Page 47 of Queen of Spades

But I would prefer to keep her in my space. Also, we would have had to stop by my room for clothes, either way.

So, really, I just saved us the trouble of needing to walk to another room.

I toss down the clothing, start the shower, and grab a towel. When I turn around, I find her leaning against the wall with a glazed look in her eyes. Chucking the towel over the top of the glass shower wall, I immediately focus back on her.

My instincts are in full-blown alpha hover mode. It could be the burned tinge to her normally sweet caramel scent, or possibly it’s the look of misery on her face, but I’m not sure how I’m supposed to walk out the door.

She smacked Grady’s hand away when they walked into Cassian’s office, but she immediately looked to him for confirmation that she’d be safe with me.

“You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind.” I come to a stop directly in front of her. At just over six feet, I’m on the shorter side for an alpha, but she still has to crane her eyes up to meet mine.

“Yeah, I really wasn’t joking when I said it’s been a long night.” She cringes, laughing awkwardly.

She’s in the same dress from earlier. My hand lands on the smooth material at her hip, but I move it around to her arse to pull her closer.

“I’m feeling a bit out of the loop since I haven’t the vaguest idea what’s gone on,” I say, my accent sounding especially thick. “But tell me this, lass. Are you okay? Do you feel safe with those two?”

She huffs, and the next thing I know, her face is buried in my chest. “Am I okay? No. Am I safe?” Her head shakes. “Probably. At least until Kane drags me back to my brother.”

“And that’s the bloke Cas owes a favor?” I ask, running my hand up and down her spine.

“Apparently so,” she says, but it’s muffled by the fact her face is buried in my shirt.

“Are you under duress? Is that other man a danger to you?” I ask as my jaw clenches and my hand tightens its hold on her back.

“I don’t know,” she says. “The last time I saw him… I kinda…” The rest is too muffled for me to make out.

“You what? I couldn’t understand the last bit.”

“Shot him.”

I snort as my eyes widen. “Really?”

“I’m not joking.”

I wasn’t expecting that. “Right. Did he deserve it?”

She shrugs. “At the time, I thought he did, but since then, I’ve decided I may have overacted.”

“And did you shoot someone else tonight? Is that why you’re covered in blood? None of you seem to be injured.”

“No, they locked me in a safe room. I didn’t get to shoot anyone. But Lucien and Ezrah Andretti know I’m in Vegas…”

My entire body stiffens at the mention of one of the most notorious crime families in Boston.

“Yeah,” she says, nodding against my T-shirt. “It’s going to get ugly if they find me.”

I exhale heavily. “Might I ask why?”

“They killed my mom and dads.” She nuzzles deeper. “I probably shouldn’t even be talking about all this.”

“Fair enough,” I agree.

I’m a vault.

You don’t rise through the ranks like I have with a squeamish stomach or a loose tongue, but she doesn’t know that. Nor does she have any reason to trust me with her secrets.

“You’ll feel better once you’ve had a rinse.” I pat her shoulder and step back. “The water is running, and I left the clothes on the counter. There’s a towel for you.” I point. “Do you need anything else?”

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