The next morning, Vivie woke up with an ache in her muscles that reminded her just how brutal the previous day had been. Every movement, every shift of her limbs, made her wince slightly. But despite the discomfort, she felt something new blooming in her chest—pride. She had pushed herself beyond her limits, refused to back down, and she had seen the flicker of reluctant approval in Ashton’s eyes.

She stretched, rolling her shoulders before getting up and changing into something more suitable for training. Ashton had made it clear that there were no shortcuts, no easy way out. If she wanted to learn, she had to be willing to endure.

When she entered the training room, Ashton was already there, casually leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His gaze flickered over her, assessing. “You’re late.”

Vivie rolled her eyes. “I needed sleep if you expect me to survive today.”

He smirked. “Survival isn’t a luxury in my world. If you need rest, you’re already a step behind.”

She clenched her jaw. “Then I’ll catch up.”

He pushed off the wall, circling her like a predator eyeing its prey. “We’ll see about that. Today, we focus on endurance and control. Your emotions get the best of you too easily.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”

“You let frustration dictate your movements,” he explained. “That’s a weakness. If someone knows how to push your buttons, they’ll control the fight.”

Vivie exhaled sharply. “Fine. What do I do?”

Ashton moved behind her, his body close—too close. She stiffened slightly as his hands settled lightly on her shoulders. “Breathe,” he instructed, his voice low. “Control your heartbeat, your thoughts. If you let adrenaline take over, you’ll be reckless.”

She did as he said, inhaling deeply, exhaling slowly. His hands didn’t leave her shoulders, grounding her. She felt the heat of his body, the steady rise and fall of his chest behind her. It was distracting, but she refused to let it show.

“Good,” he murmured. “Now, let’s see if you can maintain that control.”

The next few hours were a battle—not just against Ashton’s relentless training, but against herself. He pushed her past her limits, forcing her to fight exhaustion, frustration, and the undeniable awareness of his presence. Every time she faltered, he was there, challenging her, taunting her just enough to fuel her determination.

And then it happened. She dodged his attack at the last second, countering with a move he hadn’t expected. Her fist grazed his jaw, not hard enough to do damage but enough to shock them both.

Ashton’s eyes darkened, something unreadable flashing in their depths. He grabbed her wrist in a lightning-fast movement, yanking her forward until she was pressed against him. Their breaths mingled, the air between them thick with something dangerous.

Vivie’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she met his gaze. There was no mockery in his expression now, no smug superiority. Just raw intensity.

The air grew heavier, charged with something neither of them wanted to name. She wasn’t sure who moved first, but suddenly, they were impossibly close, his lips inches from hers. Her heart pounded, her body tense with anticipation. She could feel the heat radiating from him, the way his grip on her wrist tightened ever so slightly.

Her breath hitched as Ashton tilted his head slightly, his gaze locked on hers, burning into her with an intensity that sent shivers racing down her spine. Every inch of her body was aware of his—his scent, the firm grip of his hand, the tension coiling between them like a live wire.

But just as quickly as it happened, Ashton released her, stepping back as if burned. His jaw clenched, his expression unreadable once more. “That’s enough for today,” he said, his voice hoarse, rougher than before.

Vivie swallowed hard, forcing herself to nod. But as she turned to leave, she couldn’t ignore the lingering warmth of where his hands had been, or the undeniable fact that, for the first time, Ashton Varela had almost lost control.

And that terrified her more than anything else.

As she walked away, her thoughts were a storm of confusion. She had never seen Ashton hesitate. Never seen him caught off guard. And for a brief moment, she had seen something almost vulnerable beneath his cold exterior.

Was it possible that the ruthless mafia boss wasn’t as invincible as he pretended to be?

She didn’t have the answer. But she was starting to realize one thing—whatever was happening between them was dangerous. And it was only just beginning.