CHAPTER 16
~Xena's POV~
For a second, everything inside me stopped. My daughter, my tiny, bright-eyed Skai, stood right in front of the man like she had wandered into a horror movie without knowing it.
He lowered his gaze briefly to her. That same unreadable, unbothered cold look sent shivers down my spine. Then he lifted his eyes back to me. His expression didn't shift, not even a blink.
"The briefcase."
His voice was deep, flat, and cold enough to run down my spine like a bucket of ice water. My body reacted before my brain could catch up, fear spiking, legs suddenly weak.
I hurried forward, heart thumping hard, and grabbed Skai's hand gently but firmly. "Come here," I whispered, pulling her behind me like a shield I should've put up earlier.
Keeping my eyes on him, I reached out for the briefcase with one hand. My palm felt sweaty around the handle. "There. You have it. You can…"
"I'll be on my way," he cut in, already turning toward the door.
