Chapter 110
ERICK
Dwarke up to the soft warmth of sunlight thering through the curtains, casting long shadows on the plush bedding. For a brief moment, there was prace—a quiet, delicate pause where the world didn’t feel like it was closing in around me. But then, like a dam breaking, the memories of the past ily came nishing in crashing over me with an undergiving force.
Nevd. The stalker. The note, Gillian,
My throat felt tight as my chest constricted with the weight of at all. My body tensed under the sheets as I lay there, unwilling to move, unwilling to face the reality of the morning. The safety of sleep had been a temporary escape, but now the sun had risen, and I had no choice but to acknowledge everything.
I was in Cillian’s penthouse.
The thought made me turn my head slightly, taking in my surroundings in the daylight. Last night after a smoke had called my nerves. I came back to sleep
The guest room he’d given me was minimalist. Clean lines, neutral tones, everything expensive but without unnecessary embellishments. It fel
felt like a hotel room, devoid of any personal touch. Unlike my apartment. Unlike the place where Nero had curled up beside me every night.
Pain sliced through me at the thought of my cat. I swallowed against the lump in my throat and forced myself to sit up. The covers slid off me. leaving my skin chilled. My fingers traced the fabric absentmindedly. If I went downstairs, would Gillian glost? I had fought him so much on
here, and now I was under his roof, in his space, completely dependent on his protection
staying
But something told me he wouldn’t Yesterday, he had been different.
He had let me cry into his chest, held me together when I was falling apart had probably ruined his shirt, but he hadn’t said a word. He had just been there, solid and unwavering.
The thought unsettled me. I didn’t know what to do with this side of Cillian. I was used to our bickering, our endless battles of wills. But last night, he had been kind. Steady. The kind of presence I didn’t know I needed. And that scared me more than anything
Shaking off the thoughts, I slid out of bed and made my way to the en–suite bathrooms. The hot water did little to wash away the exhaustion that clung to me like a second skin, but it helped me feel somewhat human again. By the time I stepped out, I felt slightly more composed.
I followed the scent of food down the hall, my bare feet sinking into the soft carpet as I walked toward the kitchen. The open space was bathed in morning light, illuminating the sleek marble countertops and state–of–the–art appliances. And standing by the stove, placing two plates onto the
Iblinked “You cooked?
He glanced up, ha expression unreadable. “I tried.”
a brow. “Should I be concerned?”
That camed me a dry look “I’m not completely cless, you know”
1 bat my lips to stop the small side from forming “I find that hard to believe
Gillian ipward die jabi and nodded toward the wool. “Si”
Something
obcy without argumen
Thated that I wasn’t used to this–him being considerate. It threw ine off balance
As I settled onto the stool. Teyed the food in front of me. Scrambled eggs, toast, and what looked like perfectly compy bacon. A simple breakfast, but the fact that Gillian had made it huinself made it feel like something under
“Codee?” he asked, already moving toward the pot on the pointer||
“Yes, please
A mug appeared in front of me a moment later, black and straining. Just the way I liked it. I took a auve sip, the familiar bitterness grounding
mir
Cillian sat across from me, watching as I picked up a fork and took a bite of the eggs i was prepared for something inedible, but to my surprise, they weren’t bad. In fact, they were actually pretty good.
I looked up meeting his gaze “Not temble.”
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Chapter 110
This lips twitched. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
For a few minutes, we ate in silence. The only sounds were the quiet clinks of eatery against porcelain
dilly peaceful.
Too praceful.
celain and the occasional sip of coffee. It was
1 ser my fork down, breaking the silence. “Aren’t you
you going to work?”
Cillian exhaled slowly, almost as if he had been waiting for the question. “After I introduce you to y
1 tensed, bodyguard.
your bodyguard”
Before I could respond, a heavy set of footsteps approached from the hallway. I turned just as a man entered the kitchen. He was massive–casily over six feet tall, broad–shouldered, and built like a tank. His dark hair was cropped short, and his sharp brown eyes assessed me with a mixture of professionalism and ease.
“Morning” be greeted, his voice deep but friendly.
Cillian gestured Toward him. “Max. He’ll be trailing you 24/7. And that is non negotiable. He’s the best I have. He’ll keep
Max placed a hand over his heart and sighed dramatically. “That’s so sweet, boss. Thank you.”
you safe”
I chuckled at his exaggerated sincerity. It was the first sound of amusement I had made in what felt like forever. Gillian’s gaze supped toward me at the sound, something unreadable flashing in his eyes before his expression shuttered back into indifference.
He turned back to Max and, in a voice much sharper than before, said. “She’s your responsibility. Don’t let her out of your sight.”
Max gave a mock salute. “Understood. No one lays a hand on her.”
Sausted, Cillian’s phone buzzed, drawing his attention. He glanced at the screen, muttered a curse under his breath, and pushed back from Hland. I need to take this
Withour another word, he strode out of the kitchen, leaving Max and me alone.
Max turned to me with an easy smile. “Looks like you’re stuck with me, Miss Davis,”
1 Jet out a soft, weary sigh before offering a small smile in return. “Seems like I am.”
the
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