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That's when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I frowned. No one—no one—disturbs me during business. I pulled it out, ready to ignore it.

Unknown number.

My heart stopped.

My rose.

I shot a glance at Antonio still twitching under Dimitri's hands, then turned all my attention to the screen.

Rose: G, I need you. Now.

A photo followed.

I opened it—and every drop of blood in my body changed direction.

She was lying on a bed, dressed in nothing but a thin white camisole. Her hand covered her chest—barely. The photo was cropped just above her lips, showing only the soft curve of her chin and a strand of fiery red hair spilled over the pillow.

But it was her posture—the tension in her body, the arch of her back, the way her lips were parted—that hit me like a punch to the gut. Lust. Raw, unfiltered need. She didn't even need to show her eyes; I could feel them on me.

Fuck.

The tension that had gripped my body from the violence didn't vanish—it just... shifted. My cock hardened instantly, pressing against my slacks, and just like that, the ruthless executioner turned into a man ruled by hunger.

"Boss?" Dimitri looked up, noticing my distraction.

"I've got urgent business," I rasped. "Get everything out of him. Clean the place."

I didn't wait for a reply. I was already moving, walking out of the warehouse with blood still clinging to my shoes and her image burning behind my eyes.

I slid into the backseat of the Maybach, snapped at the driver, "Drive. Anywhere. Just don't stop."

"Yes, Boss."

The engine hummed to life, purring like a beast beneath me. I pulled out my phone again, staring at the photo, still burning hot in my palm.

Me: You know what you're doing, don't you?

Her reply came instantly.

Rose: Seducing a dangerous man... and winning?

My rose was learning. Fast. She was turning into a full-blown siren—and I was the poor bastard teaching her how.

Me: Congrats. I'm sitting in a damn car, hard as a rock 'cause of you. Happy now?

Rose: Hard's not enough. I want you unhinged.

Jesus. That mouth. Was this really the same shy girl from a few days ago? I was watching her transform—right in front of me—into something wild, untamed... mine.

Me: Keep talking like that, baby, and I'll show you unhinged.

Rose: Then prove it. Tell me what you want to do to me. Right now.

I glanced at my driver, then reached forward and hit the partition button. A tinted glass wall slid up, sealing me into privacy.

Me: First thing? Rip off that damn camisole. I wanna see you, all of you. I wanna run my hands over every inch until you're crying my name.