Riley could feel the tension between them crackling in the air, but it wasn't the kind of tension that made her uneasy. No, this was something else—something she couldn't quite explain, but something that made her feel more alive than she ever had. She wasn't sure if it was because of Zayden's presence or the fact that they were finally breaking through the barriers that had kept them apart.
Her heart raced as Zayden's gaze held hers, a dangerous intensity flickering in his eyes. He was different now—less the careless playboy and more the man who had slowly started to let his guard down. But even as he leaned closer, there was an undeniable storm brewing between them, one that neither of them could ignore.
"Are you sure you want to keep doing this?" Zayden asked, his voice low, rough, almost as though the words were torn from him. He paused, as if searching for the right way to say what was on his mind. "This isn't some fairy tale, Riley. I can't protect you from everything. And you've already seen how dangerous my world can get."
Riley swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words sink into her bones. He was right. She had seen the darkness that surrounded him—the power plays, the danger, the ruthless choices. But she had also seen the man beneath it all. The real man who, despite everything, was trying to fight for something real. With her.
"I don't want a fairy tale, Zayden," Riley said, her voice steady despite the maelstrom inside her. "I just want you. And I'm not going to run from this anymore. No matter how dangerous it gets."
Zayden's eyes flickered with something unreadable. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, the door to the room slammed open, and Riley was jolted from her thoughts. Standing in the doorway, a figure she had been dreading to see stood—Jade.
Her heart dropped into her stomach, and for a moment, Riley almost wished she could vanish into thin air. Jade's eyes scanned the room, landing on Zayden and then narrowing at Riley. There was no mistaking the venom in her gaze.
"Well, well, well," Jade sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I see you two have finally decided to get up close and personal. What, did you think I wouldn't notice?"
Zayden's jaw clenched, and Riley could sense the tension between them growing thick, suffocating. This wasn't just any confrontation. This was about power, territory, and everything that came with being part of their world.
Jade took a step into the room, her presence commanding. "You think you can just come in here, Riley? That you can get close to Zayden and not face the consequences?" She smirked, her voice cold. "You have no idea what you're getting into."
Riley met her gaze, her spine straightening. "I'm not afraid of you, Jade," she said, her voice calm but laced with determination. "You're not going to scare me away from him."
Jade laughed, the sound harsh and mocking. "Scare you away? Darling, I'm not trying to scare you. I'm just trying to remind you of what you're stepping into. You think Zayden's going to protect you when things go south? Think again."
Zayden stepped forward then, his body tense, his eyes flashing with the power he wielded. "That's enough, Jade. I'm not doing this with you. Not anymore."
The room seemed to freeze in that moment, the tension so thick it felt suffocating. Riley could see the weight of the situation settle on Zayden's shoulders. He was trying to protect her, but in doing so, he was crossing lines that could easily break everything he had built.
Jade smirked again, clearly enjoying the friction between them. "You think you can just walk away from me, Zayden? I won't let you. Not after everything."
Riley felt a knot form in her stomach, but she refused to let it control her. She stepped forward, placing herself between Zayden and Jade. "You don't scare me, Jade. You can't keep trying to control everything. Zayden and I are together now, and there's nothing you can do about it."
Zayden's hand landed on her shoulder, the gesture a mix of reassurance and possessiveness. "She's right," he said, his voice steady but full of warning. "Stay out of this, Jade. I'm done."
Jade's eyes flickered between them, and for a moment, the silence stretched on, thick with unspoken words. Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
Riley exhaled a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, her body tense as she turned to face Zayden. He was still standing behind her, watching her with an unreadable expression.
"You okay?" he asked quietly, his fingers brushing against her arm in a surprisingly gentle gesture.
Riley nodded, her voice steady. "Yeah. I think I'm more than okay."
Zayden gave her a faint smile, his eyes softening just slightly. "Good. Because things are about to get even more complicated. But I'll be damned if I let anyone tear us apart."
Riley smiled back, a mixture of relief and determination settling over her. "Then let's face it together. No more running."
Zayden's smile deepened, his hand finding hers once more. "Together."
And for the first time since they met, Riley felt a flicker of hope. Whatever they were about to face, they would face it together.