Page 54 of Taming a Ruthless Heart

It’s more than desire; it’s a vow, a declaration that no one else has the right to Alexia and Rose.Not Igor.Not even her family.Only me.

A slight frown creases her forehead.“Rose really likes you,” she whispers.

I nod, forcing a faint smile.“She’s a good kid.”My words are rough, clipped, and I feel the questions I’ve kept buried clawing their way to the surface.But I bite them back, knowing it’s not the time—not yet.

“Thank you,” she says softly, as though each word carries a thousand others.“For bringing Olivia here to spend time with me.It meant a lot.”

I take in the way her gaze lingers on me for a beat longer than necessary.Her guard is down, and there’s a softness in her expression, a light in her eyes.For a fleeting moment, she looks at me like she did back then, like I’m someone she could lean on.

The vulnerable glint in her gaze stirs something fierce inside me, a protective instinct that’s been dormant for years.Five years, to be precise.

“I only want you and Rose to be at ease, to feel comfortable here,” I murmur.

In reality, I want to tell Alexia much more than this.I want to let her know that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her and Rose from harm.But I stop myself.This is a dangerous line I can’t afford to cross—at least not yet.

Alexia’s gaze drops and her fingers resume their nervous dance on her napkin.Silence settles over us.

Finally, she lifts her head, her eyes meeting mine with a steady resolve.“What are you and your brothers planning to do next?”she whispers tentatively.Her fingers go still, then tighten around the edge of her napkin as she waits for my answer.

Holding her stare, I swirl the glass of wine as I consider very carefully what to say.I don’t want to worry her.At the same time, I’m aware she deserves some reassurance.

“The Syndicate is following leads.We’re close to finding out who betrayed Seamus, and we’re watching Igor’s moves in the trafficking ring.”I keep my tone calm, but I know she can feel the controlled fury that lies beneath it.The thought of that bastard still breathing makes my blood boil, but I don’t let it show—too much.

Her hand trembles slightly.Her breath quickens, coming out shallow.She’s trying to hold steady, but I see in her eyes the fear she’s bravely trying to hide.Without thinking, I reach across the table, covering her hand with mine.Her skin is warm, soft, and there’s a slight tremor that tells me just how hard she’s fighting to keep it together.

“You and Rose are safe, Alexia,” I say in a low voice.“The full weight of the Syndicate is behind this operation.They have my back on this, and that means they have yours too.I won’t let Igor—or anyone else—hurt you again.Not while I’m here.”

I mean every word of this promise with all I have.She closes her eyes for a beat, as if absorbing the idea, letting the words settle.When she opens her eyes again, there’s hope in them, despite the apprehension she can’t mask.

She draws in a shaky breath, her fingers curling slightly under mine.“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.

I brush my thumb over her hand.It’s a small gesture of reassurance that does nothing to stop an ache from spreading in my chest.

“You’re not alone, Alexia.Not anymore.”

She looks up at me, and for a brief moment, I see the girl I used to know—the one who trusted me with everything.Tonight, for once, she’s letting herself believe in me.

I reach out and brush my thumb over her hand, grounding us both in the quiet strength of that connection.“You’re safe here.”I keep my voice steady, but there’s an edge beneath the words.

As much as I want to believe this promise I’ve just made, I know better.In my world, peace is an illusion, and I’d be a fool to forget that.

Danger lurks closer than she realizes, and one wrong move could shatter this fragile calm.But as long as I draw breath, no one will come near her.Not Igor.Not anyone.

No one steals what’s mine.

Taking a sharp inhale, I stand and offer Alexia my hand as we leave the dining room.Her fingers tremble, a slight flutter against my palm when she slips her hand into mine.We walk together in silence, our steps echoing softly through the grand foyer, the polished wood floors gleaming beneath the soft chandelier light.The spiral staircase rises before us, elegant and stately, with a plush blue carpet that stretches up to the second floor.

As we ascend, her hand still nestled in mine, the air thickens around us with silent promises and wishes.Shadows trace patterns along the walls, and with each step, the sexual tension coils tighter.

When we reach the top, I lead her down the hallway, every inch of space between us humming with anticipation.Her fingers grip mine just a little harder.Alexia’s warmth beside me entices my senses.Her intoxicating scent, a mix of honeysuckle and desire, dares me to close the final distance between us.

When we reach my bedroom door, I pause, resting my hand on the polished wood.Her gaze flickers to me, anticipation flashing in it.Slowly, I take her hand, my fingers curling around hers.Her skin is soft, and the faint tremor running through her body is like a spark igniting a fire in me.A raging inferno I’ve kept banked for far too long.

“Come inside,” I ask, my voice low, each word a promise as much as an invitation.

She nods, her gaze steady, but I can see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the barely hidden anticipation beneath her calm exterior.As we step into the room, I watch her take in the space—the vaulted ceiling, the four-poster bed, the soft lighting casting everything in a golden glow.She looks like she belongs here.

I close the door behind us, and she stands in the center of the room, looking at me with a fiery stare that cuts through the walls I’ve built around my heart.Her blonde hair tumbles over her shoulders, framing her face in waves.The curves that her black lacy dress hugs promise a passion that tantalizes me.

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