Page 30 of His Asset

Reuben’s jaw flexed.He didn’t speak, but his hand twitched near his side, where a glint of metal caught my eye.

I sucked in a breath.I hadn’t realized he was armed.I shook my head.But of course he was.In his own way, Reuben was just as dangerous as Adam.

“Let her go,” Adam called out, his voice clear and commanding.“And I’ll let you walk away.Alive and unscathed.”

Reuben didn’t answer.But tension radiated off him as his fingers flexed near his weapon.

I turned to him, my voice low, steady.“Leave, please.I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

He stared at me, his jaw tight, war raging in his eyes.His grip tightened on his gun, his other hand closing into a fist.Every part of him wanted to fight.

But then, slowly, I saw the shift.The flicker of understanding.

Reuben might have fought and won in every ring he’d entered.But this wasn’t a ring.And Adam wasn’t someone he could outmatch.Not here.Not today.

Something passed between us then.Trust, maybe for the first time.I asked, and he’d chosen to listen.

Reuben nodded tightly, then pushed open the passenger door before stepping slowly out of the car with raised hands.Adam’s team didn’t move.Not yet.Behind us, doors creaked open as Reuben’s men began to emerge from their vehicles, weapons drawn, eyes sweeping the perimeter.Even inside the car I felt the air thicken, knew an eruption was imminent.

Reuben didn’t look back at his men, his attention sliced between me and Adam.“Stand down,” he said, his voice low but sharp.“Weapons down.Now.”

A few seconds passed.Then, slowly, his men obeyed, lowering their guns with visible reluctance.

Only then did Reuben back toward one of his other vehicles without a word.Just before he disappeared inside the SUV, his men hovering close to him, he turned toward Adam.The look he gave him was sharp, measured.

A warning that this wasn’t over.

Adam barely acknowledged the other man as he approached my side of the vehicle, his intent clear.But though he was quiet and composed, I’d learned his stillness was one that came moments before something broke.

He opened the door and stopped in front of me, his gaze sweeping over my face.I swallowed hard.His eyes told me everything I needed to know.I belonged to him now.

Or so he believed.

“You’ve been reckless,” he said, his voice low.“But I forgive you.”His eyes burned into mine.“Let’s go, Bella.”

The name hit me like a slap.He was reminding me exactly who I was to him.Though I tensed, I didn’t fight.Not yet.It was pointless.Hopeless.

But the moment his hand settled at the small of my back, right against my concealed wings, I flinched.That it was less from revulsion and whole lot more from yearning was my own damn fault.

I swallowed back my all too familiar, toxic reaction as he guided me toward the helicopter.The wind tore at my clothes and hair, the blades thundering above us.

I climbed in first, sliding onto the leather seat.He followed, shutting the door behind him with a deafening finality.He reached over and secured my harness, my breath hissing at his close proximity.

How could I hate this man so completely while I simultaneously burned for him? I glanced out the window to the convoy of cars outside.Right then it was as if Reuben no longer existed.

I pushed down a wave of bitterness as I reached for my headset and put it on, the noise of the rotors and outside world vanishing, sealed off like it never existed.The cabin seemed to instead hum with sterile calm, my pulse thudding like a drum in my ears.

The moment we lifted off, I felt the shift, not just in altitude, but in control.I was in Adam’s space now.

He didn’t speak for a while.Just watched me.Then quietly, he asked, “What is he to you?”

I didn’t answer.My hands stayed folded in my lap even as I kept my expression unreadable.

Adam’s tone turned colder.“I saw the kiss.At the fight.Don’t insult me with silence.”

I’d been right to be nervous by the cameras and media at the fight.I’d guessed how far-reaching his influence was.How quickly he’d no doubt intercepted the footage.I couldn’t help but sense he’d watched that kiss between Reuben and I dozens of times.

Still, I said nothing.He deserved my silence, my cold shoulder.