CHAPTER 2

Danzel POV

I stared at the woman lying next to me. Her face was slick with sweat, and she looked completely exhausted.

I smirked.

After all, I had worn her out. I'd taken her rough and hard, until she passed out the second she came. I stared at her, frowning slightly when I realized I couldn't come up with a name. Shit. I didn't even remember what to call her. Not because I hadn't asked, but because my mind had been busy imagining someone else. My head was completely fucked up by the girl with the long black hair.

Angelina.

Just the way her name fell from my lips made me want to say it on a loop all day.

I still remembered the first day I saw her.

I had gone to collect money from a shop owner who had refused to pay back a loan to my men. He had ignored two warnings, which left only one method of collection. My personal favorite.

Killing him.

Yeah, I loved to kill. I loved seeing the raw fear in their eyes when their lives were completely in my hands. It fed my pride. It gave me a sick, twisted sense of satisfaction.

The man had tried to play games and mess with my syndicate, which meant he didn't get to live. But I wasn't going to do it in front of a crowd. I needed to handle it quietly to avoid unnecessary chaos and keep our business out of the public eye.

I waited in the coffee shop next door for the store to empty out. As soon as the last customer left, I stood up and made my way over. Time to die, big guy. You've lived long enough.

The store was dead silent when I walked in. I scanned the area, ensuring there were zero witnesses before motioning for my men to follow. As I made my way toward the back office, a sudden noise from the other side of the store stopped me dead in my tracks.

I reached for my gun, resting my hand on the grip. I signaled for my men to stay silent and moved toward the source of the sound. It was coming from a closed changing room. I stared at the door for a second, drew my weapon, and kicked it open.

My breath hitched.

Inside stood a terrified girl with beautiful, long black hair cascading around her face, full pink lips, and a petite frame. Her terrified expression instantly melted into overwhelming relief.

I was too busy taking in the sight of her to react when she did something that made me freeze completely. She let out a happy squeal and threw her arms around my torso.

Christ.

"Thank you. Thank you so much for opening this damn door," she babbled, her grip tightening on me. "It was stuck, and I thought I was going to have to spend the night in here!"

I didn't say a word. I didn't even hug her back. I just stood there, letting my body absorb the feeling of her pressed against me. But it didn't last long. A second later, she pulled away.

A flash of disappointment hit me, and I cocked my head to the side, studying her. She looked up at my face, and a deep blush crept over her cheeks.

Oh my...

My thoughts turned dangerously wild as I took in every inch of her. How would it feel to hold her against my body? To pin her against the wall and—

Fuck. Get a grip, Danzel.

The fantasy shattered when Creed cleared his throat from behind me. "Boss. Our task isn't done yet."

Task? Right.

I narrowed my eyes, forcing my focus back. The girl's blush deepened. "Well, thank you again. I—uh—have to go." And just like that, she bolted from the store like a storm.

My feet automatically moved to follow her, but she was already gone.

I turned to Phoenix. "Gather all possible information on her. I want it by tomorrow morning." He nodded curtly and walked out. When I turned my attention back to the rest of my men, they were staring at me like I had just grown a second head.

"What?" I snapped.

"B-boss... the owner?" one of them stammered.

"Right. The owner." I cleared my throat, processing the sudden shift in my own plans. "Give him a warning. If he fails to pay the money, he won't live to see his family again." I spun on my heel and walked out of the store, mostly because I didn't want my men to realize their ruthless boss was currently sporting a hard-on just because a random girl had hugged him.

I sat in my car, taking slow, deep breaths to calm myself down. By the time I finally distracted my thoughts, Creed was walking toward my window with a knowing smirk playing on his lips. I glared at him, already bracing for what he was going to say.

"What happened back there?" he asked, sliding into the driver's seat.

"Nothing," I muttered, looking away.

"Don't avoid the question, Danzel. You never think twice when it comes to killing someone, and you never change your mind." He chuckled softly. "And I saw the way you froze when that girl hugged you. Dude, it's not like you haven't seen a woman come out of a changing room before. Hell, you've seen plenty of naked women. So what was it about her that left you speechless?"

I just shrugged again. I honestly didn't have an answer for him.

Creed sighed, his amusement fading into something more serious. "Don't forget who we are, Danzel. That girl is way too innocent for your world. Don't drag her into it."

"If you want to hook up, there are plenty of women out there who know the score," he added, starting the engine.

I stared out the window, knowing he was right. I couldn't get involved with a girl like that. But the way those deep, dark eyes had stared up at me, the way her small hands had gripped my waist... it had left me craving more. I needed to see those eyes again. I needed to feel that body against mine.

I needed her.

- -

Phoenix delivered all the information I needed within a week.

NAME: ANGELINA PATRICK.

AGE: 18.

MOTHER'S NAME: LUCIA PATRICK.

SIBLING: ALEXANDRIA PATRICK.

FRIEND: LEXI SWARTZ.

SCHOOL: ST. ANDREW'S PUBLIC SCHOOL.

Since that day, I had watched her from a distance. Call it pathetic, call it stalking, but I needed to see her at least once a day. For the past six months, I had drank my daily coffee sitting a few tables away from her and her friend. She never once noticed me watching.

But I studied every little thing she did. The way she chewed on her nails when she was deep in thought. The way her lips wrapped around the straw of her Coke. I couldn't stop imagining all the other things those lips could do, and all the places those teeth could bite.

Last week, one of my informants, Sam, brought me some troubling news. Anthony Xander, a rival boss, had somehow caught wind of my obsession with Angelina. Knowing Xander, he would try to get to me through her. I immediately ordered my men to guard her from a safe distance. I had to keep her safe.

Earlier today, my men informed me that Angelina was out shopping with her friend. I had instantly dropped everything at work and hurried to the mall, just to watch her try on clothes. I stood outside the store, watching the way she debated over every dress. She looked incredible in everything she tried on, and seeing those tight clothes clinging to her curves made me hard all over again.

Damn this girl.

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the ringing of my phone. I pulled it out and sighed in annoyance when I saw Creed's name on the screen.

"Speak," I answered flatly.

"Damn, dude, you don't need to be so hostile first thing in the morning," he said, sounding vaguely offended.

I rolled my eyes. "Why did you call, Creed?"

"Sam just reported in. Xander is meeting with Ethan William today. He said it was about some 'unfinished business.' It might be a move against us."

"Got it," I said, and hung up before he could say another word.

My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ground together. Ethan William. The one man on this earth I wanted to see dead more than anyone else. If he was meeting with Xander, I knew exactly what they were discussing.

My Angelina.

He was planning on hurting her, just like he had hurt my family. I shook my head, forcing the terrifying thoughts away. I had to keep a clear head if I was going to protect her. I needed to increase her security detail immediately. She needed to be moved to a safer place, and I knew exactly where that was.

With me. In my arms.