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“Dante’s people know you’re back.”

“And?”

“And that means you don’t stay alone right now.”

Blair actually laughs.

Sharp.

Disbelieving.

“No. Absolutely not.” She slides off the stool immediately. “You two don’t just get to decide that for me.”

“We’re trying to keep you safe,” Noir says calmly.

Blair shakes her head.

“You know what? Nope. I’m going back to my motel, showering again because this conversation is stressing me out, and pretending this weird possessive hostage energy never happened.”

She moves toward the hallway.

Toward the apartment door.

And without even thinking about it, I step directly into her path.

Blair stops short immediately.

Her eyes slowly lift toward mine.

And for the first time since she woke up?

She looks genuinely pissed off.

“Move.”

“No,” me and Noir say simultaneously.

That only makes her grin wider, but there’s less humor in it now.

“Cute. Suddenly you’re both on the same team.”

Noir moves farther into the apartment while pulling his phone out.

“No movement from Dante’s crews yet.”

Yet.

That word settles heavily through the room.

Blair notices immediately.

Her jaw tightens before she tries brushing past me anyway.

“Okay well, unfortunately for both of you, I’m not doing this weird protective hostage bullshit today.”

I step sideways automatically, blocking her again.

“Blair.”