Sienna

"Zane Calloway, how could you do that to me...?"

The treachery filled my insides with uneasiness and as the car wheezed away in the chilly night, it did nothing to calm the storm raging in my chest. I stared out of the tainted window, my hands were clenched into fists in my lap, trying to put my rage to words. Nothing.

I hadn't spoken to Zane since we left the bloody and messy ruin of the lounge. I couldn't bring myself to say the words to express my hurt and betrayal without breaking.

Why did you put me in danger like that? And why did you keep me in the dark about the whole plan?

Those questions kept popping in my head until I could feel them seeping through my veins. Sweat beads formed on my forehead, while I soaked in air through my mouth. He had not only put me in danger but kept me in the dark about his plan. If the Cartel had believed they had walked in on the guys by surprise, I wouldn't be fooled. From the way Zane and his friends conducted the fight, I knew right away it was planned. Why had he withheld his plan from him? The same man whose hands had traced my skin while his breath warmed my neck as he whispered my name had used me as bait, luring them to the lounge like I was some expendable piece in his chess game. Had he suddenly realized he could no longer trust me with the cartel plan?

I tilted my head, watching him from the corner of my eyes. After the bloody chaos, he sat there with hands tight on the steering wheel, his knuckles still bruised from the fight, acting like it was just another night. Like he hadn't ripped my heart out and left it bleeding on the lounge floor. God, that fight. The way he had moved was like he was in sync with the wind itself, cutting through professionally. I heaved a sigh to ease the buzz my body felt at the memory, my pulse quickened as I processed the way he had taken down those men without flinching.

My protector.

It was infuriating, how much I wanted him even now. When I was so angry, I could have screamed at him.

"Sienna" Zane started to say when the car slowed, turning into the driveway of his place.

I opened the door and hopped out of the car, cutting him off. I slammed the door hard enough to make the frame shudder. He needed to know I wasn't pleased with his decision.

I heard his door close behind me.

"You don't get it, Sienna wait." Zane called after me, yet I quickened my pace, covering the distance to the elevator in quick strides. He strode toward me, his steps heavy. I couldn't let him catch up with me.

Of course, he was. Zane was always in control, who was I fooling, thinking I had earned his trust. I spun to face him, ready to let the words fly, but his eyes stopped me dead.

They were dark, stormy, like twin hurricanes ready to devour everything in their path. He was pissed too.

The nerve of it set my blood boiling. He had no right to make the moment about himself.

"Zane," I whispered.

He stopped abruptly, eyes searching for mine like he was trying to read the chaos swirling inside me. Then, without a word, he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me to the elevator with a force that made my breath hitch... I tried to fight him off, but I knew I was no match for the man. I gave up trying. Waiting for him. Once again, he had taken control of my rage.

My body betrayed me. Despite the anger and hurt, all I wanted was to close the distance between us, to press my lips to his and forget the world. Blame it on the way he'd fought earlier, the raw power and confidence that radiated off him in waves. Or maybe it was just that I was hopelessly tangled up in him, no matter how much it hurt.

I stared at him, heart pounding, waiting for him to explain. Waiting for the truth.

The elevator doors slid open, and he pulled me inside the penthouse, not giving me the chance to even catch my breath. Zane's hands were in my arms, pushing me back against the door. He pressed his body into mine, pinning me between the door and himself. We were so close that I could feel the heat radiating off him like a wildfire.

My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last, echoing in my ears. I was dizzy with anticipation, the sharp ache of longing twisting deep in my gut. His face was so close, way too close, and when his lips brushed mine, I closed my eyes without hesitation. His lips brushed mine softly, and it sent a shiver racing down my spine. Oh, Zane!

I parted my mouth, aching to let him take me at that moment, to drown out the confusion and pain I was feeling at that moment. I was ready to forget, just for a moment, how he'd used me, how he had left me in the dark. I hated how much I wanted him, despite the betrayal still burning in my chest.

Then he chuckled in an intentional, low, mocking sound that sliced through the haze of my desire. My eyes snapped open, and the emptiness hit me, catching me as I stepped away, leaving me standing against the door, nothing but the weight of my own longing holding me up. My cheeks burned with humiliation, twisting down to my gut. How could I be so stupid? How could I still want him after everything that's happened?

He turned, walking toward the center of the room.

I yelled at him. "You pull me in, you push me away. "What the hell is wrong with you, Zane?"

He froze mid-step, his back to me, and for a moment, the silence was deafening. Then he turned, locking his eyes onto mine. They weren't just angry anymore; they were filled with a suspicious glare, like he was seeing me for the first time.

"Who are you, Sienna? How about you start by telling me your real name?"

The questions hit me like a slap, stealing my breath. I stared at him, my mouth open, but no words came. I thought we were past this. I thought he would trust me. But the way he was looking at me now, like I was the enemy, made my stomach twist.

"What?" I finally managed to voice out. "Zane, what are you talking about? You know me."

"Do I?" He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "Because I'm starting to wonder. You show up out of nowhere, get close to me, get under my skin, and now..." He cut himself off, his jaw tightening as he ran a hand through his hair. "What's your angle, Sienna? What do you want from me?"

My heart pounded, a mix of hurt and anger swirling in my chest. I swallowed hard, trying to make sense of what had changed, what had turned him into this distrustful stranger. He had held me like I was his lifeline, his hands gentle. Now, he was looking at me as if I were a threat. What has happened between then and now? Had someone said something? Had he found something? My mind raced, searching for answers, but all I could feel was the sting of his doubt.

He moved suddenly, closing the distance between us in two long strides. Before I could react, he had me pinned against the wall, his hands on either side of my head, caging me in. His face was so close that I could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes and feel the heat of his breath on my skin. "Tell me who you are, Sienna," he said, his voice low and commanding, sending a shiver down my spine despite my anger. "Tell me everything."

My breath hitched, my body betraying me again as it leaned toward him, drawn to his intensity like a moth to a flame. I wanted to shove him away, to scream at him for doubting me, but my hands were trembling, and my heart was racing for all the wrong reasons. God, he was so close, his scent filling my senses, making it hard to think.

"I'm not playing a game," I said. "I'm the same person I was before tonight, Zane. The same person who trusted you, who let you in, who..." I stopped, my throat tightening as the memory of his hands on me, his lips against mine, flooded back. "You know me. You know my name. Sienna Carter. Why are you doing this?"

His eyes searched mine, relentlessly, like he was trying to peel back my skin and see the truth underneath. "Because things don't add up," he said, "You're too good at this, Sienna. Too calm in a firefight, too quick to pick up on things most people wouldn't notice. You're not just some girl who stumbled into my world. So, who are you? Really?"

My stomach dropped. He wasn't entirely wrong. I had never told him about the years I had spent scraping by, learning to survive in places where trust was a luxury I couldn't afford. I had kept those parts of me buried. But now, pinned against the wall, his eyes boring into mine, I realized those omissions were coming back to haunt me.

"I'm not hiding anything. I told you who I am. I told you why I'm here. I didn't ask to get caught up in your world, Zane. You pulled me in, and then you..." My voice cracked, and I hated how weak it made me sound. "You used me. You put me in danger without even telling me, and now you're acting like I'm the one who betrayed you?"

He flinched, just barely, but I saw it. His hands dropped from the wall, but he didn't step back, his body still close enough to make my skin hum. "I didn't want to hurt you," he said. "But I need to know I can trust you, Sienna. I need to know you're not playing me."

"You think I'm the one playing games after tonight?"

He stared at me. "Sienna, these men don't just think you are a threat without a reason. They have intensified their attacks since you showed up here. They stayed away for years and suddenly they are acting this reckless just because of you and I am going to find out why you are this person of interest to them."

"No," I snapped, stepping forward, closing the distance between us again. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to make me feel like I'm the one who's done something wrong. I've been honest with you, Zane.

His hands were on me again, gentle this time, one cupping my face, the other gripping my waist. "I'm trying to protect what's mine."

"What's yours?"

"Yes, Sienna, you either come clean or nothing. I have come too far to project Atlas to let you ruin it," he said.

The air between us crackled, heavy with everything unsaid. My body was screaming for him, my lips aching to close the distance, but my heart was bruised. I didn't know if I could continue the confrontation, but I knew I was ready to walk away.

ZANE

I broke Sienna, and I broke her badly, too.

The way she had looked at me after my questions sent a shiver down my spine. She had felt hurt deeply. But how was I to know it wasn't just a show? Just as she had been playing me since day one.

"Dammmit!" I pulled my right hand into a fist and hit the bag. The heavy bag swayed under the force of my fist, the chain groaning as it absorbed the blow. I had been at this all morning, knowing I needed to ease the tension within me, and the gym was the best way to release the heat.

My knuckles had started to sting from the relentless pounding, but I didn't stop. Each hit sent a jolt through my arm, sending my breath out in a sharp rush, matching the rhythm of my punches. I would switch the punching fist between my palms, making sure both were getting equal aim at the bag.

The fight at the lounge replayed in my mind as I tried to process the fight from a viewer's perspective. Each time, I came to the conclusion that the men had stormed in targeting her and merely fought us off to get to her. We were never their target. Sienna was.

I had orchestrated it, hoping they would come for me and my brothers, but though the plan had worked, the outcome wasn't what I had expected. I took another swing at the lurching bag, hitting harder this time. My company, which had enjoyed years of smooth operation, was now threatened by their relentless pursuit. They weren't after me or Atlas, they were after her. Why? What made Sienna Carter worth their time and their resources? The gang leader's words haunted me. It may have been a taunt for them to plant a seed of doubt between us and it had taken root. Was she playing me? Hiding something? Or was she just as lost in this mess as I was?

I drove my fist into the bag again, the impact jarring my wrist, but it wasn't enough to drown out the questions. I had always trusted my instincts and that had built my empire and kept me alive. But with Sienna, they faltered.

The bag took another hit, the chain rattling under my punch when my phone buzzed on the bench, cutting through my thoughts.

I ripped off my gloves, the Velcro tearing loudly, and walked to the couch and picked up the phone. Damian's name lit up the screen. "Yeah?" I said, leaning against a pillar.

"Zane, it's Noah. He's stable. Cleaned up, stitched, and on bed rest. Doc says he's out of danger, but he's down for a while," Damian replied.

Relief hit me, sharp and fleeting, followed by a fresh wave of guilt. Noah had almost lost his life because of my plan. "Good," I said, my throat tight. "Anything else?"

"Yeah." Damian's voice lowered, cautiously. "We have got the IT spy. He's in the bunker, right where you wanted him."

My pulse quickened. "I'm on my way," I said. "Keep him locked down."

"Zane," Damian added, hesitating. "What's the guy at the lounge saying some stuff about Sienna?"

"Weird stuff. I don't know what to make of it yet." My grip tightened on the phone.

"If you say so," Damian said, sounding very unconvinced.

"Would be there soon," I said, and hung up. My mind raced, the leader's words echoing again. She's not what you think. The idea of Sienna working with them, playing me from the start, made my blood run cold. But the image of her broken expression, the way she had recoiled from my accusations, didn't fit. None of it fit. I needed answers, and I needed them now.

I grabbed my jacket, the leather cool against my overheated skin, and headed for the hallway. As I passed the guest room, I slowed, my hand twitching toward the door. Sienna was there, probably awake, probably replaying our argument. I could still see her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Part of me wanted to barge into the room and shake her until she spilled every secret so we would both be out of our misery. But I couldn't trust myself to stay calm, not with my head this screwed up.

Instead, I walked on, heading to my room to get cleaned up.

Thirty minutes afterward, I was ready to leave the house. I called out to Jason, her security detail, stationed at the end of the hall. "Keep her safe. No one in or out until I'm back."

Jason nodded. "Understood, boss."

I turned away, my boots heavy on the hardwood, and stepped out into the driveway. The cartel was all closing in, and I was running out of time to figure out who I could trust.

֍

I pulled up to the bunker, inches away from the door, and hesitated, holding both hands on the wheel. I wondered if I had made the right decision, leaving Sienna behind. She was going to be safe inside, under Jason's watchful eye, and for now, that was enough. Both cartels had taken heavy hits in yesterday's clash in the lounge and for a brief moment, the power balance had shifted. It gave me breathing room, but not much. The war wasn't over, and the traitor in my ranks was still bleeding my company dry. That IT spy was my next target, and I'd carve the truth out of him if I had to.

I have always hated snitches. Betrayal was what birthed the dangerous side of me and whoever the spy was, his fate would be no different from Robert's.

I stepped out and nodded to the guard at the door. He opened it without a word, and I strolled in.

The bunker was my domain, a high-tech vault where I handled the most sensitive and complex aspects of my business. The torture room was down a concrete corridor, its walls soundproofed, its tools gleaming under intense fluorescent lights. I pushed open the door, my boots echoing, and took in the setup. I walked to the steel table, which held an array of equipment, including blades, pliers, blowtorches, and syringes filled with chemicals that could break a man's mind. The huge water tank sat in the corner. I spared no expense when it came to answers. Every tool was precise, designed to inflict maximum pain with minimum mess. I had learned from the best and perfected it.

Damian stood nearby, arms crossed, his face unreadable. "He's been babbling," he said, nodding toward the guy. "Keeps saying he didn't have a choice."

"Rookies love to blab," I laughed as I walked over to the center of the room.

The spy was younger than I had expected; he was a nobody, but one who had cost me millions and put my people on the ground.

"They always say that they don't have a choice," I muttered as I shrugged off my jacket, tossing it over a chair, and rolled up my sleeves. The guy's eyes widened, his breath hitching as I approached. Good. Fear was a great motivator.

"Zane," he stammered, his voice cracking. "I didn't want to do it, I swear. They threatened my mother, said they would..."

"Shut up," I snapped, leaning in close, my face inches from his. "You sold out my company. My people. Noah's in a hospital bed because of your leaks. So you're going to talk, and you're going to tell me everything. Or I'll make you wish you'd never been born."

Adam's apple bobbed, and he nodded frantically. "Okay, okay! I'll tell you what I know!"

"What's your real name and how did you get tangled up in this?"

I straightened, my jaw tight, and glanced at the table. My fingers brushed over a pair of pliers, the metal cool against my skin. I haven't picked them up...not yet. I wanted him to feel the weight of what was coming.

My mind was a tangle of rage and doubt, Sienna's face flashing again the way she had looked at me, like I'd betrayed her. Was she the real traitor? Or was this guy about to confirm my worst fears? I needed clarity, and I would rip it out of him if I had to.

"Start with what you know about Sienna Carter," I said. "What's her connection to the Reyes Cartel?"

His eyes darted to Damian, then back to me. "I am Raul Agadez. Robert recommended that I act as the IT rookie, so the cartel could gain access to Atlas's operations."

"Dead and still haunting me with his betrayal" I shook my head, wishing I could kill Robert all over again.

"Go ahead," I added,

"I don't know much, I swear. I just overheard stuff. Rob was the direct link to them. They said she's important, as if she has something they need. Something big."

"Like what?" I pressed, stepping closer. My shadow fell over him, and he shrank back.

"I don't know! They didn't discuss details. Just that she is tied to Victor Rey. Not just a target, she is someone they know. Whatever she had on them is colossal," he said, breaking into a smile.

"Think this is some comedy show, right?"

Knowing he was merely playing along made my control slip. I grabbed his collar, yanking him forward, and the chair scraped against the floor. "Playing me how?" I growled. "What do they want with her?"

"I don't know!" he wailed in panic. "They just said she's the key! Something about a deal, leverage, I don't..."

I backhanded him, the sound sharp in the quiet. His head snapped to the side, blood trickling from his lip. "You're lying," I said, "You think you can hold out on me? You think I won't break you?"

"I'm not lying!" he sobbed, "I swear, that's all I heard!"

I turned to the table and picked up a roll of cellophane. His eyes followed me, widening with terror. "No, please," he whispered. "I'll tell you anything, just.."

"You had your chance," I said, unrolling the plastic. I wrapped the cellophane around his head tightly, cutting off his air. His muffled screams vibrated against the plastic, his body thrashing against the restraints.

"Talk," I said, but he couldn't. Not yet. I held it for ten seconds, watching his eyes bulge, his face reddening. Then I ripped it off, letting him gasp for air.

"What does Rey want with her?"

"I don't know," he gasped, tears streaming.

I grabbed his head, my fingers digging into his skull, and dragged him to the water tank. The surface of the water rippled as I shoved his face under the cellophane back in place, sealing his screams. He thrashed, bubbles erupting, his body jerking against my grip. I held his head inside the water for minutes until his struggles grew weaker.

While he struggled against my grip to no avail, all I could think of was getting my answers. I was no longer acting cool. They had unleashed the monster and there was no going back.

A hand touched my shoulder, "Zane," Liam's voice cut through my raging thoughts, "Enough. You will kill him."

I froze, loosening my grip on his neck. I hadn't even noticed Liam walking into the room. I glanced at Damian, who was clearly enjoying watching me torture the guy. I could see the faint lines of disappointment as he glared at Liam.

The guy coughed and raised his head a little out of the water, but didn't move out of the tank. He couldn't. I stepped back, water dripping from my hands.

I realized that it was Liam's voice and touch that had pulled me back from the abyss. I had let the rage take over. And for what? A few scraps of information, none of it clear enough to solve the puzzle.

"Get him up," I said, turning away. I wiped my hands on my pants, the fabric clinging to my skin. Liam moved silently, hauling the guy back to a chair, checking his pulse. The guy was alive, barely, his breath a wet rattle. I didn't look at him. I couldn't.

"Keep him alive," I said to Liam. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. I stepped out, the door slamming shut behind me.

SIENNA.

I was pacing the guest room that felt like a cage, its walls pressing in with every breath I took. The accusing words he had hurled at me were a cruel reminder of the fight that had torn us apart. The accusation had hit like a slap, leaving my chest hollow and my mind spiraling. I had seen the distrust in his eyes, the way they had hardened, and it had broken something in me.

I stared at the closed door, half-expecting to hear his heavy footsteps, to see him barge in and demand more answers I didn't have. But the penthouse was silent, save for the faint hum of the city beyond the windows. Zane had left that morning without a word to me, but there was a low murmur as he spoke to Jason, my security detail, before the front door slammed. He hadn't even looked in on me. I didn't know who I was to him anymore or who I was to myself.

For years, I had been running from the Reyes Cartel, who had taken everything from me and had been hunting me ever since. Yet, I had never once stopped in my tracks to ask why I was that important to them. Facing the truth scared me. Running, starting new lives, and changing names felt easier than confronting the truth that surrounded my family.

Sienna Carter was a lie I crafted to keep the world at bay. I had abandoned my family name because it felt like a target painted on my back. But was it to protect myself, or something else? Something I didn't even understand?

I pressed my palms to my eyes, trying to stop the flood of questions that Zane's accusations had cracked.

Who are you, Sienna?

I hadn't answered because I just couldn't since the truth was a void. I didn't know who I was. Was I a fraud, like he had said? A pawn in some game I didn't understand? The cartel's obsession with me wasn't random; I had always known that deep down. But what did they want? A secret? A debt? Or was I tied to them in a way I couldn't face?

I paused to get my phone from the dressing table and sat down to dial Belinda.

The line rang thrice before I suddenly recalled it was a working day and she was probably working her shift. I tossed the phone onto the bed as frustration bubbled up. I needed her clarity to pull me out of the spiral of questioning I was in. Without her, I was alone with my thoughts, and they were tearing me apart.

I stood, pacing the room, then I stopped at the window, staring at the city below. My reflection stared back. I couldn't stay there, trapped in that room, suffocating under the weight of my own questions. I needed air, and space to think.

I headed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face to get the puffiness out. Then I changed quickly, pulling on jeans and a black sweater. I didn't care where I went, as long as it was away from there.

Jason was at the door when I opened it, his broad frame filling the hallway. "I need to get out," I said to him. "Take me somewhere. say a bar. Somewhere Zane doesn't know."

Jason's brow furrowed, just a flicker, but he didn't argue. "Are you sure?" he asked cautiously.

"I'm sure," I said, meeting his gaze. "I need space. Please."

He studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I know a place. Low-key, off the grid. Stay close."

I followed him out, my heart pounding with relief. I could feel his tension. He was Zane's man, loyal to the core, and I wondered what he thought of me now. Did he believe Zane's accusations? Did he think I was a traitor, too?

֍

Jason pulled into a dimly lit street, parking outside a bar with a faded sign. It was tucked between a laundromat and a pawn shop, the kind of place you would miss if you were not looking. "This is it," he said, cutting the engine. "Quiet. Nobody asks questions."

"Thank you" I nodded, stepping out of the car and into the bar. The smell of beer and cigarette smoke hit me like a wave when I set foot. The interior was filled with mismatched tables and a jukebox playing a jazz beat.

A few patrons glanced up, then looked away, uninterested. Perfect. I slid into a booth in the corner, Jason taking the seat across from me, his eyes scanning the room like a hawk.

"Whiskey," I told the waitress when she approached, "Make it the dirtiest you can."

Jason raised an eyebrow but said nothing. I didn't care. I needed something to dull the edges, to quiet the questions tearing me apart. The whiskey arrived minutes after my order, and I took a sip, letting it burn down my throat.

It didn't help, not really. My mind kept circling back to the cartel, to my parents, to Zane. Why did they kill my family? Why were they still after me? And why did Zane think I was one of them?

I leaned back, closing my eyes. I thought of Belinda. If anyone could help me piece this together, it was her. But she was out of reach, and I was alone, drowning in a past I couldn't grasp.

I took another sip, the burn sharper now, and glanced at Jason. He was looking at, the door, his posture rigid, ready to move at any sign of trouble as he took sips of his soda. "You think I'm a traitor, too?" I asked.

His eyes flicked to me, unreadable. "Doesn't matter what I think," he said. "My job's to keep you safe."

It wasn't an answer, but it was enough. I leaned forward, my elbows on the table, my head in my hands.

A man approached, his smile lingering too long. He was tall, with a leather jacket and an aura that screamed overconfidence. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, not waiting for an answer as he slid into the booth, his knee brushing mine.

I stiffened, my fingers tightening around the glass. Jason shifted at the bar, his posture tensing, ready to intervene. I caught his eye and shook my head, a silent plea to stay back. I didn't need a savior, not at that moment. I needed a distraction, something to pull me out of the spiral of Zane and the cartel and my own fractured identity. "Sure," I said forcing a small smile. "What's your name?"

"Jake," he said, leaning closer and my nostrils picked up his cologne. "And you're too pretty to be sitting here alone."

I rolled my eyes but let him talk about his job, his car and charming life. I nodded absentmindedly as I sipped my whiskey. I let it wash over me, a temporary shield against the questions since it was better than drowning in my own head. I laughed at one of his jokes, and for a moment, I almost forgot the weight of everything.

Then the air shifted, a sudden hush fell over the lounge, the jukebox stopped playing, and the crowd of patrons began to slip out, as if they had been given a silent signal.

I turned, and there he was... Zane walked in through the side door. His dark eyes locked onto me. My stomach dropped with dread and unwanted heat flooded me. How did he find me? This place was supposed to be a secret, like Jason had promised.

I shot a glare at Jason, who was already standing. His face was still unreadable but tense. Had he told Zane? Or had Zane tracked us somehow? The answer hit me like a slap...the car. Of course.

Zane was a billionaire, a cartel don with resources I couldn't fathom. A tracker on Jason's car would be child's play for him. He would never really let me out of his sight, did he? Even when he had left me with Jason, he had ensured he could find me. The realization made my blood boil with a fresh wave. The man was a control freak. He would never give it out.

Zane's gaze shifted to Jake, who was still talking, oblivious to the storm approaching. Zane's lips curled into a dangerous smirk, and he moved with predatory grace, closing the distance in seconds. "Get up," he said to Jake.

Jake froze, his smile faltering. "Hey, man, we're just..."

"Out," Zane snapped, his tone leaving no room for argument. He grabbed Jake's arm, hauling him from the booth with a strength that was both effortless and terrifying. Jake stumbled, muttering protests, but one look at Zane's face silenced him. Zane didn't even glance at me as he marched Jake to the door, shoving him out. The remaining patrons scattered, not one bothered to rescue Jake, even the bartender was suddenly busy polishing glasses.

Zane turned to Jason. "Everyone out, including you, Jason," he said, his voice a command that echoed in the now-empty lounge.

Jason hesitated, his eyes flicking at me, but he nodded and headed for the door, leaving us alone. I stood, my hands trembling, my heart pounding. Zane's eyes were on me now, dark and intense, and I recognized that look.

Lust.

The same look he'd had weeks ago when he had taken me apart, piece by piece, in a frenzy of need. The memory sent a rush of heat through me, my body betraying me even as my mind screamed at the violation of my freedom.

"How did you find me?" I demanded, "This place was supposed to be a secret."

Zane stepped closer, "You think you can hide from me, Sienna?" he said. "You think I would let you run?"

"You tracked the car, didn't you?" I snapped, my hands clenching into fists. "You don't trust me, so you put a leash on me. That's why you left me with Jason, isn't it? To keep tabs on me."

His jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it. "I'm trying to keep you alive," he said, his voice rough, his eyes burning into mine. "You have no idea what's out there, what they will do to get to you."

"And whose fault is that?" I shot back, stepping toward him, "You don't get to play the hero now."

"You let that guy touch you.," His eyes darkened with jealousy sparked by Jake's flirtation. He closed the distance between us, his body inches from mine, the heat of him making my skin prickle. "You let him sit there, smiling at you, like he had a chance."

I laughed but my body was betraying me, the memory of our night together flooding me with heat. "You don't own me, Zane," I said, but the words felt weak, drowned out by the pull between us. "I needed a distraction from all of this."

"You don't get to distract yourself with someone else," he growled, his hand cupping the back of my neck, his thumb brushing my pulse point. My breath hitched, my body responding despite my anger.

His lips crashed into mine, hard and claiming, and I melted into him, my hands gripping his shirt, pulling him closer. I should have pushed him away, should have fought the fire igniting under my skin, but I couldn't. I wanted him, needed him.

The lounge faded out of my view as he lifted me onto a table while his lips trailed down my neck, his teeth grazing my skin, and I arched into him, my nails raking down his back, losing myself in the only thing that felt real. The cartel and my past were all waiting, ready to tear us apart. But for now, I was going to let my bond to Zane Calloway take me away.