CHAPTER TWENTY #2
I only met him briefly before they began playing, but he seems like a decent enough guy. It was obvious there is nothing romantic between him and any of the girls. Apparently, he works with Trixie at a record company, and they met Cassy through her dad.
“I will kill him,” I grunt.
“We hand him over,” Aidan answers, shooting me a look. “Then he goes back to where he was—behind bars in the Leavenworth penitentiary.”
“I need to get a gun,” Cassy suddenly exclaims and turns to me. “You need to get me a gun.”
Like fuck.
“No, I don’t. And no, you don’t,” I say firmly.
I might’ve spent my life holding a weapon, but there is no way I’m arming her right now. There are a billion reasons why, one of them being she doesn’t have any experience or know how to use one.
“I need to defend myself,” she exclaims.
“You’re surrounded by some of the most experienced and lethal men in the United States. You do not need a fucking gun.”
She looks between Ryder and me, then turns to Aidan.
He holds up his hands. “I’m with Josh. Arming yourself, if Isaac isn’t able to get hold of a weapon, is like handing him one on a silver platter.”
Cassy crosses her arms.
“Just stay near me at all times and if he tries anything, I’ll break his fucking neck,” I tell her.
Aidan shoots me a look.
“I’m joking.”
I’m not.
“Phones untraceable. Probably a burner that he crushed underfoot after sending the text,” Ryder says as he pockets his phone.
As we expected.
“He knows what he’s doing,” Aidan says. “He’s smart. But he could still mess up.”
“Well, I need a fucking drink,” Scarlet says. “Come on. After all, this is why we come here.”
“Told ya.” Aidan grins.
I roll my eyes and follow them inside. Before Cassy walks through the door, I reach for her wrist and tug her to me. Not as close as I want, but closer than she’s been all day.
I want more. I want her in my arms.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“No. I’m scared and creeped out. It feels like it’s happening all over again, but this time I know what’s coming. I know you think you can protect me constantly, but so did my security team a decade ago. And they didn’t. I’d feel better with a gun.”
Yeah, but they weren’t sleeping in your bed, so I am much better placed.
The fact is, I shouldn’t be in her bed, so I can’t use that argument. Instead, I pull my gun out of my holster and check the safety. Then hand it to her.
Big green eyes meet mine as the weight of it sits in the palm of her hand.
“Josh,” she exclaims.
“Hold it.” I insist, letting it go. Immediately, I can tell she’s uncomfortable. “Glock 20 Gen5 MOS. That there will kill a human in seconds. You point. You kill.”
“Stop.” Cassy says, holding it slightly away from her like it’s a dirty diaper.
“Pull this back here.” I show her, forcing it into her hand, while ensuring it's pointing at the ground. “Then pull the trigger. One click and a life is taken.”
I should know. I’ve taken many of them. It does something to your soul that you can never, ever get back.
“That life might be Isaac Miller. Or someone innocent who gets in the line of fire. Or he might turn it on you. Trust me, sweetheart, he’s a lot stronger than you. He’s a sociopath. He won’t hesitate. You will. My money’s on him taking the shot.”
Her lip wobbles.
When she glances up at me, I’m intense when I say, “He won’t get near you Cassy. And I’m not arming you.”
“I can get one if I want. You can’t stop me.”
I take the weapon and put it back in the holster that’s strapped over my shirt. “Correct. You can.”
But I’m really fucking hoping I’ve made my point because I know the numbers. I know the odds. Yet I want her to feel safe and empowered. If she wants a goddamn weapon, then I’ll get her one.
I just won’t let her ever be in a situation with him that she needs to use it.
“If you still want one tomorrow, we’ll start the process,” I say, leading her inside.
“Thank you.” She presses her arm against mine and warmth races through my body.
I almost close my eyes and relish the sensation, but I don’t because my team is watching me with her as we join them.
So is Scarlet.
With a smirk, of course.
“So, you guys do private security. How much to hire one of you for a night to—”
“Scar!” Cassy says as Aidan chokes on his drink.
“To. Let me finish.” Scarlet says as I force back my smile. “To protect me when I go to Hypo Club one night?”
Parker rolls his eyes. “That’s called a date, not security.”
“What?” Aidan asks. “That’s not what we do. We aren’t gigolos.”
Cassy covers her face.
“I think gigolos sleep with their clients, don’t they?”
Aidan lifts his brow at me.
“Not a date, Parker.” Scarlet sighs. “They just have to walk in with me.”
“Jimmy is a dick. Forget him.” Parker shakes his head and takes a sip of his drink.
“Who’s Jimmy?” Ryder asks.
“Her ex.” Trixie shares. “He cheated on her.”
“Trix!” Scarlet exclaims.
“Yeah, we don’t do that kind of work.” Aidan squints.
“But if you want him killed,” Ryder says quietly, leaning in. “I know some people.”
Cassy and Scarlet turn to me and I hold up my hands. “He’s joking.”
“Am I?” Ryder leans back, grinning.
Behind him, Aidan shakes his head.
We both know he does—hell, he might even do that shit on the side, I don’t know—okay, fine, I do know—but for the love of god, Ry, pick your audience.
“He’s teasing.” Cassy nudges Scarlet. “I thought you had moved on.”
She shrugs. “I have, but it wouldn’t hurt to walk in with some arm candy to rub it in.”
Coughing, I take note to not sip any liquid when Scarlet is about to speak. Beside me, Ryder laughs his head off.
“She’s fun,” he tells me.
“Perhaps, but I wouldn’t close my eyes in the same room as her.” I smirk and send Cassy a wink.
After Scarlet inquired about their t-shirt sizes, Aidan and Ryder finished up their drinks and got set to leave.
Aidan walks over. “Take a break tomorrow. Ryder can be there in the morning.”
His voice is firm. Very few people would ever risk that type of assertion with me. He’s one of the few who I let do it.
Across from me, Cassy is laughing with her friends. I don’t want to be away from her for a minute, but I’m also aware that she’s a distraction to me, which could cost her life.
I’m beginning to have feelings for her which don’t have a place in my world. A day away to clear my head is a good idea.
“Yeah, okay.”
Aidan slaps me on the shoulder, and the two men say goodbye to the others and walk out.
“Have fun at the salon tomorrow, Ryder.” I call out and he lifts his arm in the air, giving me the bird without a single glance.
Then I see Scarlet’s grin. Cassy punches her arm playfully, and she pretends it hurts. “Ouch? I’ll be nice, I promise.”
I’m also sad I’ll miss the torture he has ahead of him.
“They’re not toys. They’re my protection,” Cassy says.
“I need more guy friends,” Parker grumbles.
“Rubbish, you love us.” Scarlet throws a french fry at him.
I tune out and use the next hour to go through the information my team sent through overnight about potential sightings and the track they believe Isaac is taking. He’s heading to L.A. There is no question about that.
And we need to be prepared.