I needed a break.
From the walls, the silence, the tension.
From Killian.
God, especially from Killian.
The man didn't yell. He didn't curse. He didn't slam doors or throw things.
He was worse.
He was quiet.
That terrifying calm after he paid Leo's bills, arranged the transfer, and told me I'd have my son back in my arms by the end of the week.
He never said "you're welcome."
Never said "I did this for you."
But every time he looked at me, I felt like I owed him my soul.
So I ran.
Not far. Just a rooftop bar Max dragged me to.
She'd begged for a girls' night out—just us, some fresh air, overpriced cocktails, and no devil husbands with veiny arms and emotional whiplash.
Max was already two sips deep into a strawberry mojito, legs crossed, leather boots kicked up like she ruled the world.
"Why call me if you're gonna ignore me?" she asked, raising a brow and chewing her gum like she was in a '90s teen rom-com. She wore all black—black crop top, black pants, silver-chained choker—and her hair was piled into a high curly puff that screamed 'don't fuck with me.'
I blinked at her, still trying to breathe properly. "Sorry, babes. I have a lot on my head."
Her eyes narrowed. "Trouble in paradise?"
I sighed and looked away. If only she knew how far paradise burned.
"Something like that."
"Girl," she said, dragging out the word like a warning, "you actin' like I'm not your best friend. Tell me his name. Show me his face. Let me smash it with my phone. That's what friends are for."
I chuckled. Max always knew how to crack the heaviness. But before I could reply—
"Big words for a small lady like you."
That voice.
No fucking way.
I didn't have to turn to know who it was.
The shift in the atmosphere was instant.
The air dropped five degrees. My blood spiked.
Killian.
My husband.
Max's mouth hung open like she'd just seen God and Satan shake hands.
He stood behind me, dressed in all black like some dark omen—tailored pants, sleeves rolled, his watch gleaming under the rooftop lights. His expression unreadable. His eyes, locked on me, were cold. Deadly.
"Excuse me, sir?" Max snapped, standing up, her tiny frame puffed up like a threatened cat. "This is a girls' night. No penis passes allowed."
Killian didn't even blink. He looked at me like I was the only person in the room.
"You left without telling anyone," he said simply.
"I needed space."
"I didn't realize 'space' included rooftop bars with loud friends and cameras on every floor."
I stood slowly. My heart pounded. Max's presence was suddenly a fragile thing, and I wanted to shield her from him.
"You're tracking me now?"
He gave me a cold look. "Always was."
Max raised her brows. "Excuse me? You can't just pop up in the middle of my hangout and act like this is your house."
Killian didn't even look her way. His eyes were still on me.
"Let's go."
"I'm not done."
"You are now."
Max touched my arm. "Noelle… is this the guy?"
I nodded once, silently.
Max's face hardened.
"Oh hell no." She stepped between us. "I don't care if you're married or own a damn oil empire. You don't control her. She's a grown ass woman."
Killian's jaw ticked.
"Max, stop," I said quickly, grabbing her hand.
"No, Elle. This man shows up like Batman with a grudge and you expect me to shut up?"
Killian finally turned to her. "I like you."
Max blinked. "What?"
"I like your loyalty," he said. "It makes you brave."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "But brave girls don't live long in my world."
Max paled slightly.
I shoved myself between them. "Killian, stop. You're scaring her."
His voice was calm. "Good."
"She's not part of this. You came for me? Fine. But leave her out of it."
He exhaled, eyes narrowing like he was biting back more threats.
Then he said, "Five minutes, Noelle. Then I drag you out myself."
He turned and walked off, disappearing down the staircase like a damn ghost.
Max stared after him. "That man… is unhinged. You're telling me you married that?"
"Arranged marriage," I muttered. "Technically. It's… complicated."
"Complicated? Noelle, he looked at me like I was a target."
"I know."
She blinked again. "Do you love him?"
I froze.
Did I?
I didn't even know what that word meant anymore. But what I felt for Killian Rhys wasn't love. Not yet. It was fear. It was confusion. It was… something sharp and primal and hot and painful.
"I don't know," I whispered.
Max squeezed my hand.
"Do you feel safe?"
I didn't answer.
That silence was enough.
---
Ten minutes later, I was back in Killian's car.
We didn't speak. Not at first. He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other tapping his thigh like he was fighting the urge to yell or slam something or maybe just pull over and scream.
"I told you not to leave without telling me."
"I wasn't in danger."
"You think danger sends you a calendar invite?"
"I needed air, Killian."
"You could've opened a window."
I laughed, bitter. "You don't own me."
"I own your safety."
"That's not the same thing."
"To me it is."
He turned a corner sharply. I stared out the window, jaw tight.
"She's my friend," I said softly. "She's never hurt me. She's been there for me when no one else was."
"She challenged me."
"She protected me."
We hit a red light. He looked at me finally.
"You think I'm your enemy?"
I swallowed. "Sometimes."
His voice dropped to a whisper. "And other times?"
I turned to him slowly. "Other times, I think you might be the only person who sees me."
The light turned green. He drove again, this time slower. More careful.
Silence settled again—but it wasn't the cold kind anymore.
When we pulled into the garage, he didn't move. Just stared straight ahead.
"I want to see him," he said.
My heart jumped. "What?"
"Your son. Leo. I want to see him."
"He's not ready."
"I don't care."
I shook my head. "He doesn't know you. He doesn't know what you are."
He looked at me then, and I swear—for a moment—I saw a man, not a monster.
"I know what I am. But I protect what's mine."
I blinked back the emotion rising.
"I'll think about it."
He opened the door and stepped out.
Before I followed, I whispered, "Why are you doing this?"
He paused.
Then, without looking at me, he said:
"Because someone should've protected you a long time ago."