Page 127 of Cain

What happened between them?

Then, Landon appears in the hallway, all hurried and tense. He looks dirty and sweaty. What the actual hell has happened?

“Boss?” He freezes when he sees Cain.

“Ah, just the man I’ve been dying to kill,” he mocks and walks up to him.

He grabs him by the collar and pins him against the wall. “I told you if he brought backup, I’d make you bleed. And not only did he bring it, but you left me behind to die like a dog, and you ran like a fucking coward!”

“I thought they had you,” he stutters. Then he looks briefly at Adam. “I saw him grabbing you and hiding you behind a container, so I came here for backup.”

“You didn’t check. You didn’t stay. You fucking ran.” He shoves the gun under Landon’s jaw. “So now, you die like the useless coward you are.”

Landon doesn’t talk. He clenches his jaw and locks his eyes on Cain’s.

“Cain, no!” I screech, shaking in fear.

He doesn’t look at me but doesn’t pull the trigger, either.

I grab his arm, trying to pull it down. “Please, Cain, don’t do this. Be better than this,” I beg.

I may not trust Landon, but I never wanted him dead.

“Katerina, get out of this room. You won’t like what you’ll see,” he grunts through clenched teeth, his glare fixed on Landon.

Landon doesn’t react; he just looks back into Cain’s eyes, as if waiting for his demise.

“I’m not leaving.” He doesn’t react. Instead, I can see his fury rising. “Cain,” I whisper to draw his attention. It works. He darts his eyes to me. “He’s the one you trust the most. I know you’re angry with him, but it’s not worth it.” He breathes more forcefully. “Please.”

I know how hard it is for him to step back. I know how hard it is for him to allow someone to double-cross him, even unintentionally. How difficult it is for him not to consider it manipulation or failure.

Eventually, he steps back, his eyes narrowed and still focused on Landon, his jaw tight.

“You owe her your life,” he says, the gun in his hand still pointed at Landon.

Landon lowers his gaze, and his jaw tics.

“Get the fuck out of my sight,” he says quietly. Landon turns to leave, but Cain talks again. “Landon?”

“Yes, boss?”

“This is your last chance. Fuck up again, and I’ll butcher you with my own hands—and I will take my time with it, and I will enjoy it.”

He nods once. “Understood.”

“Leave.”

Landon turns his back and leaves without another word.

“Phew! That was intense!” Adam jokes.

Cain rolls his eyes again and turns to me. His gaze is weird. It is soft through the strands of hair that fall on his forehead and blend with his vision as if he’s worried about me, but at the same time, it’s furious, as if he blames me for manipulating him into sparing Landon’s life.

“Thank you,” I mouth to him, but he doesn’t react.

“Well … that’s awkward.” Adam claps his hands once. “I’ve done my part, so I should get going.”

Suddenly, Grayson walks into the room, seeming distracted.