Page 3 of Cruel Love

One more night.

That’s all we needed.

Just one more night of red carpet wonder and camera flashes. After this, her contractual obligations were over, and we could start planning our future together.

Instead, they found us.

Why did it have to be tonight of all nights?

My nose twitches as I step into the parking garage, immediately detecting the stench of blood somewhere in the air. I move forward with silent steps, eager to stay one move ahead of the enemy. It’s an old habit. A good habit to have, but my fate was already sealed the moment I stepped inside.

There’s no point in using stealth against the man who taught it to me.

I cross the lettered aisles to the opposite side, following the signs toward the theater’s back entrance, just like he told me to.

A heavy shuffling sound echoes behind a nearby car. I stop and stare at its source until she drops the dead agent’s legs and stands upright with an exasperated huff. She’s dressed in black with her bright red hair tied back in a tight ponytail.

“Hey, Lilah,” I say.

She bobs her head. “‘Sup, killer?”

“Fox—”

Dani.

My heart lurches as she races toward me. She throws her arms around my neck and I hug her close while keeping an eye on Lilah as grabs another body and drags it away to hide it behind a different large car.

“Are you okay?” I ask Dani.

She pulls back and nods, but there’s fear in her eyes and tears on her cheeks. I curse the moment as guilt plagues my gut. I promised her she’d never feel like this ever again after what Mercer did to her.

“Did they hurt you?” I ask.

“No. Well...” She gestures at the hidden bodies. “They did, but not...”

Not Dante.

“Hi, Fox.”

I look at him lingering about ten paces away next to an old sedan wearing just as much black as his sister.

Dante Hart, the only man I met in Snake Eyes I’d ever consider a friend — in another life.

I nod. “If this is your idea of keeping distance, then I’ve got news for you...”

He smirks. “Something came up.”

“What?”

“Not here,” he says as he opens the car’s back door. “We should get somewhere a little less public first.”

I could run. Hell, I could probably get off one shot at Dante before Lilah can react and then lose her somewhere between the cars. But Dani...

I can’t guarantee her safety if I did that. If Dante wanted to kill her, he would have. Lilah isn’t the type to leave witnesses standing around either. They came here to find me, but not to fight me or turn me in. They killed a half-dozen agents and saved Dani’s life just to talk to me. Something definitely came up and I’m ashamed to admit that I’m curious.

The best way out of this is to move forward.

I take Dani’s hand in mine. I look her in the eyes, silently asking for her to trust me as we walk toward the car.

---