Page 27 of Understanding Fate

“Do I know you?” I ask, angling myself toward the door in the small space and trying to appear casual.

“Nope, but I know you,” she says, moving her hand from behind her back to reveal a knife. “And you’re going to walk right out of here with me quietly. Do you understand?”

“Not sure if I can do that, actually,” I say, hoping my instincts are right. “See, I’m not here alone.”

As I finish the sentence, the door pushes open, and I make my move, ducking behind a startled woman and back into the crowd. An arm wraps around my center, pinning me back into the wall and shielding me from the crowd.A single inhale tells me exactly who is holding me, and the fight in me releases, my arms looping his waist without a thought.

“Breathe, Firefly.”

His whispered words hit my ears, and I realize my heart is racing, panic filling me.

“There’s a woman in…”

“Shhhhh…” he leans closer to my ear. “I’ve got you. You’re safe with me. Just breathe.”

Just breathe?

I am breathing.

Am I breathing?

Shit.

His arms pull me into him, and he steers us to the back door, looking to any passerby like a couple off to finish our night.

The cold air outside hits my skin, and I inhale shakily, taking in the icy oxygen.

Cain releases me, giving me space to calm down, but the chill that hits me as soon as his body leaves mine only adds to my panic, and I step back into him, burying my face in his chest as tears begin to fall.

“I’ve got you. You’re safe. Keep breathing. I’ve got you. You’re safe…”

He repeats the phrases over and over, the soothing tone allowing me to focus on him, his words, his scent, his warmth, and even the rhythm of his heartbeat.

After a few minutes, I pull back, not releasing my arms but tipping my head up to look at him.

“Is it always like this in your world?” I whisper, knowing I can’t survive a lifetime of looking over my shoulder, of constantly having to be on guard, ready for an attack.

“Not usually. You’ve just made an impression, and everyone wants to have you,” he says, keeping his words light and gently kissing my forehead. My eyes close involuntarily at the act, and when they open, I see the doubt swirling in his.

“I don’t want to spend my life having to be saved,” I say, hating the way this new reality makes me feel helpless all the time.

“You’ve got a funny way of showing it, City girl,” a smooth country drawl says from behind Cain, causing his hold on me to tighten.

I peek around Cain’s body to see Ghost casually leaning against the bar wall. He’s wearing all black, making his white hair and pale blue eyes even more pronounced.

“Yes, Casper, because I’m running around with a sign on my shirt that says ‘kidnap me,’” I say, sarcasm dripping from my tone.

“Might as well be.” He shrugs, continuing with a grin, “Told you yesterday people were after you, and yet still you are out gallivanting at restaurants and bars. Protecting you is a logistical nightmare. It’s no wonder your ‘kind of sort of maybe boy toy’ over here had to bring a fully trained security team to handle the job.”

“I didn’t ask for any of this!” I snap, stepping around Cain’s hold, causing him to shift his grip and place him behind me, hands still loosely hanging around my waist.

“And I thought you’d be watching my back. Some legend! Dante talked about you like you walk on water, but you ghosted me today! I guess that’s the real way you got your name. Poof! You're gone when someone needs you!” By the end of the statement, I’m almost yelling, and Ghost’s expression turns dark. For a moment, I feel bad as pain flashes across his face like I’ve physically smacked him, but the shaking of Cain’s chest as he holds back laughter, pulls my attention away.

“Something funny, Mr. Mingan,” I ask, raising an eyebrow and looking over my shoulder.

He clears his throat, amusement dancing in those stormy eyes.

“Nope. Sorry,” he gets out, clearly holding back as he presses his lips together before looking back at Ghost.

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