Page 14 of Ruthless Raiders

She turns and hits me with a look sharp enough to skin flesh, and I take it without flinching. She’s not wrong. Iwasfollowing her. Still am, technically.

“Look,” Cast says, shifting his weight and running a hand over his jaw like he’s already tired of the conversation. “There are people who want to get back at me. They can’t touch me directly, so they go for what matters. That means Willow.” He pauses, eyes narrowing on Jasmine. “Andyou,very stupidly, just told them you’re her.”

Silence drops like a stone between them.

Jasmine’s breath catches. She opens her mouth like she wants to argue, but the truth of it is already sinking in. I can see it—can feel the weight settle across her shoulders.

“So now,” Cast continues, stepping forward, “we need a new game plan.”

She doesn’t answer, just crosses her arms over her chest and waits—guarded, suspicious, but listening.

“For your safety, in case they realized your connection to Willow,” Cast says, voice clipped and direct, “I’ve had someone following you.”

Jasmine’s eyes narrow. “Landon?”

Cast nods. “Among others.”

“You’ve been having me watched?”

“Would you prefer dead?” Cast snaps, before reining it in. “It wasn’t personal. It was a precaution.”

“That’srealcomforting.”

“I didn’t say it to comfort you. I said it to explain why you’re still here.”

She flinches at that—just slightly—and I can see the war behind her eyes. Pride and survival don’t mix easily, especially in someone like Jasmine. But she stays quiet.

“I’m offering you protection,” Cast continues, more controlled now.

“What, so I just allow you to continue to stalk me?” Jasmine snorts. “No dice.”

“You know I could easily wash my hands of you right now. Your death would work in my favor, you know that?” Cast whispers, his eyes glinting with danger.

I whistle lowly. “Come on now. Play nice, Cast.”

“Iam,” Cast shrugs, stepping even closer to Jasmine. “Look, I have a proposition for you. You work a dead-end job and live with your shitty mom in a trailer. You wanted to go to college but couldn’t afford it, right?”

Jasmine’s jaw tightens, but she doesn’t speak.

“I’ll have you enrolled at Haven University by morning. It’s a couple hours out, which is for the best while I figure out how to convince the Italiansnotto kill you,” Cast says with a nod. “New apartment. Quiet area. Fenced grounds. Security. Full coverage.”

“And what do you get in return?” Jasmine asks, arms still crossed, voice steady.

“You let Landon keep tabs on you. You don’t cause me any more problems. And I make all your dreams come true while making sure my girl doesn’t hate me for you dying on my watch.”

“Wow,” she mutters. “You’re my fucking fairy godmother, and Willow has you whipped.”

“I do what I can, and you ever tell her that and I’ll gut you like a fucking fish and force her to forgive me regardless.” Cast replies, a half-smile tugging at his mouth. “We got a deal, Jas?”

“You sure you want to follow me around Lan?”

I smile, sliding up closer to her spicy, sweet scent invading my senses.Fuck,what is that? Cinnamon? Vanilla? A little dash of bourbon?Bloody hell, she’s delicious.“I’d watch your fine ass anywhere, love.”

Rolling her eyes, she shakes Cast’s hand, sealing her fate with mine, like she stood a fucking chance otherwise.

4

JASMINE