He takes a long drag of his cigarette, his dark blue eyes studying me intently.He leans forward slightly, his voice deep and commanding-
"I owe you a debt and I'm going to repay it."
My brows arch. "How?"
His gaze remains fixed on me, his eyes narrowing slightly as he examines my nervousness. As he walks around the desk and comes to stand in front of me.
"Any way you want."
I shake my head. "There's nothing I want." i just want to get out of here as fast as i can.
a smirk playing on his lips as he enjoys my sudden defensiveness.
"Don't lie, Miss Marlowe." He reaches out and tugs on the ends of my hair, "You know exactly what you want from me."
He lights another cigarette, the smoke circling around me as he continues to observe me, he makes me feel nervous.
I stood up backing away from him, but he follows, backing me up against the desk. I flatten my hands against the surface to steady myself. He's so close to me I can smell his expensive scent. "What do I want from you?" I breathe.
a rare chuckle escaping his lips at the sight of me looking incredibly lost.
He puts his hands on the desk on either side of me, effectively trapping me. His gaze moves over my face, lingering on my mouth.
"You want me to fuck you, Miss Marlowe. So you can be under my protection" he said boldly making the heat rise to my cheeks.
My eyes go wide. "No."
"No?" He slides a hand up my arm to my neck and under my hair slightly holding my neck tight.
"You can lie to yourself all you want, but don't lie to me." He tips my chin up with his thumb. "i hate those who lies the most"
I bite down hard on my tongue.
"I can see it in your eyes." He trails his hand down my chest and over my breasts.
"I can feel it in the way you respond to my touch."
"You're...you're lying," I accuse him, my voice small.
"Why me?" I whisper.
He drops his forehead to mine. "Because you took a bullet meant for me, Miss Marlowe. Because you're not afraid of me."
Is he a psychopath, what did i get myself into? I've heard alot of rumours about him, and him being a total crazy man is one of them.
"I am afraid of you," I admit.
He smiles, his breath ghosting over my lips. "I don't believe you. You didn't fear me when you saved my life. You didn't fear me even when my men showed up and tried to bring you to me, in fact I heard you did make one of my men face bleed"
"Of course I was afraid," I argue. "You're Ren Valenti."
"And you're a woman who's not afraid to die for someone. Not even a man like me." His fingers move up into my hair and he fists my curls in his hand. He tilts my head back and presses his lips to mine. It's a brief touch of lips to lips, but it's enough to make my heart race.
I pull away from him and he releases me. "Why...why did you do that?"
"Because I wanted to." He crosses his arms over his chest. "That's why."
"Can I go now?"
"You want to go?"
I nod.
He shakes his head. "Too bad. You can't go."
Sometimes i feel he have multiple personalities by now,
I step away from the desk, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. He's not going to kill me. He doesn't suspect me of being involved in the assassination attempt.
But he wants to have sex with me.
"I want you to stay with me," he says. "I want you to be mine. Mine to protect. Mine to fuck". He takes a step toward me and another, backing me up toward the door.
"Say you'll stay, Miss Marlowe."
I put my hands out and grip the doorknob behind me. "I...I need time to think about it." my heart pounding like crazy.
He stops moving forward, his eyes narrowing. "There's nothing to think about."
"I just...I need a little time to consider your proposal, i need to see about my job and everything" i gave awkward smile.
He's quiet for a moment. "Fine. You have until tomorrow to consider it." He comes closer.
I don't like how his voice makes me melt.
I don't like the way my pulse picks up when he's close to me.
I don't like anything about him. He's a mob boss. A criminal.
I've heard the rumors about Ren Valenti, now I wonder if they're true. He might not be a man at all. He might be a devil in disguise.
"I'll have one of my men take you home," he says. "But I expect to see you tomorrow, Miss Marlowe. Don't disappoint me."
"I...I..." I open my mouth to argue, but he interrupts.
"Say yes. Yes, you'll see me tomorrow."
"Yes," I say weakly. "Yes, I'll see you tomorrow."
He smiles and steps back."I'm glad we understand each other, Miss Marlowe." With that, he turns on his heel and disappears back behind his desk. The door opens behind me and a man in black stands there, waiting.
He nods at me. "Miss Marlowe, if you'll come with me."
I look over at Ren, but he's no longer paying attention to me. He's on his phone and looks very busy, smoking.
I leave the room, but I feel Ren's eyes on my back all the way to the elevator. And when the doors shut behind me, I sag against the wall and let out a deep breath.
That was close. Too close.
I'm lucky to be alive.
But I know I'll go back tomorrow. I know it in the depths of my soul.
Because I'm just as selfish and stupid as everyone has always said I am. And because I want Ren Valenti with everything in me. I want to be his, even if it's for only one night. Just once. One time. I want him to fuck me. My eyes open wide, what the hell im thinking about now! I hit my head with my hand.
I press my thighs together and bite my lip.
Maybe it's the adrenaline of being almost killed or maybe it's just something else ..
I take a deep breath and force myself to stand up straight. I won't let myself think about it until I get home.
I step out of the elevator into a dimly lit lobby. The man waiting for me is the same one I saw on the phone earlier. He gestures at me to follow him. "Mr. Valenti had me send for your car," he says over his shoulder.
We go out onto the street and my car is parked beside a black SUV. "Thanks," I say to him, opening the door.
"You're welcome, Miss Marlowe." The man ducks his head in a short nod. "Mr. Valenti wanted me to remind you of your meeting tomorrow. At his office. At nine."
I nod and sink into the seat. "Tell Mr. Valenti I said thank you."
The man smiles and shuts the door after I put on my seatbelt.
I wait until he's stepped back out into the street before I turn the key in the ignition.
Then I let out a breath and finally allow myself to think.
---
I packed my bag in a haze of frustration, stuffing in clothes, a few things, and the weight of my desperation. I wasn't running toward something—just away. Away from this suffocating city, from the chaos, from him. My car groaned as I threw the bag in the backseat, slamming the door shut. The engine roared to life, and I tore down the empty streets without a glance back. The further I got, the easier it would be to breathe. Or so I told myself.
The woods loomed ahead, dark and secretive, their towering trees forming a protective canopy over the winding road. This was a hidden path, barely used. The kind of place where no one would think to look.
He won't find me here, I thought, gripping the wheel tighter. For the first time in hours, I felt a sliver of hope.
Then I saw them.
In the rearview mirror, four black cars emerged from nowhere, their sleek bodies cutting through the dusk like predators. My stomach twisted into a knot, my hands shaking on the wheel. This can't be happening. I forced myself to glance back again, hoping—praying—I was wrong. But there they were, gaining on me. I was done. Trapped.
My mind raced as my pulse pounded in my ears. What now? My first thought was to pull over, come up with some excuse. "I was just going for a hike," I could say, maybe try to fake a smile, make them believe I was some harmless nature lover. Yeah, right. Like they'd fall for that. My heart sank as panic set in. "Ah, fuck," I muttered under my breath, the words a desperate exhale.
Instead of stopping, I did the one thing I knew I shouldn't—I floored it, speeding up,The car jolted forward, the engine protesting at my sudden burst of speed. The hidden road blurred around me as the headlights of the black cars grew brighter, closer. My chest felt tight, every breath shallow and quick. I was too scared to stop. Too scared to think.
"God, please help me," I whispered, my voice trembling. I didn't know where I was going anymore. I just knew I had to keep going. I couldn't let him catch me. Couldn't let him trap me.
The thought of him sent a shiver down my spine. Fuck, I clenched my teeth, my heart beating wildly as I made another turn. I was close to the end of the path now. Almost to the main road. If I could just make it there, I might have a chance...
I was wrong.
I heard the crash before I felt it. A bang and the shudder of metal crushing into metal. My car careened to the left, into the trees. My seatbelt bit into my waist as I was thrown forward, then back. The car came to a halt, the crunch of leaves and snapping branches the only sound.I slumped against the wheel, shaking and gasping.
The door opened, and a hand reached in, dragging me out.
"Let me go," I cried, kicking and struggling. "Just leave me alone." My protests were muffled by the hand pressed against my mouth. The hand kept me silent as I was pulled away from the wreckage and toward the dark SUVs that had boxed us in.
-------
Sitting in a silk sofa, he was watching a man who was being beaten up by —probably— his bodyguards, in complete privacy.
Sipping his drink, he was observing the scene with interest.
Suddenly, he turns his gaze towards me,
He doesn't take his eyes off me, and remains silent.
He reaches out and grasps my arm, his grip firm and painful. He guides me to sit beside him on the sofa, his presence commanding and authoritative.
i sat next him on the sofa, i was nervous, scared " i. . i get lost i didn't know.. i was trying to come here and i get just lost , so i tried to .. to come really" feeling intimidated by him and his whole presence.
His scent is strong, a mix of expensive cologne and something darker, more dangerous. As im looking down, he takes in my appearance, noting my scared expression, He finds it almost amusing, how easily intimidated i am.