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Savannah is just a few steps away now, and she spares a weary glance at Aspen.
Neither of them say anything, and I watch Savannah work to keep her emotions in check.
I reach out and wrap my hand around the back of Savannah’s neck, my hold on her gentle, even though rage fills my blood as I pull her to me.
Her lips are still set into a hard line when I lean down and softly press my own against her temple.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
I promised her safety, and at the first test of my power, I failed.
Blackness edges in on my vision and I kiss her once more.
I shouldn’t have let her walk through this place alone. I should’ve made a big fucking scene the moment we walked in, so everyone knew exactly who she was. Exactly who she belonged to.
My eyes scan the room.
I should just slit the throat of every man here and save myself the future hassle. I’m sure most of them deserve it.
When I pull back, Savannah’s blinking even more rapidly. And I feel like an even bigger failure since my attempt at comfort seemed to have the opposite effect.
Aspen taps my arm and I look up to see the man walking toward the hallway that leads to the bathroom.
“Stay with Aspen,” I tell Savannah, before I press my lips to her temple once more.
I give her neck a light squeeze, looking for a response.
“Okay, Husband,” she whispers.
Husband.
I force myself to let go of her, just as Nero and Payton walk up.
“With me,” I tell Nero, and he peels away from his wife, stepping into stride with me.
“Who’re we killing?” His tone is casual.
“I promised Aspen I wouldn’t.”
He makes a humming sound. “Still leaves a lot of wiggle room.”
We make it to the back hall in time to see the man enter the bathroom about ten paces before us.
Silently, we follow him in.
It’s a classy bathroom with four well-built stalls, with wooden walls and doors that go to the floor.
Two of them are occupied, and there’s one guy washing up at the sink.
We peel off, Nero going to the sink to wash his hands, and I go into the open stall between the two in use.
The water shuts off, and I hear Nero start to whistle, which I assume is to cover the sound of him locking the bathroom door, preventing anyone else from coming in.
With sink guy gone, I flush the toilet and step out of the stall, standing against the wall opposite, waiting to see who comes out first.
Nero keeps whistling when the farthest stall door opens, and my target starts to step out.
I rush him.