The glow of red bathed his face as Cassian sat in the driver's seat, fingers tapping idly against the steering wheel. Lisa's sweet pheromones still clung faintly to his suit.
He had driven her home after the shootout, quiet and tense. Before she got out of the car, they ended up having a screaming match over him trying to protect her from getting her brains blown out. Which he was actively doing while she tried to be Mary Slessor.
He exhaled through his teeth and rolled his shoulders back, the muscles in his neck tight. He wanted a drink, or maybe a fight. Something to drown the ticking annoyance that drummed in his nerves.
The traffic light turned green, and Cassian turned onto the main road. The city blurred past in streaks of colour. He had only driven forward a bit when movement on the sidewalk caught his eye. A figure ran past his car into the road. Fast. Stumbling.
Cassian's gaze flicked briefly. It was probably just another street rat or desperate thief-
His eyes widened in recognition as the figure glanced back with a frightened stare. Cassian's hands tightened on the wheel. What was he doing?
A car was speeding from the opposite lane, headlights flaring white across the asphalt. The idiot was right in its path.
Time slowed. Cassian's pulse stuttered.
"Fuck."
Cassian slammed his foot on the gas. The tires screamed as his car shot forward and swerved right into the incoming car. Metal collided with metal. The world jolted violently as Cassian's car sideswiped the other vehicle, sending it spinning into the curb.
He killed the engine, threw the door open, and stepped into the chaos that gathered in the street. Smoke and burnt rubber filled the air.
The café boy, Elias, stood frozen in the middle of the street, shaking, eyes wide as saucers.
Cassian crossed the distance in three long strides and grabbed him by the arm, hauling him back to the sidewalk before another car could take them both out.
"What the fuck were you thinking?" Cassian snapped. "Trying to get yourself killed?"
Elias blinked up at him, still dazed. "I—uh—thanks? Help?"
Cassian stared at him. Up close, the boy looked worse than he remembered — pale, scraped, one cheek already swelling. His shirt was torn at the collar, and his breath came out in uneven gasps. One thing that caught Cassian's attention more was the fear in his eyes.
Cassian's jaw tightened. "Do you have a death wish, or are you just stupid?"
Before Elias could answer, a voice called out from behind them.
"There he is!"
Cassian turned, slowly. Three men were crossing the street. They were thugs, from the looks of it. Cassian is pretty sure he recognised the one leading the chase.
Cassian's hand dropped instinctively toward the gun holster under his jacket.
Elias flinched, stepping closer to Cassian and pressed behind him. "Please," Elias whispered, voice breaking. "Don't let them take me."
Cassian didn't move for a moment. All he could hear for a short second was the sharp, quick sound of pages flipping in his ears and winced. Then he shifted, just enough to keep Elias behind him.
The biggest of the three stopped a few feet away, hands raised in mock surrender.
"Easy there, Don," he said smoothly. "Didn't mean to cause trouble. We're just here for the kid. His mom owes us money."
Cassian's gaze was unreadable. "And you thought you'd collect from him instead?"
"Debt's a family thing," the man said with a shrug. "He's old enough to work it off. You know how business is."
Cassian's lips curved in something that wasn't quite a smile. "Work it off." His tone dripped disdain. "That what you call it these days?"
The man's eyes flickered, weary.
Cassian took a step forward. "You touch him again, I'll break your fingers. All ten. Then I'll find whoever you work for and do the same to him."
"Hey now," one of the others said, shifting nervously. "We didn't know he was yours."
Elias stiffened behind him. "Yours?" he whispered.
Cassian didn't look back. "That's right," he said coolly. "He's under my protection."
The leader, Graves, now that Cassian remembered from Nico's random yapping blinked, processing that. Thank God, Nico is not here. He would have had a field day causing more trouble and killing all three of them.
"Cassian Vale?" he asked carefully.
Cassian raised a brow. "Do you know another?"
Graves paled a shade. "Didn't realize he belonged to you. We'll, uh… settle the matter elsewhere."
Cassian's voice dropped, lethal quiet. "You won't settle it at all. You'll forget his name, his address, his mother. If I hear you so much as breathe near him again, I'll consider it an act of aggression on my territory."
Graves swallowed. "Understood. The money... We've got our business to run."
Cassian pursed his lips, reached into his pocket and brought out his card. "Send your account details to the number here. It will be wired."
They gave their thanks, collecting the card and pocketing it away. Cassian watched them retreat until they were out of sight. Only then did he release the safety on his gun and let his arm drop.
Elias exhaled shakily. "You—you didn't have to—"
"Yes," Cassian interrupted, turning to him. "But you were making a public scene and nearly got yourself killed by a car."
Elias stared at him, still trembling. "You crashed your car to save me."
Cassian shrugged. "Collateral."
"That's not—" Elias started, then gave up. "You're insane."
Cassian's mouth twitched. "Takes one to know one, apparently."
He glanced at the street. His car was wrecked on one side, smoke curling from the hood. The other vehicle was totaled, its driver groaning but alive. Sirens wailed faintly in the distance.
"Come on," Cassian said, grabbing Elias's wrist. "We're leaving before this turns into a hassle of paperwork with the cops."
"Wait—where—"
"Someplace safe."
A sleek black sedan rolled up moments later. His driver stepped out, eyes scanning the scene before nodding once.
Cassian opened the back door and gestured. "Get in."
Elias swallowed and climbed in. Cassian followed, sliding into the seat beside him. The door shut, sealing them in muted silence as the car pulled away.
The noisy town faded behind them, replaced by the dark sprawl of Cassian's quieter and richer part of the city. Elias stared out the window, knuckles white around the edge of his seat. Cassian watched him from the corner of his eye.
The kid was clearly exhausted. His pheromones assaulted Cassian's nose. His body trembled and his shoulders stayed tensed.
Cassian finally broke the silence. "Your mother's debts."
Elias tensed. "What about them?"
"How much?"
"I don't know," Elias muttered, voice low.
Cassian hummed, thoughtful. "And you thought running into traffic was the solution?"
Elias scowled. "It wasn't part of the plan."
"Do you even have a plan?"
"Yeah. Step one, leave this godforsaken city."
Cassian's lips curved faintly. "You're terrible at that."
Elias glared at him. "And you're—" He paused, gesturing vaguely. "—annoying."
"Most people use 'terrifying'."
"I was being polite."
Cassian almost smiled. "Don't be. I don't require politeness."
The car slowed as they entered the gated drive of Cassian's townhouse. Security lights flicked on, illuminating the sharp architecture.
Elias's eyes widened slightly. "Damn!"
Cassian smirked in satisfaction. He stepped out, gesturing for Elias to follow. Inside, the air was cool, faintly scented. Cassian relaxed when they reached the kitchen.
Cassian loosened his tie, glancing back as Elias hesitated at the entrance. "You're safe here. For now."
Elias hovered near the entryway as if unable to decide what to do aside from following him everywhere.
Cassian poured himself a drink, the amber liquid catching the light. "So," he said finally, turning to face him. "Want a drink?"
"No." Elias hesitated. "Thank you for earlier."
Cassian raised a brow. "You're welcome. One would think you would stay out of trouble after what happened earlier today. Every time I see you, it's one thing or the other."
Elias's cheeks flushed. "It's not my fault."
Cassian took a slow sip, watching him over the rim of his glass. "Which brings me to the next question."
Elias blinked. "What question?"
Cassian set the glass down on the counter with a soft clink.
"How," he said quietly, stepping closer until the air between them crackled, "do you plan to pay me back for saving your life?"