He always saw it.
The weakness.
“That watch,” he continued, “was found on his body.”
The words sliced.
She lunged forward before she could stop herself, shoving him hard in the chest.
“I hate you!”
He didn’t stumble.
He barely moved.
But his eyes darkened.
Good.
Let him see it.
Let him see the hatred.
He reached out, gripping her wrist—not painfully, but firmly enough to remind her who controlled the space.
“You came to destroy me,” he murmured. “Don’t pretend your hands are clean.”
“I never pretended.”
Silence stretched between them.
Tension thick. Electric.
He released her wrist slowly.
“I’ll give you something,” he said.
Her laugh was hollow. “Freedom?”
A faint smile. “A walk.”
She froze.
“What?”
“Upstairs. Supervised.”
Suspicion flared instantly.
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch.”
“There’s always a catch.”
His gaze sharpened. “You want the sky, don’t you?”
Her throat tightened.
He knew.
Of course he knew.
“Ten minutes,” he said. “You behave, you get ten more tomorrow.”
Like she was a pet.
A test subject.
A thing.
Rage and longing warred inside her.
Sky.
Air.
She hated that she wanted it.
“I won’t thank you,” she said.
“I don’t want gratitude.”
He nodded once toward the elevator.
Gavin appeared as if summoned by shadow.
The ride up felt unreal.
When the doors opened, sunlight flooded her vision so abruptly she staggered.
The patio stretched wide and pristine. Infinity pool glinting. The Los Angeles skyline in the distance.
Freedom so close she could taste it.
She stepped forward slowly, breathing in real air.
Her lungs burned.
She hadn’t realized how suffocating it had been below.
Kai stayed a few steps behind her.
Watching.
Always watching.
She moved to the edge of the patio, gripping the railing.
If she jumped—
No.
Too high.
And he’d anticipated that anyway.
Gavin stood near the door.
Silent.
Immovable.
“You could run,” Kai said quietly behind her.
Her heart jumped.
She didn’t turn.
“Go ahead,” he continued. “See how far you make it.”
She knew the answer.
Not far.
This place was fortified.
Monitored.
She wasn’t naïve anymore.
“I won’t give you the satisfaction,” she said.
A pause.
“Good.”
His tone shifted—subtle but real.
Approval.
The realization hit her like ice water.
He wasn’t just containing her.
He was studying her.
Pushing.
Pulling.
Testing limits.
Ten minutes passed too quickly.
When Gavin stepped forward, she didn’t fight.
That scared her more than anything.
—
The next day, he didn’t come.
Instead, someone else did.
Iris Moore.
She entered the underground suite like she was visiting a hotel guest, not a prisoner.
Tall. Elegant. Impeccable in cream trousers and a silk blouse.
Beautiful in a way that didn’t beg for attention.
Sylvia stared at her.
“I didn’t realize he rotated guests,” she said coolly.
Iris’s lips curved faintly. “I insisted.”
“Why?”
Iris glanced around the suite, taking in the controlled luxury.
“To see the myth for myself.”
Sylvia folded her arms. “Disappointed?”
Iris met her eyes.
“No. Intrigued.”
Silence hung between them.
“You’re his contract,” Sylvia said flatly.
“Yes.”
“And you’re fine with this?”
Iris tilted her head slightly. “With what?”
“This.” Sylvia gestured around them. “Me.”
Iris considered her.
“You think you’re the first?”
The words struck harder than expected.
“What does that mean?”
“It means Kai Voss doesn’t cage things he doesn’t find interesting.” Iris’s voice remained even. “And he doesn’t find many things interesting.”
“Congratulations,” Sylvia snapped. “You’re dating a psychopath.”
“I’m not dating him.” Iris’s expression didn’t shift. “I’m leveraging him.”
The honesty startled her.
Iris stepped closer.
“You came here to destroy him,” she said quietly. “That was your first mistake.”
“I failed,” Sylvia said bitterly.
“No.” Iris’s gaze sharpened. “You entertained him.”
The implication made Sylvia’s skin crawl.
“I’m not part of his collection.”
“No,” Iris agreed softly. “You’re the only one who’s ever tried to stab him.”
A beat.
“And that excites him.”
Sylvia’s stomach twisted.
“I’m not staying,” she said.
Iris’s eyes flickered briefly toward the camera in the corner.
“Of course you are.”
The door clicked.
Kai entered.
He took in the two women with one slow glance.
“I see you’ve met.”
Iris stepped back gracefully. “She’s exactly what I expected.”
“And that is?” Kai asked.
“Still dangerous.”