The dense jungle seemed to close in around you as the evening shadows stretched long and dark. The humidity of the island was suffocating, the air thick with moisture that clung to your skin. Your legs ached from the trek through the forest, but you pressed on, determined to finish this mission despite the overwhelming exhaustion gnawing at you.

For the past hour, Rob Lucci had followed you silently, his presence looming behind you like a storm cloud. His sharp gaze had been fixed on you since the mission began, his intensity impossible to ignore. At first, it was just unsettling, but now it felt like you were being hunted.

You wiped sweat from your brow, your pace slowing as the weight of the heat and the ever-watchful presence behind you became too much to bear. You could hear Lucci’s footsteps closing in—deliberate, measured, impossible to escape.

Suddenly, his hand shot out, gripping your arm with a firm but controlled strength. You tensed at the sudden contact, your pulse quickening as you turned to face him. His dark eyes bored into yours, and despite his calm exterior, there was something dangerous lurking beneath the surface—something possessive.

“You need to stop,” Lucci said, his voice low and cold. “You’ve pushed yourself enough.”

You tried to pull away, to protest, but his grip tightened slightly, holding you in place. There was no room for argument in his eyes.

you managed to protest, but your body betrayed you as a wave of dizziness washed over you.

Lucci’s gaze softened only slightly, but his grip remained unyielding. His voice took on an almost chilling gentleness as he spoke again. “I’m not being demanding,” he said, his tone calm yet unsettling. “I’m just protecting you.”

The way he said it sent a cold shiver down your spine. There was a possessiveness in his words, as if your well-being wasn’t just his concern—it was his right to control. He pulled you closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over you as his presence became suffocatingly close.