Cass moved before the man finished speaking.
The wine bottle flew from her hand, striking his arm with enough force to send his weapon spinning away. Before the others could react, she closed the distance with terrifying speed. One moment she was several feet away. The next, the man was on the floor, gasping, disarmed, and no longer a threat.
The restaurant fell into a stunned silence broken only by frightened breathing.
Victor’s men turned on her.
But Cass was already moving again.
She used tables, shadows, and confusion like old friends. She ducked low as shots cracked through the restaurant, then slid behind a heavy serving cart. Glass shattered above her, raining harmless fragments across the floor.
Marcus’s bodyguards finally drew their weapons, but Marcus raised one hand.
“Don’t,” he said quietly.
Because now he understood.
This was no waitress caught in the wrong place.
This was a woman who had chosen silence for years—and had just decided silence was over.