Adina’s POV

The silence between us was thick, sharp enough to cut through skin. Jackson stood at the edge of the bed, his eyes black with a storm I had unleashed. His breathing grew shallow, ragged, and for a heartbeat I thought he might simply walk away.

But I couldn’t let him. I needed him to be angry. I needed him to be reckless.

“You think this makes you strong?” I whispered, my voice a trembling challenge. “Taking what isn’t yours? Living off scraps from other men’s ...