Mr.Bride

His Grip

Leo and I just stared at the phone. The dial tone bled into the room, sounding like a flatlining heart monitor.

“Did he...” Leo swallowed, his throat clicking loudly. “Did he just trace a secure, encrypted proxy in under thirty seconds?”

“I told you,” I whispered. My legs felt like jelly. I dropped back onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. “I told you he’s a psycho. Oh God, Leo. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here. I dragged you into this.”

“Whoa, hey, stop.” Leo walked over, slapping my shoulder. His hand was trembling a bit, but he tried to look tough. “It’s a scare tactic. He’s a billionaire's son, not the CIA. He can't do anything to me. I’m a ghost online.”

In that instant, all three of Leo’s massive monitors glitched.

The screens flickered violently, went black, and then flashed bright red. A single, plain text document popped up on the center screen.

Leo lunged for his keyboard, typing like a madman. “What the hell? My firewall is bypassed. Hold on, let me—”

He stopped. His fingers froze over the keys.

I looked up at the screen. The text file didn't contain code. It contained a list.

Leo’s full legal name and social security number.

His mother’s current home address and medical billing records.

A list of his top three freelance hacking clients.

At the very bottom, in bold letters, it said ”Play nice”.

“A ghost, huh?” I muttered, my stomach doing a sick flip.

Leo stared at the screen, his face drained of color. “He... he didn't trace me just now, Ethan. He already had this file. He’s had it since your dad proposed the merger.”

Adrian didn't just have an eye on me. He had a leash on anyone I cared about.

“Turn it off,” I said, standing up. My chest felt so tight I could barely draw air. “Close the laptop. Delete everything. Don't look into him anymore, Leo. Please.”

Leo didn't argue this time. He just shut the monitors down.

The next morning, I left Leo’s place before the sun was even up. I made him promise three separate times that he wouldn't touch a computer for the rest of the week.

I went back to my dad’s house to pack my bags. Since the contract was officially signed, I was legally expected to move into the Sterling estate. I was moving into the lion's den.

Dad was sitting in the living room, drinking expensive scotch at nine in the morning, looking happier than he had in a decade.

“Ah, the groom!” Dad beamed, raising his glass to me. “The Sterling funds cleared this morning. Our stocks are already stabilizing. You did good, son.”

I looked at him. He didn't ask how I was. He didn't ask if I was ready to move into a stranger’s house. He just saw me as a really expensive receipt that successfully saved his bank account.

“Glad I could be of service,” I said, my voice completely hollow.

“Make sure you’re attentive to Selena,” Dad added, not even noticing my tone. “Keep her happy. That’s your only job now.”

Yeah. Keep her happy, and don't let her psycho brother kill me.

I grabbed my single suitcase and walked out the front door. A text from Mr. Sterling’s secretary said a private car was waiting outside to take me to my new home.

A sleek, black sports car with blacked-out windows was idling at the curb.

I dragged my feet down the driveway and reached for the back door handle.

Click.

The lock snapped shut before I could pull it. Instead, the front passenger window rolled down with a smooth hiss.

Sitting in the driver's seat, wearing dark sunglasses and a wicked, lazy smirk, was Adrian.

“Get in, brother-in-law,” Adrian purred, leaning across the console. “The chauffeur was busy. You get me instead.”

My heart thuddded against my ribs. I wanted to turn around and run back into the house. I wanted to hop the fence. I wanted to do anything else except get into a tight space with this man.

But I thought of Leo’s computer screen. I thought of his mom’s address.

I swallowed my pride, walked around to the front, and climbed into the passenger seat.

The moment I shut the door, Adrian hit the gas. The car roared to life, pulling away from the curb so fast my back hit the seat.

I gripped the door handle, staring straight ahead at the road. “You threatened Leo.”

“I gave him a warning,” Adrian corrected smoothly, his voice casual as he steered through traffic with one hand. “There’s a difference.”

“He has nothing to do with this! Leave him alone.”

Adrian didn't answer right away. He slowed down at a red light, idling the car. Slowly, he took off his sunglasses and turned his dark, intense gaze toward me.

Before I could blink, his heavy hand reached across the console. He didn't hit me. He didn't grab my neck.

Instead, his palm slammed down flat on my thigh, his fingers gripping my leg so tight his knuckles turned white.

My eyes widened, as I kept a straight face.

“Listen to me very carefully, little sheep,” Adrian murmured, his voice dropping into that low, dangerous baritone. He didn't look down at his hand; his eyes were locked right onto my mouth. “From this second on, you don't visit your little friend. You don't text him. Every single move you make belongs to me. You are in my house now.”

I hated how much bigger he was. I hated the smirk playing on his lips. And most of all, I hated how my own body refused to push him off.

“Understood?” Adrian squeezed harder, his thumb digging right into my muscle.