“Hmm, how could we differentiate it and not lose it?” He takes a sip of his water.
“How about you tell me some ideas then.” I cross my arms over my chest and tilt my head in exasperation.
His eyes widen before he leans back in his chair. “I apologize. I thought we were bouncing ideas off of each other.”
“If bouncing ideas means vetoing every option I toss your way, then sure.” I know I’m being extra, but the need to compensate for how Cano made me feel is, unfortunately, getting taken out on Chris.
“I should have warned you about Oscar,” he concedes, deflating.
“You should have.”
“I figured you’d already be on your way here and wouldn’t check your phone, but that was clearly a mistake.”
“I’d appreciate not being ambushed again.”
“Done. Is that the first time you’ve been in a room with him?”
“Yes.”
“You held onto your restraint well.”
I stare at him. He’s calm and collected, almost calculating.
Who are you, Chris Roth?
“Yeah, well, I didn’t really have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice.” He says the words, but I’m not sure he truly believes them.
“Is there? Because my life lately sure as hell feels like a lot of shit I definitely don’t have a say in.”
“You can get out. I’ll make it happen if that’s what you want.”
I scoff. Even if he could do what he’s promising, there’s no getting out. I knew that when I came up with this suicide mission.
“Nova.”
There’s that name again. God, there are too many moments around this man where I want to be Claire.
“What?” I cock my head in annoyance.
“I can get you out.” Chris leans forward, reaching to grab my hand and pull it from the prison I’ve held it in since Cano left.
“That’s a dream. A hope on a dream, really,” I whisper.
Our eyes hold as a flash of pain rolls through his bright-blue gaze.
“You don’t trust me yet, but when you do, all you have to do is tell me you want out. I promise you I’ll make it happen.”
I blink, drawing myself out of the trance that is the man who has flipped my world upside down. “Sure, Chris. Whatever you say.” I rip my hand from him and toss my napkin onto the table before standing up. “Text me thoughts on something for the back door.”
Then I’m out on the street, wrapping my arms around my torso from the chill in the air.
“Miss Olsen,” a stern voice says from the ally I pass.
My heart drops as my hands start to shake at the man I see leaning against the side of the building.
“Just a word of advice. Your mouth stays shut about this new … endeavor. I’ll be keeping an eye on you, just to ensure things are as you say they are. I don’t take kindly to betrayal.” Cano steps forward to my frozen body. “There are much more entertaining ways to break women than torture or kill them.” The kiss he presses to my cheek feels like acid against my skin.
