Page 45 of Velvet Chains

“I won’t let that happen either,” I said, wishing I sounded more confident.

“So you’ll kill her.” He stared at me, daring me to blink. “If it comes to that, you’ll kill her.”

“I know what it takes to protect this family.” It was an answer without actually being one. I hoped it was enough.

He rubbed his chin like he was considering whether or not to punch me. “You’re a fool, Kieran. I hope you’re a lucky one.”

“I’ve always been lucky,” I said. I stopped short, not knowing what the hell else I was supposed to say…and like a fucking idiot, I defaulted to the simplest way I knew to get out of an uncomfortable conversation. “I need to take a piss.”

Tristan scoffed. “What are you, five?”

“This coffee is going right through me,” I said, ignoring him.

Then I left the kitchen before I could say anything stupid…before I could tell him that I would never kill Ruby, because shewasmy family.

Her and Rosie.

The snow was coming down harder when I got to the bathroom. I watched the window turn white, my phone in my hand…because obviously I didn’t need to pee. I needed tocall her–to warn her that

if she slipped even once—if she breathed wrong—he’d make the call.

And someone would kill her.Then Tristan would have a much bigger problem then Ruby Marquez.

Me.

I growled and scrubbed my hair as I unlocked my phone, pulled up her contact card…stared at her name. My thumbs were moving before I could stop myself, typing out a message:

Can I see you?

The text sent before I could change my mind.

This wasn’t about staying away anymore.

This was about staying ahead of Tristan.

Because if he ever thought Ruby was a threat again, I wouldn’t be the one making decisions. He would.

And if he did...well, I guess I was just going to have to kill him first.

Chapter Fourteen: Ruby

I’d blocked his number without hesitating.

I didn’t even let myself read the text twice.

Can I see you?

No. He couldn’t.

Not after everything. Not after the hospital, the FBI, the look in Alek’s eyes when he warned me what I was playing with.

Not after Rosie clung to me that night and whispered, “You’re safe now, right, Mommy?” like she knew more than I ever wanted her to know.

I wish it had been easy in the first place, but it was only when my daughter looked at me with those eyes, with fear on her face, that I realized that I needed to get the fuck out of the situation. I had always known that, of course; intellectually, it had alwaysbeen the smartest idea. I didn’t need Alek for that. I didn’t need anyone else for it.

But I wouldn’t stand for anyone making Rosie afraid, and Kieran was part of that. I had to protect her. I needed to.

And that meant protecting myself, too.