The golden hues of dusk painted Potter's Town as Sophia Sullivan and Ethan Sullivan stepped out of the courtyard one after the other.
They parted ways at the mouth of the alley.
Ethan suddenly called out to her.
"Do you race cars, Ms. Sullivan?"
Sophia paused mid-step.
"Occasionally."
A shadow flickered in Ethan's eyes.
He remembered their encounter on the Royal Princess Cruise.
Her movements had been swift, her legs long and powerful.
The instinct of a predator told him she'd be drawn to the thrill of racing.
Her answer—occasionally—confirmed his suspicion.
The corner of Ethan's mouth lifted slightly.
"Don't forget to apply the ointment."
Sophia glanced back with a smile.
"Mr. Sullivan, so concerned? One might think you want to supervise me personally."
"I'm not that twisted."
His voice was low, rough.
Their dynamic was a game of push and pull.
Just when he thought he had the upper hand, she'd slip through his grasp.
The tension between them was intoxicating.
And now, he wanted more.
What had started as mutual pursuit had shifted—Sophia was the one controlling the tempo.
He couldn't stand by like Ryan Lawrence, watching her weave between other men.
The mere thought made his blood boil.
Ethan lowered his gaze, masking the darkness in his eyes.
He had to restrain these twisted impulses.
Sophia's car disappeared into the twilight.
Ethan pressed a hand to his chest.
His heartbeat was erratic.
Just like their illicit relationship.
Raw. Unsettling.
When she'd teased him about supervising, the thought had crossed his mind.
Dangerous. Corrupt. Uncontrollable.
He remembered the marks on her collarbone.
Imagined tracing his lips over them.
From her mouth to the tip of her tongue—insatiable.
Ethan knew he was losing control.
And that terrified him.
Not because of Sophia.
But because of the violence simmering beneath his skin.
The mere mention of her past with her ex-husband made him crave bloodshed.
He was a predator by nature.
Yet with Sophia, he buried that darkness.
Their intimacy after the auction had only made him more desperate to keep her from seeing the monster within.
The shrill ring of his phone shattered the silence.
"Mr. Sullivan, Emma has been returned safely. Zachary Sullivan was in an accident. He'll be bedridden for a long time."
Ian Watson's voice was calm.
"Should we make him disappear permanently?"
He knew Ethan's methods well.
Only Sophia could temper his ruthlessness.
"No." Ethan's voice was ice. "Let him savor the pain."