Semua Bab Bound To The Kingpin: Bab 41 - Bab 50

Luna"So you told Jason you and Hardin are friends," Rachel said, her voice dripping with disbelief.I sighed, stabbing my fork into the pie on my tray. The hospice cafeteria buzzed quietly around us, but it felt like all the noise faded as Rachel stared me down."I couldn't think of anything else to say," I mumbled, taking a bite and trying not to meet her eyes. The flaky crust crumbled on my tongue, but it tasted like guilt. "I can't just... tell Jason the real deal."Rachel let out a breath, leaning back in her chair. "You realize that's going to blow up eventually, right?"I knew it. God, I knew it.But what was I supposed to do? Tell my boyfriend that I married someone else out of desperation, tied myself to Hardin in the most reckless way possible, and now couldn’t figure out where the hell my heart was?Yeah, that would go well."I’m just buying time," I said quietly, pushing the pie around my plate. "I need to figure things out first."Rachel gave me a long look, like she want

HardinI was fucking angry.This isn’t how any of this was supposed to turn out. I sat there in the middle of the room, still trying to make sense of it—still trying to fucking breathe through the fact that Luna had walked out on me with tears in her eyes.The same eyes that used to look at me like I was worth something. Now all they held was disappointment.I gritted my teeth, my fists clenching at my sides.How the hell did it get to this?My phone buzzed on the nightstand, Theo’s name flashing on the screen. Perfect. Just fucking perfect.I swiped to answer, “What?”Theo didn’t waste time.“We’ve got a problem," he said. "One of the guys used our name to carry out a job for a private client. Went completely rogue."I closed my eyes, willing myself to stay calm. But the rage was bubbling, unstoppable."Who?" "Markus," Theo said. "We just got the intel. You want me to handle it?"I stood up so fast."I’m coming over. Don't do a damn thing until I get there."I ended the call and stalke

LunaI didn’t know how we made it back to the house. I didn’t remember the drive or even stepping through the front door. All I knew was that Hardin’s mouth was on mine and my hands were in his hair, tugging him closer like I couldn’t get enough of him—and I couldn’t.By the time he kicked the front door shut behind us, I was already wrapped around him, my legs locked around his waist, my arms clinging to his shoulders like he was the only thing holding me together.His lips crushed mine in a way that was both desperate and tender, like he was trying to pour every unspoken word into the kiss. My back hit the wall with a soft thud, but I barely registered it. All I could feel was him—his hands gripping my thighs, the hard lines of his body pressed against mine, the way he kissed like he needed me just as badly as I needed him.“Fuck,” he groaned into my mouth, pulling back just long enough to meet my eyes. His voice was hoarse, raw with emotion. “You don’t even know what you do to me.”

LunaThe door to the director’s office closed behind Hardin with a dull thud, and I found myself standing there, staring at the polished wood like I could somehow hear what was going on inside.My pulse hadn’t settled since he walked in. No one said a word to me, but I could feel their eyes on my back. The whispers, the curious glances—none of it mattered. Not right now.What mattered was why Hardin showed up looking that intense. What had brought him here so suddenly?I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, trying to steady the storm swirling inside me. I should’ve been used to it by now—Hardin’s unpredictability, the way he moved through the world like a force of nature—but I wasn’t. Every time he stepped into a room, he pulled my focus, my breath, my entire sense of calm.“Still think those black cars were just here for a patient?” Rachel asked as she walked.up to me her tone quiet but pointed.I glanced at her. “I don’t know. Maybe something came up with the investment deal. Or m

LunaI stepped into the house, shutting the door gently behind me. The lights in the living room were on, Alice was curled up on the couch with her legs tucked beneath her, writing something on a notebook.She looked up as I entered. “Hey,” she greeted."Hey," I forced out a smile. "Is Hardin back?" I asked my eyes scanning the room as if he could appear out of nowhere. Alice looked up, her pen pausing mid-stroke. “Not yet,” she said. “He’s probably caught up with whatever’s going on at the office.”I nodded slowly, walking a little closer. Alice set the pen down and tilted her head. “How did your talk with the director go?"I sank onto the armrest near her and exhaled. “It seems like they’re not backing down. The board still wants to turn the hospice into a private hospital.”Alice blinked. “What? No, that’s… they can’t."“I know but apparently, they’ve already brought in designers. The director said the people involved have stronger connections than we imagined.”“That’s not fair.