Page 61 of Caught in the Crossfire

“We’ll be fine, Ciel,” Leona said. “We’re ready to get out there again.”

I wasn’t sure, but I couldn’t argue. The two of them nodded at each other and walked out of my room like they hadn’t just set off another bomb of anxiety inside my chest.

This mission was already going to be tense and challenging. Everyone was on edge. Everyone was itching for vengeance.

And I was just over here trying to keep us all alive.

I collapsed back into my computer chair and popped open another energy drink. I didn’t know what else to do except get back to work.

23

RYUJI

As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, my eyes locked on her.

She stared outside the window in front of the sink, the soapy coffee mug in her hand and running sink water forgotten. I could only see the side of her face, but her eyes were closed and her face was upturned to the light, like she was a plant soaking up the sun. It reflected in her hair, giving her a slight glow. She was beautiful, and my heart clenched uncomfortably in my chest.

The last two weeks had been emotional whiplash.

I was so damn happy she was home, but the scratches and bruises on her skin ignited a fury within me.

I was relieved she was safe, and I was fucking terrified every time she talked about leaving the penthouse.

Whenever I’d left to visit my clubs, I stressed out of my mind that something would happen to her. Every time I stepped back into the penthouse, I was satisfied she was still here.

Every time my phone buzzed, a pit opened up in my stomach that something else had happened. Then relief flooded mysystem when it was just a normal notification for something meaningless.

It was fucking stressful.

When I saw her at the sink, all I wanted to do was press my face to her hair and inhale her scent. I needed to convince myself that she was safe in our home, and swear that we’d never let anything happen to her again.

I needed a goddamn hug.

I stepped up behind her and reached for her hips, aiming to wrap my hands around her waist. But as soon as my fingers brushed her body, she shrieked. The coffee mug fell into the sink and shattered. She whirled, eyes wide and frantic, until she registered it was me behind her.

My heart raced within my chest while both of us tried to catch our breath. She hadn’t heard me coming? I wasn’tthatquiet.

“Sorry,” she blurted. Her cheeks stained pink, and she turned to shut off the water. Her hands braced on the counter while she breathed in and out.

“What was that?” I asked, but I knew the answer. I’d seen her freak out a few days ago when Cas had woken her up after she fell asleep on the couch. She flinched once when Obi had come up behind her. She’d adjust her body so that no one stood at her back.

She was afraid. In our own goddamn home.

It broke my fucking heart.

“Nothing.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t scare me. I’m totally fine. I just wasn’t paying attention.”

I glanced down at the shattered mug. “Sorry about the mug.”

She turned and folded her arms around my waist. Some of thestress bled from my body as her cheek rested on my chest. “I don’t care about the mug.”

“That was my favorite mug.”

A sheepish expression covered her face. “Sorry about the mug.”