Page 32 of Under His Command

“Cassie. Don’t you dare leave,” Flynn shouted as he moved through the crowd. There was no doubt he wanted an explanation and deserved one, but she couldn’t face him. Not here, not now, maybe never.

As he drew closer, moving people aside and not always gently, she panicked and yanked free of Colt’s grasp. If he wouldn’t get her out of there, she’d go on her own. It was LA, surely, she could get a cab even at midnight. Weaving quickly between the bodies that had pressed close to watch the drama unfold, she fought her way to the front.

“Cassie, stop,” Flynn ordered sharply. She also heard him grumbling, “Get out of the way.” Relieved the mass of members and guests slowed his pursuit, she ducked and twisted, using her diminutive size to her advantage for once. She didn’t stop, not for Colt, or Commander Dalton, or for Jules who also called out to her.

When she reached the lobby, she didn’t dare stop for her purse. Instead, she pushed through the double doors, ignoring the receptionist who offered to help. The humid night air made it more difficult to breathe as she flew down the stairs and out onto Beverly Boulevard. With an odd stroke of good luck, several taxis waited.

She chose the first one, shouting at the driver as she climbed in. “Go! Now, please!”

His eyes flicked behind her as she slammed the door and locked it. As if sensing the impending danger, the cabbie stepped on the gas and peeled out. Too afraid to look back when a fist pounded the side of the cab, she faced forward as it sped off. Trembling, she dropped her head in her hands, trying to figure out what she would do when Monday came.

“Do you need the police or the emergency room? That man who came after you was huge and looked angry. Did he hurt you?”

“No, it isn’t like that. I’m fine.” The tremor in her voice disproved her statement—she was anything but fine. “I need to get home to San Diego.”

He hesitated. “That’s a four-hour round trip.”

“I left my purse but can’t go back. I swear I’ll pay you when I get to my place. There’s a generous tip in it if you’ll take me, please.”

She watched in the mirror as his eyes moved, taking in her messy hair and tear-dampened cheeks then dipped lower to her outfit.

“I have a daughter your age. I’d have a fit if she were out this time of night and at a club like that.”

Cassie didn’t correct him. The man looked no more than forty. He couldn’t possibly have a daughter her age, but she welcomed his assumption she was much younger if it meant he would take her home.

“Promise you won’t do it again, and I’ll take the fare.”

“Yes, sir. I’ve learned my lesson.” The tears rolling down her cheeks weren’t contrived. “I just want to go home.”

He nodded his head and flipped the lever on the meter.

As she watched the night sky through her window, her stomach knotted with dread at what the coming work week would bring. How would she face Flynn? Or Colt, who had to be fuming that she’d left alone. She didn’t even have her phone to text Jules and let her know she was all right. Leaning her head against the window glass, she closed her eyes, feeling lost, alone, and utterly miserable while enduring the longest cab ride of her life.

Chapter 9

Monday morning dawnedgray and dreary, like her mood. A wreck all weekend long, not eating, barely sleeping, and consumed with worrying over facing Flynn when she returned to work, Cassie practiced what she would say.

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