Chapter 186

I zone out and stare at the scenery again, hating this and working myself into an internal frenzy, so taut with nerves, I feel sick. I cling to him and count down the streets we pass to keep myself calm. I am willing this to be over, and I know as long as I keep breathing and keep my shit together, we will be leaving and heading home soon enough. I must remind myself that this is a blip and something he can handle.

He’s Alexi Carrero, maybe reformed for me, but that badass psycho he can be is alive and kicking in that body and just waiting for the right place to come out to play. I have faith in his ability. He didn’t get that reputation by being a pussycat.

When we pull into a downtrodden area of Chinatown, in a narrow alley, I’m surprised to see what looks like a massage parlour looming over us and the familiar black cars of Carrero security lining the street on which we park. Men are milling around and jumping to attention the second we pull up, obviously awaiting our