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“Hey,” I whispered.
He didn’t say anything, only narrowing his stare at me.
I stepped aside, holding open the door. “Come in.”
I could tell he didn’t want to, but since he’d come, I knew he would. And after a few moments of silence, he did. Cade stepped around me, entering the suite, and I hurriedly shut the door and caught up to him.
We emerged into the open kitchen, finding both Luca and Zander. Neither of them was talking. Zander had gotten out something from the refrigerator, and he cracked it open as he saw me. It was clear neither Zander nor Luca wanted to give us privacy, so I ended up leading Cade right through the kitchen. A glass door sat near the dining table, leading out to a balcony that overlooked the surrounding city.
We were pretty high up, and the wind was evidence enough of that. My hair whipped around from the very first moment we stepped outside, and I went to the balcony, tucking as much as I could behind my ears. Didn’t really do much, but unless I ran inside for a hair tie, there wasn’t much more I could do.
Cade had his hands in his pockets, moving to stand beside me, looking out at the other tall buildings around us. “Before you say anything, there’s something you should know,” he said, his voice just as low and rough as I remembered. I fought the instant shiver that threatened to travel up my spine in remembrance of that voice and the things he’d said to me in the club.
I didn’t ask what it was. I didn’t need to.
“I got a contract. I haven’t accepted it yet. The client went through a third party, so I don’t know who they are, but that contract is asking for your assassination.”
If I wasn’t already holding onto the railing, I would’ve wobbled on my feet. What? Someone still wanted me dead? Did that mean it wasn’t my father who had me shot, but instead someone else?
Was I wrong about Atlas’s men? I doubted Atlas would hire an assassin, but…
And then it occurred to me Cade said he hadn’t accepted it yet.
“Is this you warning me that you’re going to kill me?” It bothered me to know he was thinking of accepting it. I thought… I guess I thought we had something between us. Granted, it had been a while, but my feelings for him hadn’t disappeared; if anything, time had only made them grow stronger.
Cade didn’t answer me. Instead, he asked, “When were you going to tell me you got married? I thought—it doesn’t matter. I don’t care.” It sounded like he’d shut down, and it was like a cat was inside of me, clawing at my heart.
“My father forged my signature and submitted it to the state without telling me. By the time I knew, it was already a done deal. It’s not like I wanted this. I didn’t even have a fucking wedding.” My bare hands gripped the railing tighter, my knuckles turning white.
“Oh, yeah. I can see you’re really torn up about it. That ring must weigh on you.” His sarcasm wasn’t as obvious as Luca’s or even Zander’s. His was more of a deadpan, his words growled out to show his unhappiness.
I turned toward him, frowning. “Do you think I’m a liar, then? Do you think I didn’t mean anything I told you before?” I took a step toward him, my voice just as low as his had been, “Remember when I told you that I’d never been with anyone by my choice? I’m now living in the same fucking place as the man who made me want to die.”
Cade’s brows creased, but he said nothing.
“Three years ago my father sold me for a night to Rocco Moretti, so if you think this is what I wanted, you’re nothing but a stupid man who thinks his problems are worse than everyone else’s. Here’s some news for you, Cade: I didn’t want this. I sure as shit didn’t ask for this. And not once did I ever stop caring about you.”
His eyes closed, and he turned his head away from me, hiding his reaction.
I didn’t stop. I kept going: “You helped me. Whether you realize it or not, you did. I wouldn’t be who I am today without you. I don’t know if I believe in fate or destiny, but meeting you in the Playground changed everything. If you want to take the contract and kill me, fine. Do it, but at least wait until I take my father and Rocco down with me.”
That got Cade to look at me. His features were twisted into a scowl, his lips drawn into a deep frown. I couldn’t say what he was thinking, but the look he currently gave me was very intense, so intense I forgot there were two men inside the suite, probably talking about us and how they were both jealous of the connection Cade and I had.
Nothing to be jealous of, though. If this man was going to kill me, jealousy was a pointless emotion to feel.
“I came here with the intention of telling you off,” he finally spoke. “Telling you off and letting you know about the contract as a professional courtesy.” With a sigh, he ran his hand through his blond hair, causing its short length to stick up every which way. A messy kind of cute. “But, fuck, I can’t kill you, Giselle. As pissed off as I am, I can’t do it.”
Hearing that should fill me with relief, but I couldn’t say I felt anything remotely close to that.
His wide body turned toward me, those emerald eyes of his zeroed in on me. “Your father married you off to the son of the man he sold you to years ago?”
“Yes.”
“Then he’s a fucking asshole,” Cade growled out. “And so is Rocco. I’ll refuse the contract and go after them instead.”
It would be all too easy to tell Cade to do it, to kill them for me, but then I’d miss the satisfaction of doing it myself. Although, perhaps I should be focusing on the fact that Cade couldn’t kill me. It was kind of sweet for a hitman to confess that he couldn’t kill you, wasn’t it?
“No,” I said. “I want to take them down. Take their respect and their empires away from them, and then… then rid the world of their stain.” I bit the inside of my cheek, thinking. “What happens if you refuse the contract on my life?”
