Collin

with every breath. Luca's gun still seemed to weigh on my skin, and the scent of gunpowder clung to the memory of his

his car! Where a

he sped through traffic like he didn't care if we made

sister. Bring me to he

y with him watching, so I pressed my gaze against the wind

ht last, he finally unleashed the a

oking for me last night?" asked Luc

hat he knew or how much danger I was a

ething against me?" he asked, cutting

rising. "No! I thought that was his ap

can feed me that lie? That place has alw

been dealing with him the entire time. I made an agreement with Jackson, and he never fo

Luca. It was short, c

partment," he scoffed. "Tell me, are you actually

I'm not sure if you know what kind of arrangement I

ive a damn! You're married to me

en on its own, revealing a mansion guarded by cameras, heavy walls, and men armed t

he engine. The hush that followed felt h

tween us. I shrank back until my body pressed hard against the

ce dropping to a slow, venomous whisper. "Why would y

a hollow drop rolle

up in a coma. He told me he'd keep her machines running for a month if I delivered a suitcase to that same address where I found you ye

id this

ke sure my sister stayed alive. Then he offered a mi

a touching little love tale." A bitter laugh followed. "You think you're worth a fortune, don't you?

sted becaus

you. Wha

eat rose beneath my skin, and before I could

I had to do! There was no scheme,

o shake. For a moment, I braced myself, certain he might lose control completely. Instead, his hand slid up and traced

o tight I couldn't turn away. His kiss tasted like wine-bold and

it had been since anyon

me, you might not get off so easy. Think about that before you ac

ght was my first-" I forced in a shaky breath, figh

ad and let out a bit

rtainly didn't act inno

isted away, clutching the cushion while

ut he wasn't listening. He never cared t

ight's memories

nd of the deal. He vanished without a word. Out of sheer desperation

med it was him. The same piercing eyes, that powerful build,

artled. Instead, his gaze raked

his tone cold. "Did my brother really t

, I could feel my heart h

re for you. You owe me, and I want what's mine,"

ension in my shoulders, the way I kept my hood up, eve

ll me, how much did he pr

about explanations. His hands gripped my wai

Emma's life fading away forced me to stop.

the deal, then so be it. Walking away meant t

ly who I'm dealing with," he insisted, his

my clothes still on, his eyes left me feeling like there

ressing hard against my skin as though he wanted to squeeze the ai

ike someone who's

r that. All I ne

so? I w

my fear and focused on what truly mattered. I thought of that promise. I pictured th

gainst my back, forci

ngers pushed into me. It hurt more

ting my eyes and dropped a fifty-dollar bill

That was the deal," I whisper

om him, the sound cutting th

treat me like a fool. And next time, he better

at are you t

d out a gun and aimed it

ending. I'm sick o

at me, I scrambled to grab my thing

ade an agreement. I did everything I was

llion? Who do you think you are? Get out of my sight bef

or slammed against my face,

kson even had a brother. I never im

ll of that to me. What kind of war were they fighti