There was a brief silence before the man said, “Alright. Yeah. He wants to meet with you before the party, though.”
With that, the men climbed out, and I finally got to sit up and slide out when my uncle opened the door for me.
“You didn’t answer me,” he said, voice low as we fell into step behind Cian’s guard.
“About what?”
“You got your phone?”
“Oh. Yes.”
“And a weapon?”
“I have a pocketknife. My outfit didn’t have room for a holster,” I said, waving down at my sundress.
“Okay. We’re gonna be around, but I want your guard up too.”
I thought they were being paranoid. But protection was their love language, so I kept my mouth shut and just… let them love me.
We were led as a group to the back of the building where a sprawling wooden deck was lit up with twinkle lights. A chiminea was chugging away, chasing off the early spring chill.
Cian was leaning on the railing, glancing at the woods.
I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I found the woods kind of creepy. Especially at night.
I guess I could link that back to the time I’d been trying to get healthy and take a hike through the woods at a local park and got so hopelessly lost as the sun was setting that I ended up sitting on a log sobbing until some stranger found me and led me back to the parking lot as night fell.
“Boss,” the guard called.
“The cavalry has arrived,” Cian said, unfolding with the predatory grace of a cat and then slowly turning toward us.
I wouldn’t lie; I could absolutely see why Layna mentioned wanting to bounce around on Cian. He was almost absurdly good-looking.
He was tall and a lithe kind of fit in his all-black outfit. He had a wide, strong jaw, a generous mouth, stern brows over dark blue eyes, and one of those ‘more on top’ haircuts with a mid-fade.
He was also someone who paid attention to the finer details. He was covered in ink, even on the tops of his hands, his neck, and throat. And he was a fan of jewelry. He wore a cross, a thick silver bracelet, a stud in each ear, a couple of rings that looked like they could cause real damage if he threw a punch, and a nose ring.
Add in his innate sensuality, his unshakable confidence, and the air of danger that clung to him, and, yeah, he was the definition of hot.
Somehow, though, I never felt a stirring of interest. Not even before Perish.
“Gracie,” he greeted me.
“Hey, Cian. Sorry about all this,” I said, waving toward the men all flanking me.
“Shit happens,” he said, shrugging. “That’s the life.” Then, to my uncle, “Had my men scope out the area when we first got here. But feel free to do your own sweep before it gets too crazy.”
“Fallon appreciated your cooperation on this,” Uncle Pagan said as Cian’s gaze fell on Cain.
“I don’t know you.”
“This is Cain,” I introduced. “He’s a prospect.”
“A prospect protecting a princess. You’re either a psychopath like these fucks,” he said, gesturing toward Dezi and my uncle, “or skilled like this one,” he finished, glancing at Sully.
“Can’t I be both?” Cain asked, getting a raised brow from Cian.
“Dez, stay out here with Gracie while we sweep the building.”
