VEIL OF RICHES (Elite Shadow serie #1)

C - 3

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The next morning, I woke up in Zachary's arms, the events of the night before still fresh in my mind. The reality of our situation settled in as I watched him sleep, his usually guarded expression softened in rest. There was a vulnerability to him that I hadn’t seen before, a glimpse of the man behind the powerful, impenetrable facade.

I gently slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him. I needed time to think, to process everything that had happened. Wrapping a sheet around myself, I quietly moved to the large window overlooking the sea, the early morning light casting a golden glow over the water. The beauty of the scene was in stark contrast to the turmoil I felt inside.

Last night had changed everything. I wasn’t naïve enough to believe that it would all be smooth sailing from here on out, but there was a part of me that couldn’t help but feel hopeful. Zachary was dangerous, yes, but he was also deeply protective. And despite everything, I couldn’t deny the connection we had.

As I stood there, lost in thought, I heard Zachary stir behind me. I turned to find him awake, his eyes locked on me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

"Morning," he murmured, his voice still rough with sleep.

"Morning," I replied softly, my nerves buzzing under his gaze.

He sat up, the sheets falling away to reveal his toned chest, the marks of our passion still visible on his skin. A small, satisfied smile played at the corners of his lips as he reached out a hand to me. I hesitated for a moment before crossing the room and taking his hand, letting him pull me back onto the bed.

For a while, we just lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, the silence between us comfortable. But eventually, the reality of our situation came crashing back, and I knew we couldn’t avoid it any longer.

"What happens now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Zachary’s fingers traced patterns on my back as he considered his answer. "We move forward," he said finally. "Together. I meant what I said last night, Shenaya. I won’t let anything happen to you."

His words were reassuring, but I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more to this than he was letting on. "And what about the people who are after you? After us?"

Zachary’s expression hardened, a shadow crossing his features. "I’ll deal with them," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "No one will touch you, I promise."

I wanted to believe him, but I knew that promises in his world were often broken. Still, I had made my choice. I wasn’t going to run anymore. If I was going to be with Zachary, I needed to trust him, even if it meant putting myself at risk.

"I’m with you," I said, meeting his gaze with as much resolve as I could muster. "But I need to know that you’re being honest with me. No more secrets, Zachary."

He studied me for a long moment before nodding. "No more secrets," he agreed, though I could see the hesitation in his eyes. "But there are things you might not want to know, Shenaya. Things that could change the way you see me."

I reached out, cupping his face in my hands. "Nothing could change the way I see you. I know who you are, Zachary. And I’m still here."

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if absorbing my words, before pulling me into a fierce kiss, one that was filled with all the emotions he couldn’t put into words. When we finally pulled apart, I could see the conflict in his eyes, but also a steely determination.

"I’ll tell you everything," he said, his voice steady. "But first, we need to get out of here. It’s not safe anymore."

I frowned, glancing around the room. "What do you mean?"