(Elena POV)
The silence between us didn't last long.
"Boss."
One of his men approached cautiously.
"The place is secure. We're clearing the rest of them out."
Silas didn't look at him.
His eyes stayed on me.
Unmoving.
Unblinking.
"Find out who sent them," he said quietly. "I want names."
There was something in his voice now.
Not loud.
Not rushed.
But controlled in a way that felt… dangerous.
"Yes, boss."
The man left.
And still—
Silas didn't look away.
It made my skin prickle.
Made my heartbeat feel too loud in my chest.
"Come on," he said.
I shook my head immediately.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
A pause.
Slow.
Measured.
Then he stepped closer.
And everything in me went still.
"You don't get to argue right now."
His voice dropped.
Lower.
Closer.
"I always get to argue," I said, even though it came out softer than I intended.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
His gaze flicked briefly to my hands.
Still shaking.
"You're trembling."
"I'm not."
"Lying doesn't suit you."
Before I could react—
His fingers wrapped around my wrist.
Warm.
Firm.
Unavoidable.
Not hurting me.
But not giving me a choice either.
My breath hitched.
"Let go."
"Walk."
One word.
No room for anything else.
And this time—
I obeyed.
The Ride Back
The car was quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind that made every breath feel louder than it should.
I kept my eyes on the window, but I could feel him beside me.
His presence wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
It filled the space anyway.
"You disobeyed me."
His voice cut through the silence.
"I didn't ask for permission."
"You didn't ask for protection either."
"I don't need it."
A pause.
Then—
"You needed it tonight."
I turned to him.
"I was fine."
His head tilted slightly.
Studying me.
"You don't even realize how close that was."
His voice had softened—but that somehow made it worse.
"And you think controlling me fixes that?" I asked.
His gaze darkened.
"I think," he said slowly, "that I'm not going to watch something happen to you when I can prevent it."
Something in my chest tightened.
I didn't like that.
Didn't understand it.
So I looked away.
The Penthouse
The moment we stepped inside, everything shifted.
The air.
The people.
The energy.
This was his space.
His rules.
"No one goes near her without my permission," Silas said as he walked in.
I exhaled sharply.
"I don't need a guard."
"You're getting one."
"I said—"
"I heard you."
That tone again.
Final.
Unmovable.
I turned to face him fully now.
"You don't get to control every part of my life."
He stepped closer.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
And suddenly—
There wasn't enough space between us.
"I do," he said quietly, "if it keeps you alive."
My breath caught.
I hated that my body reacted before my mind could.
Hated the way my heart picked up speed.
Hated the way I didn't step back.
"That's not your decision to make," I said, but it came out weaker than I wanted.
His eyes dropped.
Just for a second.
To my lips.
Then back up.
And I noticed.
God—I noticed.
"It became my decision," he said softly, "the moment they came for you."
I turned away quickly, trying to regain control.
"I'm not staying locked up here."
"You're not locked up."
I let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
"Feels like it."
Silence.
Then—
"Fine."
I turned back.
Suspicious.
"What?"
"You want freedom?" he asked.
"Yes."
"You go to school. You go where you need to go."
"And the catch?"
He stepped closer again.
Too close.
Always too close.
"You don't go anywhere alone."
I shook my head.
"That's not freedom."
"It's the only version you're getting."
Andrew 👀
A slow clap echoed through the room.
"Well… this is intense."
I turned.
Andrew leaned against the wall, watching us with open amusement.
His gaze landed on me.
Slow.
Appreciative.
Too comfortable.
"You clean up nice," he said.
Something about that irritated me.
"I wasn't trying to impress you."
He grinned.
"Shame."
Silas moved.
Subtle.
But enough.
Positioning himself slightly in front of me.
Blocking Andrew's view.
Possessive.
And he didn't even try to hide it.
Andrew noticed.
And smiled wider.
"Oh… now this is interesting."
"Get out," Silas said.
Andrew ignored him.
Stepping closer.
"Relax," he murmured. "I'm just talking."
"No," Silas said quietly. "You're not."
The tension between them tightened instantly.
Sharp.
Unspoken.
Real.
Andrew leaned in slightly toward me.
"You should be careful," he said softly. "He doesn't share well."
Before I could respond—
Silas stepped forward.
Enough.
"Out."
This time, it wasn't a suggestion.
Andrew held his gaze.
Then smirked.
"Alright," he said, backing off. "I'll leave you two alone."
As he passed me, he murmured—
"Try not to fall for him. It never ends well."
Just Them
Silence returned.
Heavier now.
More charged.
I turned to Silas.
"You're overreacting."
His eyes snapped to mine.
"Overreacting?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
"You were almost taken."
"I wasn't—"
"You were."
His voice was lower now.
Closer.
Controlled.
"You don't understand what kind of people are out there," he continued.
"Then explain it to me," I said, stepping closer this time. "Instead of just ordering me around."
A mistake.
Because now—
We were too close.
I could feel his breath.
See every detail in his eyes.
"You don't survive in my world by asking questions," he said quietly.
"I'm not part of your world."
A pause.
Then—
"You are now."
My breath hitched.
"I didn't choose this," I said.
His gaze softened.
Just slightly.
"Neither did I."
That—
That did something to me.
Something I didn't like.
Something I didn't understand.
He lifted his hand.
For a second—
I thought he was going to touch me.
But he stopped.
His jaw tightened.
And he dropped it.
"Get some rest," he said.
"For what?"
His eyes held mine.
Long.
Intentional.
"For what's coming."
He turned and walked away.
And this time—
I didn't move.
Because for the first time…
I wasn't just angry.
I wasn't just fighting him.
I was feeling something else.
Something dangerous.
Something that felt a little too much like—
Curiosity.