Page 30 of Her Soul to Own

“You know what makes me different from every other man she’s ever tangled with, Jake?”

He doesn’t answer.

“I don’t run when it gets messy. I don’t scare easily. And I don’t lose. Ever.”

Jake swallows. “I didn’t mean any harm.”

“No, you meant to get laid,” I correct. “And look… I get it. She’s intoxicating. The mouth, the hips, the way she laughs like she already knows how the night ends.”

Jake shifts uncomfortably, and his knee bounces with nervousness. If the situation were any different, I might’ve felt sorry for the boy.

“But here’s the thing,” I say, my voice low, teeth bared. “She needs someone who doesn’t blink when the world burns. Someone who doesn’t crumble when she tests him. She needs someone strong. You, Jake? You fold like a wet napkin.”

Jake tries to recover. “I didn’t know she had…”

“A handler?” I smile wider. “Security detail? Keeper? Call me what you want. The reality is, you’ve got one night to disappear. That is, if you care about your future, your career, and your reputation. Hell, even yourkneecaps.”

His eyes widen.

I lean closer, resting an elbow on the console like we’re old pals. “See, I’m a reasonable guy. I didn’t drag you out of the car. I didn’t beat your teeth in. Yet. But if I see you within ten miles of her again…” My smile fades, slowly turning into something more lethal as I reach into my pocket and wrap my fingers around the cold metal I’ve been carrying this whole time.

He doesn’t notice at first. People like him never do. They’re too busy hearing themselves talk, too busy believing they’re untouchable. But that belief drains from his face the moment I draw the gun and lay it gently on my lap like it’s just another casual item I’ve been meaning to use.

Click.

The sound of the magazine sliding into place breaks the silence like a crack of thunder in a dead-still room.

His eyes drop to the weapon.

I lean in again, my voice low and intimate,toointimate, like a secret passed between friends.

“I’ll make sure your life gets very,verysmall,” I whisper, my voice soft, almost sweet. The kind of promise that sounds harmless until it sinks in too deep to escape. And I have to admit, I’m enjoying this more than I probably should. The hint of fear in his eyes, the way his bravado cracks. It’s thrilling. His wild, darting gaze only feeds the adrenaline humming through me. I haven’t felt this alive in months.

I raise the gun and let the barrel hover just above his thigh. Not quite touching just yet, just close enough that he can feel the threat in the air between us. My wrist turns, slow and smooth,the muzzle drifting up, then down, following the line of his leg until I’m at his cock, which isn’t hard anymore.

He’s breathing harder now. Still trying to look brave, trying to cling to that last shred of bravado. But his hands have stilled. His mouth opens, then closes again, and there it is, the realization. He knows I’m not bluffing.

I move the gun up and down his cock, pushing the firing pin into it. Jake stills, his eyes wild with fear and panic. I let the gun dip just slightly until I reach his tip. Then I finally push it down, harder this time, enough to hurt but not cause any permanent damage.

Jake’s voice cracks. “You’re insane.”

I nod slowly. “Probably. But I’m also very,verygood at my job. And right now, my job is keeping her from making mistakes. You’re a mistake with a heartbeat.”

I don’t move for a whole minute. I just sit there looking into his eyes with the gun pushing into his cock. Finally, when I’m sure I’ve scared him enough for a lifetime, I retreat and put the gun back into my pocket.

I open the door and turn toward him. “Pack your shit. Get in your car. And vanish.”

He doesn’t move.

I lean back in and whisper, “Oh, and that iPad? It’s yours to keep. Just in case you forget who’s watching.”

I walk away without looking back. Because I don’t need to.

Some lessons only need to be taught once.

And Jake just graduated with honors in Fear 101.

Chapter 7 – Lyra – The Incident

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