He stepped out from the shadow of the door, his gun pressed directly against the side of Killian’s temple.

“Tell them to stay outside,” Aries whispered, his voice dangerously soft.

Killian froze, his hands slowly rising to his chest.

“Aries, it’s me,” Killian said, his eyes shifting toward the darkness of the office.

“Tell them,” Aries repeated, his finger tightening on the trigger.

Killian swallowed hard, his throat moving against his wet collar.

He turned his head slightly toward the open door.

“Wait by the truck,” Killian called out to the men. “I’ll check the back office myself.”

The two men nodded, turning back toward the idling headlights.

Aries reached out, grabbed the collar of Killian’s heavy coat, and dragged him inside.

He kicked the door shut with his heel, the lock clicking back into place.

The room fell into a tense, breathing silence.

I held my breath, pressed flat against the side of the heavy oak desk.

Aries shoved Killian down onto his knees.

“Hands behind your head,” Aries commanded.

Killian did as he was told, his fingers interlacing over his wet hair.