Page 168 of Madness & Mercy

Julian told me not to follow, andtechnically,I’m honoring that.

I turn back to the laptop, pretending to focus on the stack of problems threatening to destroy us, but my gaze drifts. Always back to that one tab.

It’s madness. Reckless. Completely irrational.But so are we.

I lean back, cigarette dangling between my fingers, and stare at the ring glowing on the screen. Twelve perfect diamonds set in a platinum band, understated yet impossible to ignore. NormanSilverman. Imported from London. Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, sitting in an online cart like it’s nothing.

Julian hates anything flashy. He’d spit curses if he knew how much it cost. Maybe he’ll slap me, maybe he’ll laugh, maybe he’ll look at me with those sharp, furious eyes that undo me every goddamn time. But when I put this ring on his finger, he’ll understand… he’s mine.Forever.

I clickcheckoutwith express shipping. It’ll be here in two days.

I take a long drag, exhaling slowly as the decision settles in my chest. He can run, curse me, hate me all he wants. None of it matters.

Because soon, Julian Cross won’t just be in my bed. He’ll beboundto me.

Two days…

Two days until everything changes. Two days until I find out whether Julian Cross says yes… or burns the world down around us both.

CHAPTER 27 – ESCAPE

JULIAN

Idon’t even know where the hell I’m going. Then again, it doesn’t really matter. I just needed out… out of that estate, out from under his stare that burns holes straight through me. Out from the chokehold of Nico Vitale.

The anger sits like fire in my chest, and I can’t smother it.

None of this was supposed to happen. My life was never meant to orbit around a man like him. I was hired to kill him for fuck’s sake. I was supposed to keep control, keep distance, keep the lines clean. But ever since I met Nico, every rule I built for myself has gone straight to hell.

My grip tightens on the wheel, knuckles whitening as the speedometer climbs. Ninety in a sixty, and still not fast enough. The tires burn, the road blurs. I almost don’t care where I end up, as long as it’s anywhere he isn’t.

But even now, even with the rage pounding in my veins, all I can think about is him.

Honestly, I’m shocked the bastard didn’t come after me. The Nico I know would’ve hunted me down by now.

But then something in my gut twists. In my rearview, a blacked-out car lurks a bit too long, a bit too close. Myfirst thought, maybe paranoia. But nobody follows like that by accident.

I slam on the gas, adrenaline flooding my system as the world streaks past. For a few seconds, it feels good, like outrunning gravity.

Then a flash of red light hits my rearview. Sirens wail.

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

I jerk the wheel toward the shoulder, gravel crunching under the tires as I kill the engine.

This is bad.Really bad.Ex-cop, ex-convict, and I’m driving a car that screams mafia money. On the outside, I might look clean, but my record sure as hell isn’t. If they recognize me…if they run my name…

I grip the wheel harder, jaw locked, forcing my breathing to slow into something that won’t give me away.

One wrong move, and this day ends with me face-down on the pavement. Orworse.

The cruiser door slams and the cop strides up, walking slow like he’s already made up his mind about me. He raps on the glass twice, like a warning shot.

I roll my window down, squinting against the glare. He’s already got his hand hovering near his holster, eyes flicking from me to the car.

“Nice ride,” he says flatly, his eyes sweeping over the Maserati and then back at me. “Funny how guys like you never look like they paid for it. License and registration.”

My stomach drops. I force myself to stay calm, even as sweat prickles hot at my temples. A license isn’t a problem. I’ve got a fake, comes with my occupation… but registration? I don’t know where the hell Nico keeps it. Even if I did, I can’t hand it over without putting more heat on him, on all of us.