Heat flares across my cheeks as I wrench the door open, unable to decide how I feel about that. I can feel his eyes on the back of my head all the way to the elevator, and even then, I can’t face him. Keeping my back to his door, I wait for what seems like an eternity before the elevator finally opens.
I step in quickly, jabbing at the buttons. The doors can’t close fast enough. Just before they cut us off entirely, I finally look up. Killian’s watching me from the doorway, a thoughtful expression on his face. There’s not an ounce of smugness, not a hint of victory at having me throw myself at him. But somehow, the look he gives me now seems much, much worse.
28
KILLIAN
Ican’t get her out of my mind. The way she looked last night—desperate and afraid. I’ve never seen Cara look anything less than put together. The woman I thought I knew had been made of iron and steel, but the Cara I saw last night was…vulnerable. She’d let her guard down for the briefest of moments, and I felt as if I had somehow ruined that.
Callahan had called me late last night after Cara had gone to tell me the details since she hadn’t been able to. The Russians had sent him a message to end the alliance, and he’d wanted to assure me that he had no intention of doing that. Cara would be tailed by more bodyguards to keep her safe from here on out, though I’d feel a lot better if some of my own men were included in that detail. But I couldn’t tell Callahan that.
So instead, I arrange to visit her university.
It wasn’t that hard to get her class details from Callahan after telling him I’d like to surprise Cara with a date. He seemed rather pleased, actually. Which is how I ended up at Columbia's campus, waiting outside Dodge Hall. I’ve already spotted at least three of her tails outside the building; one inside a black SUV, another lingering by the metro entrance, and another across the street outside Pulitzer. They’d eyed me for a bit, but I’m not sure if they recognized me or not.
Niccolo sits beside me in our car parked along the street, drumming his fingers against the wheel. “You sure she’s here?”
“Yeah, her class should be getting out any minute,” I tell him, reaching over to stop the obnoxious habit. Niccolo tucks his hands in his lap instead.
I turn back towards the building, watching the door. I’m not sure what sort of mental state Cara will be in today. From what her father said, it sounded like she pulled herself together by the time she’d finally gotten home. He’d sworn she was fine. Tougher than nails, actually. But I’m not entirely convinced.
From what I know, Cara’s always had a foot in two worlds; her father’s and the one she’s created here at Columbia. She had never really been included in her father’s more illegal side of the business, kept away from the worst of it. And the Irish had been doing pretty well in staying out of the criminal drama of the city the past few years. I’m guessing last night was one of the first times she’d actually felt as if she were in danger. To a woman who liked feeling in control, I can only guess how that loss of safety had affected her.
At least now I know why the Russians had mentioned Cara. They were using her to try and end this alliance. Encouraging distrust between Cara and me had been a smart plan. When that hadn’t worked right away, the Russians resorted to scare tactics—showing Callahan how easily they could get to his precious daughter and how the Italians hadn’t been able to help her. Two insults in one move.
My fingers curled, nails digging into my palms. I should have insisted that Cara take my own guard, or at least made sure to tell her to bring more than just one. Clearly, whoever she’d chosen hadn’t been enough. I get that she was going out with her friends, and she probably didn’t want her bodyguards to be too noticeable, especially if the club was small, but still. She should have known better. She should have been more prepared.
Thankfully now, her father had come to his senses and given her her own detail, but he should have done that right from the start. I can’t figure out why Callahan would leave his daughter so unprotected like that. Maybe she’d argued with him like she had with me, or maybe he just hadn’t believed the Russians would continue going after him once they heard about the alliance the Irish had with the Italians.
Or, maybe, Callahan didn’t want us to know the extent of his involvement with the Russians.
Why are the Russians so focused on the Irish? Because they’re currently weaker? Because their businesses are going down? There could be any number of reasons why and I have to admit that my coming here isn’t just to check on her mental state. I was here to find out the truth.
She doesn’t seem to know any specifics, but I doubt Cara’s as innocent to her father’s plans as she seems. I know she balances his books. She has to know more than she’s been letting on.
“There she is.” Niccolo’s voice breaks through my thoughts. My eyes snap towards the entrance to the building.
Cara lets the doors shut behind her as she steps onto the sidewalk. She’s alone, dressed down in leggings and a sweatshirt, an enormous black tote slung around her arm. Her dark hair is pulled up with small wisps framing her face. Even dressed so casually, the girl is beautiful.
I open the car door, letting it slam shut to draw her attention. Her head whips towards me, eyes going wide until she realizes it’s only me standing there and not some Russian thug about to grab her again. Out of the corner of my eye, I see two of her men start to close in until she waves them off. Her face is carefully guarded as she walks closer.
“What are you doing here?” Cara glares up at me, crossing her arms.
“I’m just here to check up on you. You…weren’t yourself last night.”
Her eyes narrow. “I’m perfectly fine,” she says bitingly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get home.”
Before she can turn away, I catch her wrist. From the heated look flashing across her face, I know she’s probably deciding the best way to knee me in the balls right about now.
“Let me take you home,” I say quickly. “Your men can follow us.”
She sneers. “Why the hell would I get in the car with you when I have my own driver?”
“Because I want to make sure you’re alright.”
Cara yanks her wrist from my grasp, motioning down her body. “As you can see, I’m perfectly alright. Like I told you.” My eyes can’t help but follow the movement of her hands, trailing down the soft curves of her hips. She snaps her fingers in front of my face, jarring me. “Eyes up here, perv.”
I smirk. “Oh, please. I’ve already seen more than this.”