Janet’s nostrils flared with anger as she rose abruptly. “How dare you? You don’t own me!” She held onto his collar and stared into his eyes.

The height difference between them and Sebastian’s towering figure was intimidating, but Janet firmly believed in her ability to dominate him.

Sebastian tried to hide a smile, but his eyes gave him away. “I do own you.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Janet quickly pulled away from his collar. Her proximity affected both Sebastian and her, and he could sense her resistance to the magnetic pull he was trying to defy.

“Your dad knows about it now, too!

The victorious sparkle in his eyes irritated Janet, fueling her anger even more. Despite her efforts to keep her distance, he refused to let her go. “Leave me!” she glared at him.

“Did you escape from the hospital?”

Janet stopped wiggling and looked at him in response to his question. Under his commanding gaze, her throat felt tight, and Sebastian could tell he was right, without a doubt.

“The doctors helped you, didn’t they?”

Janet blinked. “What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I escape from the h-hospital?”

“Cause you believed I would harm you?” he lifted an eyebrow. “You intentionally ate seafood to trigger an allergic reaction, didn’t you?” The moment his fingers grazed the faint blister on her neck, a tingling sensation spread through her body.

Neither did I escape from the hospital, nor did anyone give me any help,” she said confidently. “It doesn’t matter to me whether you believe me or not!”

Alright. I trust you,” Janet sighed in relief, but his next words startled her. “I hope the doctor’s answer aligns with yours in the interrogation.

“What?” Her face turned pale.

“Yes. And if their answer differs from yours, death awaits them.”

Janet’s fingers instinctively wrapped around his collar again, her grip firm and determined. “Leave them alone! I forced them to help me. I beg you, Sebastian. Show some humanity. No one will ever help anyone in need if you hurt them.” Her tone softens to a gentler note.

“You should stop grabbing my collar.” His eyes flick down to her hand on her collar and then back to her, showing no interest. “The helplessness in your voice bothers me. Where did the boldness go?”

“Do you want me to slap you and tell you to release them?” Janet snapped.

Sebastian chuckled. “Don’t even try, sweetheart! You wouldn’t like the consequences!”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

Sebastian’s eyes sparkled with genuine interest. “What is the boldest thing you’ve ever done in your life?”

Janet squinted. “What do you mean?”

Apart from escaping the hospital under the influence of drugs,” Sebastian vividly remembered her perfect marksmanship and how she fearlessly targeted Nikolai’s henchmen without hesitation.

“What?”

“Think of your boldest act to date, and I’ll let them go. I won’t say a word about your adventure to your dad.”

Janet parted her lips. Her heart skipped a beat at her father’s mention, and she immediately regretted her actions, which only caused him more trouble.

“Ten seconds,”

She lifted her eyes to meet Sebastian’s. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to ask.” She shifted in his arms again.

“Tell me, and I’ll leave you at peace. Five seconds.”

“I…” She was in such a state of panic that she couldn’t even remember any past events.

“Two seconds! And time is……”

Janet closed the gap between them and pressed her lips to his, catching him off guard. Her hand moved up, tracing the outline of his jaw as she held his face, deepening the kiss.

Sebastian’s hand moved to grope her hips, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her soft curves beneath his fingers. But just as he responded to her passionate kiss, Janet suddenly pulled back.

“Now, don’t mention anything to Dad,” she said, her voice breathless as she forcefully removed his hands.

It took Sebastian a moment to regain his composure after the breathtaking kiss. “Kissing me is the boldest thing?”

“It is something I am prohibited from doing, which is why it is the most daring action I have taken so far.” Janet felt her erect nipples and was grateful for wearing a black shirt that could conceal her excitement from just a kiss.

“How?”

‘We will become archenemies in the future. Mafia and the Cop.’ Janet chuckled at her thought. ‘The answer will blow your mind.’ Her smile slowly faded.

Never before had she encountered a situation that screamed both danger and desire. She longed to escape the piercing gaze that seemed to see into her soul. She was like a moth drawn to his flames, and she knew he wouldn’t hesitate to consume her entirely.

And then… he wouldn’t even bat his eyes at her again.

‘Yes, that’s what the stories about the mafia men say. And stories are made on the ground of truth!’ A voice said in her head. ‘They don’t love, they only fuck! Fear gives them satisfaction. Darkness is their world. And I won’t let his darkness consume me.’ Janet felt a surge of anxiety as he gave her a chilling gaze.

Janet cleared her throat. “Look, I’m exhausted.” She looked away and walked to the bedside table. Sebastian watched her fill her glass with water and take her medicines.

“Please show yourself out. I need to sleep.” She got into bed under the duvet.

“I’ve taken sleeping pills because the past few days have been the hardest of my life, and when I sleep, everything haunts me in my dreams. It was traumatizing, and it will take some time for me to sink in everything.”

“I’m not in my right mind to chat with you right now. I sincerely apologize for the trouble I’ve caused. Please don’t hurt the doctors, and grant me some solitude.”

“Alright,” Sebastian took a step back, and just as Janet was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she was stunned as she saw him pick up her discarded dress and reach for her bra.

“What are you up to?”

“Cleaning the room. Just look around yourself!” he barked at her, frustrated, and she fell silent. Sebastian’s gaze landed on the towel resting on the bed. He reached out and grabbed it, only to find Janet gripping the other end.

“I like my messy room!” She retorted.

Sebastian pulled the towel out of her hand in a snap. “I have OCD. I prefer to have my room tidy and organized.”

“Your room? Then why the hell am I in your room?” she asked.

“Safety reasons.”

Sebastian’s gaze fell on her red lacy panties, and he reached down to pick them up. Janet instinctively clenched her thighs together under the duvet, her stomach twisting in knots.

Her cheeks flushed with a rush of blood, turning a deep shade of crimson as she caught sight of her panties hanging from his index finger.

“I have to keep you close so you don’t pull any stunts again.”

Sebastian’s eyes were drawn to the subtle blush on her cheeks, and he was sure he knew why. Janet blinked as she saw him gently place her heels in the corner.

Sebastian placed her clothes in the closet, shut the door, and took the food trolley out of their suite. Janet’s tired eyes watched his every move. “Good night,” he said and headed into the bathroom.

“Huh?” Janet furrowed her perfectly arched eyebrows. ‘Is he going to stay with me?’

Lying on the bed, Janet anxiously stared at the closed bathroom door, clutching the duvet tightly around her throat. Suddenly, the haunting image of being shrouded and pushed onto the floor flashed through her mind, sending a shiver down her spine. The thought of being alone frightened her.

‘I miss you, Isabella. I wish I could hug you to sleep.’ A lone tear escaped her eyes as memories of her home, aunt, and cousin Isabella flooded her mind. Gradually, she slipped into a peaceful slumber.

Sebastian came out of the bathroom. He looked at Janet as he dried his hair with a towel. His cell phone rang, and it was a text from Connor.

“Don’t let Janet slip out of your sight again.”

Sebastian turned off his cell phone and lay beside her on the empty side of the bed, listening to the silence that filled the room. He had thousands of thoughts racing through his mind when he heard her groaning.

Distressed, she shifted her position. Then he heard her fist hitting the firm mattress. Sebastian froze in place and moved closer to her. “Janet?”

He tried to turn her to face him, but she didn’t move, and soon her cries echoed through the room. “Janet!” Despite his scraped arm from a bullet, he reached out and grasped her trembling body.

“No!” She didn’t budge. “Don’t hurt me, please,” she said incoherently.

His hand slowly snaked around her stomach, and he suddenly pulled her back against his chest. Janet’s body contorted as she tried to slip out of his firm grasp.

“Calm down. You’re safe.” His soft breath against her ear radiated gentle reassurance, calming her and relaxing her muscles with every whispered word.

Janet snuggled closer to his comforting warmth, exhaling a contented sigh as she settled against Sebastian’s other hand. “Nobody will harm you. You hear me?” he whispered.

In response to his touch, Janet emitted a soft hum and pressed her hips against his crotch, igniting a forbidden desire.

Sebastian felt himself stirring under her innocent ministration, and this time, a groan escaped his lips as he realized she was wearing nothing underneath his black silk shirt.

‘I swear, she’s going to be the death of me!’ he muttered, cursing quietly to himself as he tugged on the hem of his shirt, using it to discreetly cover her from behind when she tightly gripped the back of his hand and guided it back around her stomach.

Her breathing slowly normalized, giving him a sleepless night. As he heard her soft snores, he couldn’t fight back the smile making its way to his lips.

The next morning,

Janet yawned and sat on the bed with her eyes closed. As she brushed her hair, she gradually opened her eyes and quickly looked around the room. ‘Good, he is gone, or he would have faced my wrath last night.’ She massaged her stiff neck.

‘Finally, it’s all over!’ She took a deep breath and got out of bed to begin her day.

She tied her hair into a messy bun and was heading to the bathroom when her eyes caught sight of the shopping bags and the note attached to them.

‘Rest all day, but make sure you’re ready by nine. You have everything in the bags here.’

She read the note, crumpled it, threw it aside, and then took out the blue sequin mini dress, her eyes lighting up at the stunning dress.

“Five thousand dollars!” she gasped, examining the dress. “Ugly,” she casually tossed it onto the bed and headed into the bathroom.