KISS'S POV
Home felt… strange.
My apartment door clicked shut behind me, the familiar scent of lavender cleaner and old books wrapping around me like a forgotten memory. My suitcase sat by the door, untouched. I hadn't even taken off my shoes.
Italy still clung to my skin.
The warmth.
The calm.
Him.
I leaned back against the door and exhaled slowly.
So much had changed in a few weeks that it felt unreal. I had left as a woman trying to disappear.
I came back as a woman standing in the center of too many powerful lives.
My phone buzzed in my hand.
A message.
ADRIAN:
I'll handle things today. Stay home.
I frowned.
Handle what? I typed back.
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
ADRIAN:
Everything.
That should have reassured me.
Instead, my chest tightened.
---
I had barely dropped my bag when loud, violent knocking shook the door.
"KISSABEL HILSON!"
I groaned. "Oh no."
I didn't even make it halfway before the door flew open and Augustina stormed in like a hurricane with braids.
She dropped her bag, crossed her arms, and glared at me like a disappointed parent.
"You disappeared," she said flatly.
"Tina—"
"You went to ITALY," she continued. "With a man whose face I've seen on business magazines. Without telling me. Without calling me. Without—"
She lunged.
I yelped and dodged just in time, laughing as I ran around the couch.
"Don't make me beat you before hugging you!" she threatened.
"I was going to explain!" I laughed. "I swear!"
She finally stopped, breathing hard, then stared at me.
"You look different."
I slowed. "Different how?"
She tilted her head. "Calmer. Brighter. Dangerous."
I blinked. "Dangerous?"
She walked closer, lowering her voice. "Who is he, Kiss?"
I swallowed.
"…Adrian."
Her eyes widened.
"ADRIAN GOODWILL Adrian?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Then—
She screamed.
"You slept with him didn't you?!"
"I—TINA!"
She grabbed my shoulders. "You went to Italy with him. You came back glowing. You didn't deny it."
I covered my face, mortified. "We're… together."
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then she smiled.
Slow. Wicked.
"Oh, I knew my best friend wouldn't fall for a normal man."
I groaned. "This is not funny."
"It is absolutely funny," she said, collapsing onto the couch. "So. When were you going to tell me you're dating one of the most powerful men alive?"
"I'm not dating," I said quietly.
She paused. "Then what are you?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know.
---
ADRIAN'S POV
The boardroom went silent the moment I stood.
Twelve men. Old money. New power. Sharp eyes.
And none of them spoke.
I didn't sit back down.
I didn't soften my tone.
"I'll say this once," I said calmly. "And I won't repeat myself."
My gaze swept the room.
"Kissabel Hilson is mine."
A murmur rippled through the room.
I raised my hand.
Silence returned instantly.
"Anyone who touches her," I continued, voice cold and precise, "challenges me."
A pause.
"And anyone who hurts her," I finished, "declares war."
No one argued.
No one smiled.
They understood.
After the meeting, Isaac caught up to me in the corridor.
"You finally said it out loud," he said.
"I needed to."
"You just painted a target on her back."
I stopped walking.
Then turned slowly.
"No," I said. "I painted it on mine."
---
ASHLEY'S POV
Chris Blackwood listened.
That was the first thing I noticed.
Most men didn't.
He leaned back in his chair, drink untouched, eyes calculating as I spoke.
"He chose her," I said bitterly. "Publicly."
Chris's jaw tightened.
"And you want revenge," he said calmly.
"I want what's mine," I corrected.
He studied me for a long moment.
"You want Adrian," he said. "I want Kiss."
I lifted my chin. "Then we have the same enemy."
A slow smile curved his lips.
"Careful," he said. "Alliances like this burn fast."
I leaned forward. "So does obsession."
For the first time, he smiled back.
---
KISS'S POV
"You're serious," Augustina said slowly.
"Yes."
She studied my face, then sighed. "You're in love."
"I didn't say that."
"You don't need to," she replied. "Your eyes did."
I sat beside her. "I'm scared."
"That's how you know it matters."
My phone buzzed again.
Unknown number.
But I already knew.
ADRIAN:
Come to the office.
My stomach dropped.
---
ADRIAN'S POV
She stood beside me when I finished speaking.
Small. Calm. Unyielding.
I felt the room shift the moment eyes landed on her.
"This," I said, placing my hand at her lower back, "is Kiss."
She stiffened—but didn't move away.
"My woman."
Gasps. Whispers.
I leaned down slightly.
"You okay?" I murmured.
She nodded.
Barely.
Then she surprised me.
She reached for my hand.
Held it.
And in that moment, I knew—
There was no turning back.
---
KISS'S POV
When we left the room, my legs finally gave out.
"Adrian," I whispered. "You didn't have to do that."
He stopped walking.
Turned to face me.
"Yes," he said firmly. "I did."
"You just put a target on both of us."
He stepped closer.
"No," he corrected. "I put one on me."
His hand lifted my chin gently.
"You are not alone anymore," he said. "Do you understand?"
My throat tightened.
"Yes."
His forehead rested against mine.
"And if anyone tries to hurt you," he continued quietly, "they answer to me."
I closed my eyes.
For the first time in my life—
I believed someone meant it.