Julian's POV
The cigarette burned low between my fingers. I'd lost count of how many I'd smoked. The night was still, cold, and annoyingly quiet, except for the constant beep of my phone on the table, each one reminding me that it wasn't Catherine.
She wasn't back from wherever she went.
I told myself I didn't care. She was a grown woman. She could go wherever the hell she wanted but when the clock hit ten and the gate outside remained unopened, I found myself pacing.
Gabriel had said she went out with Collins.
That had been ringing in my head all night, gnawing at whatever patience I had left. I tried drowning it out with whiskey, but each sip only brought it back sharper.
The worst thoughts ran in my head because I knew what Collins could do. The smug bastard could force himself on Catherine and she would easily let him.
