Page 42 of Riordan's Revenge

The barrel remained trained on me.

“We got a problem here?” I asked.

Cassie’s voice followed mine. “Um, Struan? Why are ye aiming at Riordan?”

I didn’t take my attention off him. No one had ever pulled a gun on me before, but this almost certainly wouldn’t be the last time.

Tension strung out between us.

Cassie reached down the side of the sofa and returned upright. In her hand, she held a gun of her own. “Bang, bang. Stop it.”

A beat passed, and Struan shrugged then flipped the weapon in his hand and held it out to me. “Ye left this downstairs, so Tyler informs me. Why?”

I curled my lip, not taking it, and also not liking the fact I had to admit another fault. “Carrying a gun and working out how the fuck to fire it would be a waste of time. I’m better off without it. Or I was.”

Cassie’s brother sighed. Dropped his arm. “Ye can’t shoot? I’m going to brain Arran. What did he do, recruit ye then leave ye to fend for yourself?”

“His friend died,” I countered. Arran was grieving.

“Aye, that’s no excuse for dropping the ball with the person protecting Cassie.”

From the sofa, Cassie stowed her weapon like nothing had happened and snagged a chicken drumstick. “In Arran’s defence, he didn’t know I’d claimed Riordan until I kidnapped him. But I’m inclined to agree.”

Struan grumbled and dropped into an armchair, setting the gun down on the table. My heart restarted, and I had half a mind to snatch it up and see how he liked being on the other end of the barrel. The psycho would probably enjoy it.

“Once you’ve eaten, we’ll move on to lesson two. Shooting and disarming. Really should’ve been able to flip control just then. I gave ye every chance.” He folded his arms and rested back then switched his gaze to Cassie. “Bullshit that Sin and Lottie have to stay another night.”

She ducked her head and shrank in on herself, all her bluster gone in an instant. “I don’t like it either. I just wish they were home and everything was okay.”

Cautiously, I took a seat next to her then helped myself to some of the food. Bottles of ice-cold water beaded on the tray, and I downed half of one before attacking the chicken. It had a barbecue marinade, plus there were hot, salted chips in a bowl. Ineeded food badly, yet as much as I concentrated on consuming calories, I couldn’t help noticing Cassie’s change in attitude.

What had her brother said? That Sin and Lottie were staying away? Cassie worried about them, she’d told me it had been a problem when she was a child, and I’d bet any money that hadn’t gone away. This would stress her out even more.

When the meal was done, we left the apartment, Struan going ahead with my gun casually lodged in his waistband. I shrugged on my leather jacket. Beside me, a quiet Cassie had already donned a thick hoodie. It had cat ears on the hood that she’d tugged up over her curls.

Cute as fuck, yet she wasn’t smiling.

I nudged her. “Everything will be okay with your folks.”

She shot me a surprised look. “I know. I was going to tell you about Lottie and Sin, but they only just messaged when I started talking to your sisters. There wasn’t time to process it, and it’s only a delay in their appointment, so no news. Also, sorry about my brother and the gun. He makes points in dramatic ways.”

“Runs in the family,” I grouched.

Cassie snickered and bumped her shoulder to my arm.

It was just an acknowledgement, but it felt like the most natural thing in the world to throw my arm around her as we walked along.

I resisted.

She’d offered me a deal I’d barely started to get my head around. Both parts of it demanded my attention. With her strategic mind, revenge on the mayor could be so much easier. It might even save my skin. She had resources. An army of dangerous relatives like some kind of Mafia princess.

But it was the second part of the offer that tripped me up.

“Ye still haven’t given me an answer,” she said, low.

We passed the top of the staircase, continuing on down the corridor. Ahead, her brother took a corner, disappearing out of sight. In a patch of darkness, I stopped Cassie. Rounded on her.

“Two,” I said.

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