The call came in sharp and urgent—Adrian's phone vibrating across the polished desk. His gaze darkened instantly, the calm predator replaced by something fierce, dangerous.
"They've taken a step too far," he muttered, reading the message.
My stomach tightened. "What do you mean?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stood, precise and deliberate, every movement radiating control and authority. "They're coming for you," he said quietly. "Tonight."
I froze. "For me?"
"Yes," he said, voice low but lethal. "Because I made you visible."
There was no panic in him—only sharp, unrelenting determination. He moved to me, hand brushing my arm. "We leave. Now."
The security detail mobilized instantly. Doors locked, cameras rerouted, vehicles readied. I followed Adrian through the penthouse, every step measured, every breath synchronized with his. The world outside became secondary—irrelevant compared to the heat of his presence beside me.
The car ride was tense. We didn't speak. His hand rested lightly on my thigh, an anchor I didn't question.
"They won't stop until they get what they think belongs to them," he murmured. "And I won't let them."
When we arrived at the safehouse, the tension didn't abate. Adrian paced, eyes scanning, hands checking everything I hadn't even noticed.
I stayed close, instinctively, my hand finding his without thinking. His eyes found mine, sharp, warning. "This isn't about comfort," he said, voice low. "It's about survival."
"I know," I whispered.
"But also," he admitted, softer now, "it's about making sure you know I will fight for you. Against anyone. Anything. No excuses."
The room seemed smaller, the danger pressing in from outside, but the closeness between us grew undeniable. His presence was heat, protection, and claim all at once.
I leaned against him, heart hammering, and for a moment, it didn't matter that the world outside was ready to strike.
Adrian Blackwood had chosen—once again—to put everything on the line.
Power. Pride. Control.
All sacrificed to keep me safe.
And in that closeness, with his hand gripping mine and eyes never leaving mine, I understood fully: survival in his world wasn't just about avoiding danger.
It was about standing in it—together.