The Glass Legacy

Flight Risk

The torrential rain lashing the tarmac at Haneda Airport did nothing to cool the raging, electric heat between them.

The sleek, matte-black Thorne Tech Gulfstream G700 sat waiting on the private runway, its engines whining with raw power. Marcus stood by the boarding stairs, holding a massive black umbrella, his expression completely unreadable as his young boss approached.

Leo’s grip on Aria’s lower back was entirely inescapable.

He wasn't dragging her—in fact, his towering frame was actively blocking the biting wind and driving rain from hitting her—but he gave her absolutely no room to pull away. Aria’s boots splashed furiously against the wet asphalt. She was fighting the magnetic pull of him every single step of the way.

"You can't just throw me on a plane, Thorne!" Aria shouted over the roar of the jet engines, trying to twist out of his hold.

"I am not throwing you anywhere, Aria," Leo replied smoothly, his voice a calm, terrifying contrast to her racing pulse. "I am saving your life. If my father had traced that hack instead of me, you wouldn't be walking onto a private jet. You'd be erased."

Aria’s breath caught. She knew the reputation of Julian Thorne. The original Ice King left zero digital—or physical—footprints.

Before she could form a comeback, Leo’s hand slid from her back to her waist, practically lifting her up the metal stairs and out of the storm.

Marcus stepped inside behind them, securing the heavy acoustic cabin door. The roaring tempest outside was instantly silenced, replaced by the quiet, luxurious hum of the aircraft.

"Get us in the air, Marcus," Leo ordered, his ice-blue eyes never leaving Aria. "Destination: New York. Initiate the Alpha Protocol at Thorne Tower. The penthouse goes into absolute lockdown."

"Yes, sir," Marcus nodded, disappearing into the cockpit.

Aria backed away from Leo, her spine hitting the polished mahogany paneling of the cabin. The interior of the jet was a masterpiece of dark leather, silver accents, and cutting-edge tech, but to her, it was a beautifully designed trap.

Leo watched her, his gaze dropping to where her oversized black hoodie was soaked through with freezing rain. He shrugged off his own damp trench coat, tossing it carelessly over a leather seat, and took a slow, deliberate step toward her.

"Don't," Aria warned, her hands pressing flat against the wood paneling behind her.

Leo ignored the command entirely. He stepped directly into her personal space, his massive frame caging her against the wall. The intoxicating scent of bergamot, rain, and pure, concentrated power completely surrounded her. He reached out, his large hands gripping the thick hem of her soaked hoodie.

"You're shivering, Aria. Take it off," Leo murmured, his voice dropping to a gravelly register that sent a liquid heat straight to her core.

"I'm fine."

Leo didn't argue. In one smooth, entirely dominant motion, he pulled the heavy, wet fabric over her head and tossed it aside. Aria gasped, left standing in a fitted, dark green tank top that clung perfectly to her curves. She shivered again—not from the cold cabin air, but entirely from the dark, consuming hunger radiating from the billionaire standing mere inches away.

Leo froze.

Without the oversized clothes hiding her, he could see a faint, faded scar resting just above her collarbone. The Ice Prince, a man who had never allowed himself to feel an ounce of genuine emotion, felt a sudden, fierce surge of protectiveness crash through his chest.

He reached out, his knuckles brushing infinitely gently against the scar.

Aria’s breath hitched, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs. The physical chemistry between them was a suffocating, undeniable force. He was a Thorne. He was the enemy. But when he looked at her with those deeply possessive eyes, every firewall in her brain completely short-circuited.

"Why am I here?" Aria whispered, looking up at his chiseled jaw.

Leo cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing the soft line of her jawline. He leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of her ear.

"Because your breach triggered a secondary trap in my system," Leo murmured, his breath sending a violent shiver down her spine. "Someone used your hack as a smokescreen to plant a virus. Someone dangerous."

Aria’s eyes widened, her hacker instincts flaring. "I work alone. I didn't plant anything."

"I know," Leo pulled back, his gaze locking onto hers with absolute, terrifying certainty. "Which is why you are going to help me find the bastard who did. You work for me now, Aria. And in exchange, I am going to make sure no one on this earth ever puts another scar on your skin."

The jet accelerated, lifting off the runway and tearing into the sky. Aria was officially in the hands of the Ice Prince, and as his thumb slowly stroked her cheek, she realized fighting him was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done.