“Take care of the body,” I snap. I don’t wait for his response. Outside, my driver leans against the hood of the car. “Keys.”
He fumbles, trying to pull them from his pocket before tossing them to me. I brush past him, sliding into the driver’s seat, and slam the door shut. The engine roars to life, and I tear out of there, gripping the wheel. I’ll have to face Dante sooner or later, but I need to calm down before I do. He’ll be furious with me, but there’s nothing I can do about it now.
I head home, needing a hot shower and a change of clothes. Tossing the keys to the man at the front desk, I order him to get the car back to the driver. My own is down in the garage, and I would much rather take that out later than wait for another fucking man to drive me.
“Sir—” One of the security in the lobby tries to stop me, but I ignore him.
If only that fucking Russian hadn’t said her name. He’s the second to hint that there is more to this alliance than the Irish has told us. The second to suggest that Cara knew anything about it. I’d already told Dante and Sienna about my little run-in with the brigadier, but Edik was just a minor foot soldier. He was nothing. So how the fuck had he known anything about it?
The elevator doors slide open on my floor. I step out, digging my keys from my jacket pocket.
And stop.
Cara Ryan stands waiting at my door.
My eyes rake over her white sundress, yellow sunflowers dotting the fabric. It cinches around her waist with a white bow, the skirt flaring out around her hips and falling just above her knees. Her hair is straight, falling just over her shoulder, hiding the thin straps of the dress. She looks so fucking innocent, with those big dark eyes widening as she takes me in.
I know how I probably look. My chest is bare under my leather jacket, my jeans hanging low. Her eyes dart to my hands, where I know Edik’s blood has dried.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I question, stepping closer.
She must see the utter hatred in my eyes because she shrinks back a bit before correcting herself. Straightening, she meets my gaze. “I need to talk to you.”
“Oh, now you want to talk to me?” I stalk closer, towering over her. “Why don’t you just run off and find another ex of mine to give you what you want? Because I won’t be giving you shit.”
Cara flinches, but I don’t care. Stepping around her, I shove my keys into the lock, sweeping into the room. But I don’t slam the door in her face like I would anyone else. She follows me like I knew she would, stepping into the one safe space I had left.
I head straight to my bedroom, snatching a clean shirt from my closet before coming back out. I find her looking around the living room curiously, her fingers running along one of the stone statues resting atop a shelf. Her dark eyes take in everything from the windows to the scarlet couch.
“Why are you here?” I ask again, refraining from cussing. I realized she doesn’t respond well to that, and maybe she’ll actually answer my damn question if I play along for a bit.
Her eyes dart up, pulling me in. “I know why you’re so against the engagement now.”
“Do you?” I cross my arms, glaring back at her. “You just have me all figured out now, right?”
“You don’t have to be mean, Killian.” She sniffs, tossing her hair over her shoulder. The move makes me growl, reminding me too much of another bitch I used to know.
“You don’t know shit about me,” I say nastily.
“Yeah, I do,” Cara snaps back. “And that’s what you can’t stand.”
I snicker. “Then please, enlighten me.”
Her mouth clamps shut. I scoff before walking towards her, anger and resentment thudding in my chest. Cara sees the look in my eye, stepping away until her back hits the wall. My hands rest on either side of her shoulders, my face just inches away. I hear her breath hitch and watch as she fights to keep her eyes on my face.
“If you keep digging into my past, Cara, then we’re going to have a problem.” I let my lips brush against her ear, skimming down her neck. Her pulse jumps beneath her skin. “I might just have to lock you up…or find some other way to get you to behave.”
There’s a spark of anger in her eyes. “I’m not scared of you, Killian.”
I brush the hair from her shoulder, my fingers skimming along her collarbone until they find her pulse. It flutters erratically beneath my hand, like a little bird desperate to escape. “Are you sure about that?”
Those red lips part, just begging to be kissed, but I hold back. I let go, turning my back on her. “Stop meddling, Cara. Or I’ll go back on my promise about touching you.”
I grin to myself as I turn back to her, taking in her body as she stands there shaking in anger. Motioning towards the door, I give her a little bow. Maybe she’ll finally take the hint and listen.
Cara glares daggers, stalking toward me.
Or not.