Chapter 13 - A New Alliance
Their kiss was like a collision—fierce, demanding, and born of adrenaline and lingering danger. Elias’s hands gripped her waist, pulling her flush against him, erasing the weeks of tension that had built between them.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Elias rested his forehead against hers.
"You are insane," he whispered, a rare, genuine smile touching his lips.
"I'm a survivor," Clara corrected. "And I have a proposition for you."
Elias raised an eyebrow, stepping back just enough to look at her fiercely intelligent eyes. "I'm listening."
"Sterling Enterprises has a massive logistics network. Ships, planes, warehouses. We operate globally," Clara said, her business mind clicking into gear. "Your syndicate needs clean channels. If we merge our resources, I legitimize your operations, and your men provide the absolute security my company needs to expand aggressively without interference."
Elias stared at her, genuinely stunned. He had expected romance, perhaps a secret affair. He had not expected a hostile takeover of the underworld.
May you like
"You want to partner with a mafia boss?"
"I want to partner with the man who saved my life," Clara said softly, before her gaze hardened into steel. "And together, we are going to own this city. Every board room, and every back alley."
