Page 118 of Queen of Spades

They’re trying to convince me to run. It’s a little embarrassing because the guys have to be able to feel the spillover in the bond, and even Cas seems centered and confident.

I don’t like that we’re separated in two different vehicles, and it’s making me paranoid.

Cas slides closer, pulling my hair to the side and kissing down my throat. “We’ve got this.”

I nod, twisting to give him a quick kiss on the jaw. “Do you really think Lucien will show up? What incentive does he even have? This is probably a huge setup.”

“That’s a very real possibility,” he agrees, moving down to clasp my fingers in his. “That’s why we’ve got backup. I missed the opportunity to thank you for covering for me with Kane and Grady, but I need you to hear me when I say this. Do not put yourself in the line of fire to try to protect me. No matter what happens, you keep yourself safe. Swear it to me, Annika.”

My chest tightens as I shake my head. I could give him my word, but I wouldn’t keep it. When I saw him lying on the floor after Ezrah pistol-whipped him…

God, I can’t do that all over again.

Certainly not with something more serious.

“I don’t want to say I love you right before we go into a dangerous situation, especially because everything has moved so quickly.” I swallow around the lump in my throat and force myself to be emotionally vulnerable. “I care about you. I mean, I have serious feelings for you. I need you to be okay.”

“The same goes for you,” Cas growls, wrapping his hand in my hair and yanking my mouth to his. He pours every ounce of affection he feels for me into the bond. It’s a relief to know we’re on the same page. That warm, fuzzy feeling is what grows into love.

It’s not easy to tell specifics when one of my guys isn’t close by. The farther the physical distance, the more muted the crossover becomes, but some kind of prickly confusion comes from Ward.

I pull back from the kiss with Cas, stretching around to study the side of Ward’s face.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as anxiety bubbles in my stomach.

“I believe we’ve been taken for a ride.” He gestures to a billboard with a roller rink advertisement. “I thought we drove by that once before, but I’m now absolutely certain this is the third go-round.”

“What the hell?” I whisper, but it clicks. “Fucking Ranger.”

It’s an additional ten minutes of proper instructions before we end up in a neighborhood I have no trouble believing the Andrettis would live in.

Ward drives us down the dead-end street until two black SUVs come into view. They’re blocking the road, and my head tilts as it finally clicks how powerful the company is that Ranger works for.

Ward slows down and speaks to one of the men in all black. The man moves back and waves us forward.

“That feels weirdly official,” Tanner mutters, twisting around in his seat to look at me. “Exactly how connected is your family?”

“Do they even need us here if this is handled?” Cas asks, ignoring Tanner.

“Probably not,” I admit, grabbing his hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I still would feel better seeing with my own eyes that Lucien is dead.”

“That’s understandable.” Ward pulls up next to the SUV the guys left in earlier. It’s easy enough to tell because I memorized the license plate as they drove away. “Masks on, princesses. I’m still seeing movement, and I don’t think it’s our guys. They’re not masked.”

“Don’t forget Beefcake.” I exhale heavily, trying to get myself together.

“At least someone remembered I’m here,” Tanner says.

“We’re masking up now.” I yank the scratchy material over my face. It’s porous and breathable, but the jacked-up feeling of too much adrenaline or anxiety makes me gasp for breath.

Cas leans close, and his warm breath fans through the material over my ear. “You’re a badass. You’ve got this, beautiful.”

“Thanks.”

“That was so romantic.” Tanner chuckles. “I can’t wait until I find a mafia heir to sweet-talk me. It’s actually part of my ongoing life goals.”

Ward scoffs, shoving open his door. I follow, doing the same.

Gunshots fill the air.

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