Page 36

My hands curl into tight fists at my sides, every instinct in my body screaming at me to tear Nolan Devlin apart right now.

"Damn it, Alexis," I rumble, stepping closer to her until my shadow completely envelopes her. "You're officially involved now, whether either of us likes it or not. You're on his radar."

Alexis looks up at me, her chin coming up with that stubborn, defiant flash I've grown to recognize. "Then let me help you," she whispers. "I work their events. I see who they talk to, what tables they sit at, who they're meeting. I can keep an eye on Nolan for you—but on one condition."

I narrow my eyes, watching her intently. "Name it."

"Milly stays completely out of this," Alexis says, her voice suddenly iron-clad, devoid of any fear. "My grandmother has nothing to do with your war. You keep her safe, and you keep your mess far away from her."

I stare down into her wide, resolute eyes, the fierce protectiveness in her tone striking a deep cord in my chest.

"I give you my word," I say, my voice steady and absolute. "Nothing touches your grandmother. Ever."

Alexis lets out a slow, heavy breath, her shoulders finally dropping an inch. I reach out, opening the door for her. "Get in the car. I'll take you home."

Alexis hesitates for a second, looking at the open door before quietly climbing into the passenger seat. I shut it behind her, rounding the front of the Cadillac, and slide behind the wheel.

As the car merges onto the dark, open stretches of the highway, the silence between us stretches long.

"I have to stop by Eden first to see my brothers," I tell her, my eyes fixed on the road ahead.

I brace myself for an argument or a barrage of exasperated questions, but she just sits quietly, staring out the side window at the passing streetlights. Surprised, I glance over at her. "No complaints?"

She lets out a soft scoff, turning her head slightly toward me. "It’s not like you listen to me anyway. You always do whatever you want."

I purse my lips, holding back a reply because she isn't entirely wrong. We don't speak much after that. The hum of the engine fills the quiet space between us until I turn off the main strip and pull the car down the ramp into the restricted underground garage beneath Eden.

I put the car in park and kill the ignition. As we both alight into the dimly lit concrete space, Alexis looks around the pristine, high-end cars before glancing up at me.

"Are we going through the main club?" she asks, her hand tightening around the strap of her bag.

"No," I reply, walking toward a plain steel door set into the far concrete wall. "There's a private elevator that takes us straight to the executive offices."

"Okay," she says quietly, falling into step beside me.

I slow my pace just enough to match hers. "Why do you ask?"

She shifts her weight, looking down at her jeans and simple sweater. "I'm just not dressed appropriately for a place like Eden."

I stop beside the keypad, my gaze sweeping down over her soft features, taking in the faint flush on her cheeks. "You look beautiful, Alexis."

A sudden, deep blush creeps up her neck, painting her cheeks a bright rose, and she quickly averts her eyes, biting down on her lower lip.

I punch the security code into the electronic lock, the door clicking open to reveal the small, polished stainless-steel elevator car. We step inside together, and the heavy doors slide shut, sealing us in the quiet, confined space.

As the lift begins its smooth ascent, I am overwhelmingly, painfully aware of her presence beside me. The faint scent of her lotion fills the small space, cutting right through my senses. It annoys the hell out of me how much she occupies my head.

A sudden, persistent urge hits me to ask if she’s been thinking about that kiss in my living room as much as I have—how her lips felt against mine, how her pulse hammered under my touch.

I keep my mouth firmly shut, forcing my gaze straight ahead at the metallic doors, but every inch of my body remains dialed into hers.

The elevator doors slide open with a soft chime, and I lead her down the dimly lit hallway toward the executive office. Even from a few paces back, the muffled sound of loud laughter and cross-talk echoes through the thick wood.

The moment I push the door open, the conversation dies down instantly. Four pairs of eyes snap toward the doorway. Alexis steps in right beside me, her posture straightening as the curious gazes of my brothers land on her.

Levi lets out a low whistle, a lazy smirk spreading across his face as he leans back against the glass desk. "Well, damn. No one told me this was a date. I would've brought a girl."

I turn my head toward him, my voice dropping into a hard, flat warning. "Shut up, Levi. Seriously."