010

Valerie’s POV

I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. The text, the eerie silence of the estate, the way the air around me suddenly felt too thick—it was all too much.

I gripped my phone, my breathing uneven. Should I tell Ryan? Would he think I was being paranoid?

Before I could decide, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. My head snapped up just as Ryan strode into the room, his presence commanding as always. He had discarded his suit jacket, leaving him in just a crisp white dress shirt with the top buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of his strong, defined chest. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showcasing the corded muscles of his forearms.

But it wasn’t just his appearance that made my breath hitch. It was the way he was looking at me.

Like a predator closing in on his prey.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak. “Did you—”

He didn’t let me finish.

Without a word, he crossed the room in long, determined strides until he was standing right in front of me. His intense gaze held mine, and for a moment, the rest of the world faded away.

“Did you find anything?” I finally managed to ask, though my voice was barely above a whisper.

Ryan didn’t answer. Instead, he reached out, his fingers grazing my cheek, trailing lightly down to my jaw. His touch was warm, yet it sent a shiver through me.

“Ryan…” My voice held a warning, but I wasn’t even sure what I was warning him against.

His thumb traced my lower lip, and his gaze darkened. “You’ve been in deep thought,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.

I exhaled shakily. “Because I have a lot to think about.”

His lips curved slightly, though there was something dangerous in the way he smirked. “Then maybe it’s time you stop thinking.”

Before I could process what was happening, Ryan dipped his head and captured my lips with his.

It wasn’t a soft, tentative kiss. No, it was firm, demanding, full of unspoken promises. His hand slid to the back of my neck, holding me in place as his lips moved against mine with a possessive hunger that sent fire coursing through my veins.

A small gasp escaped me, and Ryan took full advantage, deepening the kiss as his tongue brushed against mine. My fingers instinctively curled around the front of his shirt, gripping the fabric as if it were the only thing anchoring me to reality.

But reality had already slipped away.

I wasn’t thinking about the mysterious text anymore. Or the hooded figure from the restaurant.

I was drowning in Ryan—his intoxicating scent, the way his body pressed against mine, the way his hands knew exactly where to touch.

His fingers trailed down my arm, grazing the sensitive skin before settling on my waist, pulling me flush against him.

“Ryan,” I whispered breathlessly.

His lips left mine, traveling along my jawline, down to my neck, where he pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses. His teeth scraped against my skin, and I felt my knees weaken.

“You drive me crazy,” he murmured against my throat, his voice thick with desire.

I swallowed hard, my head spinning. “This… this isn’t part of the plan.”

Ryan chuckled against my skin before his lips moved lower, just above the neckline of my dress. “Screw the plan.”

His hands roamed over my body, exploring, learning. One of them found my thigh, slipping beneath the fabric of my dress. The other moved upward—

A sharp knock on the door shattered the moment.

I jolted, my pulse hammering as reality came crashing back.

Ryan let out a frustrated sigh, his forehead resting against mine for a brief second before he pulled away.

“What?” he barked, irritation lacing his voice.

The door creaked open slightly, and one of his security men stepped in, looking somewhat uncomfortable. “Apologies, sir, but we have an update.”

Ryan clenched his jaw, his body still taut with tension. He shot me a look, his dark eyes promising that this wasn’t over, before turning back to his guard. “Give me a minute.”

The guard nodded and left, shutting the door behind him.

I exhaled shakily, still trying to process what had just happened.

Ryan turned back to me, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “We’ll continue this later.”

I bit my lip, my heart still racing. “We probably shouldn’t.”

He smirked. “Oh, we will.”

With that, he strode toward the door and disappeared down the hall, leaving me standing there, breathless, confused, and more tempted than I had ever been.

____

Fifteen minutes later, I had finally managed to collect myself enough to leave the room. I found Ryan in his study, leaning against the desk, speaking in hushed tones to his security team.

He glanced up when I entered, his gaze instantly locking onto mine.

“We traced the text,” one of the men was saying. “It was sent through a burner phone. No way to track it.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened. “Figures.”

I crossed my arms. “So, what now?”

Ryan dismissed his men with a nod, waiting until they had left before turning his full attention to me.

“I don’t like this,” he admitted, his voice low. “Someone is playing games with us.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, no kidding.”

Ryan pushed off the desk and walked toward me, his expression serious. “Until we figure out who’s behind this, I need you to stay here.”

I frowned. “You’re keeping me locked away?”

He exhaled. “It’s for your safety.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Ryan, I’m not some damsel in distress. I can take care of myself.”

His lips twitched. “Really? And what exactly would you have done if that text sender showed up at your apartment instead?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. Damn it. He had a point.

Still, I wasn’t about to admit that.

“I don’t like this,” I muttered.

Ryan reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. The touch was almost… tender. “I don’t either.”

For a moment, we just stood there, an unspoken tension simmering between us.

Then Ryan’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and I saw the flicker of irritation cross his face.

“Who is it?” I asked.

He sighed. “Daniel.”

My stomach twisted. “And let me guess—he wants to see us?”

Ryan’s jaw ticked. “He wants to meet. Alone.”

I frowned. “That sounds… suspicious.”

Ryan’s expression darkened. “It is.”

I took a deep breath, my fingers curling into fists. “Are you going?”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. “Yeah.”

I hated this. Every instinct in my body screamed that this was a bad idea.

But what choice did we have?

Ryan grabbed his keys and turned to me. “Stay here. Lock the doors. Don’t open them for anyone but me.”

I swallowed hard, nodding. “Be careful.”

He smirked, though there was no humor in it. “Always.”

And with that, he walked out the door.

Leaving me alone.

And vulnerable.

I had no idea what was waiting for Ryan at that meeting.

But I had a feeling this was going to turn out bad.