Page 156 of Wilde and Deadly

“And Cade?”

“Cade stays with us until I get what I want.”

“You’re in no position to impose such demands.”

“Then shoot us,” Davey challenged. “See what happens.”

Stirling’s eyes narrowed to calculating slits. “You’re asking me to trust you,” he said slowly, testing the words like they were foreign.

“Yep.”

“And in return, I get nothing but your word.”

“Yep.”

Stirling’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, Davey thought the man might actually snap. But then he stood and straightened his suit before holding out a hand. “We have an agreement. I’ll remove my operatives in the next twenty-four hours, and you’ll remove Cade from your payroll.”

“And you’ll remove the contract on me?”

“It’s already done.”

“Then we agree.” Davey accepted the handshake, but he didn’t relax. Not yet. Not until they were out of this place.

He took Rowan’s hand the moment he released Stirling’s, and they turned toward the door.

And Stirling took his final shot: “You think you won something today, Wilde. But trust me—one day, you’ll realize what you lost.”

Davey didn’t break stride. Didn’t turn. Didn’t give Stirling the satisfaction of seeing his reaction. “The only thing I lost today is my patience with you.”

The elevator doors slid shut, sealing them away from Stirling and his men, and Rowan exhaled in a rush.

Davey turned to her, pulling her into his chest, locking his arms tightly around her. She tensed for half a second, then melted into him, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. He felt her breath hitch, the tension she’d been holding finally cracking just a little.

“Are you okay?” he murmured, voice rough.

Her fingers curled into his shirt. “Not yet. But I will be.”

His grip tightened. “You scared me, Hellcat.”

She pulled back just enough to look at him. “I knew you’d come.”

Jesus, she was beautiful, even covered in bruises. She was stubborn and fierce and everything he’d ever wanted.

“Always.” He cupped the side of her face gently, brushing his thumb over a fresh cut on her cheekbone, then leaned down to kiss her. He couldn’t take it as deep as he wanted, couldn’t brand himself on her like he wanted, but for these few stolen moments as the elevator descended, he poured everything he had into that kiss—relief, fear, desperation, and love. So much love it threatened to overwhelm him.

For just a moment, the chaos faded, and all that mattered was that she was here. Safe. Alive.

He broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. “I never want to see a gun to your head again.”

A ghost of a smirk tugged at her bruised lips. “Next time, you’ll have to look away.”

It was such a perfectly Rowan response, and even as much as he hated the way she plowed into danger, it was also why he loved her.

Still, he groaned. “Next time?”

“There will always be a next time.”

“Because my hellcat doesn’t know how to live a danger-free life.”

---