Page 37 of Prey

"Stay away from him."

She smiles. "Or what? You'll threaten me again? You'll protect the little stalker who broke into your apartment? Who's been collecting your things like a lovesick teenager?"

"You don't know him."

"I know enough. I know he has a past he's been running from. I know you don't know what it is. And I know that when you find out, you'll stop seeing him as precious and start seeing him as a liability."

"Rose, I'm going to say this one last time. If you touch him, I will burn your life to the ground."

"You're choosing him over me? Over your career? Over everything?"

"Yes."

"Then you're making a mistake," she says.

I turn and walk away. Her voice follows me down the hall.

"Forty-eight hours, Cain. Think about it."

I don't look back.

The elevator is empty. The descent feels endless. The lobby is crowded with people I don't see. The doorman says something I don't hear. I'm already in the car. Already on the way to Grey. The streets blur past. My hands are steady on the wheel. My jaw is tight. My heart is pounding.

I have never loved anyone. Not like this. Not in a way that made me reckless.

But Grey makes me reckless. Grey makes me want to burn the world down just to keep him safe.

And I will.

Chapter 19

Grey

The drive to his apartment is silent as I sit in the passenger seat, clutching my bag. Cain's hand is on my thigh. I keep looking at it, keep reminding myself that he's here. That he came for me. That he chose me over Rose, over his career, over everything.

He chose me and said, "let's go home." But the fear is still there, curled in my chest like something alive. She's been watching and she's going to try to hurt us.

"She won't touch you," Cain says, as if he could hear my thoughts. "I won't let her."

"I know."

"Do you?" I turn to him; his jaw is tight, his eyes are fixed on the road.

"I know you'll try, but she's been planning this longer than I have. She has resources and connections. She could ruin you."

"Let her try."

"Cain."

He glances at me. "I'm serious. I don't care about any of it."

"Then what do you care about?"

His hand tightens on my thigh and that’s all the answer I need. We get to his building, his apartment, I drop my bag by the door and turn to face him.

"Cain."

He looks at me and I'm in his arms. Kissing him like I'm drowning, like if I dare let go, he'll disappear. He kisses me back desperately. His hands are in my hair, on my back, pulling me closer.