Page 153 of Undisputed Chaos
"There are things I do for us, for this family, that you'll never know about. Things that keep us safe, that keep our enemies quiet. I won't burden you with those details, angel. Some darkness should remain buried."
I nodded, understanding that he was protecting me from whatever shadows he still walked in.
I trusted this beautiful, immensely strong survivor with my life.
"You won't lose me," I said firmly, my hands framing his face. "Not ever."
Something shifted in his expression—relief, love, possession, all warring for dominance. He kissed me, soft and desperate, pouring all his fear and devotion into the connection between us.
When he pulled back, he seemed to collect himself, the vulnerable man disappearing behind his usual protectiveness. "Can you walk?"
I took a tentative step and winced. "Just sore."
Without hesitation, Adrian scooped me into his arms, cradling me against his chest. "I've got you, angel."
He carried me through the woods along a path I hadn't noticed before.
The neon green Lamborghini sat parked on a small road just beyond the tree line, looking absurdly out of place against the natural backdrop.
"How did you find me?" I asked as he gently set me in the passenger seat and buckled my seatbelt.
Adrian's expression turned grim again as he lowered my door and walked around to the driver's side. "Your phone," he said, sliding behind the wheel.
"I tracked it. And when I saw you heading to this part of the park..."
He trailed off, his knuckles whitening on the steering wheel. "Jax and Connor came separately.”
I honestly expected that much, especially after the whole watching me in my bedroom thing.
If Adrian hadn't tracked me, hadn't known where I was going...
"Thank you," I whispered, overwhelmed by what could have happened without him.
His only response was to reach across the console and take my hand, entwining our fingers as he pulled onto the main road.
The weight of his confession felt like a bridge rather than a barrier, a piece of himself he'd trusted me with.
It was another reason why losing each other was impossible.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Isla
When we arrived in Adrian’s garage, he insisted on carrying me again, ignoring my protests that I could walk.
I had to endure the drive home panty-less because someone had a habit of shredding all of my underwear.
He strode through with me in his arms, both of us disheveled, and me missing a cardigan.
He pressed a gentle kiss to my temple. "I'm ordering food. What do you want?"
"Anything," I answered, suddenly realizing I was famished from the disaster of the day. "I'm starving."
His smile was soft, a far cry from the feral predator I'd witnessed in the park. "Good girl."
His mansion welcomed us with familiar warmth—the piranhas circling in their tank, the massive windows letting in the late evening sunlight.
Adrian carried me straight to the bathroom, where he set me onthe marble counter and began filling the enormous walk-in shower with steam.
