Chapter six

Avery’s POV:

When I woke up, I found myself in a bed.

The room was quiet, too polished and clean.

I’d been pacing for hours, the smooth marble floor scuffed from my boots. Every time I tried the door, it was locked from the outside. Every time I leaned out the window, I saw the long stretch of Rafa’s estate grounds patrolled by his men and they were all armed, which frustrated me.

I banged on the door for so long but nobody came in or answered me but I knew they were they cause I could hear their footsteps. My hand hurt from hitting the door too much. I could have picked the lock but I don’t know how many of them were out there and I’m very sure they had weapons and I wasn’t foolish enough to head out there without a plan or a weapon.

When the door finally creaked open, I spun on my heel, ready to hurl every curse I knew in his direction but I was distracted when he strolled inside like he owned the place and technically he did but I didn’t care. A black shirt clung to his chest, the sleeves rolled to his elbows and his tattoo peaking out from it. He looked like he had just finished some kind of dirty work. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it, watching me like I was an interesting movie.

“You’ve been pacing,” he said. His voice was calm and lazy like he was amused.

I scowled. “Maybe because I’m being held captive.”

“You’re not a prisoner,” Rafa corrected smoothly. “You’re my guest.”

“Guests can leave,” I snapped.

He smiled, slow and dangerous. “Not always.”

I hated the way that smile did things to me. My stomach flipped and I felt my chest tighten, and every inch of me itched to close the distance even while I wanted to claw his eyes out.

Rafa pushed off the door and walked toward me, unhurried. His presence filled the room before he even touched me. I forced myself not to back away, even though instinct screamed at me to move.

“Why am I here?” I demanded. “Really. What do you want from me?”

He tilted his head, studying me like I was something fascinating. “You came into my meeting, disrupted my men, stabbed my right-hand man…”

“He touched me first,” I cut in sharply.

“…and then warned me about a hit on my life.” He ignored the interruption, his eyes narrowing just slightly. “You don’t think I can just let you walk out the door.”

I crossed my arms, keeping my glare steady. “So, what? You think locking me up makes you safer?”

Rafa’s smirk widened, but his eyes stayed sharp. “It does make me safer. And it makes you mine to watch. I don’t know who ordered the hit, or how far they’ll go, but there is one thing I know, keeping you here ties up several loose ends.”

I barked out a bitter laugh. “Loose ends? I’m not one of your business deals. I’m not some pawn you can shove around on a chessboard.”

He moved closer, until I could feel the heat of him radiating between us. His cologne curled around me, it smelled dark and rich, something I’d never admit I liked. His voice dropped.

“No, Avery. You’re not a pawn.” His gaze locked on mine, intense and unyielding. “You’re a threat and a temptation. And maybe the only one reckless enough to warn me instead of pulling the trigger. That makes you valuable. Which means…” His hand brushed my jaw lightly “…you stay where I can see you.”

My breath caught. Damn him.

“You can’t keep me here against my will.” The words came out weaker than I intended and my throat was suddenly dry.

Rafa’s smile softened into something more dangerous. “Oh, I think I can.”

I swatted his hand away and turned my back, mostly so he wouldn’t see the way my expression faltered. My chest was a mess of anger, confusion, and something I refused to name.

“This is insane,” I muttered. “I should’ve never…”

“Warned me?” Rafa supplied from behind me. “Yes, you shouldn’t have. But you did. And that tells me something about you, Avery. For all your sharp edges, you care more than you want to admit.”

I clenched my fists. “Don’t pretend you know me.”

“Oh, I admit I don’t know you but I plan on learning more about you and seeing what is underneath this tough persona and smart mouth,” he said softly.

Silence stretched it was thick and suffocating. I hated how my heart betrayed me, pounding in my chest and in my ears. He was right, I had warned him. I could’ve just done the job, taken the money, and walked away. But something about the idea of Rafa lying in a pool of his own blood had twisted my gut in ways I didn’t want to examine.

Finally, I turned to face him. “So what now? You keep me locked in this fancy room until you get bored? Until you kill me?”

Rafa chuckled, “Neither.” He stepped closer again, invading my space until his chest nearly brushed mine. His eyes burned, dark and unwavering. “You’ll move into the estate. My wing. My protection. My rules.”

My mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” His tone was calm like he was announcing the weather. “You’re too dangerous to let run free. And too interesting to let go. So you’ll stay here. With me.”

I laughed, harsh and disbelieving. “You’re insane if you think I’m just going to agree to that.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

The words hit harder than I expected. He did not shout, it was just delivered as fact. And the worst part? He was right. If I left, I’d have Rafa’s men on my heels. And maybe the mysterious client who’d wanted Rafa dead, too. Out there, I was exposed. In here… I was trapped, but at least alive.

I hated that logic. I hated that it made sense.

“You can’t keep me like some…some pet,” I hissed.

His lips curved into that infuriating smirk again.

“Pet? No, you are far more dangerous. Stay with me, killer. Fight me all you want, but deep down, you know this is where you belong.”

My heart slammed against my ribs, furious at me for even considering it. But I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because a piece of me wanted to stay.

And Rafa knew it.