Page 21 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Maid
Of course not. I gathered the kitchen trash, humming to mask my unease as I headed for the service elevator. The doors opened to dim fluorescent lighting in the underground garage and the echo of voices. My blood turned to ice when I recognized Rafe's distinctive drawl.
"The security system's been upgraded," he was saying, his voice bouncing off concrete walls. "Dean's paranoid as ever. Yeah, Sean, I know the timeline's tight."
I ducked behind a pillar, heart hammering so loud I feared he'd hear it. The musty garage air felt thick in my lungs.
My fingers trembled against the rough concrete pillar as sweat trickled down my spine. Each word Rafe spoke sent another wave of dread through my body. The lights buzzed overhead, casting strange, shifting shadows that seemed to reach for me with ghostly fingers. My chest tightened until each breath came in silent, shallow gasps. The weight of the trash bag felt like an anchor, threatening to rustle and give me away with every tiny movement. The cold from the concrete seeped through my shirt, but I barely noticed it over the icy fear spreading through my veins.
"The board meeting should keep him distracted. Once the evidence is planted, they'll have no choice but to force him out. Dean won't see it coming, not from his own brother."
A tiny gasp escaped before I could stop it. The trash bag rustled against my leg.
Rafe's voice cut off mid-sentence. "Someone there?"
Footsteps echoed closer, each one making my pulse spike higher. I pressed myself against the pillar, willing myself to disappear. But Rafe rounded the corner, his predatory smile sending chills down my spine.
"Well, well. The little maid's been eavesdropping." He advanced with fluid grace, backing me against the wall. "Such a shame. Dean really should teach his pets better manners."
"Stay away from me." My voice quivered despite my attempt at bravery.
"Or what?" Rafe leaned closer, his cologne suffocating. "You'll tell Dean? Good luck with that. By tomorrow, he'll be too busy fighting fraud charges to worry about one disposable employee."
A low, inhuman growl cut through the garage. "Get away from her."
Dean stood at the elevator, his normally controlled expression twisted with fury. Something wild and ancient flickered in his eyes as he stalked forward, his movements fluid like a predator's.
"Brother." Rafe's smile turned sharp. "Just getting acquainted with your staff."
"Leave. Now." Dean's voice rumbled with barely contained violence.
Rafe held up his hands in mock surrender, though tension thrummed between them. "No need to get territorial. I was just leaving." He winked at me. "See you around, sweetheart."
The moment Rafe disappeared into the stairwell, Dean was at my side. His warm hands cupped my face, eyes scanning for injury with an intensity that made me shiver. "Did he hurt you?"
I shook my head, still trembling. "No, but Dean, he's working with Sean Mitchell. They're planning to frame you."
"Shh." His thumb brushed my cheek, leaving tingles in its wake. "I know. I've been gathering evidence against them both."
"Let me just," I gestured weakly to the forgotten trash bag. "I should take care of this."
Dean nodded but stayed close, his protective presence wrapping around me like a shield. His eyes constantly scanned our surroundings as I quickly disposed of the garbage, as if expecting threats from every dark corner.
The elevator hummed as we ascended, each floor marked by a soft ding that seemed to echo my racing pulse. He stood closer than ever before, his warmth radiating through the space between us.
Dean's shoulder brushed mine with every breath, sending sparks across my skin. I stared straight ahead at our reflections in the polished doors, catching the way his jaw clenched and unclenched, the slight tremor in his usually steady hands.
"Are you okay?" I whispered, unable to bear the silence.
His dark eyes met mine in the reflection. "I should be asking you that."
When we reached the penthouse, I headed straight for the kitchen sink, needing to do something normal to distract myself. Dean followed, leaning against the counter beside me.
"Why didn't you tell me about Sean and Rafe?" I asked, drying my hands on a dish towel.
"To protect you." The words came out rough, almost pained. His expression cracked, revealing something vulnerable I'd never glimpsed beneath his controlled exterior. "Every time I thought about telling you, I imagined Rafe's hands around your throat, or worse." He ran a hand through his hair, something I learned he did when he was frustrated. "I can't let anything happen to you, Nina. The thought alone," His voice broke. "I've lost too much already."
"I'm stronger than you think," I said. Reaching for his hand, I intertwined our fingers.
"That's what terrifies me." His thumb traced circles on my palm. "You make me want things I can't have. Things that could get you killed."
