Page 194 of Safe Word

‘No,’ I murmured with urgency, just as Vinnie turned to drown Genevieve in lazy chatter. ‘He’ll kill you.’

Cain didn’t look at me. His lips barely moved as he spoke past my cheek, his gaze locked on the windows behind me.

‘He won’t get the chance,’ he whispered – quiet, lethal, and already halfway to war.

‘Please…’ My voice splintered like fragile bone, my mind suddenly making an inventory of his duffel bag from before.

But he didn’t move. Just reclined against his seat, his gaze holding mine like a man calculating which bad decision would drag him to hell quicker.

His head tilted just slightly towards Vinnie, whose glass froze mid-air when he met his eyes.

Vinnie’s baby blues flicked from Cain to me, widening. The smile left his face.

He set his wineglass down with a soft clink, his gaze sharpening to attention.

‘We need to go,’ Cain said, flat and final.

Vinnie frowned, throwing a sideways glance at Genevieve, who was still sipping her wine, blissfully unaware, her attention on whatever topic they were discussing.

Clearing his throat, Vinnie rose first.

‘Glad to have you over the pond, Genevieve,’ he said, extending a hand with that polished charm he wore like a suit.

She blinked, startled, and took it – but I wasn’t paying attention any more.

My gaze kept flicking to the windows as the room began to spin. To the glass smeared with fading light and the vague silhouettes beyond it. Searching for movement. For the shape of him.

But the shadows were empty now.

Gone.

Every single muscle on my body shuddered at that.

Cain stood, prompting me to follow, and I did – legs stiff, spine tight, mouth too dry to make a sound.

We made our way to the lift leading to the garage, the low hum of conversation and clinking cutlery fading behind us.

‘He’s here,’ Cain muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Vinnie.

Vinnie’s head snapped towards him – then to me.

Then his unblinking stare cut forward, hardening.

‘I’ll meet you at yours,’ he murmured, stepping close to Genevieve, whose curiosity honed with every fragment of the hushed exchange.

She opened her mouth to say something, but Vinnie was already on her, his voice dropping low and debonair like always. ‘I hope we’ll see you again soon.’

The lift dinged at the first basement level, the sound sharp in the quiet.

‘I’ll walk you to the taxi rank. It’s difficult to catch a—’

Their voices trailed off as the lift door closed behind them, swallowing the words.

‘Have you got your pistol?’ Cain asked calmly.

I squeezed my purse tighter, feeling the outline of it beneath my fingers. But the mention of the weapon lifted the fine hairs along my neck.

‘Please don’t go after him,’ I whispered, the plea trembling in my throat.