Ruthless Heart
“So, we’re going to have that talk now,” Chase continues, looking pleased that I’m finally showing fear. “And you’re going to tell me everything.”
I inhale a shaky breath, freaking the fuck out. What do I do now? Chase isn’t like Nero, I won’t be able to bargain or beg him for mercy, and if I don’t find the right thing to say in the next ten seconds—
Wait a minute.
I stop my panicked thoughts in their tracks, looking around again, realizing something.
Nero isn’t here.
“Is Nero coming soon?” I ask, keeping my voice steady. “I prefer to talk to the boss, you see. Instead of wasting my time with the hired help.”
Chase scowls. “I take care of whatever needs to be handled. He doesn’t always have to order me around.”
There’s something about the way that Chase says those words that ignites a glimmer of hope inside of me. Nero didn’t arrange this.
But that doesn’t make any sense. If this was the end, if they did know about the Feds, there’s no way he would miss it. He would be the one standing in front of me, demanding the truth.
“So, you’re going rogue?” I ask, I ask, tilting my head as if I felt nothing more than curious. Good thing my arms are crossed, it hides my shaking hands. “That’s a big move. He might not be so happy to hear about this.”
“Shut up,” Chase snaps again, and I can see that I’m getting to him. “Nero trusts me. He always has done.”
“Uh huh. With… What, exactly?” I ask, my confidence growing. “You still haven’t said why I’m here. What it is you’re ‘on to,’ exactly—besides unflattering bootcut jeans.”
Chase lunges closer, grabbing my arm, and fear flares again. “I don’t know what fucking game you’re playing,” he growls, squeezing painfully. “But I don’t buy this innocent act. You’re a traitor, just like your fucking father, and I’m going to get you.”
His words sink in. Chase doesn’t have anything on me. Not yet.
Relief crashes through me, so hard I almost collapse. It takes everything I have to stay standing and to roll my eyes like the bored princess I’m pretending to be.
“Careful, Chase,” I reply. “You know Nero doesn’t like people touching what’s his.”
I look pointedly at his grip on my arm. He releases me, cursing.
“Nero might be cunt struck, but I’m not fooled.” His eyes burn into mine. “I’ll get you in the end.”
I catch my breath. “Right now, you need to get me to my dinner date,” I say, haughty. “Or I could call Nero right now, and explain why I’m running late…”
Chase backs up. “I’m watching you,” he warns, striding to the door. I have no choice but to follow, and get back into the car, trying to ignore his gaze in the rearview mirror.
That was a close one.
Even though I managed to talk my way out of it, I’m still shaken. I’ve been so busy worrying about Nero and the FBI that I didn’t even realize I needed to worry about Chase. I have enemies on every side.
And the walls are closing in.
It turnsout that we’re near the docks, which was our destination all along. As Chase pulls up to a parking spot, I see Nero waiting for me. He looks damn good in a black suit, clean-shaven, with his hair still damp from the shower. Behind him, there’s a yacht moored at a jetty. I feel my jaw drop as I look at the thing. White with sleek lines, it’s luxurious in a way that definitively answers my question about whether this is a date.
If Chase had brought me straight here, I might be swept up in romance, but my mood is too dark now. I slowly get out of the car and approach him.
“Hi,” Nero gives a guarded smile as I approach him. Now that I’m closer, I see a candlelit dinner set up on the deck of the yacht behind him.
“Oh.” I pause, surprised.
“You like it?” he asks, lips slowly spreading in a smile.
I don’t reply. I want to be impressed, and excited, but all I can think about is this perilous tightrope I’m walking. Nothing has changed about my situation—if anything, it’s getting more dangerous by the day. My fortunes can change on a dime. I can’t afford to let my guard down, even for a moment.
Even with him.