Chapter 9: Into the Fire

The air inside the penthouse was thick with tension. Jenny stood frozen in place as Marcus’s words echoed in her mind.

"Then I’ll wait… for now."

She had expected him to push harder, to demand more from her like he always did. But his restraint was even more dangerous—it was calculated, deliberate. He was playing the long game, and that made him even more terrifying.

Jenny turned away, trying to steady her breath. The view from the window was breathtaking—the city stretched endlessly before her, a sea of glittering lights. It should have made her feel free, but instead, it reminded her of the cage she was slowly stepping into.

She had a choice.

She could leave.

She could walk out of this penthouse, out of his life, and pretend none of this had happened.

But the truth was, she was already too deep.

Marcus had pulled her into his world, and she had let him. She had followed him into the darkness, knowing exactly who he was.

And a part of her wanted to see how far this would go.

The Temptation of Power

Jenny turned back to Marcus. He was watching her from the minibar, swirling a drink in his hand, his dark eyes unreadable.

“You’re still thinking about running,” he mused, taking a slow sip.

She lifted her chin. “Maybe.”

His lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “But you won’t.”

Jenny crossed her arms. “And how are you so sure?”

Marcus placed his drink down, then stalked toward her, slow and predatory. The air between them shifted as he reached her, standing close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from him.

“Because I see the way you look at me, Jenny,” he murmured, his voice a dangerous whisper. “You’re drawn to this life. To me.”

She swallowed hard, refusing to look away. “That doesn’t mean I want to lose myself in it.”

Marcus smirked, tilting his head slightly. “Who said you’d lose yourself?”

His hand lifted, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face, his touch sending shivers down her spine. Jenny hated how easily he could affect her, how effortlessly he could make her heart race.

“You don’t understand,” she whispered. “I’ve spent my whole life fighting to be free. To not be controlled.”

Marcus’s eyes darkened. “And yet, you came with me tonight. You chose this.”

Jenny’s breath hitched as his fingers traced the side of her neck, his touch both gentle and possessive. “I don’t know what I chose,” she admitted.

He leaned in, his lips dangerously close to hers. “Then let me show you.”

For a moment, Jenny thought she would let him. That she would give in to the fire burning between them.

But before she could decide, a sudden buzz cut through the tension.

Marcus sighed, stepping back as he pulled his phone from his pocket. Jenny released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

His expression hardened as he read the message.

“What is it?” she asked, watching his demeanor shift from dangerously seductive to cold and calculating.

“Trouble,” he said simply.

A Test of Loyalty

Jenny watched as Marcus moved toward the door, grabbing his jacket.

“Stay here,” he ordered.

But something inside her rebelled. “What’s going on?”

Marcus turned to her, his gaze sharp. “It’s business. You don’t need to be involved.”

She clenched her fists. “If I’m already in your world, shouldn’t I know what’s happening?”

For a moment, he just studied her, as if weighing his options. Then, surprisingly, he sighed. “Get dressed. If you’re coming with me, you’d better be ready.”

Jenny’s stomach twisted with nerves, but she nodded. She didn’t know what she was stepping into, but one thing was clear—this was a test.

And she wasn’t going to fail.

A Night of Chaos

They drove in silence. The streets blurred past them, the city’s heartbeat pulsing in neon and shadows. Jenny could feel the tension radiating off Marcus, his jaw clenched tight as he maneuvered through traffic.

She didn’t ask questions. Not yet.

It wasn’t until they pulled up outside a secluded warehouse on the outskirts of town that Marcus finally spoke.

“Stay close to me. And don’t say anything unless I tell you to.”

Jenny nodded, her pulse hammering as he stepped out of the car.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of gasoline and sweat. A group of men stood in a semi-circle, their expressions tense. In the center of it all was a man on his knees, blood dripping from his nose.

Marcus stepped forward, the room instantly going silent.

“Daniel,” Marcus drawled, his voice laced with quiet menace. “I hear you’ve been making some poor choices.”

The man—Daniel—spat blood onto the floor. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Marcus sighed, almost disappointed. “Lying to me? That’s not very smart.”

Jenny watched as one of Marcus’s men—a tall, scarred man named Rami—delivered a swift kick to Daniel’s ribs.

Daniel groaned, doubling over. “Please,” he gasped. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Didn’t mean to?” Marcus repeated, his tone deceptively calm. He crouched down in front of Daniel, gripping his chin and forcing him to look up. “Then explain why you thought stealing from me was a good idea.”

Jenny’s stomach twisted. This wasn’t just a business meeting. This was an execution.

She should have been horrified. She should have turned away.

But she couldn’t.

She was mesmerized by the way Marcus controlled the room, by the sheer power he exuded.

Daniel was whimpering now. “I swear, I’ll pay you back. Just give me more time.”

Marcus tilted his head. “Time isn’t something I give out freely, Daniel.”

Jenny saw the shift in Marcus’s eyes—the moment he made his decision.

A gun was pulled from his waistband.

Her breath caught.

This was it. The moment where she would see who he truly was.

She should stop him. She should say something.

But she didn’t.