Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I arch an eyebrow, imagining the chaos Jeb would unleash mid-performance. “I’m not sure the world is ready for that.”
She smiles, her features softening. “It’s nice to see you unwind, Orion. You’re… different when you’re doing magic. Like you’re truly yourself.”
My heart does a small flip at her observation. “Maybe that’s the secret. Show a guy a deck of cards, and he forgets about the weight of the world for a second.”
She nods thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on me just a moment longer than expected. “Well,” she says quietly, “I like this side of you.”
I swallow the sudden lump in my throat. For a beat, the air crackles with something unspoken, and I realize I like this side of us. Card tricks, mischievous birds, and a moment of simple joy in a life that’s grown too complicated.
“Thank you,” I murmur, softly gathering up the deck. “I like it too.”
I’ve always told myself I wouldn’t get attached—wouldn’t let my personal life bleed into my work. It’s a mantra I’ve lived by for years. Keep it professional, keep it detached. Never thought I’d meet someone like Briar who’d make me question all of that. But here I am, leaning against the kitchen counter, spinning my phone in my hand, catching my reflection in the dark screen and realizing that, for the first time, I’m thinking about changing my whole life for a woman.
What the hell am I doing? I ask myself, but the answer comes easily. Whatever it takes. Because with every day that passes, with every kiss and heated glance, Briar’s found her way under my skin in a way no one else ever has.
My phone buzzes—Briar’s mother. Minnie Green. She wants an update on Jason, of course, and I can’t blame her. She’s paying for my services, after all, and her daughter’s safety is on the line. I let out a long breath, steadied by the realization that I don’t have many answers to give her right now.
I open my contacts and tap Dean’s name. The call connects on the second ring.
“Any news?” I ask, skipping the small talk.
Dean exhales on the other end. “Some, but you’re not gonna like it. We haven’t found Jason, but we’ve intercepted chatter about a possible hit on the zoo.”
A spike of alarm races through me. “A hit on the zoo? That’s… that’s bizarre. Are you sure it’s connected to Jason?”
“We’re not certain,” Dean admits, his tone grim. “But we have reason to believe it’s tied to the Bratva, led by a guy named Yuri Chekov. Heard of him?”
“Only in passing.” My free hand clenches around the edge of my desk. Yuri Chekov is no small-time threat—he’s the type who’d orchestrate something big, something brutal. “But why the zoo? That doesn’t make sense unless Jason’s working with them, or they’re using him as a pawn.”
Dean’s quiet for a second, then a soft click tells me he’s flipping through files or emails. “We don’t have a clear motive. Could be they’re after city officials, donors, or something else entirely. But we can’t ignore the coincidence of Jason searching for Briar at that very same place. If there’s some deeper angle here, the Bratva might be pulling the strings.”
My gut twists at the thought of Briar—already terrified of her stalker—now caught up in the crosshairs of a Russian mafia syndicate. “We’ll tighten security,” I say, forcing my voice to remain calm. “Send me any intel you have.”
“Already on it,” Dean replies. “Hang in there, Orion. We’ll get to the bottom of this.” He pauses. “How are things going there?”
I blink. “What do you mean?”
He doesn’t sugarcoat shit, and I appreciate that about him. “I can tell you’re serious about this one. You’re not letting your feelings get in the way of the job, are you?”
“Briar is nothing more than a job to me. I don’t have feelings for shit.” I lie. I can’t tell Dean how I’m quickly falling in love with her.
When I hang up, I realize my heart’s pounding, and it’s not just from the news about the Bratva. It’s the reality that Briar’s life has become entwined with something a hell of a lot bigger than a jealous ex-boyfriend. A part of me whispers that I should step away, let the professionals handle it. But that’s not happening. Not with how deep I’m in—emotionally as well as professionally.
I read Minnie Green’s text again, fingers hovering over the keys. I’ll protect your daughter, Mrs. Green, I think. Even if it means changing everything I thought I knew about myself. Because Briar’s worth it. And God help anyone who stands in my way.
Chapter 21
Briar
I swear my entire body goes numb. My ears ring, my throat tightens, and tears prick at the backs of my eyes. He doesn’t have feelings for me? The same man who held me at night and kissed me like I was the only person in the world? Who looked at me with such intensity that I thought my heart might burst? The man who swore he’d protect me, who wrapped his arms around me and told me everything would be okay?