"You are being watched, Aefre. If they don’t like how this goes, they are on orders to take him out whether you like it or not," he threatens and hangs up.
"He really doesn't like you talking to other men, does he?" Cade says conversationally. "It's any wonder at all he puts up with your husband."
"I'm going to ask you this one last time. What do you want with me?" I say, now beyond irritated with this man.
"Oh, I am sure I can think of something," he says salaciously but I know he doesn't mean it. If he wanted me, he would have made a move by now. But if he wanted to kill me, surely, he would have tried that as well.
Taking the bull by the horns, as I am tired of his games, and even though I know CK is going to try and stake me himself for my actions, I stop in the middle of the sidewalk and face him. "Do you know who I am?" I ask. I was going to go with “what I am” but that might be a bit too risky. If he knows, he knows, and if he doesn't, I will have stepped in a pile of crap. He stares at me, pondering the question. Several long minutes pass and I can hear my phone buzzing away in my pocket, but I do ignore it this time.
"Yes," he finally says. "I know what you are." “What,” not “who.” Oh, fuck.
I nod briskly. "Then what do you want with me?"
"Do you know who I am?" he asks instead.
"Yes," I respond. "I know what you are."
He looks surprised by my words. "I see,” he says. “Well, then, you should know what I want with you." There's no threat, just a statement.
"That's the thing, though. Why am I still standing here?" I ask boldly. I hear Scott gulp loudly behind me.
Cade looks stunned by my question and doesn't answer for a long time. He steps closer to me, so he is staring down into my eyes, his grey ones clouding over slightly. "I don't know," he says after a long pause. "I really don't know. There is something different about you. I can’t put my finger on it. I want to know more." He sounds so unsure of himself that I’m slightly taken aback. I sense CK before I see him and turn away from Cade to take his arm. "Come. Everything is fine," I say and lead us back the way he came, with Scott following quickly, leaving Cade to stand on the sidewalk by himself.
"What was that about?" CK snaps at me.
"I couldn't say for sure. He knows what I am, presumably all of us, but he hasn't done anything about it. He doesn't know why. I don’t think he knows I am Queen, but he said he senses something different."
"You asked him? Have you completely lost your senses, Aefre?"
I shrug. "Maybe. I was tired of the games. I wanted truth."
We step into the apartment building and I let him go. Still deep in thought about what just happened, I step onto the elevator and push the button for my floor.
"Come to mine," CK murmurs in my ear and it brings me back to the present.
"No, I can't. I have plans with Lincoln," I say.
"Please," he whispers seductively. "I want you. I want you in my bed, where I know you will be safe. Where I can keep you safe."
Oh, Christ on a bike. I want him too, especially as he has gone into sweet protective mode instead of overbearing protective mode, but I’m not flaking on Lincoln. The doors ding open for my floor and with all the strength I have, I step off and turn around as he glares at me for refusing him. "I'm sorry. I promised this time to Lincoln," I say.
I turn back around and open the door to the apartment with Scott barging in behind me. I look at him in annoyance. Pushing his glasses back up his nose, he shrugs apologetically. "Sorry. He fucking scares the crap out of me when he is in a good mood, never mind…that," he mumbles, and I smile. "I will get out of here tonight so you two can be alone," he adds.
"Thank you, Scott. That's kind of you, but don't feel like you have to leave."
"It's fine. Some people at work asked me to join them for drinks. I think they want to try and butter me up," he laughs, and I chuckle.
"Okay, well, have fun. I probably won't see you until I get back from Toronto next week, so hold down the fort as best you can."
"As always, Boss," he salutes.
I nod at him, knowing he will do as good a job as me.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWO
L incoln comes in soon after that with Simone and arms full of Blu-rays and food.
"Look what I got!" he says to me excitedly as I smile a greeting to Simone.