“Why not?” I ask, trying to keep the mood light despite the tension radiating off her.
“Caleb, we have to end this,” she states, biting her lip, and it sends a sharp pang through my chest.
“Why? What’s changed?” My heart races, anticipating the worst.
“Dom knows about us.” Her gaze drops to the floor, shame flickering in those beautiful ocean-colored eyes. “About what happened in his dining room.” She swallows. “He knows, and he said he’ll kill you.” Her voice wobbles as panic spills into her words.
A wave of anger washes over me, but I suppress it. “He wouldn’t—”
“He will.”
I take a step closer, refusing to back down. “No, he’ll just warn me off.” My voice is steady, because I can’t lose her.
My stomach knots painfully, acid churning beneath my ribs. Dom’s reputation isn’t just talk—I’ve seen firsthand what happens to people who cross him. My palms dampen with cold sweat, but I clench my fists to hide the tremor starting in my fingers.
“You don’t know him like I do,” I say, forcing confidence into my voice despite the dryness in my throat.
Amara’s eyes search mine, looking for reassurance I’m not sure I can honestly give. The truth is my heart is hammering against my chest like it wants to escape. Every instinct screams danger, and so it should.
“He told me what he’d do to you,” she whispers. “In detail.”
A chill races down my spine, settling like ice in my veins. The muscles in my shoulders tighten painfully. I’ve watched Dom break men for far less than touching his stepdaughter. But I can’t let Amara see my fear—she needs me to be strong right now.
“I’m not afraid of him,” I lie, stepping closer to her, ignoring the tremor in my legs. “Dom and I have history. He won’t—”
“He already knows, Caleb. He asked me if I’d let you touch me.”
My breath catches, lungs seizing. The room suddenly feels too small, the walls closing in. I struggle to maintain my composure while my mind races through scenarios, each ending worse than the last. The metallic taste of fear floods my mouth.
“What did you tell him?” I ask, surprised at how level my voice sounds despite the panic flooding my system.
“I didn’t have to. He saw us.” Amara paces in front of me like a caged animal. “If we don’t end this, he’ll kill you! He means it!”
“Then let him come at me,” I insist. Each word feels heavy with determination as I reach out to touch her arm. “I’m not losing you again.”
She shakes her head as sadness seeps into her eyes. “I can’t come back to this house anymore.”
Her words hang between us like a thick fog, suffocating any hope I have left. My hands ache to pull her close and erase the distance that keeps growing between us.
“Please,” I murmur softly as I lean in again, trying to bridge that gap between us with another kiss.
But she pulls away just before our lips touch. “No! You don’t get it! I can’t let him hurt you.”
I swallow hard as my heart sinks further into my stomach. The weight of our situation crashes over me like a tidal wave. Her fear is genuine; I see it etched on every feature of her face.
“But Amara—”
“No!” she cries out as she stops pacing and turns on me with wild eyes.
The intensity in those icy depths nearly takes my breath away.
I want to convince her we can figure this out together, but she’s already slipping away from me again.
“I’m not afraid of him, Amara,” I say, frustration creeping into my tone rather than fear.
She paces like a lioness, her beauty heightened by her protectiveness of me.
“You should be!” she snaps back, her voice trembling. “He’s dangerous, Caleb!”
