After that, Evan became very good at pleasing me.
He called me whenever he went anywhere. Texted me before I had to ask. Learned what kind of tea I liked, how I took my coffee, which side of my neck was more sensitive when my skin turned restless. He showed up with small gifts he could barely afford until I stopped him and made him use my money instead.
Sweet. Attentive. Clever.
Very, very pretty.
I enjoyed him.
And I could tell he was changing too.
When we first met, he had been desperate enough to use weakness like a weapon. Once he realized I could see straight through him, the calculation faded. Or maybe not faded—just sank deeper, where it belonged. What remained on the surface felt cleaner. Simpler.
More sincere.
When my condition flared up again, he no longer waited for instructions. He took off his shirt and came to me on his own.
That was when he saw what I was shopping for.
He glanced at my phone screen and went still.
“Do you… really want to buy those?”
I scrolled through the cart without shame. Pearls. Chains. Soft faux ears. Leather collars. Plush paw gloves. Things that were either ridiculous or adorable, sometimes both.
“Of course,” I said. “Do you know how wasted your body is in plain clothes?”
His ears turned red.
“I’ve never worn anything like that.”
“I know.” I smiled. “I’ll dress you myself.”
The comments nearly combusted.
Make him wear it!
She’s turning the mad dog into a trained puppy.
Honestly, his life got so much better after meeting her. He doesn’t have to worry about money, his sister is safe, the abusive dad is gone. Let her spoil him forever.
I placed the order, tossed the phone aside, and leaned back into Evan’s chest. His arms came around me automatically. Strong. Solid. Just enough muscle. Never too much.
I rubbed my cheek against him and said, “I’m going back to Harbor City soon.”
He stiffened almost imperceptibly.
“Graduation’s coming. I should’ve gone back ages ago anyway.” I paused. “The Caldwells are about to tear themselves apart, and I have no desire to get blood on my shoes.”
He was silent for a moment.
Then he asked, “Can you help me with something?”
I turned to look up at him. “What?”
“I want into Black Harbor.”
I stared.
Black Harbor was the largest underground organization in Harbor City. No family ties mattered there. Only strength. My father had spent years subduing half of it and nearly lost his life doing it.
People got in easily enough.
Getting out alive was the problem.
I sat up straight. “Have you lost your mind?”
His expression stayed calm. “The money you’ve given me is enough to keep my sister and me alive for a long time. Maybe a lifetime. But that’s not what I want.”
“What do you want?”
He looked at me in silence.
Something in that silence was more honest than anything he had ever said in a soft voice.
Ambition.
Huge, dangerous ambition.
I had assumed he would choose one of two things. Stay in New York and take the payout I gave him, and our connection would end eventually. Or come back to Harbor City with me and let me keep him in comfort until I got bored.
What I had not expected was this.
He wanted power.
He wanted height.
He wanted to climb somewhere I could not simply hand him.
“Think carefully,” I said. “If you go into Black Harbor, I won’t be able to protect you every second.”
He met my eyes and, for the first time, called me by my full name.
“I’m not a child, Chloe.”
No softness. No sister. No obedience.
Just calm certainty.
The room went quiet around us.
And to my surprise, I liked this version of him too. Maybe more than the one who looked up at me with wet eyes and sweet apologies.
“Fine,” I said at last. “I’ll arrange it.”
His expression softened again, but only slightly.
“If you die,” I added, “I’ll make sure your sister is taken care of.”
He smiled then. Small. Certain.
“I won’t die.”