There she was.
Amara lay on the bed, her face peaceful in sleep. Next to her, Vaughn was curled up, his small body rising and falling with the rhythm of his breathing.
Rowan felt a wave of relief wash over him, a feeling so rare it almost startled him. In the past twelve hours, he had imagined a thousand scenarios, each one worse than the last. But here she was, safe, untouched.
That’s all it mattered.
He took a step closer, his heart pounding in his chest, a strange mix of emotions swirling within him. Relief.. anger.. fear.. love.. all of them collided in a maelstrom of feeling. He stood over her for a moment, just watching, just drinking in the sight of her, safe and alive.
Amara stirred in her sleep, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Rowan’s breath hitched, his body tensing. He had to be careful. He couldn’t afford to wake her, not now. He wasn’t here to disturb her sleep. He was here to make sure she was safe, to make sure she stayed out of harm’s way.
But as he watched her, his resolve began to waver. The thought of leaving her here, in Moretti’s hands, made his blood boil. She was his, damn it. His to protect, his to care for. But he knew he couldn’t take her, not yet. Not without causing a war, and for now, he needed to plan it all.
He turned away, his jaw clenched tight, his heart heavy. He needed to focus. He needed to stay sharp. There would be time to deal with Moretti later. For now, he had to ensure her safety from afar.
As he moved back toward the balcony, he heard a soft rustling behind him. He froze, his hand instinctively moving to his sidearm. He turned slowly, his eyes scanning the darkness.
Vaughn was awake, his eyes wide, staring at Rowan with a mixture of happiness and curiosity. The boy’s small hand reached out, brushing against Amara’s arm, and she stirred, her eyes fluttering open.
“Rowan? What the fuck are you doing here?” Her voice was a whisper, a mix of shock and confusion. She sat up quickly, her eyes locking onto his, searching, questioning.
Rowan took a step back, his expression guarded. “I’m here to make sure you’re safe,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I needed to see it with my own eyes.”
Amara’s gaze softened for a moment, a flicker of something like gratitude passing over her face. But then it hardened, a flash of anger in her eyes. “You shouldn’t be here,” she hissed, keeping her voice low. “If they find you..”
“They won’t,” Rowan cut in, his tone firm, leaving no room for argument. “I made sure of it.”
She shook her head, frustration clear in her eyes. “You’re risking everything, Rowan. For what?”
“For you,” he replied simply, his gaze intense. “Always for you.”
Amara looked like she wanted to argue more, but she bit her lip, glancing at Vaughn, who was watching them with wide eyes. She took a deep breath, nodding slightly. “Fine,” she whispered. “But you need to go. NOW.”
Rowan nodded, his heart a strange mixture of relief and regret. He turned back to the balcony, casting one last glance at her, memorizing the sight of her, safe and alive. “Stay safe,” he murmured, his voice barely audible. “I’ll be watching.”
And with that, he slipped back out into the night, moving with the same silent precision he had come in with. He retraced his steps, slipping back over the wall and disappearing into the shadows.
As he made his way back to the car, his mind was already racing with plans, with thoughts of what needed to be done.
Moretti would be a problem to handle later, but right now, his mind was focused on a more immediate threat… Alessandro and the mysterious person who had dared to use Amara to threaten him. Rowan’s jaw clenched as he thought about the audacity of someone believing they could control him by putting her in danger. His anger simmered just beneath the surface, a dark, seething rage that fueled his every step.
Reaching the car, he opened the door and slipped inside, moving with a predatory grace. Harvey glanced at him from the passenger seat, his expression a mix of concern and anticipation. “Everything okay?” he asked quietly, his eyes scanning Rowan’s face for any sign of trouble.
Rowan nodded curtly. “She’s safe,” he said, his voice flat and emotionless. But his eyes, dark as midnight, burned with a fierce intensity. “For now.”
Harvey’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but the tension didn’t leave his eyes. “What’s the plan now?”
Rowan’s gaze shifted to Kyle, who was still gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles white. “Drive,” Rowan commanded, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.
Kyle glanced at him through the rearview mirror, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. “Where to?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Rowan’s lips curled into a grim smile. “Back to office. We have business to take care of,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “It’s time to deal with Alessandro. And whoever else thought they could use her against me.”
Kyle nodded, his hands steadying on the wheel as he put the car in gear.
The SUV roared to life, pulling away from the curb with a smooth, calculated speed. Rowan settled back into his seat, his eyes staring out the window, but his mind was far from the glittering lights of Las Vegas. His thoughts were dark, his plans darker still.
As they drove through the empty streets, Rowan’s mind was already formulating a plan. Someone had dared to threaten him by targeting Amara, and that was a line that should never have been crossed. His anger flared again at the thought, the car seeming to vibrate with the force of his rage.
“Harvey,” Rowan said suddenly, breaking the silence that had settled in the car.
“Yes, brother?” Harvey replied, turning slightly to look at Rowan, his expression attentive.