Page 249 of The Rules

Julian clicked his tongue, tilting his head as if disappointed in a stubborn pet. "Alright then," he said. "Let me ask a different question." He turned to Ben, his tone casual, thoughtful.

"Want me to step in?"

Katherine's stomach clenched. Something in the way Julian said it—so breezy, so light—made the hair on her neck stand on end.

"Step in?" she asked, brow furrowed, a cold dread spreading through her chest. "What does that mean?"

Julian glanced at her, all teeth and calm menace. "Nothing you need to worry about, sweetheart."

And just like that—

It clicked. Her breath hitched. Her gaze jumped between Ben and Julian, searching for confirmation of what she suddenly understood.

"You're not seriously considering—"

Julian chuckled, low and amused, though the sound held an edge sharp enough to bleed.

"Don't worry," he said, glancing at Katherine with a casual shrug. "It was just a theoretical solution. If you ever decide you'd like him a little more... cooperative, well—I'm simply saying I can be useful in ways that go beyond paperwork."

Then he gestured to the witness. "But let's be real. This one?" He snorted. "He's already dead inside. Doesn't even need persuasion. Shame, though. I do love a good project." The man stiffened.

Katherine watched the man's breathing accelerate, his chest rising and falling in quick, shallow movements. For the first time all night, genuine fear flooded his eyes—pupils dilating, gaze darting between them.

She didn't know what horrors he imagined Julian capable of. She only knew whatever he was picturing probably wasn'tenough. The reality of Julian Sinclair was likely far worse than any nightmare this man could conjure.

Ben remained silent beside her, his expression unreadable. Only the rigid set of his posture betrayed any reaction at all. Then—

"No," he said, voice low and final. "He's not worth the effort."

Julian sighed dramatically, shoulders slumping with exaggerated disappointment. He reached for Katherine’s glass instead, lifting it with a casual ease before tossing back the last of her drink in one smooth motion, the ice clinking against the sides as he drank without asking.

"Shame," he muttered, setting the empty tumbler down with a soft thud. "Would've been fun."

Katherine exhaled slowly, the knot in her chest loosening just slightly. The air still felt thick in her throat, but she forced herself to breathe. She leaned in close enough that the man couldn't look away, close enough that he had no choice but to listen to every word.

"You think Crawford's going to let you stay safe forever?" she asked, her voice soft, almost kind. "You think because you kept quiet tonight, he won't find some excuse to make you disappear anyway?"

The man swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. Katherine lowered her voice, letting the steel edge return to her tone.

"We gave you a choice."

His fingers twitched against the table. But he didn't speak. And that?

That was his answer.

Ben stood from the table, the movement smooth but final. "We're done here."

Katherine followed without hesitation, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.

Julian trailed behind them, humming something low and dissonant under his breath like a lullaby from hell. They left theman behind. Alone. In the dark. Surrounded by his silence.

And drowning in fear.

The air outside hit her like a wall.

Cold. Thin. Too clean after the stink of the bar.

Kath didn’t speak. Neither did Ben. Julian peeled off first, muttering something about a call. She barely registered it.