nything new, nor is it a new faculty. It

na Ma

------

ually accompanied either a nightmare's afte

since Jake's hanging body haunted me in my sleep, so it wasn't a

off the pillow, I realize

right on a grey armchair, his eyes were laser-locked on me, hi

ropping myself up against the cold metal bunk that creaked, I met his gaze, refusing to break the stare. If this was some k

irl who stumbled into saving his life. And he wasn't going to find that proof because it didn

here he was slapping a device rhyth

, I spotted a clock

ng-or in this case, sleeping. But I was still breathing. That could only mean one thing: the

smacking against his palm. "That's how long it took Calista'

s hoping the force would someh

n to reluctant acceptance. "Thank you, Cassandra, for what

it had been nothing more than a bluff to steady myself. I never thought a man like Renzo, dangerous and hardened, would actually thank m

here

nd my shoulders, but in some strange way, knowing I had kept another life

ll be out cold right now. Those men had us in their sights. They were organized, had us surrounded. Just two minutes-that's all they needed to take us out. But yo

at had almost happened. Either way, it felt unsettling. My chest tightened, and

, I tried to shake

overheard one of them saying the order was to capture you alive, and leave your men dead. So, t

s skin. "So, you're full of yourself, huh?" His smile was irritatingly perfect-symmet

, sitting there with one leg draped over the other like luxury was his birt

head, nodding slightly before continuing, "That's because-and this I only found out after the attack-I've got a rat among them. I wasn't even supposed to be here yesterday. Th

ss was startling. I liked it, though. It was different. The men in Vincenzo's family were like stone, their emotions strapped

wn or, worse, told to mind the "feminine" things. Obeying orders,

to the authorities, report his entire operation, make things difficult. Then again, another pa

would cross him, and he was banking

uc

was gone, replaced by a dark sweatshirt, hiding the tattoos I'd noticed before. When he raked a hand through his hair, it felt almost like he did it for no rea

one could cripple anyone with a weak will. His stride, his postur

e was an underlying hardness that made me sit up straighter. "Here's a little

g to keep my smile stea

n eyebrow.

t killi

ke I said," he repeated with that same dark

like they should've. Something in my head just brus

he intensity of my gaze. But I couldn't help myself. I was trying to figure him out, to reconcile what I'd been told about him with what I was seeing right in front

those ones that happened once

waged a bloody war against my family for years, who'd taken so many live

If there was. But I couldn't. Not now. Not ever. I'd already escaped being seen as

f I stayed in his presence any

where I needed to go. "I'll drop you off." He jerk

f bed, trying to straighten up, but the truth was, I had nothing. Nothing to fall back on. As I stood there, Renzo c

, Cass

I was nothing.

e a slap. "You don't

ng deep inside me. A stray. I'd never really thought of myself t

ut missing a beat. "But that's by t

d unravel everything. So instea

lot." His voice was softer, almost thoughtful, like he was figuring

d off-too forced, and even he knew it. My lie had bee

" I cleared my throat. "I lost someone a few days ago. Grief's a b

pit my mind was spiraling into. His figure became clear again, grounding me in reality. "I won't pretend I understand, bu

actually gave a damn. My defenses melted, and in that brief moment, I felt safe enough to ask for help. Knowing if

dollars. I'll pay you back, I sw

have a plac

d an answer. His nod told me he'd

t not harsh. "Come on," he said, less guarded this time. "I'm not the kind to throw around 'thanks' with jus

g anyone had ever given her. Something she couldn't have even dreamed of-a cozy studio apartment in Streeterville, his idea of a "safe neighborhood." I wouldn't know much about that, b

d some of his guys stock the place with enough groceries to tur

uld paint right here, in this space, and sell my work online without ever

d enough, I told myself, I

that's wha

panned out for

he reason became excruciatingly