Page 12

The sky was a mess of colors: deep oranges melting into pinks, with streaks of violet stretching across the clouds like brushstrokes on an artist’s canvas. Cars rolled by, their headlights flicking on one by one, and the scenic view was beautiful to watch. But I didn’t have the patience to admire.

I’d had a long day and desperately yearned for a hot bath and my soft pillows.

Cold air bit at my skin as I shifted from one foot to the other, glancing down at my phone for what had to be the tenth time.

Still no driver.

Nathan had some school-related seminar to organize three hours away from Prima Care, so he couldn’t pick me up. My Lyft was supposed to be here eighteen minutes ago, and I was ready to delete the damn app off my phone.

A gust of wind sent my hair whipping across my face. I tucked it behind my ear, sighing, when the deep purr of an engine caught my attention.

I thought it was the driver.

But, since when did Lyft have AMG-Mercedes?

The black Mercedes pulled up beside me, its sleek exterior reflecting the streetlights that automatically came up. The tinted window rolled down, and I stiffened.

“I double-checked my planner to make sure you didn’t have a session today.” And I wasn’t bluffing. “Even if you somehow miraculously did, it’s already late.”

Miron kept his eyes ahead, not sparing me a glance even once. “Get in.”

The nerve of him to show up here and order me around. “Thanks, but no. I have a Lyft on its way to—”

“Get inside the fucking car.”

Whatever I had left to say dried up on my tongue. He didn’t shout, but it was that cold, emotionless command that sent chills down my spine. It reminded me of the detached look in his eyes when he dunked Axel with alcohol and how undisturbed he was by the aftermath.

Quietly, I opened the door and got in.

He raised a brow and murmured something under his breath along the lines of “…insufferable,” before he said, “Shut the fucking door, will you?”

I obeyed but clutched my bag tightly and looked straight ahead without uttering a word. This same man had whacked someone across the head with a bottle. Arguing with him didn’t sound like the most reasonable thing to do while seated in his car.

We sat in silence until he decided to busy his hands with the wheel, and the car moved out of the curb in a fluid motion.

Eerie silence pressed in, thick and absolute, swallowing even the faintest sound of my breath. The fatigue that had been a constant weight all day, dragging at my limbs, vanished.

Every muscle in my body was tense and on alert.

“I said Axel meant trouble, and I meant it.”

He had spoken so suddenly, I nearly jumped out of my skin, and the deep rumble of his voice forced me to look at him. It appeared that he had more to say, so I didn’t interrupt.

“You don’t have eyes at the back of your head, do you? Doesn’t mean others aren’t watching. He has a reputation with the women, which includes having them whether they like it or not. Do you know what that means, Miss Sinclair?”

Even with his eyes locked in on the road, I still felt his stare burn me somehow, waiting intently for an answer, even though I didn’t like where this conversation was headed.

“No, I don’t.”

“It means he drugged your drink last night. His intentions were…not pure.” I saw a muscle tick in his jaw, and his next words flowed with venom and bitterness too immense to understand. “Men like that—men who feel like they can do whatever they want to women—fucking disgust me. And I won’t just stand by and watch any stupid son of a bitch take advantage of you.”

Bile rose up my throat, and I swallowed down the disgust that churned in my stomach. Distracted by the heart-wrenching news he delivered, I didn’t think to question why he felt the need to care if something happened to me.

The most logical question to have asked myself was why I should believe Miron. For all I knew, he could be lying. He might have harbored a malicious intent, or no intent at all, to embarrass Axel. Miron and I were not friends. We barely knew each other. After two—well, three—not-so-pleasant encounters, and he suddenly had my best interests at heart?

That was what my mind said.

My heart, however, begged to differ.

There was that gut instinct that he was telling the truth, and another question sprang up: What did he have to gain by unexpectedly driving all the way down here to lie to me?

He gave a hint last night, didn’t he? He’d obviously known him and said Axel was trouble. I just didn’t know how much trouble.

Oh, God.

I felt sick.

Miron saved me from what could have been the most horrible night of my life, and I’d practically smeared crap on his efforts.

My lungs constricted, and I bit down hard on my lower lip until a warm, metallic taste touched my tongue. This was another moment to swallow my pride and apologize for being wrong.

“I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were trying to help me.”

“I get it,” he said simply. “You were angry.”

“Yes, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I still recommend that you find better ways to manage and express your anger, but if I had known why you did it, I wouldn’t have reacted like that.”

“You didn’t know. So, it’s fine. I didn’t tell you to evoke an apology.”

Miron’s expression didn’t change, but something in his posture eased, and when he looked at me, he didn’t have to say why he’d driven all the way to Prima Care to explain himself.

Last night, I’d outright told him not to stick his nose where it didn’t belong while he was being noble.

Ouch.

“You’re not so big on apologies and mushy moments, are you?”

He shrugged. “No. But that seems like your forte, creating mushy moments. Which made me wonder why you went to The Tavern alone.”

“So, we’re not going to talk about why and how you randomly showed up there to save the day? And where you’re currently taking me to?”

“I had some business to take care of, and I am taking you to your house,” was all he offered.

I lifted an eyebrow. “And you know my address, how?”

“I have my ways.” A shadow of a smile crossed his face, only to disappear. “Back to you and your loneliness at The Tavern.”

“I wasn’t alone or lonely. My friend Elena and I were there together. That was until Axel showed up and—”

“You know what I mean.”

Did I?

His eyes were insinuating something, but I wanted to hear him say it.

“I’m asking if you have a boyfriend, Miss Sinclair. And I’m genuinely curious because Axel wouldn’t have had a chance if he had been present. Or existed. ”

It was the strangest thing, but we’d somehow transitioned from a heated, prickly moment, to talking with ease, like civil people. It felt lighter, different; and though I twisted uneasily about bringing up Nathan with him, the atmosphere between us was comfortable enough.

And, somehow, I found myself enjoying listening to Miron talk.

“He does exist. His name is Nathan.” I smiled a little, encouraging myself to speak with boldness about him because I wasn’t doing anything wrong. “And it was a girl’s night out, so he wasn’t invited.”

Miron didn’t react immediately. He just hummed. Then, in the same flat tone he’d used the entire evening, he said, “I’m engaged.”

I thought I paused breathing when that piece of information knocked the air out of my lungs. I stared at his long, slender fingers. No ring.

But he looked dead serious.

I should’ve felt nothing. But instead, a strange discomfort settled in my chest, tight and unwelcome.

“Oh,” I said, forcing a smile. “Congratulations.”

Then, he glanced over his shoulder, unreadable as ever, as he watched me briefly before facing the road again. “Usually, Alina is the one who gets most of the congratulations. I handle the paperwork and ask for places to sign.”

“Are you being metaphorical?”

“What do you think, Miss Sinclair?”

“I think if you’re speaking about your upcoming wedding like it’s work, then….” The realization dawned on me. “It’s a contract? Your marriage was arranged?”

“I see how you put those qualifications to good use.”

“Let me get this right; if I understand things correctly, you’re not happy about this arrangement.”

“Happy?” He blew a dismissive grunt. “Sounds like the name of a children’s playground. Getting married to Alina is an obligation I must fulfill. Where I come from, there’s no choice in considering happiness . And I’m not complaining. She’s got her intense days, and I’ve got mine. We’ll deal with it.”

“Sounds like it’s convenient then.” Fumbling with my fingers, I blurted out something I thought I’d only ever tell Elena. “I, on the other hand, am not very happy with the way things are on my end. It’s long-distance, and it’s slowly taking a toll on us.”

Again, Miron didn’t say anything, but this time, the faint smile on his lips was more visible. “No wonder you’re so wound up. Makes sense. I mean, with your boyfriend always gone, I doubt you’re getting much action.”

Sudden heat rushed up my neck, and my whole body locked up. “That’s—”

“Never mind.”

His guards went back up, and I swallowed hard, gripping my seatbelt.

The car felt unbearably small all of a sudden, and I should have been grateful that he didn’t prod further. But the words slipped out before I could stop them.

“I—I’ve never had sex.”

The car jerked violently.

My breath caught as Miron’s knuckles went white on the steering wheel, his foot slamming on the brake just in time to keep us from swerving into the next lane. A car horn, though muffled by the wound-up windows, blared behind us, and he cursed under his breath, steadying the wheel.

Then, he turned to me, eyes wide with disbelief. “You’ve never… how ?”

It was the most genuine and stupefied reaction I had ever seen on him, and my ears burned with embarrassment. Thanks to my big mouth. Sometimes, I feared I talked too much.

“Forget I said anything.” I shrank in my seat, covering my burning face with my hands. “You know what? Here’s fine.”

“You’re the crazy one if you think I’m leaving you here.”

“Miron….”

His eyes grew as hard as granite. “I’m taking you home. End of discussion.”

I had already begun fumbling with the door, thinking he was going to burst out at any moment, laughing in my face—even though, technically, I’d never seen him laugh. But I couldn’t wait for him to mock me. I couldn’t let that happen.

“My house is nearby. I’ll walk the distance. Here is fine.” A lie. It wasn’t anywhere close, but I needed out. Now.

Miron’s grip tightened on the wheel, his jaw ticking like he was about to argue. I reached for the door handle, fingers shaking. It wouldn’t budge.

“Unlock it,” I demanded, my heart hammering so loud that I heard the blood roaring in my ears.

He hesitated.

“Please, unlock the damn door, Miron,” I snapped.

A soft click.

I shoved the door open, stepping out before I could second-guess myself. The night air hit my skin, cooling the humiliating heat on my face.

I didn’t look back.

I walked away, fast. Maybe too fast, attempting to leave that memory behind. But I didn’t care.