Chapter 23 · Then she shoved the rifle into his chest

Then she shoved the rifle into his chest.

“Fix it,” she said.

“Ask nicely.”

“I don’t ask.”

“You threaten.”

“It works.”

“Not on me.”

Her face came close enough that he felt the heat from her skin. “You’re standing in my house with my mother’s weapon in your hands. Your life is tied to mine. You have nowhere to go, no legal name, and a city-wide warrant waiting outside my door. Don’t tell me what does and doesn’t work on you.”

Kael swallowed. “You forgot one thing.”

“What?”

“I know you won’t let them take me.”

Something cracked across her expression.

The assassin groaned from the end of the passage.

Sloane broke away first. “Stay here.”

“Not a chance.”

She pointed the pistol at him. “That was not a request.”

Kael lifted both hands. “You’re adorable when you pretend you’re in control.”

“I’m going to shoot you.”

“You’d miss.”

“I never miss.”

“You missed the assassin.”

“I hit him.”

“You hit his shoulder.”

“I was distracted.”

“By what?”

Her stare turned sharp enough to cut.

Kael smiled despite the pain in his neck. “Exactly.”

She lowered the gun by an inch. “You’re going to regret that.”

“Probably.