s as if he would burn the wo

fore she could stumble. His hands were firm, his touch steady. "I've got yo

the hospital, eyes wide and panicked.

suringly. Talana hadn't suffered serious injuries, just bruises and a f

ng. "She'll stay here tonight. No exceptions,"

eyebrow. "She's stabl

utside," Massimo replied,

.. why are you doing this, Max?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, t

I don't know you, Talana?" His words were slow, deliberate, each syllable vibrating with intensity.

her spine. "More than I know?" she asked,

chest. "You're..." His eyes flickered, revealing more than his words would, "someone strong, dang

ion warring on her face. "What did he know about Ta

ess of authority and danger. "Talana needs

m. "Who are you? What the hell do you want wit

, though his posture remained rigid. "Cal

tightened.

hurt her. There's a lot I can't reveal y

said, voice trembling with

her off. His tone was

her demanding she come home immediately. She ignored them, letting out a d

ht, handed her a glass of wate

The usual. Gambling, debt, lies..." She let t

wn number. Hesitant, she a

can protect you? Do you think this is over?" The words sent shivers craw

d I swear you'll regret it for the rest of your miserabl

s stung her eyes. Gianna wrapped an arm around he

ng the room. Talana recounted everything, the messages, the unknown number, her

ked shut, Gianna turned to Max, her anger barely contained. "Spill it

ianna, and for her safety, you don't need to." But before he could conti

Massimo was inst

Her voice broke, "they found somethi

art slammed against h

ed. "Who wo

appened at the bar... the first incide

the bar, the messages, the stalking, the eerie fe

ted, his tone a razor-sharp blend of command

ice tremble

etermination. "I don't know, angel, but I pro

a sterile hum that contrasted sharply with the chaos of the night outside. Talana sa

act was light, possessive, sending a shiver straight through her.

her voice. "It's just... this isn't ra

ngel. This is deliberate, and w

d, the way his gaze pinned her like he was both her protector and predator. It m

me," she murmured, her voic

whispered, his tone dark and heated. "I don't protect you because you ask me to. I protect you because

fingers curling into the

ushing the shell of her ear. "Every tremble, ever

fear. He was dangerous, impossibly so, but he

er skin, teasing the boundaries without crossing them, his control absolute. "Soon, ange

te, as if every breath they shared carried electricity, but fear still clung to her like a shadow. The memory

he said, voice low, steady. "And you should be, but you are not alone, no

zing tightly. "Max... what if h

l burn this city down if I have to. I will protect you, Talana. You don't get

r, longing, and raw need. She leaned forward, almost instinctively, letting him fe

urmured, brushing a strand of hair from her damp forehead. "You need rest.

snapped up, eyes scanning the hallway. Talana stiffene

e, possessive and tender all at once. "Alway

een them, the tension crackling in the air. "I'll leave you two to... whatever this

against Massimo's chest. "I don't know what

b stroking the back of her hand. "I'll be here. Always. Yo

her body humming with the tension between them and yet, beneath that heat, fear lingered.

ear. "They'll come," he admitted, voice husky. "But when th

and the promise of retribution in his w

.. that fear makes me want to protect you even more. I won't fail

mingled with fear, and for a brief moment, the world outside, the

s stomach twisted. Massimo's hand ti

mber she didn't recognize, but the tension in the room snapped instantl

ow, controlled, deadl

screen flashed with a single,

simo's eyes narrowed, every muscle

le and exposed. Outside, shadows waited. Inside, de