Ruler of Your Ruh [a mafia romance ]

Chapter 25: "Like I'm in Lo-"

He takes my chin in his hand and tilts my head up, "Roohi," he whispers and rests his forehead against mine.

I'm frozen in shock. I have never been this close to him before, at least not like this. How can you dislike someone so much, yet feel so attracted to them in a second? I close my eyes.

He holds my face in his hands, and I pray no one walking by can see us. See me. With my head down, so he doesn't see my heated cheeks. So I can deny it- whatever this is.

He begins to tell me, "I don't tell you these things to anger you, Habibti," my eyes open in surprise, and I see him looking back at me with those eyes that could melt the hardest metal.

It occurs to me that I've never actually looked at him, but right now I can't look anywhere but his piercing hazel eyes as he speaks to me in that mesmerizing voice that I hate so much. "I say these things to keep you safe- " he stops abruptly and brushes my cheek with his thumb.

I look at him confused...where is all of this coming from? He hates me, and I- well I dislike him, isn't that enough? Why can't he just let me be?

He looks back at me with admiration and smiles mischievously, "What are you thinking?" I panic because that look can't mean anything remotely good.

He picks me up as Laith lets out another warning growl at him and I shriek, "What- let me down!" I pound against his chest and yell insults that he brushes off with a chuckle.

I stop when I realize that I'm not getting anywhere with this yelling. Now that I think about it... I could easily fall out of his grasp. But I'm not.

He looks down at my abrupt stiffness, and tilts his head, "Something you'd like to say, Habibti?"

"Let me go."

"Hmm, I don't think I will," he smirks and looks up as he continues to walk.

He takes me to, what I assume to be, his room and sets me down carefully on his bed.

What. Is. Happening.

He asks again, "Something the matter? You look like you want to stab something."

"Yes, you."

The corner of his mouth quirked up, "So violent."

"Only for you-" My cheeks heat when I realize what I've just admitted.

"Yes..." he teases, "For me." For a mafia boss, he looks at me with the softest eyes. He doesn't seem so bad now. He goes to take my hijab off and I slap his hand away.

"What do you think you're doing?" I bark in shock.

He becomes more serious, "I don't know if you remember Habibti, but you have a nasty concussion. It's possible you don't feel any discomfort at the moment because of the morphine dosage you were on," he looks pointedly at the dried blood smeared across my arm, "But since you've taken your IV out, the pain should come back soon.

"You almost died Samina. Aside from the concussion, you have three bruised ribs, you're head was nearly split open!" His voice begins to rise, "When I left you a note to stay home I meant it. I told the guards not to let you leave, and they didn't even bat an eye when you walked past them and took a car," he demands, "Do you know what happened to those guards?"

I can already assume.

"I snapped their necks as if that would bring you back."

My face pales at the visual and I say the only thing I can, "I'm sorry." I don't exactly know why, but I apologize.

He takes my face in his rough hands, and looks at me with glazed eyes, "You were hardly breathing, and limp in my arms! You could've- I could've lost-" Placing my hands on top of his, I don't understand the emotions I'm feeling right now, but I feel the need to comfort him.

"Please. Azim, stop," I stare into those piercing hazel eyes, "I'm here now. Those guys are dead. You killed them. Do not sit here torturing yourself for what could've happened- for what almost happened. I won't let you," the most sincere thing that I've said to Azim is now.

I don't understand. This pull of emotion. This pang of something for him. Like I never want to let go. Like I'm in Lo-

No.