Chapter Twenty-Three
Kayne had learned totrust his instincts the hard way.They were rarely subtle.More like a pressure behind the eyes, a low, persistent hum that refused to shut up until he listened.It made sleep impossible and mistakes fatal.
Right now, that hum was damn near screaming.
He paced the length of the safe house kitchen, phone pressed to his ear and jaw tight.
Leo had nearly died.
Notmight have.Notcould have.Nearly.One clean shot, one step out of place, one second slower and Chloe would’ve watched her cousin bleed out on concrete because someone wanted to draw her into the open.
Kayne dragged a hand down his face.That changed the equation.
He stopped pacing and leaned a palm against the counter, staring at nothing.His better judgment, the one forged in blood and betrayal and too many red herrings, was throwing up every warning flare it had.
Danica is a liability.She thrives on chaos and complicates everything.
And yet.
“She’s family,” he muttered to himself, voice low and rough.“And family’s what they’re using.”
He pulled his phone back up and hit the call button again.Straight to voicemail.
“Damn it,” he hissed, ending the call before the tone could finish.He checked the time.It was late, but not unreasonable.Danica kept odd hours, especially when she was sulking or chasing attention or both.
Still, Danica always answered eventually, Leo had said.Even when she wanted to fight and be dramatic about it.And he knew that with her pettiness, she would definitely answer a call from him.
Kayne’s gaze flicked instinctively to the security monitors lining the far wall.Multiple camera feeds showed that the perimeter was clear.Chloe was in the kitchen with Anja, decompressing.Leo was in the living room, pretending he was fine when his hands still shook.
And Danica?
Nowhere.
He made the call the moment the decision solidified in his head.Against every instinct and every profile he’d built on her, he decided to widen the circle again because the shooter had already proven one thing: they weren’t afraid to hurt innocent people or use Chloe’s heart as a weapon.
Leaving Danica out there unguarded, unpredictable, and emotional was a risk he couldn’t justify anymore.
Leaving her exposed felt like an invitation.
But not being able to reach her?That set his nerves on edge in a way he didn’t enjoy.
Kayne thumbed out a text this time.Danica.This is important.You need to call me immediately.
He stared at the screen until it dimmed.Nothing.
