Chapter 3 Unspoken

The wind was sharp against Sienna's cheeks as she leaned over the railing of her bedroom balcony. Somewhere in the distance, sirens howled, but they were faint...almost drowned out by the pounding in her chest.

Killian hadn't spoken a word since dragging her back into the house after the gunshots. He'd shut her door and disappeared.

Her fingers curled around the railing. She didn't know what scared her more...the sniper's bullet or the look on Killian's face when he saw that note.

A knock came, low and firm.

Before she could respond, the door opened. Killian stepped inside, his shirt clinging to his chest with dried blood...someone else's, not his. A dark graze marked his shoulder where the bullet had barely missed him.

"You should lock your door," he said coldly.

"You have a key."

He ignored her and stepped to the window, peering out like a wolf scenting danger. His hand brushed the inside of his jacket...always ready.

She didn't want to ask, but she had to. "What did the note say?"

Killian didn't answer immediately. Then he turned, eyes unreadable. "It was meant for me."

"You?"

Her stomach flipped. "And what now?"

Killian came closer. Too close.

"You'll follow my rules now. No exceptions. You leave this room only when I say. You breathe when I allow it."

"I'm not your prisoner-"

"You're under my protection. And I'm done playing nice."

He was angry. Controlled, but deeply, blisteringly angry. She could see it in the taut line of his jaw, the way he didn't blink.

She stepped forward anyway. "Why do you care so much?"

That froze him.

She didn't give him time to retreat. "You keep saving me, but you act like I'm the one invading your space. You touch me like you want me...and then vanish like I'm a disease."

Killian's eyes darkened. "Don't do this."

"Do what?" Her voice dropped. "Make you feel something?"

He exhaled sharply. "You're not some game, Sienna."

"Then stop treating me like one."

He backed away, but she followed.

"Do you want me?" she asked softly.

Killian's jaw clenched. "Yes."

"Then why-"

"Because your father gave me one order." He moved fast, closing the space between them in a blink. "No touching. No crossing the line. He made it very clear what happens if I fail."

Her breath hitched. "And what did you say?"

"I said I don't fail."

Their faces were inches apart now. His body radiated tension, restraint, heat.

"You're too dangerous, Sienna," he whispered.

She tilted her head up. "Or maybe I'm the only one not afraid of you."

A beat passed.

His hands went to her arms...firm, not rough...as he gently but firmly moved her away. "Go to bed."

"I'm not a child."

"No," he agreed, voice hoarse. "You're the goddamn temptation that's going to ruin me."

He turned and walked out without another word.

Leaving her breathless and burning.

Flashback – Aleppo, Four Years Ago

The smell of smoke and blood never left his memory.

Killian crouched beside the charred remains of a tent, pulling what was left of the U.S. ambassador's daughter into his arms. Too late.

She'd begged him to leave her and save the others. He hadn't listened.

She'd paid the price.

The militia had known his pattern. They waited for him to go soft. To care.

That day, Killian had learned a rule he never forgot: Caring gets people killed.

Estate Courtyard – The Next Morning

The sun hadn't risen fully, but Killian was already on the training mats behind the east wing, sweat beading across his temples.

He moved like a shadow-silent, fluid, precise. Punches cut the air in vicious arcs. His blade drills were even faster. The target dummies bore the brunt of his sleeplessness.

Lucien watched from the stone steps, arms folded.

"You trying to impress her or exorcise something?"

Killian didn't pause. "Both."

Lucien gave a low chuckle. "You look like hell."

"Good. It keeps people back."

Lucien lit a cigarette. "You know he'll never forgive you if this ends badly."

Killian sheathed his blade. "He won't have to."

Lucien tossed the cigarette to the ground. "I liked you better when you didn't give a shit."

Killian turned toward him. "That's the problem. I still don't give a shit. Except about her."

Lucien's gaze sharpened. "Then we have a bigger problem than we thought."

Library – Later That Day

Sienna sat in the dim, wood-paneled library, curled in a leather chair with a book she wasn't reading. The quiet should've calmed her. It didn't.

Lucien stepped inside without knocking.

"Is barging into rooms a family trait?" she asked.

He smirked. "Only when the rooms have people worth barging in on."

She didn't look up. "What do you want, Lucien?"

"Just a chat."

"About?"

"Killian."

Her eyes flicked to his face.

Lucien's tone turned serious. "He's good. But even the best make mistakes when they're distracted."

"I'm not a distraction."

"You're a car crash waiting to happen."

She stood, chin tilted defiantly. "He's the one keeping distance. I didn't ask for this."

"No. But you like that he can't touch you without consequence."

Her lips parted.

Lucien leaned in. "You want him to choose you over your father. That's what this is about."

She slapped him.

Hard.

Lucien just smiled and stepped back.

"Touchy subject," he said.

And then he left.

Leaving Sienna breathing hard, fists clenched...uncertain if he was wrong.