Page 74 of The Quiet Witness

Lucien got up, drawing his shoulders back. Max strode forward until they stood face to face. Outstretched finger still pointing. He could see it, the desire burning in the man’s eyes, short breaths.

His own pulse raced at the thought. A din rushed through his ears. Oh, if only. All he needed was a tiny little push. Lucien lowered his voice to a sweet whisper. “You’d do well to remember who you’re threatening… brother.”

A shudder of excitement ran through Max’s body. Shoulders tensing, muscles bracing, he leaned his weight back.

That’s it. Come on.

A low growl split them apart. Ghost stepped forward, pulling up his lips, light flickering across his pearly whites.

Max went deathly silent. Frozen as he stared in the large dog’s face. Twisted in challenge.

Lucien could see it. The assessment. Could he whip the gun from his holster and shoot Lucien before the dog was upon him or, could he shoot the dog before Lucien tied the noose around his neck?

The answer was no. Not if the man had a death wish.

Max knew it too. He shook his head, mumbling. “I’d watch your loyal bitch, both of them. Lest something were to happen.” With that he turned on his heel. Hand reaching out to the door handle, Lucien beat him to it. Inching the handle down slowly. Giving Kate a head start.

His colleague had flinched back. Eyes ablaze.

“My house, remember? It’d do you good not to touch anything.”

The man chuckled. “You and your OCD loving ass, brother. Combine that with your soft spot.” He glanced at his chest. “They’ll be the death of you.”

Judging by the shadow slipping into her room.

He is right as rain.

Chapter 30

The Beast Within

“What part of stay hidden did you not understand?”

Safe. There would be no corner of the world where she would be safe from them.

You should have gotten rid of her. Searching every nook and crevice for… her. The man, Max had said. She hadn’t even seen him clearly, eyes blurry from peeking through the small hole. But that voice, the way he’d gotten in Lucien’s space. Her hairs stood on end.

He’d been right, she should have stayed put. Almost had, if answers hadn’t weighed heavier than the fear thrashing beneath her skin.

“Kate.”

She slipped out of her room, ambling past Lucien who stood waiting in the hallway, arms crossed, his shadow hovering on the wall. Her hand shot out, bracing against the door frame. Even in the dim lighting his scowl was clear, disappointment radiating from him.

She raised her chin. “I deserved to know.”

“You deserved to know.” He laughed, tasting the words. Bittersweet if she were to guess. “I explicitly asked you, nearly begged you to stay put. Against my better judgment, I actually thought you’d listen for once. How foolish of me.”

No smirk, no playfulness, no sweetheart or flirting. So unlike the Lucien she’d come to know. He didn’t shout, didn’t even raise his voice. But she could only stare. Frozen under the spell of his anger. An emotion she knew all too well, lived in, retreated to whenever the need called for it.

“All I’ve done so far is keep you safe, as was my setup tonight. But you keep running from help, don’t you?”

So far. Her ears buzzed, the two words colliding in her brain.

Anger, it would be useful here and now.

Heat rose to her cheeks. “Is that a joke? Did that guy hit you over the head? Don’t you remember that you—” She jabbed her finger at him. “You… tried to kill me in my own home, while I wasn’t even supposed to be dying!”

“Oh, you were supposed to die, trust me. Didn’t listening in to tonight’s conversation teach you that?”