“A favor,” Caden cocks his head, “When I need it.”
A muscle in Knox’s jaw ticks, and I reach forward, wrapping my fingers around his hand. He curls his fingers in, squeezing gently before releasing.
“I suppose you need a place to stay.”
At this, Caden curls his lip and gives the ranch house a once-over, clearly not impressed by it.
“I’m good.”
The creases at the edges of Knox’s eyes deepen as he narrows them in the mafia lord’s direction, but he keeps his mouth shut. Tension lines every part of my body, my spine is ramrod straight, and my heart pounds inside my chest, but I keep my expression neutral.
“Keep her safe.” Caden turns and walks back toward the car, “I’ll be in touch.”
Knox is vibrating at my side.
“Not yet.” I whisper.
His nostrils flare and his hands wrap around the porch railing hard enough, I swear I hear the wood crack, but he remains stoic as Cade backs the car up, turns it around and then presses on the gas hard enough the back wheels spin, throwing grit and dirt up.
“Find another way,” Knox grumbles.
“He is the only option.”
“He is dangerous,” Knox pushes off the railing with a growl. “He is fucking dangerous, Elena!”
“We have an agreement.” I keep my voice low, steady, “I can trust him.”
“About as much as you can trust Ralph.”
“You leave him out of this.” I put my hands on my hips, “That sweet baby would never.”
“It’s a bull!”
This isn’t about the bull.
“Knox,” I sigh, tucking my arms around myself, “I have no other choice.”
“Me!” He booms, slamming his palm on the side of the house. “You have me!”
“And I won’t get to keep you if I don’t have him.” I swallow thickly.
A huff of air escapes him, like a laugh, but it lacks amusement. “Whatdoyou need, Elena?”
“Without the Blackwoods, the city remains with my uncle. The Rossi empire keeps the market, and you lose, Knox. You’ll go down with the ranch, and without my city, I won’t be able to stop it! We all lose, Knox! All of us. I’ll never be safe; my uncle will keep sending men until they have my fucking head. He knows I’m not dead, he knows I’m still out here; it’s why he keeps sending people. He is looking for me, and if you hadn’t handled Rio, he would have found me! How long until another one of his men comes looking? What if they’re a shoot first and ask questions later, then what!?”
He glares at me.
“I love you, Knox, but we cannot do this alone! Neither you nor I can take this on!” I snap, my blood heating, but silence falls quickly between us as we both realize what the fuck I just said.
“What did you just say?” Gravel laces his tone, his body frozen.
“Nothing,” I breathe.
“What the fuck did you just say!?” He growls.
My heart is racing for a whole different reason now.
“Knox…” My voice trails off.
