Chapter 19

"Ithought you were in bed," Cassian says, prowling closer.

"I was." I nod, chewing the rest of the bite of apple. It's delicious, crisp, and flavorful, with just the right amount of tart. "Ward was right. I needed something before I could fall asleep."

"He's often right about things," Cassian says, staggering over and grabbing a slice.

My nose twitches as I breathe in his scent.

"You're shit-faced." I chuckle, trying to ignore how sexy he looks with his sleeves rolled up over his muscular forearms. He's got several black tattoos lining his skin, but I can't make out the details in the low light.

"I have not been this drunk in a long time." It sounds like a solemn admission.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do more with your dad," I say sincerely. "He's really good."

"It would bother me significantly less if he was just better than I am." He shrugs. "I don't know why he even made the offer if he was going to make it impossible for me to claim it."

My head tilts, but I don't say anything.

"I believe it's a punishment for refusing to take over the family business." He moves to lean at my side with his forearms on the countertop.

"Yeah, I didn't want to inherit someone else's sins, either." I grimace. Maybe the alcohol hasn't worn off just yet. "I mean, maybe your dad isn't like mine were?—"

"No, that's exactly it." Cassian nods, and his dark hair falls over his forehead as he glances out the windows lining the breakfast nook. It's mostly behind me as I sit on the counter, but he's facing that direction. "My mother couldn't stand to live the way my father does. She left when I was four. Colette wasn't yet a year old. My father didn't even allow us to grieve her loss before he married my stepmother. She'd barely been gone for six months." His head shakes. "He had two more sons with Irina. Luckily, it leaves one of them the perfect opportunity to take over his empire."

My hand leaves my thigh to pat his shoulder. "That is tough, but like you said, it gives you an out you might not have had if you were the only heir."

Grady slides around the corner and into the kitchen in only a pair of low-slung sweatpants. I lick my lips as my eyes rake down his muscular frame. He really likes it when I lick his nipple piercings. And despite it not being the time, I still have the irrational urge to tackle him to the floor to do exactly that.

"Sorry to interrupt. I woke up and you were gone. I thought maybe I was going to get my chance to hunt you," Grady says, chuckling darkly. He saunters over to the other side of the counter with his back to the breakfast nook.

Cas is still kind of staring at the counter or the remains of my apple. I twist to glare at Grady, but I'm a little concerned I'm still impaired.

Nope, holy shit.

There are three windows lining the breakfast nook, and in the middle is a man about to breach the house. Unless that's one of Cassian's security guys.

I'm still not taking any risks.

"Grady!" I hiss, grabbing the paring knife.

"Yeah, baby?"

"Get down!"

His face twists into confusion for half a second before he hits the ground, disappearing behind the counter.

The window shatters.

A set of black boots fly in first, followed immediately after by a man's torso. He's covered in tactical gear.

I aim, tossing my knife as he moves.

Only I miss.

It lands in his groin area, and my jaw falls open.

I was aiming for his throat.

The man wails and slides down the wall, but Grady tackles him. I don't know if he grabs the knife I used or if he had one, but he slits the man's throat and grabs his gun. He starts patting around, like he's looking for extra ammo.

I slide off the counter, grabbing Cassian's shirt and yanking him down too. He ends up kneeling next to me.

His eyes are huge. "What the hell is this?"

"Apparently we didn't get them all tonight," Grady growls.

I pop up to scan and make sure he's okay. There's another guy about to breach the window on the right, but the glass explodes, and his crumpled body falls outside.

My head whips to the side to see Kane has joined the party.

"Dammit, I was going to take care of him," Grady grumbles. "This is not me owing you one."

Kane snorts. "Of course it's not."

"What is happening?" Cassian asks again.

I squat down again, patting his back awkwardly again. "I'm sorry about your house."

"Do you have a safe room?" Kane asks.

"I need a weapon," I say at the exact same time.

"You stabbed that guy right in the dick." Grady chuckles. "Was that purposeful or pure luck?"

"I was aiming for his throat," I admit with a grimace.

"I love the shit out of you." Grady laughs.

"You did what now?" Kane asks, keeping his head on a swivel. "Never mind. I heard it the first time." His free hand moves to cup his cock. "You get no weapons."

"Hey!" I snap, pointing at the controlling jerk. "Everybody misses from time to time."

"This is why you've got to get her fond of your dick," Grady says, like he's imparting some kind of magical wisdom. "My cock has no fear. She loves it too much to ever stab it."

"I am way too drunk for this," Cassian says, shaking his head.

"Don't worry, princess. We've got your back," Grady says.

"Safe room?" Kane growls, like he's desperate to get us back on track.

"Upstairs," Cassian says. "In the pack bedroom."

"We move as a group," Kane says. "I took out two on the way in here, but I have no clue how many there were to start with."

"Come on." I stand and offer Cassian a hand. He takes it, but he doesn't use me to pull him up. He wraps an arm around my lower back, yanking me into his chest.

"Good idea. The princesses can stick together," Ward says, popping up on the other side of the counter. He's next to Grady, but he came from the opposite hallway from the doorway Kane is blocking.

I exhale in pure relief.

I was a little afraid he was upstairs, sleeping. Being unconscious makes for an easy target.

"Let's move," Kane growls, disappearing around the corner.

My heart races as my fingers dig into Cassian's back. "I really am sorry about your house."

"Don't be," he mutters. "You probably would've hated me in the morning, anyway."

I have no idea what that means, but something crashes from the direction Kane just headed in. Cassian is also drunk, and this is pure chaos. I'll give him a pass for talking nonsense.

The house is huge.

Rather than going room by room to clear them, Kane makes the call to clear only rooms we need to go into. Once we get upstairs, he tries to talk Cassian and me into the safe room.

"No, we need to move." Ward's head shakes. "Everyone needs to grab what they can't live without, and we leave."

"Don't you think it's better to clear the house and then pack?" Kane scoffs.

"Maybe, but this could be wave one. Or hell, maybe Andretti decides to play dirty and call it in. The last thing we need is cops on our ass," Grady says, looking at me like I actually get a vote.

"How about two scan the house, and two of you stay with me while we handle packing?" I offer in an attempt to appease them both.

"Fucking fine," Kane growls. "Ward, you're with me. You know the property."

Ward nods and follows him out.

Grady's eyes fly to me. "All right. Let's get everything we can't live without."

Kane works on swapping out Cassian's tag for the clean one from the car. I'm just climbing into the back of Cassian's SUV when someone staggers around the edge of the garage door.

Kane stands and aims when I realize I know that guy.

"No," I hiss, leaning over the back row to slam on the glass. "That's Beefcake!"

Kane wavers, but I think he might still pull the trigger. Luckily, Ward shoves his arm down.

Well, at least one of Cassian's guys made it.

Kane huffs and heads for the driver's side of the vehicle as I drop my pillow and blanket on the seat.

Yes, I stole housewares from Cassian. No, I don't feel guilty. My heat is coming anytime.

Cassian climbs into one of the bucket seats in the middle row with two small black bags. They're not tiny, but they aren't huge duffel bags, either.

"Would you mind?" He twists to face me. "These are cash. Could you find room for one, maybe near your feet?"

I nod, grabbing the bag.

Cash is good.

You always find room for cash when you're on the run. I shove it next to my feet close to the wall and wait. It's clear my hormones are completely in control because I think it kinda hurt my feelings that Cassian didn't want to sit next to me.

I huff.

It's the middle of the night, and we're again fleeing after being attacked by the Andrettis' men. I almost feel like it's time I just take the fight to them.

This being hunted shit is getting old.