"He's Velvet Ruin"

tuck late at the office, finishing his reports. The sun had long since dipped below the skyline, and the city l

eep, smooth, and utterly un

r, Marco?" I asked, tryin

hat explained everything. "I need you to br

r hours,"

ask what t

groan. "And

won

ded to the address Marco had texted me. It wasn't his ridiculous penthous

Me

ide, the lighting was dim, the air thick with the scent of cigars and expensive

jacket was off, sleeves rolled up, revealing strong forearms. The sight irritat

taking the file from my

I'm leaving," I said

or. They weren't dressed like security-more like

d calmly, sliding the file o

his wasn't just abou

to listen in and take mental notes. And before you start,

"You don't trust me. Y

ngly calm. "Which means I know you're

ccasionally switching to English for my benefit. It didn't take long for me to realize what was happening-this was a

Gu

down and said something that made Marco's jaw tighten. He rose to his feet, his voice low but

ven an unspoken signal, the ma

me toward the bar as his men drew their own weapons. The room erupted into chaos

barked, pushing me

cked on him. Even in the chaos, he moved like he'd d

g angrily as they left. Marco straightened, rolling his shoulders like it was j

you h

catching my breath. "

imply, as if the answ

lizing there was no point. This was his world. And f

gerou

of water. "You did go

d to me. You dragged me here without telling me wha

eadable. "If I wanted you dead,

wed. "That's

t is, you were safer with me than anywhere else

l, treacherous part of me had felt... safer when he'd stood in f

of my li

t, low and certain. "Tha

ld enough to erase the heat of his presence from my skin. I hated him-hated his arrogance, his world, the way he could shield me one second and mani