She pushes out a breath, soft between pursed lips, a line of thought forming between her brows.

"You weren't kidding." He hasn't been kidding about any of this, anyway, so there's no reason to suspect that will change any time soon. Her hand closes over his, over the one that clutches the hidden weapon within his cane.

"Thank you," she whispers. "For telling me. I know you didn't have to."