Page 74

"Where would I even stay?" I ask softly.

Cain relaxes a fraction, though his grip on my arm remains anchored. He lists off a couple of secure safe houses tucked away on the outskirts of the city, isolated and heavily guarded.

I shake my head before he can even finish. "No. I'm not going to be stashed away in some hidden bunker, completely alone waiting for updates."

He studies me for a quiet beat, taking in my unwavering expression, before letting out a rough exhale. "Then move in here. With me."

I blink, taken aback. "Here?"

"Milly can stay where she is. It’s very protected," Cain explains, his thumb absentmindedly tracing the inside of my wrist. "And you stay here. Where I can personally keep an eye on you. Where I can protect you myself."

A realization hits me as I search his face. He isn't suggesting this because it's convenient or logistically easier for his family's operations. He genuinely wants me close. He wants me in his space.

"Okay," I say quietly, meeting his gaze head-on. "I'll move in. On one condition."

He raises an eyebrow. "Which is?"

"Living with you does not mean I obey your every order."

A faint, dangerous smirk tugs at the corner of Cain's lips. "We can argue about that after you move in."

An hour later, I'm standing outside my own front door, feeling less like a woman returning home and more like an asset under heavy military escort.

Cain stands at my shoulder, flanked by four hulking Kavanagh guards whose suits barely hide the shoulder holsters beneath them. As soon as I scan my finger to unlock the door, Cain steps in front of me, putting a broad hand flat against my back to hold me in place.

"Wait here," he orders, his voice clipped and smooth.

I roll my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest as he slides his gun from its holster with practiced ease. He pushes the door open and slips inside first, followed closely by two of his men. I hear the low murmur of their voices, the sharp click of closets being swept, and the thud of boots clearing every single room in my apartment.

It is infuriating. Just yesterday, this was my private sanctuary, and now it's a crime scene waiting to happen, completely invaded by his overwhelming presence.

"Clear," Cain finally calls out from the hallway. “Come in, doll.”

I step over the threshold, letting out a deliberate sigh. "Is my bathroom safe, Commander, or should I wait for bomb squad clearance before I grab my toothbrush?"

Cain ignores my sarcasm completely, holstering his weapon and sweeping his dark eyes over the living room window, checking the angle of the blinds. "Keep away from the glass. You have twenty minutes to pack."

"Twenty minutes?" I scoff, marching past him into my bedroom and pulling my luggage out of the closet. "I'm packing light anyway. I don't need my entire life in your guest room because this arrangement is strictly temporary, Cain. The second you and your brothers handle Nolan, I am moving right back here."

Cain stands in the doorway, leaning his broad shoulder against the frame as he watches me throw a handful of sweaters into the open suitcase. He doesn't say a word, but the quiet, knowing look in his eyes tells me he thinks otherwise.

I deliberately don’t pack much—just a few essentials, enough to prove to him and to myself that this isn't a permanent setup. In another twenty minutes, I snap my suitcase shut and stand up straight. "I'm done. Let's go."

The drive back to his estate is quiet, flanked by two black SUVs. The iron gates of his property swallow us whole, locking the rest of the world outside.

The moment we step into the massive, echoing foyer of his house, I turn to face him, wheeling my small bag behind me. "Please take me to the room where I’ll be staying."

Cain doesn't say a word. He just takes my bag from my grip and leads the way up the grand staircase. I follow a pace behind, watching the back of his broad shoulders, until he comes to a halt right in front of his own bedroom door.

I pause beside him, crossing my arms over my chest, and raise an eyebrow. "What's this?"

"You can stay in here with me," he says smoothly, resting a hand on the doorknob. "I’ll make space for your things."

I let out a breathless scoff. "You never even asked whether I wanted to share your bed."

Cain turns his head to look down at me, a dark, infuriating glint in his eyes. "You can sleep wherever you want, Alexis. But we both know where you'll end up."

My jaw drops at his absolute arrogance. "Guest room," I demand instantly, pointing down the hall. "I'm taking the guest room."