Chapter 39

Kenya.

When I pushed the door open, I was met with a scene that shattered the elegant facade of the evening. Levi was a man transformed, his usual composed demeanor replaced by a raw, terrifying ferocity.

He had the man pinned against the desk, his movements fueled by a blind, thundering rage. I stood frozen for a split second, horrified, before my voice finally found its way out. I called his name repeatedly, my pleas sharp against the heavy silence of the office, but he seemed lost in a world of his own shadows. I rushed forward, trying to pull him back, but he was like iron—immovable and consumed.

It wasn't until I reached out and touched his hand, whimpering at the sight of the bruises forming on his knuckles, that he finally stilled.

The silence that followed was deafening. Levi turned to me, his breathing heavy, his eyes dark with a storm that hadn't yet passed. But as our gazes held, I saw the ice begin to melt. He allowed me to lead him away, sinking into a chair as I stood before him, searching his face for the man I knew.

"You're mad!" the other man spat, staggering to his feet. He clutched his face, his voice thick with pain and indignation. As he moved, I felt Levi tense beneath my touch, a low growl nearly vibrating in his chest. "I'll have you for this! You think you're above the law? I'm an American citizen, you bastard!"

Levi’s gaze remained fixed on him, cold and lethal. "The next time you dare to bring your filth near my home or my wife," Levi warned, his voice a low, dangerous rumble, "your dignity will be the least of what you lose."

The man seemed to finally recognize the true depth of the threat. Without another word, he staggered out of the room, leaving a trail of shattered pride behind him.

The distant music from the ballroom filtered in, but it did nothing to banish the tension. My heart was still hammering against my ribs. I hurried into the attached bathroom, searching the cabinets until I found a first aid kit.

Returning to Levi’s side, I sat on the edge of the desk and took his hand in mine. I began cleaning the abrasions with alcohol. He didn't flinch, didn't even blink. He just watched me from hooded eyes, his expression unreadable but intense. I wanted to ask a thousand questions, but I sensed he needed the silence more than the answers.

I wouldn't have even stumbled upon this if I hadn't been searching for the way back from the restroom. On Kirsten's gentle counsel, I had gone to compose myself after our emotional conversation. While there, a call from Andrea informed me that my colleagues and my bosses, Claudine and Dave, had arrived.

But I had taken a wrong turn in the labyrinthine hallways and heard raised voices. Recognizing Levi’s tone, I had stopped, only to hear the cruel, cutting words the man had directed at me. I had shrunk back, the insults stinging like salt in a fresh wound.

And then I heard the first blow.

Seeing Levi lose control in my defense had left me in a state of shock. There was a twisted, aching sense of pride buried deep within my fear—a realization that this man, as complicated as he was, was willing to tear the world apart for my sake.

"You didn't have to do that because of me, Levi," I whispered, dabbing ointment onto his skin.

He gave me a look that was both indiscernible and searingly intense.

"No one insults what belongs to me," he replied simply.

The weight of those words—the possessiveness and the conviction behind them—sent a shiver through me. His phone rang, breaking the spell.

"Yes. Blake. Get Moore out of here. We'll be down shortly."

He stood up, shrugging off his own injuries as if they were nothing. "Come on. Your friends are waiting. We have a party to finish."

The celebration lasted until well after midnight. I moved through the rest of the night with a practiced grace, though my thoughts were constantly drifting back to the scene in the office.

Levi remained distracted for the rest of the event. For the first time, I saw a chink in his stoic armor, a vulnerability hidden behind his emerald eyes. It tormented me to see him this way.

I managed to greet Andrea and my colleagues, whose excitement at my new status was overwhelming. Claudine was beaming, grateful for everything Levi had done for the school, while Dave offered a rare word of approval. I felt a wave of genuine gratitude for their presence; they were the only remnants of my old life in this strange, new world.

I danced with my husband under the glittering chandeliers, the two of us moving in a silent, complex rhythm. We tasted the rich buffet and accepted the toasts of the elite, but the atmosphere between us had shifted. I found myself missing the seductive spark that usually lived in his gaze.

As the night finally wound down and I stood before the mirror in our room, removing my jewelry, a sudden, deep need for him surged within me. Recalling the intensity of his protection and the fire I had seen in his eyes, I realized the walls I had built against him were crumbling.

The air in the room felt too thick, too hot. Driven by a restless energy, I slipped out of the room and headed downstairs, needing a glass of water—and perhaps a chance to find the man who had claimed me as his own.