5. A Thin Line Between Trust And...

The atmosphere in the penthouse shifted as soon as Dimitri left. Silence fell between Jesse and Tina, heavy and lingering like a storm waiting to break. Tina leaned back into the couch, her fingers still tracing the edges of the tracker Dimitri had given her. The reality of the situation was finally sinking in, and the weight of it all was almost too much to bear.

Jesse stood by the window, his back to her, his broad shoulders tense under the soft lighting of the room. The city skyline stretched out in front of him, but Tina knew his mind wasn't on the view. He was always a million steps ahead, calculating, and planning. That's what made him dangerous. And safe, at the same time.

But what about her? Where did she fit into this calculated world of his?

"Do you think Nathaniel is that much of a threat?" she asked, her voice breaking the tension that had settled between them.

Jesse didn't turn around. "It's not a matter of if he's a threat. It's how much of one."

Tina swallowed hard. She knew Jesse was right. Nathaniel had never been the type to just let things go. She had witnessed firsthand his ambition, his desire for control. And now, with his eyes set on Jesse's world, he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted.

But what scared her most wasn't Nathaniel's determination. It was that, deep down, a part of her still remembered the man she had once loved. The man who had once made her feel cherished. Even if those memories were tainted now.

"Jesse," she said, her voice softer. "I'm scared."

Finally, he turned to face her, his dark eyes locking onto hers. There was a flicker of something in his gaze, concern, maybe even vulnerability but it was fleeting. Jesse Santos was a man who had built walls around himself, and Tina knew he wasn't going to let her in easily.

"I know," he replied, his voice low but steady. He walked toward her, stopping just in front of the couch, towering over her but not in an intimidating way. There was something protective about him, something that made her feel safer than she should in the middle of this mess.

"I told you I'd protect you," he said, his voice firm. "And I will. But I need you to trust me."

Tina looked up at him, her mind racing. Trust. That word again. It was easier said than done. How could she trust a man she barely knew? A man who came from a world so different from hers, a world she didn't fully understand?

But then again, who else did she have? Nathaniel had shattered her trust long ago, and her family... they were never truly hers to begin with.

"I'm trying," she admitted, her voice almost a whisper.

Jesse's gaze softened for a moment, and he sat down beside her, the cushion shifting slightly under his weight. He was close now, close enough for her to feel the warmth radiating from him, close enough to hear the steadiness of his breathing.

"You don't have to try," he said. "Just let me in."

Tina's heart skipped a beat at those words. Let him in. She wasn't sure if she was ready for that, but something about the way he said it made her want to. Made her want to trust that maybe, just maybe, this wasn't another lie. Maybe Jesse wasn't like Nathaniel.

She bit her lip, her fingers still fiddling with the tracker in her hand. "What if Nathaniel's plan is bigger than just business? What if he's not just after your power, but something... more personal?"

Jesse's jaw tightened, and Tina saw the change in his expression immediately. He was always in control, always one step ahead, but her question had struck a nerve.

"You're right to be cautious," Jesse said slowly. "Nathaniel doesn't just want what I have. He wants to destroy everything that threatens his sense of power. Including you."

Tina's chest tightened. "Me?"

"He's not done with you, Tina. He still sees you as his possession. Even if he's with Linia now, he can't stand the idea that you've moved on, that you could be with someone like me. In his twisted mind, you belong to him."

The words sent a chill down her spine. She had always known Nathaniel was possessive, but this was something else. This was dangerous.

"I'm not him," she said, her voice firmer than she felt. "I never was."

Jesse reached out, his hand resting on her knee, his touch grounding her. "No, you're not. But that doesn't mean he'll see it that way. He's not thinking rationally, Tina. He's thinking like a man who's losing control."

Tina exhaled, trying to steady herself. "What do we do?"

"We keep you out of his reach. For now, that means you stay here, under my protection. I have people watching his every move. The moment he steps out of line, we'll be ready."

"But how long can we keep doing this?" Tina asked, her voice betraying the exhaustionshe felt. "Living like this, constantly looking over our shoulders?"

Jesse's hand tightened slightly on her knee, a gesture of reassurance. "As long as it takes."

She looked into his eyes, searching for any hint of hesitation, but there was none. Jesse was a man who didn't back down from a challenge, and that both comforted and terrified her. Because the stakes were high now, higher than they had ever been before. And she wasn't sure if she could keep up.

Tina leaned back against the couch, closing her eyes for a moment. The weight of the situation was pressing down on her, suffocating in its intensity. She had thought Nathaniel's betrayal had been the worst thing that could happen to her, but now she was caught in a game that went far beyond personal heartbreak. This was about power, control, and survival.

"Jesse," she said quietly, opening her eyes again to meet his gaze. "What if... what if this is all too much? What if I'm not strong enough for this?"

Jesse's expression softened, and for moment, the hard edges of the man she had come to know seemed to fade. "You're stronger than you think, Tina. You've been through hell and back, and you're still standing. That takes more strength than you realize."

She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that she could survive this, that she could face whatever was coming. But the fear was still there, lurking in the back of her mind, whispering doubts she couldn't ignore.

"I'm scared," she admitted, her voice small but honest.

Jesse's hand moved from her knee to her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. "I know."

For a moment, the room felt smaller, quieter. The chaos of the outside world faded away, leaving just the two of them sitting there, connected by the weight of their shared struggle.

"I need you to stay close to me," Jesse said, his voice low and serious. "I can't protect you if you try to handle this on your own."

Tina nodded, her grip tightening on his hand. "I won't go anywhere."

Jesse's eyes softened again, a rare flicker of emotion breaking through his normally composed exterior. "Good. Because whether you like it or not, you're part of this now."

Tina took a deep breath, letting his words sink in. She wasn't just a bystander anymore. She was in the middle of this war, whether she wanted to be or not.

And the only way out was through.

"I'm ready," she said quietly, more to herself than to him.

Jesse's gaze lingered on her, and she could see something shift in his eyes respect, maybe even admiration. But before she could process it, the moment passed, and Jesse's attention shifted back to the situation at hand.

"Get some rest," he said, standing up and releasing her hand. "Tomorrow, we start preparing for whatever Nathaniel throws our way."

Tina nodded, watching as he moved toward the door. But before he could leave, she called out to him.

"Jesse."

He paused, turning back to face her.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Jesse's expression was unreadable, but he gave her a small nod before disappearing into the hallway.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Tina exhaled, sinking deeper into the couch. She was deeper than she had ever imagined. But somehow, in the chaos of it all, she found herself trusting Jesse.

And that terrified her more than anything else.