Chapter 12
1118 Words
Killian's POV
I checked the rearview mirror for the fifth time in ten minutes.
No one was following. No cars.
The road behind me was empty—just trees and asphalt.
I should've felt relieved. Instead, I felt like s**t.
Daisy's face when I'd left - that look. The fear. Though she tried to hide it, I could still see it.
Her hands shaking. Voice small. "I don't want to be alone here."
Fuck.
I gripped the steering wheel tighter.
She was scared. I knew that. But we couldn't keep hiding forever. Couldn't keep running while the stalker pulled the strings.
I needed to figure out who was behind that shooting yesterday and end it fast before they got bolder. Before they got closer. Before, I couldn't protect her anymore.
“That's what you're telling yourself, Killian, to help you feel better at night?” I murmured,
I exhaled and shook my head.
Truth was, I needed to leave before I did something stupid.
Last night nearly broke me.
Her in that blue nightdress. Licking sauce off her lips. Hips swayed as she walked away.
Teasing me like she knew exactly what she was doing.
Yeah. I know it was deliberate.
She'd gotten her revenge. Left me hard and wanting. Exactly like I'd done to her in the kitchen.
But if I'd stayed one more minute - if she'd come downstairs looking like that again - I would've forgotten every rule I had.
Professional distance. Mission first. Don't touch the client. I would have thrown all of those morals out of the window.
I would've pinned her against that counter. Would've made her scream my name until she forgot how to tease. Forgot how to breathe.
Get your head straight, Killian Darth. You are driving.
I pulled into the restaurant parking lot. Checked the mirrors again.
Still clear.
The place was small. Italian. Old brick building with vines crawling up the sides.
You could tell shady deals and discussions happened here daily and not even a whisper of it could be heard outside these walls. The walls were soundproof.
And yes, I love dark places.
I walked in. Nodded at the hostess.
"Upstairs. Private room."
She pointed without asking questions. Here I was a VIP. I held a lot of my meetings here and all the staff knew me.
Good.
The stairs creaked. The private room was at the end of the hallway. Small table, two chairs. Windows overlooking the street.
Viktor was already there. Laptop open. Papers spread across the table.
"Welcome, boss," he said quietly.
"So what is there for me?"
I sat down. "What'd you find?"
He turned the laptop toward me. "Here is a picture of Daisy's ex. His real name is Mark Amond, not Samuel."
"What?" I blurted.
"Why did he change his identity?"
"Still digging. I can't tell you now, boss, but I am on it."
I leaned back. "We need every detail on him. Why did he leave? Where did he go? His family. Friends. Everything entirely." I added, "Please get to work immediately."
Viktor nodded and started packing up his laptop. "I would make sure to dig out everything necessary."
"Be careful."
"Always, boss."
Viktor left first. Normally we can't risk being seen moving together at a time like this. When a lot of things were uncertain.
And when he was completely gone, I let out a breath and grabbed my keys.
Time to go back to my Miss Seductress.
The thought of her sent adrenaline straight to my heart.
I was halfway to my car when I heard footsteps behind me.
"Running back to her already?"
I stopped. Turned.
Mandy.
She leaned against the brick wall, arms crossed. Red dress. Dark lipstick. Smiling like she knew something I didn't.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Following you." She pushed off the wall. Walked toward me. Heels clicking on pavement. "Wanted to see what's so special about this Daisy girl that's got you all distracted."
"I'm not distracted."
She smiled, deep and tempting."Liar." She stopped in front of me. Too close. "Does she know?"
"Know what?"
"That you're using her. That this whole bodyguard thing is just part of your big game？"
My jaw clenched. "Stay out of it, Mandy."
"Why?" She tilted her head. "Jealous I might ruin your fun?"
"This isn't fun. This is business."
"Right." Her hand moved to my chest. Fingers tracing my collar. "Business. That's why you look at her the way you used to look at me."
I grabbed her wrist. "I never looked at you like anything but sex." I managed to say.
She smiled. "Exactly. And now you're looking at her like she's more than that. Which means you're getting soft, Killian. Losing focus."
"My focus is fine."
"Is it?" Her index finger drew gentle lines on my shaft. "Because from where I'm standing, you're one good f**k away from forgetting why you're really there."
God help me, the way she does it.
The memories of all the crazy things we did over the past three years were rolling over. Fresh.
I caught that hand too. Held both her wrists. "Don't."
"Why not?" She glanced down. Saw the bulge in my pants. Smiled wider. "Looks like someone down there disagrees with you."
I released her. Stepped back. "We're done, Mandy. What we had - it's over."
"Is it?" She laughed. "Wonder what happens when Daisy finds out she's just a pawn. That you've been playing her this whole time."
My hand shot out. Gripped her throat. Not choking. Just holding. Warning.
My voice dropped in a low warning. "Say her name again," I said quietly. "and see what happens."
saw something flip in her eyes and for a moment there I thought she was scared.
Then her lips curved into a smile. “You know I like it rough. When it ends with bruises. Remember？"
"This isn't rough. This is me telling you to stay away from her."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll tell General Macklin who really installed those cameras in his daughter's apartment."
Her smile faded.
"You wouldn't."
"Try me." I leaned in. "Your fingerprints are all over those cameras. Mine aren't. It's your word against mine. And I'm the one he hired to protect her."
She was panting now. Angry. "You bastard. You made me do that."
"Stay. Away. From. Daisy." I released her throat. Stepped back. "Or I make you regret it."
Her eyes became dark. "If you think you can scare me away with this—" She let out an evil smile. "—then you have another thing coming."
My breath was brushing her neck now. "You really don't want to mess around with me."
- Writer
