Dorian took him down in the mouth of a service alley, a blur of motion and controlled violence.He hit fast, precise, the kind of takedown meant to end a fight before it started.The wolf inside him surged at the contact, hungry for dominance, but Dorian kept it leashed—claws out just enough to remind, not enough to maim.He pinned the rogue against the brick, forearm at his throat, claws pricked just enough to be felt.
“You know who I am?”Dorian asked, gazed locked with the rogue’s, only having to let loose a little of his dominance to have the other man bare his throat in submission.
“Personally?”the man rasped.“No.I have no idea who you are.But if I were to take a guess, I would say you are E.S.E.”
Dorian smiled a smile that had nothing to do with laughter or humor but didn’t confirm or deny.
“Who’s looking for her,” Dorian said softly, “and how did they hear about you?”
The rogue blinked, startled but not panicked.“I don’t know who is looking for her.It didn’t come with the request.Just a description of the woman I recognized from the store, and a payoff that didn’t match the job.”
“Are you with Chimera?”
Confusion flickered.Genuine.“What?I don’t know what that is.”
Dorian eased the pressure a fraction, watching the rogue’s pulse, the way his breath stuttered but didn’t break.Not prey.Not yet.
“Some of us get forced into this life,” the rogue said quietly.“Debt.Blackmail.Family leverage.But that doesn’t make us all dirty or evil.Some of us can choose how we live our lives.”
“I get that,” Dorian said.“Which is why you have not been on my radar until now.And if you were lying, this would’ve gone differently.”
The rogue swallowed.“I did and will do what I said I’d do.I will give her two days before I call it in, but I have to call it in.I have a family.”
“You’ll keep your word,” Dorian replied.“Two days.No more.If anything changes, you call me.”
“E.S.E.,” the rogue breathed.“You people scare the shit out of us.”
“Some of you deserve it,” Dorian said evenly.“Some don’t.”
He stepped back.
“Stay on the right side,” Dorian added.“And you won’t ever see one of our teams again.”
The rogue didn’t argue.
Dorian vanished into the night and was back across the street seconds later, eyes lifting to the convenience store windows.Riley was wiping down the counter now, movements mechanical, shoulders still drawn tight.Rafe stood where the light never quite reached, watching her with a stillness that spoke of teeth and patience.
Two days.
Dorian felt the clock start ticking.This threw the keep their distance and no contact method out the window.
Whatever was coming for her wasn’t going to wait much longer than that.
Riley was still standing.
For now, that was enough.
****
Panic was a familiarcompanion.
It lived just under Riley Quinn’s skin now, a constant, jittery hum that flared the moment the man left the store.She didn’t move right away.Didn’t breathe right away.She stood there with her hands braced against the counter, staring at the scuffed linoleum as if it might give her instructions.
Two days.
The warning replayed in her head with ruthless clarity.Not vague.Not hypothetical.Precise.Measured.
And worst of all—honest.
