Page 47 of While She Sleeps

I flick my eyes up at Ember as I force down the panic that comes with having something to lose. This is why I wasn’t supposed to move on her until she could take her rightful place, until I had everything prepared and her safety under lock and key.

Why did my girl have to be so tempting?

“I’m going to the restroom,” I say, careful to keep my tone even and my face neutral. It’s a damned good thing I’m a master with masks.

She nods as she takes a bite of the decadent dessert, and her eyes roll back in her head. Whoever the fuck has decided tonight is the night to make a move on me is going to regret that decision for making me miss my girl enjoying her food like this.

“I won’t be long,” I promise, and as soon as I’m out of her earshot, I answer Killian’s call. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Finally,” he sighs. “You need to get your head in the game and out of that girl’s cunt, Orion.”

I growl. “The next time you talk about Ember’s pussy, I’ll tear your fucking tongue out. Now tell me what the fuck is going on.”

“It’s just the one team, but they’ve got the perimeter secured. I’ve managed to hack into the comms and have confirmed they’re here for the girl, but I haven’t been able to work out who they’re working for yet.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah, fuck,” he growls. “Given her issues with vehicles, how do you suggest we get her out of there?”

“I’m on my way out. Meet me at the front doors.”

“Orion,” he warns, but I hang up the phone before he can argue with me. I don’t really give a fuck about his opinion right now. Not when Ember’s life is in danger.

The restaurant is on a quiet street, which makes it obvious when I find a black van sitting directly across from the entrance. Without missing a beat, I walk straight to the driver’s side and knock on the window.

Muffled voices greet me before the window descends, leaving me staring at a bulky man in a black beanie.

“Can I help you?”

“Who hired you?”

“Excuse me?

“You heard me,” I snap. “Tell me who hired you, and I’ll consider allowing you to walk away while still breathing.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“I think I’m someone who is more than willing to kill for my woman. So again, I’ll ask, who hired you?”

His face pales slightly, but that’s the only sign he gives that he’s uncomfortable with the exchange, his face remaining perfectly bored. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just here for a delivery.”

I glare at him but force a calming breath into my lungs.

You can’t kill him in the busy street,I remind myself.

Well, I could. And my lawyers are so well paid they could probably get me off on all charges, but that’s a shit storm I don’t need right now, especially as I try to convince Ember to trust me.

“How much is your boss paying you?” I ask, looking past the bulky guy to his much thinner partner in the passenger seat. It’s clear why he hasn’t done any of the talking. Sweat drips from his hairline as he looks anywhere but directly at me. “I’ll triple it if you fuck off.”

The bulky asshole’s eyes widen in surprise, but he doesn’t reply immediately, his eyes flicking to the time on the dashboard and then back at me.

“We don’t want your money,” he says calmly, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “We just needed to distract you for long enough to get her out of the building.”

My stomach drops at his words, my chest constricting with unfamiliar panic that takes my breath away, and without thought, I’m running.

Unluckily for those two assholes, I never forget a face, and even in a city the size of Los Angeles, I’ll find them and end them for the role they’ve played in ruining my first date with my queen.

The doorman’s eyes widen as I shove the doors open so hard the glass wobbles in the frame, but I don’t know what his issue is. It’s not like it smashed.

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