Where was Caspien?
“You said money isn’t a problem.” he countered.
“It isn’t.” I took a deep breath, “I’ll give you the name. How much do you want up front?”
“Let me ask you something,” I held my breath, his gaze changed, and I couldn’t tell exactly why “Who followed you?”
(Caspien)
We pulled up before the dust fully settled from the last car, and I hoped it was one of ours. Griffen pulled the woman out, she was definitely different again. Her hair was longer, shinier, and her face seemed tighter.
Being around her unnerved me. She smelled like a wolf, but I didn’t trust her. I saw how she was changing, moving within her skin and I didn’t know what else she could have faked. Silver seemed to contain her though, seemed to. “This way,” I nodded to the treeline as our car pulled away.
“Make a move and you die,” The woman glared at him and I did respect it, but the more she moved the deeper the knife dug in. I gave Griffen a glare, and he pulled the knife back a bit. I didn’t want her fresh blood, her scent, spilled before we needed it if we did. “Come on,” he whispered, tugging her shoulder. The knife resumed its place on her throat and she tried to pull away but Griffen held firm.
I led them through the trees, quietly and slowly, painstakingly slow. The five minutes that I gave Cali were gone, and with every step we took, I could feel waves of anxiety churn through me.
If something happened, Holden would never live it down, he would never forgive me, nor would Willa shook my head trying to push that away. I focused on my footing, keeping my feet light and my eyes between the GPS and the dense forest floor.
A twig snapped, somewhere near but not from us. I held up my hand, and Griffen slowed; the woman started to make her muffled scream, and she was silenced; I didn’t care how.
I focused on my surroundings. I saw nothing.
It was almost as that twig was an animal, but I knew it wasn’t. It was intentional, loud. It seemed like a signal
I held my breath, tension filled the air, or maybe my aura was coming out of my carefully leashed grip.
Another sound, another snap, and my attention shifted to the right.
A lone man strode towards us on feet too silent for what was littering the ground. I studied him, and he met me with impassive eyes. He scanned me quickly, but his head barely moved, his jaw set in a hard line and I waited for him to come closer. “Prince,” he breathed; it was so faint I thought I might have imagined it.
He inclined his head slightly and turned, leaving us, not acknowledging the woman or Griffen I tried to keep hidden behind me.
What was that? He didn’t mindlink anyone Griffen asked
That doesn’t mean he’s not going for help
We would never let intruders go, never leave them unattended. I wondered if this was one of Ezra’s ‘brothers but I wouldn’t believe in that coincidence. I wouldn’t hope for that.
I looked back down at the GPS, we were almost on top of the glowing dot. I nodded my head toward Griffen, indicating for us to move forward. I didn’t need to tell him to keep an eye out.
Cali’s voice came softly in the distance as we edged closer to thick trees a moment later, and I held up my hand, trying to get a good vantage point through the thick trees.
“I don’t need you either, and I never insinuated that you did. This is to decide if this is mutually beneficial.” Cali said, her voice clear and unwavering.
She was good at this, really fucking good.
Cali was standing across from him, The Silent Assassin.
It was just two of them in a clearing. I strained to listen to their words, Griffen had to pick up the woman who was struggling and trying to kick.
The Silent Assassin’s Gray eyes seemed to bore into mine, “Who followed you?” He asked Cali, and I held his stare.
Wait I linked Griffen – Update Holden
Done
I walked out through the trees, having to push myself through. I internally frowned at the picture I was painting, struggling to get through those trees. Cali offered a smile, and I could tell she was trying not to laugh, but she slid into an impassive face before the assassin looked back at her.
“A friend of yours?” His gaze hardened as he looked at Cali. Cali tilted her head, looking me over, and shrugged.
“Define friend,” I said, taking a step towards them, Cali gave me a deadpan stare and the assassin king looked between us, his jaw hardened.
“You’re not leaving alive,” His voice was soft and hard at the same time.
I took another step, “You can’t touch me,”
“F.uck the oath,”
“I need to know who took out a hit on Emmett Balfour,” His brows tugged together slightly.
“Why do you think I know that?”
“I don’t have time for you acting s.tupid. We both know you’re not that incompetent or would trust anyone else to handle all of your accounts.” A smile curled on one side of his face, “I have a lot of contracts, what’s he to you?”
“He’s my heir,” the assassin blanched, he kept his face composed. Besides a slight parting of his lips, but all of the color drained from his face.
“I didn’t know,” His voice was a whisper.
“You didn’t do your research,” I said, taking another step, “However, I did,” His gray eyes flicked to mine, curiosity pushed past his shock.
“If I would have known-” He trailed off.
“I don’t fully believe that. I need to know who took out that hit,”
“You know I can’t give you that,” His dark playfulness returned.
“You’re going to have to.”
“I have a code,”
Cali laughed once, “You just said you didn’t.”
“I have a code with my clients.” He explained.
“Murder w.hore,” She whispered, and he scowled.
“Nice try, really nice actually, but this won’t work.” The assassin laughed once, “I didn’t take The Alpha Prince to be such a fool.”
I raised an eyebrow and couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips.
Bring her
I held his gaze. He broke his away from mine when there was a rustling behind us. Cali followed his gaze and seemed appreciative as the woman was tugged next to Griffen. I studied The Silent Assasin’s face, fear flashed across it for a second, and he swallowed before plastering on a too-wide smile.
“You took my barkeep,” He frowned, “That’s going to be annoying to replace; so hard to find trustworthy help these days.”
I nodded once, “I agree,”
“I have to commend you for even being able to do that,” He jutted his chin slightly toward Griffen, who came to stand next to me, “How?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.