She's In My Head
RONNY’S POV
The city stretched out beneath me like a living beast, its veins lit with headlights, its pulse measured in the steady flow of traffic that snaked through the streets. From up here, everything looked orderly, almost peaceful. A lie, really. Cities were nothing but chaos with a pretty disguise, and I’d learned long ago not to fall for disguises.
The glass in my hand was nearly empty, the last amber streaks of whiskey clinging to the sides like they were holding on for dear life. I swirled it once, watching the liquid catch the glow from the office lights, then tipped it back and let the burn scorch down my throat.
It was late—hell, too late. My office was quiet except for the hum of the city below, but my head was anything but.
Her words wouldn’t stop replaying.
‘Be my boyfriend.’
I huffed out a humorless laugh. The audacity of her. No hesitation, no batting of lashes, no timid request. She’d looked me dead in the eye and said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like I hadn’t spent my entire life keeping distance between myself and people like her.
Liliana.
From the very first day, she had been a complication wrapped in silk and fire. Smart, stubborn, sharp-tongued, and completely untamed. The kind of woman who smiled at danger and dared it to bite. And for some reason, she’d decided I was going to play her part-time boyfriend while I dug into her mother’s death.
I should’ve said no. I almost did. Every bone in my body had screamed at me to shut it down, to walk away, to keep things simple.
But I hadn’t.
Because there was something about her—something that refused to let me turn away.
I dragged a hand down my face and exhaled, forcing myself back from the window. The office felt too small suddenly, too suffocating. I crossed the room, picked up my jacket from the back of my chair, and slid it on. The familiar weight settled over my shoulders like armor.
My phone buzzed once on the desk. I glanced at it but didn’t bother picking it up. Probably some late report or an alert from the team. Nothing that couldn’t wait until morning.
I grabbed my keys and stepped into the hall. The building was mostly empty at this hour, just a skeleton crew and the quiet hum of fluorescent lights. My footsteps echoed as I made my way to the elevator, the soft leather of my jacket creaking when I shoved my hands into my pockets.
The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped inside. As the numbers ticked down, I tried not to think about her again. Tried not to picture the way she’d leaned over my desk earlier, eyes alight with that spark that made me feel like I was standing too close to a flame. Tried not to remember the curve of her smile when she realized I wasn’t going to say no.
But failing was inevitable.
Because she was in my head now.
Every move she made, every word she spoke—it was all there, circling like a storm I couldn’t escape.
By the time the elevator doors opened onto the lobby, I had half a mind to pour myself another drink just to burn her out of my system. But instead, I walked out into the cool night air and crossed to where my car was parked.
I unlocked it, slid inside, and let the engine roar to life. My hands rested on the wheel, steady, controlled, the way they always were. But my mind… my mind was a different story.
Liliana wanted me to be her boyfriend.
And I’d agreed.
Christ. What the hell was I doing?
I could get to the bottom of her mother’s case without stepping into her personal circus. I didn’t need dinners, parties, or late-night “dates” to unravel the truth. I could’ve stayed detached, clinical, efficient.
But some dark, unspoken part of me wanted to see what she was playing at.
Because she wasn’t just after answers. No, Liliana was playing her own game, one I hadn’t figured out yet. She looked at me like I was both a puzzle and a weapon, and I couldn’t decide which role she wanted me to fill.
I tightened my grip on the wheel, jaw flexing.
There was a way she looked at me sometimes—like she saw through the walls I’d spent years building. And that unsettled me more than I’d ever admit. Because the last thing I needed was someone digging where they didn’t belong. Especially her.
My phone buzzed again, this time harder, the vibration rattling against the console. I reached for it, more out of reflex than interest.
One new message.
No contact name. Just a number I didn’t recognize.
I should’ve ignored it. Most of the time, I did. But something in my gut told me to check.
I thumbed the screen, eyes narrowing as the words came into focus.
‘I know about your parents.’
The air left my lungs in a sharp exhale. My pulse, steady a moment ago, kicked hard against my ribs.
For a long second, I just sat there, staring at the screen, the message burning into my brain.
Who the hell was this?
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
