Chapter 4 Ep 4

The ride was silent, except for the low hum of the engine and the storm brewing in Rafael's eyes.

Sienna sat rigid in the passenger seat, her hands clenched in her lap, her heart hammering against her ribs. She barely had time to process what had just happened-the gunshots, the shattered glass, the fear in the eyes of the people she worked with every day.

And now she was here.

With him.

She turned sharply. "What the hell just happened back there?"

Rafael didn't glance at her. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white. "An attack."

She let out a short, bitter laugh. "No kidding."

His jaw ticked.

Sienna exhaled sharply, running a shaky hand through her hair. "People could have died, Rafael."

He didn't respond immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was steel. "That was the point."

She froze.

His gaze flickered to her, unreadable. "Someone sent a message. That wasn't a random attack, Sienna. It was deliberate."

A chill ran down her spine.

"And you think it was about you?"

"No." His voice darkened. "I think it was about you."

Her stomach twisted. "That's insane."

He didn't answer, but she could feel the weight of his thoughts pressing down on the air between them.

She turned to face him fully, her pulse thrumming. "Why would someone target me? I'm just a doctor, Rafael."

His lips curled, but there was no humor in it. "You think that means you're untouchable?"

A lump formed in her throat.

"You're not just a doctor," he continued, voice quiet but lethal. "You're a weakness. My weakness."

Her breath caught.

"You don't even see it, do you?" he muttered, shaking his head. "You don't realize what you are to me. To them."

Her fingers curled into her palms. "I-"

Before she could finish, he pulled the car sharply off the road, tires screeching as they turned down an isolated side street.

The shift sent her body jerking forward, and his arm shot out, gripping her waist before she could slam into the dashboard.

The contact was electric.

His hand lingered for half a second too long. Long enough for her to feel the warmth of it. The strength.

Long enough for her breath to catch.

Then he let go.

The car rolled to a stop in front of an old, unmarked building.

"Where are we?" she demanded.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pushed open his door and stepped out, moving to her side before she could react. He opened the door for her, his expression unreadable.

"Get out."

She didn't move. "Not until you tell me what the hell is going on."

His green eyes burned. "You're not safe, Sienna."

Her heart pounded.

"I need you to trust me."

She swallowed hard.

Because that was the problem, wasn't it?

She wanted to.

Even when she knew she shouldn't.

Inside, the building was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of old wood and faint cigar smoke. The moment Rafael led her through the door, a wave of tension rippled through the room.

Men stood from their seats. Some stiffened. Others exchanged looks.

Sienna's pulse spiked.

She wasn't naive. She could feel it.

This wasn't just some abandoned building.

This was his world.

Rafael ignored the weight of the stares, leading her deeper inside. They passed a long hallway before he finally pushed open a door, revealing a spacious office lined with dark mahogany furniture.

He closed the door behind them, locking it with a quiet click.

Sienna crossed her arms. "Talk."

He exhaled slowly, running a hand down his face before leaning against the desk. His expression was unreadable, but something flickered in his eyes.

Something dangerous.

"You don't understand the game you're in, Sienna."

Her stomach twisted. "Then explain it to me."

His lips pressed together.

Silence stretched between them.

Then-

"You think you're separate from this," he murmured. "You think your world and mine don't touch."

She stiffened.

"But they do," he continued, voice low. "They always have."

Her breath hitched.

He pushed off the desk, closing the space between them in slow, deliberate steps.

"You were seen with me, Sienna." His voice was almost a whisper now. "That makes you a target."

She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.

"You think I wanted this?" His eyes darkened. "I tried to keep you away."

Her pulse pounded.

"I warned you." His jaw clenched. "But you didn't listen."

Heat flared in her chest. "So now this is my fault?"

"No." His voice was sharp. "It's mine."

Her breath caught.

Silence wrapped around them, thick and suffocating.

Then-

He reached for her.

She didn't move.

Didn't breathe.

His fingers brushed her wrist, barely there, but enough to send a shiver racing through her veins.

"I don't regret it," he murmured. "Not for a second."

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

She should move.

Should pull away.

But she didn't.

Because, God help her-

She didn't want to.

Before she could think, before she could stop herself-

She reached for him too.

Their bodies collided, the tension snapping like a live wire.

His lips were on hers before she could take another breath.

The kiss was fierce, raw, desperate.

It wasn't soft.

It wasn't careful.

It was a claiming.

A confession.

His hands gripped her waist, pulling her against him, and she gasped against his mouth. She could feel the heat of him, the strength, the sheer power coiled in his body.

Sienna's fingers tangled in his hair, nails scraping against his scalp as his tongue slid against hers.

God, she was drowning.

Drowning in him.

But then-

A knock.

Sharp. Urgent.

Rafael tore his mouth from hers, chest heaving.

Sienna barely had time to catch her breath before a voice came from the other side of the door.

"Boss."

Rafael's muscles locked. "What."

"We have a problem."

Sienna's stomach clenched.

Because deep down, she already knew-

The moment they stepped out of this room, everything would change.

And nothing would ever be the same again.