Page 90 of Contested Crown

Raising two fingers, I checked that Cade understood it meant two people in the bar with us. Looking around, I searched for anything for us to hide in, even though I knew it was futile. The only way out was through the back door we’d come in or the front.

The desk wouldn’t hide both of us, but I might be able to shove Cade under it. It should still block bullets, even if it was charred to black.

“Whatever you’re thinking? The answer isno,” Cade hissed. He glared at me, and I glared back.

I knew how to fight. I could do this. I had my wolf back, and it howled in my chest. It wanted to dosomething. After so long trapped, Ineededto do something to prove that I was worthy of the sacrifice Cade had made.

He’d given me his magic, and what had I given him but problems?

The thought struck a wrong chord in me, a jangle that was so discordant it snapped me out of the haze my wolf was putting me under. What would I tell Cade if he said the same thing? What had I told Cade when he said similar things, belittling his own contribution because something inside him didn’t like to be helpless?

The voices were getting closer, becoming clearer. We hadn’t closed the door. Not that there was much of a door to close. Part of it had been torn away by the firemen’s axes.

I took a step forward, but Cade pressed a hand against me, firm on my chest. He couldn’t hold me back, not physically, but I stilled anyway.

Magic crawled up his arm, his tattoos wrapping around both of us until every inch was buzzing with Cade’s magic.

I wasn’t sure how, but I could tell by the end it was almost too much. He had disguised the car earlier, both of us at the restaurant, and now he was doing something major.

When I looked down, I saw through myself. I was invisible, completely disappeared from the world. Cade’s hand still lingered on my chest, but he moved it up, pressing down on my collarbone.

“I told him we took care of it,” someone said. I didn’t recognize the voice, but when he came through the doorway, I recognized his face.

So, Declan’s silent bodyguardsdidhave the ability to speak.

The other bodyguard’s name was Luca, a mountain of a man whose fist carried the impact of a freight train.

His voice matched his appearance. “He told me someone has been sniffing around. He caught someone watching one of the places.”

I winced, gritting my teeth. Someone must have noticed us hanging out in front of Declan’s other club. I wasn’t sure how, with the glamour that made the car look unoccupied, but maybe they had seen movement, or maybe Cade’s magic hadn’t been as good as we thought.

“He did? I didn’t hear anything about it.” They paused in the doorway, the first bodyguard looking uncertain, frowning at his companion.

Luca shot the first bodyguard a disgusted look. “Walker, the day you become the person Declan goes to with information like that is the day I leave because he has officially lost his mind.”

“Wow.” Walker shook his head. “I thought you liked me, Luca.”

“Sure I like you. The only thing Idon’tlike is that you have the same intelligence as the layer of grime inside a toilet bowl. Come on.” Luca walked into the office. It wasn’t a big space. Even if we were invisible, they could very easily run into us.

I leaned in, as though I was about to take a step. Cade’s hand tightened, his fingers digging in, wrapping around my throat, like a collar around my neck. I didn’t move.

The two bodyguards walked in, looking around. Walker saw the open hole in the wall first.

“Someone got in the safe,” he said.

Luca crouched down, admiring our handiwork. “They knew it was there. Cut through with a knife.”

Walker swore. “You think it was him?”

“Do I think the person who cut through to Declan’s secret safe was the only person on his payroll who knew it existed?” Luca stood, his knees popping. He shook his head. “This is why I wouldn’t want to stick around if you were the one Declan was relying on for good advice.”

“Hey, I would give great advice,” Walker said defensively. “I always read those advice columns. Dear Ms. Manners. Dear Annie. And I give way better advice than those old ladies. Your boyfriend stands you up for a date? Don’t call it quits. Go to his apartment, slash his tires, bang on the door, and take a video of whatever chick he’s banging. Post it on the internet. Boom. Vengeance.”

Luca rolled his eyes but then moved to the far side of the office. He ran his fingers down the wall. “He didn’t get in here.”

“You think it’s because he doesn’t know?” Walker asked.

Luca grunted. “I think Miles knew about what he knew, and Declan didn’t tell anyone about this. Especially not some dog that was going to bite his hand as soon as the right bitch turned up.”