“CAS!” I shout again. I have to think this through logically.
Where would she go?
We’d arrived by car. My dark chrome Bugatti Mistralis currently parked in the secure parking lot beneath the building. Without a keycode, she couldn’t go back down there.
If she called a cab, where would she go? Back to the brownstone? Or would she skip town entirely and get on the next flight to Ohio?
Surely, she wouldn’t try walking anywhere. It’s too late for that to be even remotely safe, even if she hadn’t just appeared publicly on my arm.
The lethal part of my brain already thinks about what would happen to the person who tried to harm her.
My eyes snag on a figure huddled under the nearby bus shelter.
“Cas,” I breathe out.
She doesn’t look at me as I approach, but I can see the tears still rolling down her face. I can’t bear it.
I reach out to tilt her head up to look at me, but she snatches it away. My only option is to get on my knees before her.
“Cassandra.” Her name on my lips feels like a prayer.
For a moment, she says nothing.
“Claudio was cheating on me.”
It’s like a stab to the chest. Was I really so conceited to think her tears were forme?
I swallow back my pride. “I’m sorry.”
“Did you know?”
My memory snags on that night at theElectrix.If I hadn’t arrived, he’d likely have had Danny and Teresa that night.
All I can do is nod.
She gasps bitterly. “Figures.”
“I didn’t mean to keep this from you, Cas.”
“But you love keeping me at arm's length,” she looks down at me. “Cute enough to fuck but not good enough to kiss?”
My blood runs cold. So she had seen Danny and I.
“Please, Cas. Let me explain.”
“You don’t need to. I get it. She’s beautiful and talented, and you clearly have history.” she sniffs. “I’m sorry if my staying with you has strained your relationship with her.”
I’m already shaking my head. “Our relationship was over before I met you.”
“I don’t care. You don’t owe me anything, Rocco. We never said anything about exclusivity. It’s my own fault I’m…” her voice breaks and she takes a second to gather herself again. “This is just physical, right? You said that from the start.”
“I said that to keep you safe.” I reach for her hands and hold them firm. “You saw how many people were looking at us today. If any of them thought that I was attached to you. Fuck, if they thought they could exploityouas my weakness…”
“Yeah. I know.”
“You don’t,” my voice breaks. “Cas, if anything were to happen to you because of your attachment to me, I’d…”
I have to work hard to keep the horrified sob from escaping my lips.
