Rio's POV
The drive back to Elena's apartment was a heavy, suffocating silence.
To say I was angry would be a joke.
I was fucking furious.
Every second, my mind replayed what I'd walked in on-the gun in that bastard's hand, his eyes on my Elena. The thought of what could've happened if I'd been a minute late made my jaw clench so tight it hurt.
No one touches what's mine. That's why he's dead.
She was still trembling beside me, staring out the window like the city lights were more interesting than the fact she almost died.
Her fingers traced the red marks on her wrists and my jaw tightens even more from the sight.
Her dress had ridden up, exposing those perfect thighs, and my grip on the steering wheel tightened until my knuckles turned white.
"I'm fine, Rio. You look like a fucking tomato right now," she muttered, voice low.
"You're anything but fine, Elena. You almost got fucking raped." My voice came out louder than I meant, sharp enough to cut glass, eyes still fixed on the road.
Her head snapped toward me, anger blazing in those eyes. And god help me, it made my dick twitch. What the fuck is wrong with me?
"And why the fuck do you even care, Rio? Huh?" she shot back. "It's fine-you saved me, thanks-but why the hell are you suddenly acting like you care when you don't? For all I know, you fucking hate me your rude and cold to me . So don't sit here acting like you give a shit."her tone was sharp .
She rolls her eyes at me scoffing and putting her heels back on in the process.
Her bratty attitude lit every nerve in my body on fire. She was pissing me off. And turning me on. I'm a sick bastard.
I pulled the car over onto an empty street. Her apartment was already in sight.
"Listen to me, Elena. And listen good. You do not get to raise your voice at me. You will drop that fucking att-"
She cut me off, sharp and furious.
"No, you listen, Rio. You don't get to tell me what to do. At least I have some dignity. And thank you for saving me, but unlike your arrogant, self-centered ass, you don't even have the nerve to thank me for saving your life. So no-I'm not dropping any attitude. You're not my fucking dad."she snaps .
Her tone lights up every nerve in my system anger boiling inside me .
I have mad anger issues and she just flipped the switch.
That's it.
"Get out. Now. Out of my fucking car, Elena!" I barked.
She just smiled at me-sweet, dangerous-and nodded. Unbuckling, she stepped out, slamming the door hard enough to make my teeth clench.
I didn't mean it. But she took it literally. Fuck.
I slammed my fist against the steering wheel, watching her walk toward her building. I followed slowly until she was inside, waited for her apartment light to flick on, then turned the car around and headed home.
The moment I stepped inside my place, my phone rang. Marco.
"Marco, is it done?" I asked, meaning the bastard who almost touched her. Just the thought made me want to burn that whole fucking club to the ground.
"Yes, boss. Everything's been taken care of. Body's buried, scene's clean, CCTV wiped."
"Good. That's all."
"Uh... boss? May I ask what he did?" His voice was hesitant.
"That's none of your business, Marco. I don't pay you to ask questions," I snapped.
"Right. Have a good night." Click.
I shrugged out of my coat, loosened my tie, and headed upstairs. My place is a massive mansion-too big for one person. A few workers come and go during the day: the gardener, the guards, and Martha, my housekeeper, a sweet woman in her late forties who sometimes cooks dinner. At night, it's just me and too much silence.
The house was my father's gift when I took over the company. A gilded cage.
In my room, I stripped and stepped into the shower. The water was hot enough to sting, steam curling around me. I closed my eyes. Inevitably, my mind went to Elena.
How the hell am I supposed to work with her? What happens when she finds out I'm her boss? Will she quit?
And then... the key necklace she wore that first day in the store. I've seen it before-around a man's neck in some old photo. The memory's blurry, but it's there.
Sleep won't come easy tonight. Hell, it hasn't for five years. Not since my mother was gunned down-pregnant with my baby sister. I was supposed to protect them both. I failed.
Whoever did it is still breathing. But not for long. I'll find them. And when I do, I'll be their worst nightmare.
I check the time. Almost six a.m. If I'm lucky, I can steal an hour before work. My sister will probably ask where I disappeared to tonight. I'll make something up. I'm not telling her about Elena-she'd tease me to death.