Page 39 of Dark Possession
She sighs dramatically. “That’s not the point.”
I raise a brow. “No killing? No revenge?”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Not every story needs violence, you know.”
I take a sip of wine, considering. “Sounds boring.”
She scoffs. “You wouldn’t survive one chapter.”
“Because I’d fall asleep?”
“Because you’d want to strangle the hero before he ever confesses his feelings.”
I lean back in my chair, watching her as she talks, her hands moving animatedly. She’s so damn expressive, soalive. And for a moment, I let myself get lost in it. In her.
The world outside fades. If only for a little while.
But normal isn’t part of my world.
And there are rules that need to be laid down.
I swirl the last of my wine in the glass before setting it down. “Alina,” I say, my tone shifting just enough to make her pause.
She looks up, her fork midway to her lips.
“From now on, you’ll have a bodyguard with you at all times.”
Her brows pull together. “Is that really necessary?”
“It is.” I hold her gaze, steady and unflinching. “It’s non-negotiable.”
She studies me, her expression unreadable at first, but then something settles in her eyes. Acceptance. No argument. No fight. Just quiet trust.
That kind of trust is dangerous.
It makes me want to protect her more than I already do.
I reach into my pocket, pulling out a small set of keys for her own car, setting them on the table between us. The gold card follows, sliding across the wood with a soft scrape.
“To make up for it,” I say.
Her eyes drop to the objects in front of her, her brows drawing together. “What is this?”
“A car. And whatever else you need.”
She doesn’t touch either. Instead, she crosses her arms. “I don’t need a car.”
I exhale slowly. “You do.”
Her eyes snap to mine. “No,I don’t,” she says, voice firm. “I already have a car. A perfectly fine one.”
“It’s outdated. No security. Not good enough.”
Her jaw tightens. “Good enough for whom? Because I’m pretty sure it still gets me from point A to point B.”
I lean forward, resting my forearms on the table. “Alina,” I say, voice dropping, “it’s not just about getting you places. It’s about keeping you safe.”
She scoffs, pushing the gold card back toward me. “And this? What, am I supposed to be some kept woman now?”
