Vengeance (Master's Protege 1)

I don’t miss how he walks beside me. His razor-sharp gaze notes everything. If there’s anyone here to try to take me now, they’d better have backup, a hand grenade, and a cannon, because no one’s getting me without a declaration of war.

The ride back to his house hurts like hell.

“You’ve got ibuprofen back at that mansion, right?” I mutter, my head falling on the seat behind me. My eyes close.

“No sleeping,” Cain snaps. My eyes fly back open.

“You really are a slave driver!”

That gets Joe’s attention, but he doesn’t say anything.

“You can’t sleep now. You could have a concussion.”

“Fine. But God, am I tired. How long do I have to stay awake?”

“Until the doctor gives you clearance.”

“Oh God. I’m gonna need a coffee. Double shot of espresso, straight up.”

“Need me to stop and get some?”

I sigh. “No. I don’t drink coffee.”

He shakes his head.

“What?”

He changes the subject. “Back to what happened.”

“So I got him with a jab. I believe that’s where we left off.”

“You have a mean jab,” Joe chimes in.

I stare at him. He’s never seen me fight.

“How do you know?”

He shrugs and laughs. “I can just tell. You’re a fighter. Little fireplug.”

He’s lying. I look at Cain, but his face is a mask of stone.

“I threw a jab and he fell back, and he would’ve gotten me but I aimed a very, very well-placed kick to his crotch that was meant to incapacitate him. And that was when everything began to go wrong.”

Cain sighs and accelerates.

“This car is gorgeous, by the way. Stunning, with this all-leather interior. Are these heated seats?”

“Yes. Thank you. Get back to the story.”

“There’s not much more to tell. He rebounded, slapped me across the face so hard I bit my lip, and we literally brawled. I tried to pull my knife, but I was too slow, and by the time I got it out…” I sigh. I hate this part of the story. “He was out the window and onto the fire escape.”

Cain frowns. “He slapped you?”

I nod. Of all those details I just told him, that’s what he thinks about? “Yeah.”

His back goes rigid.

“Remember I said you’ll be at my place at eight a.m.? Now that order’s null and void, since you’re coming back with me.”

Order? I think sometimes he forgets he’s not my commander.

“Yesss…?”

Where’s he going with this?

“Scratch that. Tomorrow morning at seven a.m., unless we have a breakthrough and find something we need to pursue, you’ll get your first lesson in how to handle a gun.”

I stifle a squeal. I’ve wanted to learn how to shoot a gun forever but haven’t taken the time to do it.

“You have a trainer?”

He frowns, those glacial eyes glancing my way before he looks back to the road. “Yeah.”

Joe chuckles softly. Is this an inside joke or something?

“Did you find anything before all this happened?” Cain asks, and his eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. Something like camaraderie flashes between us, so quickly I wonder if it’s my imagination.

He doesn’t like that I was alone in the apartment and attacked. He wishes he was there.

Why does it excite me to imagine what would’ve happened if he was?

I should be appalled that he shot a man today. Without remorse. Without hesitation.

I’m not, though. In fact, quite the opposite.

It’s the single most attractive thing he’s done since I’ve met him. He’s the man who could help me, and will.

What on earth does a guy like him find attractive about a girl like me? What?

Maybe I need to play into this. Maybe, if he were attracted to me…

No.

No, no, no. I’ve gotten this far without whoring myself out, and I won’t start now.

Something tells me he’d make it worth my while…

“You mean, did I do any research? Damn right I did, and I have a list of leads we need to pursue as soon as possible. Has anyone contacted you about your sister?”

“No.”

“Have you checked all your social media accounts and email and phone number?”

Again, the flash of stunning blue in the mirror. “Check my social media?”

“Do you… have social media?”

“No.”

“Well, that makes things simpler.”

I look out the window and Joe chuckles again, so softly I barely hear him, but the sound is unmistakable. What’s so funny?

“When we get back, you’ll see the doctor and we’ll make sure you meet with my team. We’ll combine what we’ve found so far.” He glances in his rearview mirror again, but he doesn't look at me this time.

“Someone following us?”

A long gaze in the mirror again, and he finally shakes his head. “No.”

The interior of the car is a soft, matte black leather, luxurious and decadent. The carpet’s pristine, the windows and chrome details like new. More notable is the way it drives, though, so seamlessly you don’t know it’s accelerating until the world flies by you. So sleek, it cuts through the air with military precision.