His Illicit Obsession

All he could see was her

Jace Monroe’s ears were ringing. His head throbbed. His left shoulder screamed in pain.

But all he could see…

All he could process…

Was the way Amira Kingston sat frozen in the backseat, wide eyed and trembling, her chest heaving in short, shallow breaths.

The windshield was a spiderweb of cracks. The front bumper had folded like cheap paper against the streetlight they’d slammed into. Smoke hissed from the engine. Shards of glass glittered across the dashboard like fallen stars.

“Amira,” Jace rasped, wincing as he unbuckled. “Hey. Look at me.”

She didn’t move. She just sat there, eyes glassy, hands clenched into white knuckled fists against her thighs.

“Amira.” His voice was firmer now, urgent.

She said nothing.

She was trapped in some invisible fog, some spiraling aftermath where her body hadn’t caught up to her mind.

Jace kicked his door open, ignoring the sting in his side, and stumbled out into the cool night air. His legs almost gave out, but he forced them steady. He yanked the back door open and knelt, the adrenaline overriding the searing ache in his arm.

“Princess, I need you to breathe. Can you hear me?”

Her throat bobbed. A single tear slipped down her cheek.

“I…” Her voice cracked. “I didn’t mean to…”

“I know.”

“I didn’t…” She choked on the words, her breath coming too fast. “I just…I pushed you, I didn’t think…”

“Stop. Stop. You’re okay. You hear me? You’re okay.”

His hand cupped the side of her face, thumb brushing her cold skin.

“You’re in shock. But you’re alive. I need you to trust me now, okay?”

Her eyes flickered. He was bleeding. His temple had a gash, his shoulder looked wrong—possibly dislocated—but all he cared about was getting her out.

“Come here.” He didn’t wait for her to agree. He slid his arms under her, ignoring the sharp stab of pain slicing through his ribs as he lifted her into his arms.

She whimpered, instinctively clutching his shirt. “No…don’t carry me…”

“Too late,” he grunted, adjusting her weight. “You lost the right to argue the second you put us into a f*****g tree.”

She buried her face against his chest, trembling.

Jace limped away from the wreck, his jaw clenched tight as panic clawed at his throat.

There were people gathering now, students from nearby houses. Phones out. Whispers rising.

He didn’t have time to wait for an ambulance. He couldn’t risk her being plastered all over social media in this state.

A yellow cab screeched to a halt at the corner. Luck, or maybe God, finally gave him a break.

“Hey!” he barked at the driver. “Hospital. Now.”

The cabbie hesitated for half a second before unlocking the door.

Jace slid into the backseat with Amira still cradled against him. “Drive.”

“But sir…”

“DRIVE!” His voice cracked like a gunshot.

The driver bolted forward, tires screeching as they tore down the road.

Amira’s breathing didn’t steady until halfway to the hospital.

She sat curled into Jace’s lap, fingers still fisted in his shirt, her body a tight, shaking coil of guilt and disbelief.

Jace tilted his head down, his lips near her temple.

“You’re okay,” he whispered, like a mantra. “I’ve got you.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt us.” Her voice was so small he almost missed it.

His hand slid up her back, slow, protective, anchoring her. “You didn’t.”

“You’re bleeding.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“You could’ve died.”

“I didn’t.”

She looked up at him then, her dark eyes wide, frantic. “Why are you being like this? Why aren’t you yelling at me? You should be furious! I could’ve killed you…”

“You didn’t.”

“But I could’ve…”

“Do you really think I care about me right now?” His voice dropped, low and raw. “The only thing that matters is you.”

Her breath hitched.

“You shouldn’t care about me like that,” she whispered, a tremor running through her.

“Shhh...”

The cab screeched to a stop at the emergency entrance.

Jace kicked the door open and climbed out, still holding her.

“I can walk…”

“No.” His grip tightened.

“Jace…”

He barreled through the automatic doors, his glare alone parting the nurses and staff. “She needs a room. Now.”

“She’s not bleeding…”

“She’s in shock. Don’t argue with me.”

The nurses scrambled, guiding him toward a private ward.

They tried to take her from his arms. He didn’t let go until Amira, softly but firmly, whispered, “It’s okay. I’ll be okay. Let go.”

His arms lingered around her for a second too long.

Then he finally, reluctantly, released her onto the hospital bed.

***

Jace’s shirt was soaked in blood by the time a nurse convinced him to get checked out.

“You’re going to need stitches,” the doctor said, dabbing at his temple. “Your shoulder’s banged up too.”

“Just fix it,” Jace muttered, his eyes locked on the door that separated him from Amira’s room. “I need to be back on duty.”

“You need rest.”

“She’s my job.”

The doctor exchanged a look with the nurse but said nothing.

***

When Mr. Kingston arrived, the hospital practically shut down.

His convoy blocked half the entrance. His tailored suit looked untouched by the storm that had just wrecked his daughter’s life.

He strode through the halls like he owned them, which technically he probably did.

His eyes landed on Jace, who stood despite his injuries, shoulders squared, jaw tight.

“You,” Kingston seethed. “How did this happen?”

“She left campus without permission.”

“You were supposed to prevent that.”

“I brought her back.”

“AFTER you endangered her life.”

“She’s alive. No external or internal injury.”

Kingston’s voice dropped into a lethal calm. “You’re fired.”

Jace didn’t flinch. “Expected.”

“And arrested.”

Jace’s lips twitched into the barest hint of a smirk. “Didn’t expect that.”

Kingston turned to his men. “I want him charged with negligence, endangerment, and assault if we can stretch it.”

“She hit me,” Jace said dryly.

“Do you really think anyone will believe you over me?”

Jace’s eyes darkened. “I don’t care if they do.”

Two guards moved to cuff him.

Amira’s door swung open.

“Stop!” Her voice cracked like glass.

Everyone froze.

She stepped out, pale, her arms hugging herself, her knees visibly weak but her gaze was steady, sharp, painfully aware.

“This isn’t his fault,” she said, her voice trembling but fierce. “It’s mine.”

“Amira…”

“I pushed him while he was driving. I screamed. I distracted him. He was just trying to keep me safe.”

Kingston’s jaw clenched. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“Yes, I do.” Her eyes glistened, guilt weighing her down like chains. “He saved me.”

“You’re shaken. I’ll have your statement corrected.”

Her voice cracked but rose in volume. “I said he saved me.”

The guards hesitated.

Kingston glared at her. “You are my daughter. I am protecting you.”

She swallowed hard, her voice small now. “No. You’re controlling me.”

Kingston’s nostrils flared. “We’ll talk about this at home.”

“I’m not going home.”

“Amira…”

“I’m staying here until I decide what I want. And what I want is for you to drop the charges.”

Kingston’s glare snapped at Jace. “Fine." You’re not arrested. But you’re still fired. And if I see you anywhere near my daughter again…”

“I know,” Jace said softly.

Kingston turned sharply, his footsteps echoing as he left the hall with his guards trailing behind.

Amira sagged against the door frame.

Jace crossed the space between them in two strides, catching her before she could collapse.

“You didn’t have to do that,” he murmured.

“Yes, I did.” Her voice wobbled. “It was my fault.”

His fingers brushed a stray tear from her cheek. “I’ve been in worse accidents.”

She let out a broken laugh, tears finally spilling over. “God, you’re such a stubborn idiot.”

“I get that a lot.”

She looked up at him, her breathing uneven. “Why did you run to me? You were bleeding. You could’ve passed out.”

His thumb stroked her chin, the edge of his mouth twitching like a secret. “I’d bleed out a hundred times if it meant you’d be okay.”

“Whatever,” Amira said. “You’re fired so…bye. Happy to miss you.”

Jace nodded quietly.