down at the iPad.
“Yes,” I reply, “but mostly observing. Watching how things operate. Familiarizing yourself with the language we use, how we communicate. I need you up to speed quickly.”
She nods, her expression tightening slightly. I sense a moment of hesitation building within her, something on the tip of her tongue.
“Something wrong?” I prompt.
She meets my eyes, searching carefully. “Look, I’ll be honest. Everything I know about the mafia or Bratva or whatever it is comes from movies. I’m not afraid to learn, but I need to ask…”
She pauses, swallowing hard. It’s rare for her confidence to slip, but the question she’s about to ask seems to unsettle her, exposing a flash of vulnerability I wasn’t expecting.
“Ask,” I encourage, gentler this time.
She inhales deeply, visibly steeling herself. “Am I safe here, Abram? Or does working for you put me in danger?”
Something sharp twists in my chest at her words. A protectiveness rises immediately, possessive and fierce. Without thinking, I stand and move closer, closing the distance until I’m standing directly in front of her.
“You’re safe,” I say, my voice low, unwavering. “You have my word. No one under my protection comes to harm, not unless they cross me.”
Her eyes widen slightly, but she holds my gaze, studying me intently. “And if someone tries?”
Without hesitation, I tell her, “Then I’ll deal with them personally.”
Her breath catches, and I can feel the tension coiling tighter between us—unspoken but undeniable. I can’t resist pushing just a little further, testing those walls she’s so carefully built around herself.
“I take care of what’s mine,” I add quietly, letting my gaze dip deliberately down her body then back up again. “Always.”
CHAPTER 13
JENNA
“You’re sure?”
I hate how small my voice sounds. But what’s more, I hate that I’ve revealed a vulnerability.
Abram doesn’t flinch, doesn’t look away. His hands settle gently on my shoulders—warm, steady, grounding. Like everything about him, his touch feels strangely calming. Heavy with meaning.
“I’m sure,” he says.
Just two simple words, but they work their way under my skin like a hot flame. His hands melt the fear right out of my muscles, making them loose and warm. Not to mention the way my stomach flips just from being this close to him. His fingers don’t roam, don’t linger, but still my body lights up like a struck match.
“No one will touch you,” he says, his voice low, a promise.
I nod slowly. “Okay.”
He lets go, stepping back. The loss of contact is more noticeable than I want to admit. I watch him cross to his desk, his expression already shifting back into that unreadable businessman coolness.
And just like that, my brain betrays me. That walk—controlled, powerful, confident—reminds me ofhim. The stranger from the other night. The one who lit my body on fire and left me gasping in the dark. I try to chase the thought away, but it’s too late.
Abram’s beard is streaked with gray, neatly trimmed with that rich salt-and-pepper thing going on.Hehad a beard too, but it was darker. Black. Still, the shape of the jaw, the cut of his shoulders, thoseeyes…
I shake my head. No. It can’t be. I’d know. Right?
