Morning arrived with an unsettling quiet.
As if the chaos of last night—
the shattered glass, the intruders, the fear—
had never existed.
But Aria knew better.
Something had changed.
She stood by the window, staring outside, though her mind was far from the view. The word kept echoing in her head.
The Syndicate.
And Rowan's voice from the night before—
"You've always been mine."
Her chest tightened.
She couldn't forget that.
The sound of the door opening pulled her back.
Aria turned.
Rowan.
He looked the same as always—calm, composed, controlled. But today, there was something sharper in his eyes.
Harder.
"You didn't sleep," he said.
Not a question.
Aria crossed her arms slightly. "Neither did you."
He didn't respond.
Instead, he walked toward her slowly.
"Things are changing from today," he said. "New rules."
Her jaw tightened. "More rules?"
"Yes."
"I'm already your prisoner," she shot back. "What's left?"
Rowan stopped in front of her.
"You don't go anywhere alone."
"I already don't," she replied coldly.
"Not without me," he added.
Silence.
Her eyes narrowed. "So you're going to follow me around now?"
"Protect you," he corrected.
"Same thing."
Rowan leaned in slightly.
"No," he said quietly. "There's a difference."
"What difference?"
A pause.
"Following is passive," he said. "I control the situation."
Something in her chest shifted at that.
This man—
he was safety and danger, all at once.
"What else?" she asked.
"You stay close to me. Always."
Aria let out a short laugh. "So I'm stuck with you now?"
"Exactly."
"Great. My kidnapper upgraded to bodyguard."
A flicker of something dark crossed Rowan's eyes.
"Don't push it."
A beat of silence.
"And the third rule?" she asked.
Rowan's gaze hardened.
"No one gets close to you."
Aria frowned. "What does that mean?"
"Anyone," he said flatly.
She turned fully toward him now. "Wait—so you decide who I talk to too?"
"Yes."
"Wow."
Sarcasm dripped from her voice.
"You really think I'm going to follow that?"
Rowan stepped closer.
Too close.
"You will," he said quietly.
Her breath hitched.
"And if I don't?"
A pause.
Then—
Rowan leaned in, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"Then I'll remind you."
His breath brushed against her skin.
Her pulse spiked.
The tension—
the closeness—
It was too much.
Aria stepped back quickly. "Space."
Rowan didn't move away.
Instead—
he stepped closer.
"Get used to it."
Her heart pounded.
"Why are you like this?" she whispered.
Rowan's expression shifted.
"Because last night proved something."
"What?"
"I can't afford to lose you. Not even for a second."
Silence.
This time—
Aria didn't argue.
Something inside her softened.
Just a little.
A knock interrupted the moment.
Both of them turned.
Rowan's expression changed instantly—cold, alert.
"Stay here."
He moved toward the door.
Aria hesitated.
Then followed anyway.
Curiosity won.
The door opened.
A woman stood there.
Tall. Confident. Sharp-eyed.
Her gaze went straight to Rowan.
"Rowan," she said with a faint smile.
Something in Aria's chest tightened.
Familiarity.
Rowan's expression hardened.
"Lena."
The name lingered.
Lena stepped inside like she belonged there.
Her eyes flicked toward Aria—assessing, measuring.
"So this is her?" Lena said lightly.
Aria stiffened.
"Excuse me?"
Lena smiled faintly. "Relax. Just curious."
Rowan's voice turned cold. "Not your concern."
Lena shrugged. "Anything involving the Syndicate is my concern."
Aria's breath caught.
"You know them?" she asked.
Lena looked at her fully now.
"More than you do."
Rowan stepped forward immediately—placing himself between them.
A barrier.
Clear.
Possessive.
"Stay out of it," he said to Lena.
Lena laughed softly. "Still the same."
Then she glanced at Aria.
"Careful," she said. "He bites."
Something sparked in Aria.
"Good," she replied coolly. "I don't run."
A brief silence.
Then Lena smiled.
"Interesting."
Rowan's patience thinned. "Say what you came to say."
Lena's expression turned serious.
"The Syndicate is moving faster than expected."
"I know," Rowan said.
"They know she's with you."
"I know."
"They sent a team last night."
"I handled it."
Lena paused.
Then—
"Next time, they won't send amateurs."
The air grew heavy.
Aria's pulse quickened.
Rowan's voice was calm.
"Let them come."
Lena studied him.
"Still arrogant."
"Still alive," he replied.
She gave a small smile.
Then looked at Aria again.
"Survive him first."
And just like that—
she left.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
But it wasn't calm.
"Who is she?" Aria asked.
No answer.
"Rowan."
Still nothing.
"Is she… important?"
The wrong question.
Rowan's gaze snapped to her.
Sharp.
"Why?"
Aria hesitated.
"Because she looked like she knows you."
Rowan stepped closer.
Slowly.
"Jealous?"
Her breath faltered.
"Why would I be?"
He didn't stop.
"Because you should be."
Her heartbeat stumbled.
"I'm not," she said—lying.
Rowan leaned closer.
"Liar."
His fingers lifted her chin.
Gently.
"Your eyes say otherwise."
Her pulse raced.
"Stop…"
"Make me."
Silence.
The distance between them disappeared.
Their breaths mingled.
Time slowed.
Rowan's gaze dropped to her lips.
Aria felt it—
that pull—
dangerous.
Unavoidable.
"Rowan…" she whispered.
A warning.
A plea.
His voice turned rough.
"Say my name like that again…"
Her breath trembled.
"Rowan…"
That was it.
He moved.
Closer.
Closer—
And just as their lips were about to meet—
A gunshot.
Loud.
Sharp.
They both froze.
One second—
Then Rowan moved instantly.
Deadly fast.
He pulled Aria behind him.
"Stay behind me."
Another shot.
Glass shattered.
Aria flinched.
"Rowan—"
"Not now."
His voice was cold again.
Focused.
Protective.
He looked toward the door.
A slow, dangerous smile formed.
"Looks like they didn't wait."
Aria's breath caught.
"Who—?"
He didn't look back.
"The Syndicat