5.

OMARIO.

The night air was cool against my skin as I stepped away from Kara's house. I could still feel the weight of the situation I’d just experienced lingering heavily in the air. Seeing her again after five years had done something to me, something I couldn’t fathom, and she was even more beautiful than I had remembered.

I had expected that all this was just a wild goose chase, and maybe seeing her again would have dulled the feelings I had for her, but I was wrong. She was kneeling when I saw her, probably from when she was pushed by one of my men, and her presence was commanding attention in a way I had never experienced. I’d taken her in, and observed all of her.

Her brown skin had been glowing even in the evening light, and she was a pure vision of exquisite beauty that left me utterly captivated. I remembered her auburn hair, which was longer now than before and hung in fiery waves that framed her face, matching her hazel eyes. Her features were very different from the ones I was used to on black women, but they suited her and made her even more gorgeous.

Her eyes were my favorite thing about her. They were a mesmerizing blend of earthy browns and hints of green, and they had a depth that seemed to call on me and draw me in.

As I had taken her in and observed her every move, I couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull toward her. It wasn’t just her physical beauty, but there was something about the way she carried herself that ignited a fierce desire within me. The sexual tension I felt was one I couldn’t ignore, and of all the beautiful women I’d seen, I wanted her in my bed the most.

I remembered taking in the subtle changes that time had brought about and how her features were even more refined by the passage of years.

Yet, despite the undeniable attraction that still simmered between us, the situation was far from ideal. The dangerous game I’d dragged her into was one that I wish I hadn’t. And she was almost injured by my men even after I warned them not to lay a single finger on her.

The anger I’d tried to control back at Desmond’s home was slowly bubbling to the surface. My men had known better than to lay hands on Kara or any of her family members. I’d instructed Llanzo to warn them of the dangers of that, and I was sure he did.

Without a moment's hesitation, I turned and headed back toward the group of men who had gone to Kara’s home. My steps were swift and purposeful, and my dark eyes blazed with anger and fierce determination.

As I approached the men, they seemed to sense my impending fury, and a tense silence fell upon them. They all knew better than to cross me, especially after being given explicit instructions that needed to be followed at all times.

My dark eyes bore into theirs, and I could sense the fear and hesitation that coursed through their veins. It was a reminder that I was not a man to be messed with and that my word was the law in the world we inhabited.

With a sense of purpose, I approached the man who’d been in charge, my fingers gripping his collar with a warning that needed no words. It was a silent declaration of my dominance, a signal that I would not tolerate any form of disobedience, especially when it came to Karalana.

“What happened?” I hissed, my voice laced with controlled anger. “I gave clear instructions, and you bastards did exactly what I told you not to do.”

He swallowed hard, his eyes darting around to the other two men nervously, not once looking at me. Their earlier bravado had completely disappeared, and now they were at my mercy. They knew exactly what I was capable of doing when my instructions weren’t followed, and with the current anger I felt, I didn’t know what I was capable of either.

“I...I’m sorry, boss,” he stammered, his voice quivering with fear. “We wanted to scare them, and we ended up… going overboard with the situation. I thought…”

"You thought?" I interrupted, my tone icy and my hands tightening around his collar, restricting his airflow. "You weren't supposed to think. You were supposed to follow orders, which is exactly what you didn’t do. You had one order: do not hurt anyone, especially the girl, and that was exactly what you did.”

"I thought she was going to interfere with our business, boss," one of the men muttered, his words hesitant. "I didn't want her causing trouble."

I released the man in front of me and narrowed my eyes at them, my patience wearing thin.

“Who dared lay their hands on Karalana amongst the three of you?” I asked, folding my sleeves and getting ready to deal with the person.