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THE PROMISE

AIDAN

T he slightest creak in my bedroom floorboards wakes me.

I’m up and out of my bed, gun in hand and pointed at… wide eyes. More gray than blue today. Full of guilt, and rimmed with fear. She’s halfway to the door, looking like someone caught stealing from the cookie jar.

“Rory,” I lower the gun the second I see who woke me, dropping it back into the side drawer beside the bed. “What are you doing?”

She follows the movement with her eyes. “I’m sorry, I thought it would be easier this way—wait, was that there the whole time?”

My smirk is answer enough and the corner of her mouth ticks up, if only slightly.

That’s when I notice a pair of gym sneakers on her feet. My gym sneakers. Entirely too large. How she’s even got them to stay on, I don’t know. I make a mental note that Rory needs clothes…

“If you think you’re heading out into the city alone, you’ve got another thing coming…”

“Well, I thought with Matteo dead?—”

“With Matteo dead, shit only gets messier.” I rise, pushing the hair out of my eyes, now that it’s clear that we’re starting our day. I pull open the dresser in search of a shirt. “It’s not safe for you out there.”

“Why do you even care?” she snaps, shifting anxiously on her feet. The question comes out as spite, but I can hear the underlying stress and uncertainty. It hangs between us. The bubble we existed in last night has popped and reality has set back in.

“Why did you help me last night?” she demands, her nostrils flaring, teetering on the verge of hysteria. “You killed him. Killed Matteo. And brought me here.” She waves her hand around my bedroom, but my eyes stay locked on her. “The last thing you said to me at the Breakers game the other night was you knew my father killed your father. You wanted revenge .” She takes one step toward me—I haven’t moved. “Is that it then, Ace ? Am I to be your revenge?”

In truth, I don’t know what I want from her.There are several members of my family who would certainly love the answer to that very question. But I don’t have one… I just know I want her here. With me. And far away from that fucking family of hers. Since the moment I first had Rory in my arms, back at the club, her rapid heartbeat fluttering against the palm of my hand… She became my fixation.

My obsession.

I tried to stay away. Distanced myself from her, both physically and emotionally. But it didn’t work. Aurora Kostalova still consumes my every thought. Every time I look into those salt blue eyes, I feel a pull so powerful it defies logic.Defies explanation.

I’ve found myself trapped within her gravity—it’s intense and it is dangerous. Her presence alone is enough to throw my entire world off balance, tilting to her as if she was the damn sun itself, threatening to burn through the cold exterior wall of ice I’d carefully constructed.

Inside, a battle waged. Could I use her? Yes. Absolutely . Having Adrik Kostalov’s daughter in my possession meant I could have the Russian Pakhan by the throat. But could I give her up again? Or—if it came down to it, could I put my gun to her head and pull the trigger?

My need for vengeance is at war with something far more dangerous. The answer should be yes. I should tell her she’s nothing more than a means to an end—a pawn in the same deadly game we were both born to play.

I should lie.

But I can’t lie… Not to her… Not about this.

Clenching my jaw, I step closer. She holds her ground. Defiance flashes in her eyes, though still alight with fear. Part of her wants to run, yes, but the other part—the other part is curious .

“Revenge? No, Aurora Kostalova,” her eyes harden when I use her full name, “You’re not to be my revenge—but you may just be my salvation.”

I’m close enough to touch her and, like a shadow reaching for light, my hand rises. Fingertips trace down the side of her face. Her eyes close. Her breath quickening, catching when I hit just the right nerve. So responsive.

“I can’t be your hero.” Reluctantly, I drop my hand and take a step back from her. “I’m no one’s hero.” The things I’ve done… The dark things I’ve yet to do… she has no idea.

Rory’s eyes flutter open, peering up at me, looking just as confused as I feel. My angel is teetering on the edge of a fall, the cracks in her halo splintering further every second she’s with me.

“But if you don’t want to go back… I won’t let them take you. Not this time.”

I lower myself slightly so I’m holding her gaze, searching her eyes and letting her see mine before I say what I’m about to say. Everyone who was supposed to protect her let her down… Time and time again. I want her to see that I mean what I say. And despite all the reasons she shouldn’t—she can trust me.

Rory’s eyes soften as they stare up at mine and she closes the gap between us. Both of us caught in each other’s gravity. On an inevitable collision course of desire and destruction. Her pretty white feathers, once pristine, now brushed with the faintest traces of shadow, touched by the edges of darkness. A fallen angel. I pull her into me, unable to resist it any longer, wrapping my arms tight around her and resting my chin atop her head.

“You are safe with me, Rory. I promise .”