CHAPTER NINE

The plates were empty, the bottle of wine down to the last drops, but neither Savannah nor Cassian made a move to leave the balcony. The city stretched beneath them, a sea of lights, but all Savannah felt was the heat of his gaze, the steady thrum of his heart beneath her hand.

Cassian tilted his head, studying her in that way that always made her breath catch. "You're quiet."

She smiled softly, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingertip. "I'm just… happy. I don't get to slow down like this."

His hand came up, covering hers. "Neither do I."

The air between them shifted, thick with everything unsaid. No boardrooms. No headlines. Just two people stealing time.

"Dance with me," he murmured.

There was no music, just the city's hum, but it didn't matter. Savannah rose, letting him pull her against him. They swayed slowly, bodies pressed together, hearts in sync. The tension that always burned between them simmered just beneath the surface, but for once, they let it smolder rather than ignite.

Inside the suite, Cassian took her hand, leading her toward the bathroom without a word. His touch said everything.

The room filled with steam as the shower came to life. He undressed her slowly, savoring the glide of silk over her skin, the flush that spread across her cheeks as his eyes roamed her body. When she reached for his shirt, he let her peel It away, baring his chest, the inked symbol on his shoulder dark against his skin. Her gaze lingered there, but the question on her lips died beneath the weight of his stare.

Together, they stepped beneath the spray, the water hot, the air thick . His hands mapped her curves, with soap and heat, fingers gliding over every inch. Savannah moaned softly, tilting her head back as his mouth found the slope of her neck.

"Savannah," he breathed, his voice rough, "I need you."

She didn't answer, just pulled him closer, their bodies sliding together beneath the water. He lifted her easily, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, gasping as he entered her, filling her completely. The rhythm they found was slow, the water cascading around them, their breaths mingling, but soon the need overtook them both.

Cassian's name fell from her lips in a broken moan as pleasure built, harder. He groaned against her throat, holding her tight as they came together, the water masking the sound of their release.

Later, wrapped in towels, they ordered breakfast. They ate on the bed, feeding each other bites, fingers sticky with syrup, laughter mingling with the soft morning light.

Cassian brushed a crumb from the corner of her mouth, his thumb lingering at her lip. "You're dangerous, you know that?"

Savannah grinned. "Says the man who nearly killed me in the shower."

He laughed, the sound low and warm.

The day unfolded like a dream. They walked along the beach, shoes in hand, sand between their toes. They ducked into little shops, buying silly souvenirs, a woven bracelet for each of them, a tiny glass bottle filled with sand. At a café, they shared dessert, stealing bites from each other's plates.

They watched the sun set from a quiet spot on a cliff, Cassian's arm around her, the world far below. For the first time in so long, Savannah felt weightless.

But beneath the peace, the questions lingered, about the man holding her close, about the secrets he still hadn't shared.

The next morning, Soft morning light spilled into the hotel suite, casting a warm glow across the tangled sheets and discarded clothes.

Savannah lay awake, listening to Cassian's steady breathing, her cheek resting against his bare chest. His arm draped over her waist, as if even in sleep he couldn't let her go.

She tilted her head just enough to study him, those dark lashes against his skin, the faint crease between his brows, as if he was already bracing for the world outside. The sight tugged at something deep in her chest.

"I don't want this to end," she whispered, more to herself than to him.

But Cassian stirred at the sound of her voice, his arm tightening around her. "Then let's not let it," he murmured, voice thick with sleep.

Savannah smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. "You know we can't stay here forever. Real life's waiting."

He opened his eyes, dark and meeting hers. For a heartbeat, he looked like he might argue, like he might offer to sweep her away and keep her hidden from the world. But then he sighed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I know."

Reluctantly, they untangled themselves from each other, the cold air a rude reminder that their escape was over.

Savannah padded across the room, pulling on one of his shirts as she gazed out at the skyline. Cassian joined her a moment later, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"We should get ready," she said softly, not moving.

"Yeah," he agreed, but neither of them made the first move for a while.

Eventually, reality won. They got dressed in silence, stealing glances at each other, small touches here and there, the brush of his fingers at her waist as he helped zip her dress, her palm smoothing his collar. It felt like they were trying to memorize each other, afraid of what waited beyond the hotel walls.

As they packed the last of their things, Savannah let out a sigh. "I wish this didn't feel like goodbye."

Cassian cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. "It's not. It's just… I'm not done with you, Savannah."

Her heart gave a painful little squeeze at his words. "Promise"

"Promise."

The lobby felt colder, emptier, as they checked out. Cassian held her hand the whole time, his thumb tracing lazy circles over her skin like he didn't want to let go. Outside, the city already alive with the start of a new week. They lingered by her car, neither of them quite ready to leave.

"I'll call you later," Cassian said, leaning in to kiss her, as if trying to stretch the moment.

Savannah nodded, reluctant. "Drive safe."

"You too, sweetheart."

They parted ways, but as Savannah pulled out onto the street, the strange prickle at the back of her neck started almost immediately. She caught it first in her rearview mirror, a dark sedan, unremarkable except that it was suddenly everywhere she was.

At first, she thought it was coincidence. Just another car navigating the city streets. But at every turn, every stop, the sedan remained. When she changed lanes unexpectedly, it followed. When she circled the block, so did it.

Her pulse quickened. She gripped the wheel tighter, eyes flicking between the road and the mirror. Okay, Savannah. Breathe. Don't panic.

At the next red light, she grabbed her phone, heart hammering. She tried to call Cassian. The screen froze. The call didn't connect. She frowned, tried again. Same result.

"What the hell?" she muttered, tapping at the screen. She switched to email, thinking maybe she could message Gina, but her inbox wouldn't load. Bars flickered on and off. The battery percentage danced between numbers like it couldn't decide what was real.

A chill ran down her spine. What is happening?

She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and tried again, this time the call finally rang through.

"Savannah?" Cassian's voice came through, "What's wrong?"

"I….I think someone's following me," she said, struggling to keep the tremor out of her voice. "And my phone, it's glitching. My calls weren't going through, emails won't load…"

His voice hardened instantly. "Where are you?"

She rattled off the cross streets. "Heading toward Red Muse. Should I just go there?"

"No," Cassian said, no room for argument. "Pull into the next public place you see. A gas station, a coffee shop, somewhere open, crowded. Lock your doors. Stay inside the car until I get to you."

"Cassian"

"I mean it, Savannah. I'm five minutes out."

"Okay," she breathed, spotting a busy gas station and pulling in. The sedan rolled by without stopping, but her heart didn't slow. She stayed put, watching the street, waiting for Cassian.

When he arrived, he didn't waste a second. He parked beside her, climbed out, and opened her door himself. His jaw was tight, his eyes scanning the area.

"You okay?" he asked, his hands on her waist, drawing her close.

She nodded, but she couldn't hide the fear in her eyes. "I don't know what that was. The car, my phone…"

"I'll handle it," he promised, his voice protective. He guided her to his SUV, settling her inside. "You're with me for now. We'll get your car later."

"Cassian, you're scaring me," she whispered as he slid into the driver's seat.

"I'm not trying to. I just need to keep you safe." He glanced at her, softer now. "We'll talk, I promise. Just… let me deal with this first."

Savannah wanted to push, wanted answers, but something in his eyes, something she couldn't quite name, made her swallow the questions.

The rest of the day passed in a haze of tension. Cassian stayed close, checking on her between meetings, his usual cool confidence edged with something darker. And though Savannah appreciated his protectiveness, it only made the knot in her stomach tighter.

Later that afternoon, needing air, she stepped out of Red Muse, letting the city noise fill the silence left by her racing thoughts. She walked a little, trying to clear her head.

And that's when she saw him.

Leaning casually against a lamppost near the corner. His hair a little longer than she remembered, but the smile was the same, easy and familiar.

"Savannah Quinn," he called, pushing off the post as she approached.

She blinked, caught off guard. "Eli?"

Eli Mason. A name she hadn't spoken aloud in years. An old friend. An old friend of Cassian's.

He grinned, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Small world."

Savannah crossed her arms, studying him. "What are you doing here?"

"Would you believe I was just passing through?" His tone was light, but his eyes flickered with something unreadable.

"No," she said honestly.

He chuckled. "Fair enough. Can I buy you a coffee? Catch up a little?"

Savannah hesitated, glancing toward Red Muse, toward the weight of her day. Toward the secrets piling up around her.

"Yeah," she said finally. "Yeah, okay."

As they walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. And the truth? It was getting closer.