The mafia king's forced Bride

Chapter 9: In His Room

Ayesha couldn't sleep.

She was in Zain's bed. His room smelled like him. Expensive cologne and danger.

Zain was sitting on the couch across the room, cleaning his gun. He hadn't slept either.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" Ayesha asked quietly.

Zain didn't look up. "Because if I sleep, I can't protect you."

Silence.

Ayesha pulled the blanket closer. "You... you saved me."

"I did my job," Zain said coldly.

"Liar," Ayesha whispered.

Zain's head snapped up. "What did you say?"

"I said you're a liar," Ayesha sat up. "You don't do things for 'your job'.

You stayed up when I had fever. You gave me your mother's bracelet.

You just killed 3 men for me."

Zain stood up and walked to the window. His back was to her.

"Don't," he said. "Don't make this complicated."

"Why? Because you have a contract?" Ayesha got off the bed. "Because of Sana?"

Zain turned around. His eyes were dark.

"Because if I let myself care about you, people will use you to hurt me," he said. "Like tonight."

Ayesha walked to him. She was scared, but she did it anyway.

She placed her hand on his chest. Over his heart.

"Then don't let them," she whispered. "Let yourself care."

Zain looked down at her. At her scared eyes. At her shaking hand on him.

He was so close. She could feel his breath.

He raised his hand... and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

The touch was feather light.

"You're trouble, Ayesha," he muttered.

And then he did something she never expected.

He pulled her in and hugged her.

Not like a boss. Not like a kidnapper.

Like a man who was terrified of losing her.

"Just for tonight," he whispered in her hair. "Just for tonight, you're safe."