From what I gathered, her family had the same power as any other of the leaders in the elite world. They organized people together—meaning they could organize them apart.

“Don’t worry about her. In fact, don’t say her name ever again. I want to forget she exists for just two seconds.”

The more I wondered, the more I worried. If connections meant everything to her, securing a relationship with him secured a lot for her. The money, the power, the weird bragging rights she wanted to have so badly. I didn’t want to be mixed up in something else when threats from every other angle loomed over my head. She had the power to try to kill me—or try to push me somewhere.

Like with Alexander. If she pushed me that way, what was in it for her?

“She claims to be your girlfriend and threatened me. How could I not be concerned? My company is slipping away from me when I barely know how to read a damned budget report. Not to mention the weird threats and ominous messages I get.”

His eyes shot fully open. “Why did you not think to tell me?”

“I told Kelly. She said she was going to sleuth about. It doesn’t concern you.”

“It does after today. Blondie, whatever you think you want to do, you’re not going to get rid of me. Our fates are tied together, and they have been since we were born. Your mother tied her company to my grandfather’s ship. That means that you and I will always be tied together.”

I regretted speaking. “I don’t want to be tied to you!”

“I want to be tied up with you forever. If I sink to the bottom of the ocean, it better be because you dragged me there yourself. Drown me, Blondie, because I don’t want it any other way.”

My heart rate sped up and he knew it. He knew when my body reacted to him because he reveled in it. My body betrayed me every time—I just preferred to blame him for it.

“You barely even know me.”

“Then give me more of you.”

“I...can’t.”

He played with my hair again, kissing the side of my face and pulling his body closer. The pull between us was purely lust. No way I would like someone like him. A killer. A ruthless man trained by someone who clung to the top via illegal means.

“Then let me find it.” His hands moved to my body, spreading across my stomach and gripping my sides.

“You won’t,” I breathed. His scent overwhelmed me and sent me somewhere else. The back of his bike. On the porch smoking. In the diner eating food. In my bed where he—