Page 5

Adonis

I watched her from my spot, my eyes never leaving Xenobia’s delicate form. I told her this shit was a bad idea, but she threw a tantrum all damn morning until I caved. The only reason I’d even agreed was because I had my team secure the entire fucking street before we even got in the car. Now that we were here, I realized what a terrible fucking decision it was and why parents should never give in to screaming children. The kids were always fuckin’ wrong, as was Xenobia in our case. “But I need to see my friends.” She’d cried. Bullshit.

The bustling café around us faded into a blur of potential threats, each passerby a possible assassin sent by my father in my mind. The world was full of evil mothafuckas. Xenobia’s carefree laughter cut through the air, which should’ve brought joy to my ears but only tightened the knot in my gut. She was too happy-go-lucky, too exposed. Didn’t she understand the danger that lurked in every shadow? I shifted in my seat, the leather holster a comforting presence at my side. My fingers twitched, itching to grasp the cold metal of my weapon, just in case.

At her table, Xenobia tossed her hair back, the light catching on the darkened scar that traced her collarbone, a reminder of past failures—mine and others. Her friends chattered away, oblivious to the dark undercurrents that swirled around their little cluster.

“Can you believe he said that?” Xenobia’s voice carried over to me, laced with entertainment. “Some people just don’t know when to quit.”

My jaw clenched as I shifted the brim of my hat. Was she talking about me? Our last argument still burned in my memory. Her fiery words had seared into my brain. She glanced my way, those fierce brown eyes meeting mine briefly through my shades. A challenge or a dare? I saw the defiance there, the stubborn set of her chin that screamed my presence wouldn’t bully her. I wanted to march over there, to drag her away from the exposed position. But I kept myself in check. That wasn’t what she needed from me. Not now, at least.

“Lighten up, Adonis,” I muttered, forcing my shoulders to relax. “You’re here to protect her, not suffocate her.”

But as Xenobia laughed again, bright and careless, I couldn’t shake the feeling that darkness was closing in around us. And I’d be damned if I let it touch her again. A flicker of movement caught my eye. A man in his mid-thirties, scruff on his jaw, had been nursing the same espresso for the past hour. Nothing unusual there, except his gaze kept drifting to Xenobia. Not with the usual appreciation most men showed—this was different. Calculating. Hungry. My muscles tensed, adrenaline flooding my system. I’d seen that look on faces moments before they pulled a trigger.

“Shit,” I whispered, hand instinctively moving to the concealed weapon at my side.

I scanned the café again, looking for accomplices, exits, and anything out of place. The weight of responsibility crashed down on me like a tidal wave. If I were wrong, Xenobia would be furious. If I was right and did nothing…

No choice. I had to put my intuition first. I had to move.

I strode toward her table, keeping my face neutral despite the storm raging inside. Xenobia’s laughter cut off as she saw me approach. Her eyes narrowed, that familiar spark of defiance igniting.

“Ladies,” I said, nodding to her friends. “I’m afraid we’ll have to cut this short.”

“What? Why?” Xenobia demanded to know, her tone sharp enough to cut glass.

I leaned in close, pitching my voice low. “Security concern. We need to go. Now.”

She searched my face, looking for any sign of deception. I quickly lifted my shades and met her gaze steadily, willing her to trust me or try me just once. Either way, we were fuckin’ leaving.

“Fine,” she said finally, gathering her things. “But this shit better be good.”

As I ushered her toward the exit, I felt the suspicious man’s eyes boring into my back. My skin crawled, but I didn’t dare look back. Get her safe first, then deal with the threat . One step at a time, Adonis. One step at a time. Once we got outside, I motioned for my men to flank us until we got in the armored SUV and peeled off.

The drive back to the estate was suffocating. Silence hung between us like a physical barrier, thick and oppressive. I gripped the steering wheel tight, and my knuckles hardened as I wrestled with the storm inside me. Duty. It’d always been about duty. Protect Xenobia at all costs. But fuck if it wasn’t getting more complicated every day. I snuck a glance at her through the rearview mirror, sitting ramrod straight in the back seat. Her jaw was clenched, eyes fixed on the stretch of road ahead.

“You gonna tell me what that was all about?” Xenobia’s voice cut through the silence.

I swallowed hard. “Just doing my job.”

She scoffed. “Right. Your job. I wasn’t done there, you know. But as per usual, you ruin every-fucking-thing.”

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay focused on the road. Spoiled little fuckin’ brat. I’m here to keep you alive, not help you maintain a fuckin’ social life. I itched to teach her ass a lesson, to take her over my knee and spank the attitude right out of her. We pulled up to the estate, the iron gates swinging open to admit us. As soon as the car stopped, Xenobia was out, storming toward the house like a tornado. I scrambled after her, my heart pounding.

“Xenobia, wait—”

She whirled on me, eyes blazing. “No, you wait. I’m sick of this shit, Adonis. Sick of being treated like a child, like I can’t take care of myself.”

“It’s not about that,” I started, but she cut me off.

“Then what is it about? Huh? You get off on controlling every aspect of my life or overplanning so much that it sucks the joy out of everything?”

I felt my temper rising to match hers. “You think I enjoy this shit? You think I like watching your every move, wondering if today’s the day someone decides to take their shot at you?” I barked, clenching my fists while fighting to keep my voice steady. “We received intel that they’re close. I got a threat. The dangers lurk around every goddamn corner. I’ve seen it, lived it. I’m trying to keep your ass safe, and you’re making it impossible.”

“Safe?” she spat, taking a step closer. “You’re suffocating me, Adonis. This isn’t living. So, fuck it. I’m done worrying about it. I’ve cheated death before, and I’ll do it again. And even if I die, I’d rather die living the life I wanna live than locked up like some pretty bird in a cage. We all gotta go someday, right?”

Her proximity was intoxicating, her scent filling my senses. I could see the fire in her eyes, the determination set in her jaw. Damn, she was beautiful when she was angry. And that thought terrified me.

“I can’t lose you too,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Xenobia’s orbs widened, surprise flickering across her face. For a moment, the air between us crackled with tension.

Then my phone rang, shattering the moment.

I answered, turning away from Xenobia’s piercing gaze. “Cardelo.”

“It’s happening,” my informant’s voice crackled through the line. “The Toussaints are making a move in two days or less.”

My blood ran cold. I listened to the details, my mind already racing through contingencies. When I hung up, I turned back to Xenobia, my face a mask of stern determination.

“What is it?” she asked, worry creeping into her voice.

I met her gaze, steeling myself. “We’ve got trouble coming, so I’m going to need you to trust me, whether you like that shit or not.”

I moved like a ghost through the estate, my footsteps silent against the polished floors. Every shadow, every corner, every potential entry point screamed vulnerability to my trained eye. I’d been lax, too distracted by… other things. Not anymore.

“Get snipers in the tower,” I barked into my comm. “I want eyes on every inch of this place. Titus, get those new motion sensors up. Not in an hour. Not tomorrow. Now.”

My mind raced, trying to find a weakness in the defenses I’d been creating. The weight of my Glock pressed reassuringly against my ribs, but it wasn’t enough. Control was only an illusion. The police couldn’t offer the type of protection she needed. Nothing would ever be sufficient when it came to her. There was only me.

As night fell, the estate transformed into a fortress. I prowled the grounds, restless and cagey. The argument with Xenobia echoed in my head. If she only knew. If she could see the nightmares that plagued me, the constant fear that gripped my heart. I was to blame for what happened. My father burned down their world for me , and I hadn’t been strong enough to hold off his men. I wasn’t strong enough to save Santo or his mother. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw their broken bodies, their blood on my hands… my failure. Whenever the pungent scent of blood hit my nose, I wanted to cry, but I was never able to.

I found myself outside Xenobia’s door, wanting to open it to tell her everything that was going on. But she didn’t need to know. She didn’t need to feel the terror that I felt. She could hate me if she wanted, but I’d never let her feel like she did all those years ago.

“Get your shit together, Cardelo,” I muttered, forcing myself to walk away and head to my base.

I slouched into the security room, the glow of a dozen monitors casting eerie shadows. My eyes were fixated on the central screen, tracking Xenobia’s movements throughout the mansion as her footsteps carried her down the halls. She wore a satin robe and fuzzy slippers. She ended up alone in the library, curled in a massive armchair. Her delicate hand moved almost of its own accord, slipping beneath the thin fabric of her robe to graze the sensitive skin of her nipple. A sigh escaped me, a sound of longing that filled the silence of the room.

“Fuck,” I whispered, unable to look away.

Even on grainy footage, her sensuality shone through. The way she held herself, her chin lifted defiantly, as if throwing up a middle finger at the world. My chest tightened. I imagined it was my fingers, not hers, coaxing pleasure from her petite body. The fantasy sent a thrill down my spine. I leaned in, studying the curve of her neck, the slight furrow between her brows. My fingers itched to smooth it away, to—

“The fuck are you doing, nigga?” I growled at my reflection.

Xenobia was Don Hawthorne’s daughter. He would kill me if he knew all the filthy shit running through my head. But the excuses rang hollow. I couldn’t shake the memory of her fire, how alive she made me feel. It was like waking up after years of sleepwalking. I stared at the screen with a boldness that rebelled against every lesson of restraint I’d ever learned.

Her right hand wandered lower, slipping beneath the elastic of her panties. It awakened a hunger I’d only allowed myself to acknowledge in the darkest corners of my mind. Pleasure coursed through my nerves, sending blood pooling at the tip of my dick. I wanted the line between being her protector and something far more dangerous to blur, to hover over her, to feel her breath hot against my skin.

I leaned forward, watching her mouth move. How badly I wished the security camera had audio. I would’ve killed to hear her sweet whimpers—to hear her moan my fuckin’ name. I wanted to listen to every hitch of her breath and every stifled whimper.

“Fuck, Nobi,” I whispered into the darkness again, my voice barely more than a breath as I studied her fingers moving in slow circles.

The need in me swelled, a tide too powerful to contain. I found myself at the door, locking it before I returned to my private show. A part of me felt like a creep salivating over her—for watching her intimate moments, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away if I tried. She was too intoxicating.

Before I knew it, my erection was exposed, and my hand was sliding up and down my rod. My heart raced, pounding against my chest with the force of my yearning. I didn’t stop, couldn’t stop. The buildup was exquisite, torturous even. Her chin lifted, and her eyes zeroed in on the camera in the corner. For a second, we stared back at each other. Did she know I was watching her? Had she been putting on a show for me? The thought sent a jolt straight to my core.

“Fuck.” I grunted into the darkness, louder this time, my voice laced with an edge of defiance and a plea for more.

She spread her legs wider, and heat radiated from my body. I wanted to reach out, to trace the softness of her jaw, to feel the strength of her thighs locking my head in place as I quenched my thirst with her juices. But instead, my hand remained confined to the base of my dick, imagining my strong hands taking over her body and guiding that wet ass pussy straight to ecstasy.

With each passing moment, the line between us blurred, protector and protected, melding into something far more primal. The space separating us might as well have been non-existent. The palpable electricity of unsaid words and unacknowledged desires bound us together. It was dangerous, forbidden, but in that small room, with threats looming just beyond the walls, danger had already become our constant companion.

The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy with unspoken tension. I bit down on my lip, suppressing a moan that threatened to escape as Xenobia’s fingers continued their dance below the thin fabric of her panties. She arched her back to make sure her exposed breasts were in view, showing me how much she truly wanted me.

“Nobi,” I whispered, my voice laced with the heat of my arousal.

Her fingers didn’t pause in their exploration, but my body jerked with pleasure, seed erupting from the tip of my dick. My chest heaved in and out as I wiped the sweat from my brow. After cleaning myself up, I found myself at the window, staring out into the oppressive darkness. Somewhere out there, my father’s men were making their next move. Two days or less. The thought of them touching and hurting her made my blood boil.

“I swear I won’t let them near you,” I whispered, my breath fogging the glass.

But as the words left my lips, a chill ran down my spine because I knew, deep down, that the real threat wasn’t out there in the night.

It was right here, inside these walls.

It was me.