The silence in the car was thick.
Heaven sat beside Dylan, her fingers gripping the fabric of her dress as the city lights blurred past.
She could still feel the cold steel of Richard's gun against her temple.
Still hear his mocking voice.
Still see the moment Dylan pulled the trigger—so precise, so controlled.
She glanced at him.
Dylan's face was unreadable, his jaw clenched, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
He hadn't said a word since they left the warehouse.
She swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "You didn't have to come for me."
Dylan's hands tightened around the wheel.
"Don't be stupid, Heaven."
Her breath hitched.
Dylan turned slightly, his icy blue gaze locking onto hers. "You think I'd let Richard take what's mine?"
She stiffened. "I'm not yours, Dylan."
His smirk was slow, dark. "You keep saying that, kitten."
She turned away, her heart pounding.
Silence stretched between them again.
But this time, it wasn't cold.
It was heavy.
---
The Dungeon
Richard sat on the cold floor of Dylan's underground prison, his hands bound in chains.
Pain pulsed through his body, but he refused to show weakness.
Jayden stood outside the cell, avoiding his gaze.
"So, this is how it ends?" Richard mused. "Locked in a cage while Dylan keeps his prize?"
Jayden said nothing.
Richard chuckled. "You were always loyal to him. Even when he didn't deserve it."
Jayden's jaw tightened. "I made my choice."
Richard smirked. "And you betrayed him for what? A chance at something more? A chance to be free from his shadow?"
Jayden's silence was his answer.
Richard leaned back against the wall, grinning despite the pain. "Dylan may have won this battle… but the war is far from over."
---
Back at the Mansion
Dylan closed the door to his bedroom and loosened his tie.
The weight of the night settled over him.
Heaven was safe.
Richard was in chains.
But it wasn't over.
Richard wasn't the only enemy lurking in the shadows.
Dylan knew that the underworld wasn't done with him yet.
A knock at his door.
He didn't have to look up to know who it was.
"Come in, kitten," he murmured.
Heaven stepped inside, her arms crossed.
She hesitated before speaking. "What happens now?"
Dylan smirked, stepping closer. "Now?" He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Now, you stay where I can see you."
Her breath caught. "You don't own me, Dylan."
His fingers trailed down her cheek. "Maybe not, but tell me, Heaven…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "Why did you call out for me when Richard had you?"
Her eyes widened.
He leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. "You can hate me all you want, kitten. But deep down, you know the truth."
She swallowed. "And what truth is that?"
Dylan's smirk deepened. "You belong to me."
Her heart pounded as he stepped back, his eyes dark with something unreadable.
"Get some rest, Heaven," he murmured. "You'll need it."
She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her.
"Oh, and kitten?"
She glanced back.
Dylan's smirk was gone, replaced by something more dangerous.
"If Richard or anyone else ever touches you again…" His voice was deadly soft. "I'll burn this world to the ground."
A shiver ran down her spine.
She should have been afraid.
She was afraid.
But not of Dylan.
She was afraid of how much she believed him.
And how much, despite everything—she wanted to.