Page 38 of Stay Scared

He touches his earpiece. “Ash, get your ass in my section.”

Static answers.

Cade looks at the photograph again. “This wasn’t fucking approved.”

The hallway lights turn red, and a lock engages behind the apartment door.

Cade moves toward me. “Salem, give me the frame.”

“I told you not to touch it.”

“I want that thing out of here.”

“So it can disappear?”

“So I can find out who put it here.”

I step back, but he follows too quickly.

The frame strikes the wall behind me. Cade braces one arm beside my shoulder and catches my wrist before I can pull the picture away.

“Give it to me.”

“You’re doing it again.”

“This isn’t about us.”

“It always becomes about what you think you’re allowed to take.”

“I’m trying to get that thing away from you.”

“By holding me against a wall.”

I twist, and his grip tightens.

Fear makes Cade grab harder.

“Release me.”

His eyes stay on the photograph, and his hand remains locked around my wrist.

The heat from the bar disappears.

I strike his chest once with my free palm, then again. My third tap lands hard over the strap crossing his sternum.

Cade releases me instantly.

His hand leaves my wrist, his other arm comes off the wall, and he backs away so fast one boot catches the baseboard. The skull is off before he regains his balance, opening several feet between us.

A red mark is already forming around my wrist.

Cade sees it. “I stopped when you tapped.”

“You did.”

He looks down at the hand that grabbed me. “What do you need?”

“I need you farther away from me.”