Chapter 16

The confession hung in the quiet, contained air of the panic room. Anna stared at him, her heart hammering frantically against her ribs. The most feared man in the city had just admitted a profound vulnerability.

Before Anna could respond, Alexander eliminated the remaining distance between them. He kissed her, a deep, consuming kiss that demanded absolute surrender. His tattooed hands slid to her waist, pulling her firmly against his broad, solid chest.

Anna gasped softly into his mouth, overwhelmed by the sheer, masculine power he projected, yet entirely captivated by the desperate need underlying his touch. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his thick, slightly wavy hair, returning the kiss with equal fervor.

When Alexander finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers. His breathing was heavy, his sharp jawline clenched tight.

“You belong to me now,” Alexander stated. It was not a question; it was an absolute, immutable fact. “No one will ever take you from this house.”

Anna looked into his eyes, fully understanding the weight of the claim. She was no longer just the guardian of his child; she was the chosen partner of a warlord. And despite the danger, she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

“I’m not going anywhere, Alexander,” Anna promised softly.

The heavy steel door suddenly beeped, signaling an incoming secure transmission. Alexander pulled back slightly, the romantic intensity instantly replaced by cold, tactical focus. He tapped the communication panel on the wall.

“Speak,” Alexander commanded.

“Boss,” Marcus’s voice crackled through the speaker, sounding grim. “We found the rat. It was the estate manager. He sold the security codes to the Chicago syndicate to pay off a gambling debt.”

>>Chapter 17