Page 57 of King of Omen

I had to give her credit. She’d made me feel like I was the one she was protecting, not the other way around. When our lives hung in the balance, she’d stepped up to the plate and displayed nerves of steel, which only raised my esteem for her.

After a beat, she spoke up. ‘I suppose you’re going to be looking into last night?’

Her eyes lingered on me, searching for answers.

I jerked. ‘Fuck yeah. I need to figure out what happened, even though I suspect who was behind it. We can’t let this slide, Mia.’

Her name was a vow on my lips, a promise I intended to keep no matter what.

Uncertainty and trust flickering in her eyes. ‘I want to help. I don’t want to be a burden, but I can’t just sit by and do nothing.’

Her words struck a chord deep within me. She wasn’t an encumbrance but an anchor in the storm churning around us.

‘You’re not a burden, cara,’ I growled, the endearment hanging between us like an unspoken truth.

She understood the meaning; I tagged it in her eyes as an enticing blush crept up her cheeks, the gentle hue making her even more alluring. I craved to bend to her, cup her face, lift her chin and take her mouth.

I imagined tasting the sweetness of those lips, their warmth and gentleness on my own.

I caught her soft breaths and visualised the way her hands would run over me, how she would surrender to me in entirety.

I yearned to learn her body and soul, to draw her close and never let her go. But as much as I desired her, we couldn’t afford the luxury of distraction right now.

She hesitated for a moment, but then she nodded, her mouth softening as she glanced at me. It was a small victory, but it was one I cherished.

Her eyes, however, reflected a storm of emotions. ‘What if they come back?’

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. ‘They’ve tried before. But I’m not going down without a fight.’

‘I’ll be right there with you.’

Her fighting words warmed me, giving me a sliver of hope that told me, somehow, she cared for me.

‘I don’t doubt it, Mia,’ I said, gripping my mug tight to avoid reaching for her.

A soft knock at the door interrupted us.

My eyes tagged Mauri as he limped into the kitchen, his stoic features etched with pain from his injuries. ‘Boss, Jones & Jones are on the line, on hold.’

‘Mauri, how are you?’ Mia called after him.

He turned and gave her a pained smile. ‘I’ll live, miss.’

She returned it with an upturn of her beautiful lips. ‘Tell me if you need anything. I’m a passable cook, so I’ll make us something to eat as soon as we have groceries delivered.’

I melted at the care in her tone and the softness in her eyes.

‘Will do. Boss, let’s roll.’

‘He’s pushy as all fuck,’ I commented, draining the rest of my coffee and pushing off from the counter I’d been leaning on.

Mia’s voice cut through the air, stopping us both in our tracks. ‘Not unlike you.’

A smirk danced on her lips, and I tilted a brow at her.

‘True, he’s my fourth brother from another mother,’ I murmured, a smile tugging at my lips.

‘You’ve worked together for a long time, haven’t you?’ she pressed, and her eyes sought mine for an answer.

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