Rico's POV
I woke up sharply.
Breath uneven.
Chest tight.
The memory still clung to me like blood that wouldn't wash off.
My father.
The floor.
The flash drive.
"…don't trust…"
I exhaled slowly, dragging my hand over my face.
Just a dream.
But not really.
Because it wasn't imagination.
It was memory.
⸻
Something shifted against me.
Soft.
Warm.
Bella.
She was curled into my chest, her arm wrapped around me like she had claimed that space even in her sleep. Her face was relaxed, peaceful… nothing like the chaos running through my head.
For a moment, I just stared at her.
Grounding.
Dangerous.
Because every time I looked at her like this…
I forgot why I shouldn't.
Her fingers tightened slightly on my shirt.
Even in sleep.
Still clingy.
Still holding on like letting go wasn't an option.
My jaw tightened faintly.
Something was pushing her.
Something I couldn't fully see yet.
⸻
Elsewhere…
Bella's POV
My phone vibrated.
Soft.
But enough to pull me away from sleep.
I slowly slipped out of Rico's arms, careful not to wake him.
Or at least… I thought he was asleep.
I stepped into the hallway before answering.
"…Hello?"
A pause.
Then—
Marco.
"Bella."
My chest tightened instantly.
"You've gotten comfortable," his voice came, low and controlled. "Have you forgotten why you're there?"
My fingers curled around the phone.
"I haven't."
"Then start acting like it," he said coldly. "You're not there to fall in love. You're there for the documents."
Silence.
Heavy.
"You're running out of time," he added. "And I don't like repeating myself."
The call ended.
Just like that.
⸻
I stood there for a moment.
Frozen.
Because the worst part wasn't his tone.
It was the truth behind it.
⸻
"Trouble?"
I froze.
Slowly turned around.
Rico.
Leaning against the wall.
Watching me.
His expression unreadable.
But his eyes…
Too sharp.
Too aware.
⸻
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked quietly.
"Long enough," he replied.
Silence stretched between us.
Tense.
Dangerous.
⸻
I tried to walk past him.
He didn't let me.
His hand caught my wrist.
Firm.
Not hurting.
But not giving me a choice either.
"Who was on the phone?" he asked.
"Just—"
"Don't lie to me, Bella."
His voice dropped.
Low.
Controlled.
But something darker sat underneath it.
⸻
My heart started beating faster.
Not just from fear.
From him.
From the way he was looking at me.
Like he was already ten steps ahead.
⸻
"I need to go," I said softly.
He didn't move.
Didn't release me.
Instead, he pulled me with him.
Straight into his study.
The door shut behind us.
⸻
The air shifted instantly.
He turned to face me.
Close.
Too close.
⸻
"Something's changed," he said quietly.
My breath hitched.
"What do you mean?"
"You," he replied simply. "You're hiding something."
My chest tightened.
"I'm not—"
His hand came up suddenly, gripping my chin gently but firmly, forcing me to look at him.
"Bella."
My name on his lips wasn't soft anymore.
It was a warning.
⸻
"You follow me everywhere now," he continued. "You don't sleep unless I'm there. You hold onto me like you're afraid of something."
His eyes locked onto mine.
"So tell me…"
His voice dropped even lower.
"What are you afraid of?"
⸻
I couldn't answer.
Because I didn't even know anymore.
⸻
The silence stretched.
Then snapped.
⸻
He pulled me closer.
Suddenly.
My back hit the desk behind me.
My breath caught sharply.
⸻
"Rico—"
"Stop thinking," he cut in.
And then—
He kissed me.
⸻
Not soft.
Not gentle.
Hard.
Demanding.
Like he was trying to pull the truth out of me without words.
My fingers gripped his shirt instantly, my body reacting before my mind could catch up.
⸻
His hand moved to my waist, pulling me closer, leaving no space between us.
"Tell me to stop," he murmured against my lips.
But his grip tightened slightly.
Like he didn't expect me to.
⸻
I didn't.
⸻
Because despite everything…
The lies.
The fear.
The mission.
⸻
This—
Felt real.
⸻
His lips moved against mine again, slower this time, but deeper. Possessive. Certain.
Like I already belonged to him.
⸻
And maybe that was the most dangerous part of all.
⸻
Because I was starting to forget why I came here in the first place.
⸻
And Rico…
He wasn't stopping.
Not now.
Not when he could feel me slipping.
Not when he knew—
Something was about to break.