Page 179 of Safe Word

‘No,’ she croaked out.

Genevieve’s figure disappeared behind the balcony door.

Vinnie hovered for another intake of breath.

‘Whatever’s going on, figure it out. The reporter is here for another hour. No drama. Got it?’

‘Yep,’ I said quietly, never breaking eye contact with Paula.

He left. Too slow. Each footstep that followed Genevieve’s felt like the ticking of a countdown I couldn’t pause.

And when he closed the door behind him, peering through the glass, I couldn’t breathe.

Because my monster was out. Clawing, desperate.

Aching for her.

And I knew…

I wasn’t going to stop it from tearing out of me.

We weren’t alone. I wasn’t sure if I was grateful for it or terrified. Vinnie and that woman were just behind the door – close enough to hear if either of us made a sound.

Perhaps…

Perhaps I should run? The room felt too small, the air too thick, his stare pinning me like prey.

Like I belonged right there, pressed under him, unravelled.

Cain recognised the thought before I even twitched, his body tensing like a trap.

‘Don’t,’ he murmured dangerously, his voice a quiet edge that cut through every thread of reason.

I sucked in a breath.

He did too.

And then I bolted, the chair scraping back with a screech

I darted past Genevieve’s seat, panic and something hotter and more damning slamming into me.

He chased. Hunted. His steps barely made a sound as he closed the gap between us, his presence eating up all the air.

I swerved past the couch where Vinnie had sat. There—

A door. Any fucking door! Away from curious eyes and ears.

I grabbed its handle, shoved it open – stumbled—

Into a fucking, cramped, six-by-six-foot toilet.

The fluorescent light hummed mockingly overhead, casting everything in sterile white. The smell of disinfectant slapped me. No window. No air. No escape.

I clocked the door on the opposite side—

Cain’s hand clamped around my elbow and spun me until my back hit the wall. The door banged shut behind us with a finality that felt like a sentence.

With the other hand he ripped the silk scarf I’d tied around my neck to conceal Ghost’s kiss. And he froze, staring at the proof of what we both had known but still couldn’t believe.