With neither of us needing to work, we spend our days in town,exploring the library some more and walking along the river. We have dinner at a different restaurant every night. We’ve even used Wylder’s box at the opera. Not going to lie—that last one was a total snooze fest. Cade ended up sucking me off less than thirty minutes in. By the time I finished returning the favor, it still wasn’t time for the intermission.
Goes without saying that we snuck out during that and didn’t return.
The only fly in the ointment is that Cade won’t let our past go. He’s been pushing more about the people behind the kidnapping. He wants names. Locations. Anything I can give him.
The truth is that I can give him everything.
But I don’t.
Neo might’ve been wrong about me being held here, but he was right about everything else. I don’t want Cade getting mixed up in my mess.
Besides, it’s done now. They told me to lose their number, and by the looks of things, they’ve lost mine too. I know The Firm is powerful, and clearly a little violent, given the punches that are thrown between the brothers, but I can’t wrap my head around the why of it all. Why was a simple photo of Cade enough to get them to back off?
It doesn’t matter, really. The important thing is that theyhavebacked off. I haven’t heard from them, and likely never will again.
There’s no point telling Cade what he wants to know, only for him to go and poke the hornet’s nest. I’m not sure exactly what The Firm does, but the Umbra Syndicate is bad news. Like, the worst.
I don’t want the Buckinghams anywhere near them. I would never forgive myself if something happened to them.
Especially Cade.
It’s funny, I’ve known him for such a short time, and I already know I’m falling in love with him. Have been since he kissed me in the cabin to shut me up.
If I’m being completely honest…I think I’m already there.
I don’t say anything. Not yet. I’m waiting for the right moment.
It might be fast, but when you grow up with nothing, you learn to hold on to good things. Cade is good. Better than good.
The best thing to ever happen to me.
After everything he went through as a child—his terrible father, his induction into The Firm—I know that a man like that is resilient, brave, and fierce. I don’t know everything, only bits and pieces, but I have time to learn them all when he’s ready to tell me.
For the moment, I’m holding on to him with everything I’ve got.
We’re in a coffee shop, Cade at the counter getting our drinks. It’s late, but neither of us is ready to turn in for the night. He always looks edible, but today’s choice of a tight tank and ripped jeans has me wanting to get him home sooner rather than later. I have the strangest need to bite his biceps.
I think he’d like that too. It’s something I’ve noticed. The pain, the way he yearns for it. I don’t ask why, just make sure to give him a little of it every time we’re together.
My eyes swivel around the shop. It’s surprisingly busy given the hour, a small crowd waiting, but Cade doesn’t seem to mind. He’s chatting amiably with the person next to him, probably making a new friend. It’s something I’ve learned about him this week—Cade can’t be out somewhere and not make conversation with someone.
Me, however, I’d rather pull splinters out of my eyeballs than make small talk. That’s why I’m sitting down, content to people-watch while I hold our table.
My phone vibrates. I don’t look at it at first, too busy watching a couple trying to fend off a seagull. Greedy fucker already stole an ice cream off a small child a few moments ago, but is now determined to get its metaphorical hands on some tacos.
Not that I blame the seagull. They do look really damn good.
My cell buzzes again. Then again. Breaking my gaze away with a sigh, I reach for it. What can Neo want now? I’ve already spoken to him twice today. It’s a good thing Wylder gave me my phone back, because he’d lose his mind with how often it goes off. Now that Neo knows my life is finally interesting, he wants to know every detail about it.
I flip it over, and my chest constricts.
Oh.
It’s not Neo.
It’s an unknown number. Not one I recognize, but that doesn’t matter. Not when I can see the preview of the most recent message.
UNKNOWN
