“And someone else would come for Genevieve?” Cassidy finished.
Silence.
“She might not have lived long enough for that someone else to come for her.” She shoved back her hair, suddenly feeling very, very tired. “And the Executioner would have gotten away. Been free to take and kill someone else. Mercer has had years to stop the guy, but the killer was too good. He slipped away too many times.” This had been her best shot at stopping him.
“Be careful with him, Cass,” Drew told her, and his eyes looked worried. “Don’t let emotions lead you to trust the wrong man.”
Then he was climbing from the SUV. Guards had spilled from the interior of the building. Come for her. She exited the vehicle and glanced to the left. Cale was already standing on the sidewalk, waiting.
She didn’t see Logan and Gunner. Had they gone inside already?
Time to face Mercer.
Then she was being led inside. Cassidy couldn’t help tensing. She was always tense in this place. She’d never felt welcome there, maybe because Mercer had made so sure that she understood...
This part of my life isn’t for you.
They climbed into the elevator—just Cassidy, Cale and Drew. When her gaze slid to Cale, she found his stare locked right on her.
She was pretty sure that Drew swore under his breath and muttered, “Mistake.”
But wasn’t it her mistake to make?
The nightmare that she’d lived with for years was over—the monster, dead. Why couldn’t she celebrate? Wasn’t she entitled to a little bit of happiness?
Cale’s gaze didn’t leave hers even when the elevator stopped. A soft ding sounded, and the doors slid open.
“Cassidy.”
There was no mistaking that deep, grating voice. She’d once thought that a growling bear might sound exactly like Bruce Mercer.
She turned her head, finally glancing away from Cale, and offered Mercer a faint smile. “Hi, Mercer. It’s good to see you, too.”
His cheeks were flushed. His hands lifted and pushed against the elevator doors before they could slide closed once more. He glared at Cale. “Lane, I’m gonna want you in my office—so don’t even think of leaving the building.”
“I wasn’t.” Cale didn’t appear particularly intimidated as he faced off with Mercer. She’d seen plenty of grown men crumble before Mercer. But not Cale.
“Come with me.” Mercer grabbed her hand and all but yanked her out of the elevator. Then they were double-timing it back to his office. Rushing past his wide-eyed secretary and hurrying to Mercer’s private quarters.
Cale called Cassidy’s name.
Mercer didn’t slow down.
He threw open the door to his office, pulled her inside, then slammed the door behind her.
Mercer whirled toward her. His clothes were wrinkled, his breath rushing out. Fury marked his features. This was the man who’d been a secret right hand to four presidents. This was—
His arms wrapped around her, and Mercer pulled her close.
Stunned, Cassidy didn’t—couldn’t—move.
“I thought I’d lost you,” he gritted out. “Just like I lost your mother...”
His voice—the tremors that shook his body—it was the most emotion that she’d ever seen from the man who was her father.
* * *
WHEN MERCER HAD HAULED Cassidy out of the elevator, every muscle in Cale’s body had tensed.