Page 181 of Untamed

I pause. “If I send you flowers…” I lean in, my breath brushing her ear, “You won’t mistake who they’re from.”

Jordyn blinks up at me as I pull back, her brows furrowed, her voice soft.

“If it wasn’t you, then who?—

I shake my head, already shutting it down.

“You don’t need to worry aboutwho,” I say, my voice low and deliberate. “You just need to remember this...if anything shows up again with no name, no message, no explanation... you come to me. Immediately. No hesitation. Do you understand me, bambina?”

She nods, slowly, but I don’t move.

“Say it,” I murmur.

“I understand.”

“Good girl.” Because the second Nicolai Moretti decided to send her white roses…He signed his fucking death warrant.

The engine hasn’t even cooled beneath us before I speak.

“Can you drop me in town?”

Ares’s brows draw low behind his shades. “Why?”

“I told Bianca I was going shopping. If I come back empty-handed, she’s going to know I lied.” I hop off the bike, brushing my fingers through my hair. “I don’t want to give her any more reason to get suspicious.”

His hands fist like I’ve just suggested setting myself on fire. “You’re not walking around town alone, Jordyn.”

“I’ll be fine,” I say, but it’s weak, and we both know it.

His head tilts. “You’re not fine.” He presses. “I’m not leaving you alone. Not when we don’t know what threat is lurking around the corner or who’s watching. I’ll call Dante, he can come with you.”

My stomach tightens. “Ares, I’m not going to be long. I just need to pick up a few things.”

He’s not convinced; I can see it. He exhales hard through his nose, and that damn muscle in his jaw starts ticking again. I can see the war inside him, the need to protect me battling with the part that knows he can’t cage me forever.

“Then I’m coming with you.”

I blink. “What?”

“You want to shop? Fine. But I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

I cross my arms. “You’re going to follow me around while I pick out underwear?”

His expression doesn’t change, but I swear something flickers in his eyes.

“You’re shopping for underwear?”

I smirk, just a little. “That’s the plan.”

A beat of silence stretches between us. Then he swings one leg back over the bike and gestures with his head. “Get on.”

I do, settling behind him, my arms wrapping around his waist as I lean in close.

“I’m thinking somethinglace,” I whisper into his ear, just to mess with him. “Or maybe satin.”

His entire body tenses beneath me.

This is going to be fun.

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