Chapter 10: 8

*Nicco POV*

Cassie was unconscious, her head resting against my shoulder as I carried her down the stairs of my club. My mind raced, replaying every word she’d said before she passed out.

Lorenzo Roussi. She’d killed him.

Her voice still echoed in my head, trembling with fear and guilt as she told me everything. The fight, the blood, the way his body fell lifeless at her feet. She didn’t hold back, and now I knew the truth. I also knew why someone was after her—they wouldn’t let this slide.

I cursed under my breath, tightening my grip on her as I pushed through the club’s side entrance and into the cool night air. I needed to get her somewhere safe, somewhere no one could find her.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I scrolled through my contacts and dialed Phoenix. He answered after the second ring.

“Nicco,” he said, his tone sharp. “What’s going on?”

“I need a place,” I said, keeping my voice low. “Quiet, off the radar. I’ve got someone hurt, and they need to disappear—fast.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Who?”

“I’ll explain when we’re there,” I said, sidestepping the question. “Just tell me you’ve got somewhere.”

Phoenix sighed. “Meet me at my office. I’ll figure something out.”

---

Phoenix was already waiting when I pulled up, pacing the sidewalk outside his building. His tie was undone, and his auburn hair stuck up in every direction like he’d been running his hands through it. He opened the passenger door and froze when he saw Cassie slumped against the seat.

“Is that...?” he trailed off, his sharp blue eyes darting between her and me.

“Yeah,” I said, climbing out of the car and moving to the passenger side. “It’s Cassie. She’s the one who’s hurt, and she’s the one who needs to disappear.”

Phoenix cursed under his breath. “What the hell happened to her?”

“She told me everything,” I said, lowering my voice. “She killed Lorenzo Roussi. Someone’s after her. She showed up at my club like this.”

His expression darkened. “Damn it. All right, I know a place. Get her in the car.”

---

The drive was tense and silent, the weight of Cassie’s confession hanging heavy in the air. She stirred once, a weak moan escaping her lips, but she didn’t wake. I kept a steady hand on her, my thumb brushing against the back of hers, a silent promise that I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

Phoenix navigated through the city, eventually turning into a quiet suburban neighborhood. The houses here were modest but tidy, their porches glowing softly under string lights. It was the kind of place no one would think to look for someone like Cassie—or someone like me.

He pulled into the driveway of a single-story house with a neatly trimmed lawn. Without a word, he got out of the car and jogged up to the front door, knocking sharply. I followed with Cassie in my arms, careful not to jostle her too much.

The door opened, revealing a black woman in her mid-fifties with salt-and-pepper hair pulled into a tight bun. She held a cigarette between her fingers, her dark eyes narrowing as she took in Phoenix.

“Boy, what did I tell you about bothering me after hours?” she said, her voice sharp and tinged with a Southern drawl.

Phoenix winced, looking uncharacteristically nervous. “I’m sorry, Ms. Johnson, but this is an emergency. I didn’t know who else to call.”

Her eyes shifted to me, then to Cassie. Her expression softened slightly, though she still looked unimpressed.

“Someone got hurt,” Phoenix continued, his tone quiet. “We didn’t know where else to go.”

Ms. Johnson sighed, taking a drag from her cigarette before stepping aside. “Well, don’t just stand there. Get her inside before the neighbors start poking around.”

I followed her through the house, which was small but cozy, with mismatched furniture and the faint scent of lavender. She led us to a guest room at the back of the house, where I carefully laid Cassie on the bed.

Ms. Johnson approached, pulling on a pair of gloves. “What happened?”

“She was shot,” I said. “The bullet went clean through. She lost a lot of blood, but she’ll make it if we keep her safe.”

Ms. Johnson nodded, her movements efficient as she inspected the wound. “She’s lucky, then. I’ll repatch her bandaging, but she’ll need rest—and someone to keep an eye on her.”

“I’ll do it,” I said firmly.

Ms. Johnson gave me a skeptical look but didn’t argue. She worked quickly, cleaning and rebandaging the wound with practiced hands.

When she finished, she straightened up and peeled off her gloves. “That’ll hold for now. Keep her here for a couple of days, but don’t make this a habit, you hear me?”

Phoenix nodded. “Thank you, Ms. Johnson. I owe you one.”

“You owe me more than one, boy,” she muttered, lighting another cigarette as she left the room.

---

Once we were alone, Phoenix leaned against the wall, rubbing the back of his neck. “You realize how dangerous this is, right?”

“She didn’t have anywhere else to go,” I said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Cassie’s breathing was steady now, her face no longer as pale as it had been. “I couldn’t turn her away.”

Phoenix sighed. “You’ve always had a soft spot for her, haven’t you?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I brushed a strand of hair away from Cassie’s face, my chest tightening at the sight of her so vulnerable.

“Get some rest,” Phoenix said, heading for the door. “We’ll figure out what to do in the morning.”

As he left, I stayed where I was, keeping watch over Cassie. Whatever came next, I’d be ready. For her, I’d have to be.