Page 58 of Queen of Spades

“Yeah, I didn’t want to inherit someone else’s sins, either.” I grimace. Maybe the alcohol hasn’t worn off just yet. “I mean, maybe your dad isn’t like mine were?—”

“No, that’s exactly it.” Cassian nods, and his dark hair falls over his forehead as he glances out the windows lining the breakfast nook. It’s mostly behind me as I sit on the counter, but he’s facing that direction. “My mother couldn’t stand to live the way my father does. She left when I was four. Colette wasn’t yet a year old. My father didn’t even allow us to grieve her loss before he married my stepmother. She’d barely been gone for six months.” His head shakes. “He had two more sons with Irina. Luckily, it leaves one of them the perfect opportunity to take over his empire.”

My hand leaves my thigh to pat his shoulder. “That is tough, but like you said, it gives you an out you might not have had if you were the only heir.”

Grady slides around the corner and into the kitchen in only a pair of low-slung sweatpants. I lick my lips as my eyes rake down his muscular frame. He really likes it when I lick his nipple piercings. And despite it not being the time, I still have the irrational urge to tackle him to the floor to do exactly that.

“Sorry to interrupt. I woke up and you were gone. I thought maybe I was going to get my chance to hunt you,” Grady says, chuckling darkly. He saunters over to the other side of the counter with his back to the breakfast nook.

Cas is still kind of staring at the counter or the remains of my apple. I twist to glare at Grady, but I’m a little concerned I’m still impaired.

Nope, holy shit.

There are three windows lining the breakfast nook, and in the middle is a man about to breach the house. Unless that’s one of Cassian’s security guys.

I’m still not taking any risks.

“Grady!” I hiss, grabbing the paring knife.

“Yeah, baby?”

“Get down!”

His face twists into confusion for half a second before he hits the ground, disappearing behind the counter.

The window shatters.

A set of black boots fly in first, followed immediately after by a man’s torso. He’s covered in tactical gear.

I aim, tossing my knife as he moves.

Only I miss.

It lands in his groin area, and my jaw falls open.

I was aiming for his throat.

The man wails and slides down the wall, but Grady tackles him. I don’t know if he grabs the knife I used or if he had one, but he slits the man’s throat and grabs his gun. He starts patting around, like he’s looking for extra ammo.

I slide off the counter, grabbing Cassian’s shirt and yanking him down too. He ends up kneeling next to me.

His eyes are huge. “What the hell is this?”

“Apparently we didn’t get them all tonight,” Grady growls.

I pop up to scan and make sure he’s okay. There’s another guy about to breach the window on the right, but the glass explodes, and his crumpled body falls outside.

My head whips to the side to see Kane has joined the party.

“Dammit, I was going to take care of him,” Grady grumbles. “This is not me owing you one.”

Kane snorts. “Of course it’s not.”

“What is happening?” Cassian asks again.

I squat down again, patting his back awkwardly again. “I’m sorry about your house.”

“Do you have a safe room?” Kane asks.

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