The fluorescent lights of the hospital corridor reflected harshly against the polished linoleum floors, casting a sterile glow that made everything feel unreal. I clutched my bag tighter, every step feeling heavier than the last. Madison’s accident played in my mind like a looping nightmare, and the sharp, cold air inside the building did little to calm the storm of dread in my chest. My stomach twisted into knots with every passing second, and yet beneath the fear, I could feel the lingering pull of the chaos Adrian and Cassian had introduced into my life.

Adrian’s hand was firm at the small of my back, guiding me through the hallways with quiet authority. His presence, as always, was grounding, but today it felt more intense—like he was hyper-aware of everything I felt, everything I might be thinking. His gaze flicked briefly toward my face as if he could read the panic and the uncertainty swirling behind my eyes.

“Stay close,” he murmured, low and precise. The words weren’t just a caution; they were a warning. I felt it reverberate through me, that magnetic mix of dominance, possessiveness, and desire that never failed to leave my pulse accelerating.

I nodded, though the words stuck in my throat. I wanted to be strong for Madison, to maintain some sense of composure, but the storm inside me—Adrian, Cassian, the betrayal, the games—was gnawing at my control. Every step felt like I was walking on a knife’s edge between panic and the thrill that both men brought into my life.

The waiting area was nearly empty, a few nurses passing by with clipped efficiency. My father was pacing, his expression a mixture of worry and barely suppressed anger. He caught sight of me and Adrian, his face hardening almost immediately.

“Sophie, who is this?” His voice was sharp, and the intensity in his eyes made my heart seize. “Who is he? And what… what are you doing bringing some man with you?”

My stomach sank, guilt and panic warring with the need to protect Adrian’s presence. I forced a breath and tried to keep my voice steady. “Dad, this is… Adrian. He’s… helping me get here quickly. I don’t… it’s not what it looks like.”

He folded his arms across his chest, his eyes narrowing. “Adrian. Right. And just how do I know I can trust him? You’re dealing with… whatever this is, Sophie. You need to be careful with whoever you’re letting into your life.”

The words hit harder than I expected, not because of the implication, but because of the underlying tension. My father didn’t need to know the complicated, dangerous dynamics I was entangled in—the mind games, the BDSM undertones, the dangerous allure both Adrian and Cassian held. He would never understand, and I couldn’t explain without unraveling the careful control I had over the situation.

“I… I understand, Dad,” I said quietly, my hands twisting in the strap of my bag. “I’ll be careful. I promise.”

He gave me one last scrutinizing look, then returned his attention to pacing, muttering under his breath about carelessness and responsibility. I knew I had appeased him for the moment, but the weight of his suspicion pressed against me like a physical force. I wanted to say more, to explain Adrian, to explain Cassian, but the words felt like poison on my tongue.

My phone buzzed violently in my pocket, and I pulled it out with a slight shake in my hands. Multiple missed calls. I frowned, the name flashing across the screen making my stomach tighten: Cassian Ward.

One, two, three—ten calls. Each one a small jolt of anxiety and desire. I knew ignoring him was supposed to be the rational choice, but my thumb hovered over the screen, betraying my curiosity, my need to know.

I let out a shaky breath and finally swiped to answer. “Cassian?” My voice was tense, careful, trying to mask the storm of emotion behind it.

“Sophie, please… I need to speak with you. I can’t… I can’t wait any longer.” His voice was rough, almost desperate, a tone that tugged at some primal part of me I wasn’t ready to acknowledge in full. My pulse jumped. The magnetic pull of him, the allure, the danger—every word he spoke sent a ripple of heat through me.

“Cassian… it’s… it’s not a good time” My words faltered as I struggled to maintain focus on reality instead of his voice, his presence, even if only over the phone.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify