Chapter 20
KNIGHT
The drive to the address where my contacts will meet us is long and fucking quiet.
I’m cautious of the guy in the back and overly aware of the anger radiating from Cassia.
I stand by what I did. The moment Michail touched her weapon, he sealed his fate. It was a stupid move on his part that cost him his life.
Also, I didn’t like the way he spoke to Cassia.
She can be angry with me all she wants. I won’t apologize for keeping her safe.
My grip tightens on the steering wheel, my eyes constantly sweeping over the road ahead. My body is tense, and I’m on high alert for any sudden attacks.
The silence becomes unbearable until Tobias asks, “Where are we going?”
“One of my houses,” I mutter.
Cassia’s voice brims with anger as she asks, “How long will it take for everyone to meet us there?”
“Two days.”
The silence returns, making the air so thick it agitates me.
By the time I pull up to the house that looks like a breeze can blow it over, I’m annoyed as fuck and itching to kill someone.
“This is your house?” Cassia asks as her eyes scan over the property.
I nod before climbing out of the SUV. I grab my duffle back from the back and walk to the porch.
Unlocking the front door, I shove it open. Dust motes fly in the air as I drop my duffle bag on the worn-out couch.
I hear Cassia and Tobias enter the house, then she asks, “When were you last home?”
“I don’t have a home,” I mutter as I walk into the kitchen, where a pack of twelve bottled water stands along with a few tins of food.
I have emergency rations in all four houses. One is in Houston, and the others are in Spain and Melbourne. Not even Santiago knows about those three.
“Where do you live?” she asks.
I don’t bother answering her as I grab a bottle of water. I drink half before gesturing for Cassia and Tobias to help themselves to a bottle each.
Only Tobias grabs water before heading back into the living room.
I move closer to Cassia and hold my half-full bottle out to her, ordering, “Drink.”
She takes it from me and swallows some down before saying, “We need to talk. In private.”
Yeah, we do.
I tip my head in the direction of the doorway. “Do you trust him?”
She nods.
When I walk out of the kitchen, I can hear Cassia behind me. I level Tobias with a look of warning. “Stay in the living room.”
He nods.
I grab my duffle bag and head to the only bedroom. Stepping inside, I wait for Cassia to enter before I shut the door.
I drop the duffle bag on the floor, sending dust motes into the air again as I cross my arms over my chest.
I lock eyes with her, and for a long moment, we only stare at each other before the words tremble over her lips from pure anger.
“You killed one of the few people I could trust. Michail was like a father to me.”
I don’t give a shit who the man was. “He threatened you.”
“You can’t just kill my people without me giving the order,” she insists.
My temper flares up because I’m getting tired of repeating myself. “I can, and I will.”
“How am I supposed to trust you if you can fly off the handle at the drop of a hat?” She snaps, her tone rising.
“I was in total control when I pulled the trigger,” I defend myself. “Trust me, you’ll know when I fly off the handle.”
“Jesus, Lincoln!” she cries, her features drawn tight while twin flames burn on her cheeks. “I can’t work like this. If you can’t obey my orders, then we’ll have to part ways.”
I shake my head hard. “Not happening.”
“Which part?”
“All of it.” I lower my arms and take a step closer to her. “I don’t take orders from you and will do whatever I have to to ensure you stay alive.” I take another step closer. “And I will never let you go.” I lean into her, my tone murderous as I hiss, “You’ll have to kill me to get rid of me.”
Her eyes are wide on me as her breaths rush over her lips, then she glances around the room. I watch as she walks a few steps away from me, then suddenly, she goes for the gun in her thigh-holster.
There’s more than enough time to move in and disarm her, but instead, I keep dead still as she swings around, training the weapon on me. “I’m sorry, Knight, but you don’t get to make the rules.”
I slowly stalk toward her, closing the distance between us with every step I take.
Her hand starts to tremble, and she hisses, “Stop, or I’ll shoot.”
“Pull the trigger,” I taunt her with a low growl.
You’ll be doing me a favor.
Her eyes flick between the gun and me as I press my chest against the barrel, snapping, “Do it.”
Cassia’s eyebrows draw together, and it looks like she’s a second away from crying.
I bring my arm up and wrap my hand around hers, yanking her closer and forcing the barrel to dig hard into my chest.
“Pull the fucking trigger,” I say, my tone low and deep with anger. “Because if you don’t, you agree to let me do everything in my power to keep you alive. Even if it means going against you.”
Her breaths burst over her lips, her eyes filling with tears.
I lean down until I can feel her rushed breaths on my face. “And while I’m laying down the law, you need to clearly understand that when I said I’m with you until the end, I fucking meant it.”
A tear escapes her left eye, and as it rolls down her cheek, she tries to pull the gun back, but I tighten my grip on her hand.
Her angry expression turns to worry, and she shakes her head while admitting, “I c-can’t shoot y-you.”
She places her other hand on my shoulder and tries to pull the gun away again, but she can’t free her hand from my hold.
“Link,” she gasps as more tears start to spiral over her cheeks. “Stop.”
I lift my other hand to the back of her neck and keep her in place as I press my forehead to hers. “If you plan to leave me, you better shoot me now, Cassia. It’s the only way you’ll get away from me.”
Because if she leaves, I won’t have any reason to live.
She stops fighting and stares into my eyes while her tears keep falling.
Then she surprises the fuck out of me by gripping the side of my neck with her free hand and pressing her mouth to mine.
My brain short-circuits, and as she starts to kiss me with a passion born from her anger, frustration, and pain, I stand rooted to the spot like an idiot.
When I don’t return the kiss, she yanks back and manages to free her hand from my hold. Her other hand flies up to cover her mouth while her eyes widen with embarrassment.
Only then does my mind catch up to what just happened.
Cassia kissed me.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. She sucks in a shaky breath before she starts to ramble, “I thought you felt something for me because you keep insisting on staying with me.”
Taking in how her cheeks flame up as her embarrassment keeps growing, life returns to my body, and I close the distance between us with two steps. I grab her wrist and yank it away from her face while my other hand grips her jaw. When my mouth slams against hers, I shudder from the intense rush it sends through my veins.
I hear the gun drop from her hand before she grabs hold of my bicep, then her body pushes against me, and she tilts her head as her lips knead mine.
I break the kiss, growling, “I thought you’ve never been in a relationship?” She nods, trying to get closer again, but I lean more out of her reach. “Who taught you how to kiss?”
“No one,” she snaps angrily while shoving at my chest in frustration. “You’re such an asshole!”
Good, I don’t have to kill some poor fucker.
When she tries to move around me, my arm darts out, and wrapping it around her middle, I lift her off her feet. Her body falls against mine, and I take her mouth in a ferocious kiss.
My tongue thrusts hard into Cassia’s mouth, and the instant I taste her, my body shudders again.
I haven’t allowed myself to be intimate with a woman since I lost Ronnie. Honestly, I haven’t allowed myself anything but the bare necessities to survive as penance for failing her.
That’s why the SUV is all banged up and the houses are falling apart. That’s why I only have enough clothes to get by and no place to call home.
Every dollar I’ve made has been piling up in a Swiss bank account, and I only use the money to purchase weapons and ammo.
I haven’t allowed myself any form of comfort or pleasure until today when Cassia held me.
Until now, as I devour her mouth.
And one taste is all it takes for me to fall completely over the edge. The seed she planted in my heart starts to grow at the speed of light.
Her tongue brushes against mine, and it draws a groan from me. I keep one arm locked around her while my other grips her throat, and my teeth tug at her bottom lip before my tongue dives deep to sweep through her mouth.
Christ.
My heart pounds in my chest, and my breaths speed up as the kiss keeps growing with passion. Cassia’s hands start moving over my arms and chest, and it feels so fucking good.
I let go of her throat and lower my hand to her right breast, massaging her through the silk fabric of her dress.
She quickly wraps her arms around my neck as she kisses me with the same urgency I feel, and I fucking lose my mind for her.
Suddenly, there’s a pounding on the bedroom door, and Tobias shouts, “A car is pulling up the driveway!”
I let out a disgruntled groan as I break the kiss and growl, “Coming.”
Unfortunately, not while balls deep inside Cassia.
As I let go of her my eyes lock with hers. Seeing the gold flecks in her irises looking like molten lava while hearing breaths rush over her swollen lips is almost my undoing.
We stare at each other for a few seconds before I say, “We’re not done.”
She nods as she lifts her hand to her mouth, swiping the pads of her fingers over her bottom lip. “Yes. We need to come to an agreement.”
I let out a dark chuckle, “I’m done talking, Cassia. You had your chance to get rid of me.” As I walk to the door, I mutter, “The subject is closed.”
“Then what are we not done with?” she asks.
I pull the door open and stepping out of the room, I mutter, “The kiss.”