Handcuffs And Kisses (Series #1)

Chapter 27 (edit)

Lilian Carson POV

The knock on the door shattered the fragile bubble of peace that had surrounded us, and I watched as Alexander’s expression shifted. Frustration darkened his eyes, but there was something else there too something that told me this wasn’t just an interruption. 

Alexander slipped into his pants and shirt with practiced efficiency, his every move silent and calculated. He moved to the door, his hand resting on the handle as the knock came again, louder this time.

I stayed where I was, clutching the sheet to my chest, suddenly hyper-aware of how exposed I felt. 

“Stay here,” he said sharply.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice trembling despite myself. 

Alexander didn’t answer immediately. With a quick glance back at me, he opened the door just enough to block the view of the room, and then slipped out, closing it softly behind him. 

I sat there, frozen, straining to hear the muffled conversation on the other side of the door. The voices were low but urgent, the tension seeping through the walls and settling into my chest. 

“What?” he barked, his voice icy.

Titus stood on the other side, “We have a problem.”

I couldn’t make out the words, but I didn’t need to. Something was wrong. 

When Alexander finally returned, his face was a mask of calm, but his shoulders were tense, and his movements were clipped. 

“What happened?” I asked, standing from the bed, my voice barely above a whisper. 

“Nothing you need to worry about,” he said curtly, brushing past me. 

I frowned, quickly pulling on the clothes that were scattered across the floor, the vulnerable intimacy of moments earlier feeling like a distant memory.

“Alexander,” I said, stepping in front of him, forcing him to stop. “I’m already in this, whether you like it or not. You can’t keep shutting me out.” 

He clenched his fist, and for a moment, I thought he was going to push past me again. But then he sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. 

“You want to know the truth?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. 

“Yes,” I said firmly, ignoring the way my heart raced in my chest. 

He stared at me for a long moment, and then he motioned for me to sit down. I followed him to the edge of the bed, my stomach twisting with anticipation. 

“There’s something you don’t know,” he began, his voice calm but laced with a quiet intensity. “Something I haven’t told you because I wanted to protect you. But if you’re going to stay in this, you need to understand what we’re up against.” 

I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. 

“There’s an organization,” he said, his eyes locked on mine. “They’re called The Council. They’re not just powerful—they’re untouchable. They operate in the shadows, controlling everything from politics to crime to the economy. And they’re not the kind of people you want to cross.” 

I blinked, trying to process his words. “And you’re... connected to them?” 

He nodded, his jaw tightening. “My family has been tied to The Council for generations. It’s not a choice—it’s an obligation. But not everyone follows their rules. Cyrus didn’t, and now he’s trying to burn it all down.”