anyway, I’d lost the taste for it. Mercy was either in a man’s soul, or it wasn’t. No words of mine could sway a conscience that did not exist.
His gaze dropped to my neck, which was covered by the high neck of my blouse. The evidence of his bite was still there, and always would be. That’s what he’d meant to do—mark me.
And he remembered doing it.
I kept my shields wrapped around me like a blanket. I didn’t want to seek out his emotions, but I could see the ghost of guilt that fluttered briefly in his eyes.
“She comes with us,” said Damian.
“What!” Adulfo eyed his father. “We didn’t plan for her. How the hell is she supposed to get out?”
“Patrick will have to make two trips.”
Adulfo’s blond brows slammed down and he sent me a look of such intense loathing, I took another step back. Damian sent his son a warning glance, and Adulfo looked away from me, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
Damian took his place behind Adulfo, holding his wrists down to hide the fact that the bracelets weren’t linked together. “I am awaiting your rescue, Frau Morningstone,” he said in a mocking tone.
Adulfo rolled his eyes, but stood at the ready.
I harbored no illusions that I was still in charge. I had no idea how they planned to extract themselves from the lobby, but since I’d started off with only half a plan to begin with, I either rolled with theirs, or struck out on my own.
I led them to the elevators and we crowded into the car together.
“Be ready,” warned Adulfo, but I didn’t know if he was talking to me or to his father. In the next instant, the doors slid open, but before I could step out, someone stepped in and leaned against the elevator doors to keep them from shutting.
My heart dropped to my toes as I met the icy gray gaze of Jarred Dante.
“Get in, please,” said Mari’s voice from behind him. “I really don’t want to zap you.”
I moved aside so Jarred could join us. Mari followed him, her finger digging into his back. I couldn’t believe the kind of gall she had! Threatening a man three times her size with a fake gun was ballsy. Then I realized she was in on the whole rescue-Damian operation. I glanced at her, and she winked at me.
“Hello there, Kelsey,” she said cheerfully. “I’m glad you’re on board with us. I was worried.”
I gaped at her.
“Top floor,” she said. “We have to do a roof exit.” Her grin widened. “You believe in werewolves now, dearie?”
“I … uh …” I gulped. “Do you think you’re a werewolf, Mari?”
She laughed. “Don’t be silly. I’m a sidhe .”
“She,” I repeated. “I kinda knew you were a girl.”
“Sidhe,” she said more forcefully. “Otherwise known as a fairy or the fae.”
“Oh.”
“Why the roof?” grumbled Adulfo as he pushed the button labeled R. He shot me a dirty look as though it were my fault their original escape route had been thwarted.
“He caught me resetting the security cameras,” said Mari.
“Was zum Teufel!” exclaimed Adulfo. “He’s coming with us, too?”
“No,” said Damian. “He is not.” The inoperable cuffs clanked to the floor and he moved around his son so that he could plant himself between me and my ex-boss.
“I’ll come for her,” said Jarred. “You know you can’t hide her. Not from me.”
I opened my mouth so I make sure he knew I’d chosen this path and I didn’t want to be found by him, thank you very much , but Damian’s arm snaked around my waist and squeezed. I took the hint to keep quiet, though I had no idea why he wanted Jarred to believe I wasn’t leaving of my own accord. Damian didn’t let go of me, instead bringing me fully into his embrace.
Jarred noted Damian’s genteel capture and his eyes narrowed. “I didn’t think kidnapping was your style.”
“And I didn’t think the great Dante would ever break his word,” said Damian tightly.
“I assure you that my honor remains intact. Is yours?”
Damian’s fingers dug
His gaze dropped to my neck, which was covered by the high neck of my blouse. The evidence of his bite was still there, and always would be. That’s what he’d meant to do—mark me.
And he remembered doing it.
I kept my shields wrapped around me like a blanket. I didn’t want to seek out his emotions, but I could see the ghost of guilt that fluttered briefly in his eyes.
“She comes with us,” said Damian.
“What!” Adulfo eyed his father. “We didn’t plan for her. How the hell is she supposed to get out?”
“Patrick will have to make two trips.”
Adulfo’s blond brows slammed down and he sent me a look of such intense loathing, I took another step back. Damian sent his son a warning glance, and Adulfo looked away from me, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
Damian took his place behind Adulfo, holding his wrists down to hide the fact that the bracelets weren’t linked together. “I am awaiting your rescue, Frau Morningstone,” he said in a mocking tone.
Adulfo rolled his eyes, but stood at the ready.
I harbored no illusions that I was still in charge. I had no idea how they planned to extract themselves from the lobby, but since I’d started off with only half a plan to begin with, I either rolled with theirs, or struck out on my own.
I led them to the elevators and we crowded into the car together.
“Be ready,” warned Adulfo, but I didn’t know if he was talking to me or to his father. In the next instant, the doors slid open, but before I could step out, someone stepped in and leaned against the elevator doors to keep them from shutting.
My heart dropped to my toes as I met the icy gray gaze of Jarred Dante.
“Get in, please,” said Mari’s voice from behind him. “I really don’t want to zap you.”
I moved aside so Jarred could join us. Mari followed him, her finger digging into his back. I couldn’t believe the kind of gall she had! Threatening a man three times her size with a fake gun was ballsy. Then I realized she was in on the whole rescue-Damian operation. I glanced at her, and she winked at me.
“Hello there, Kelsey,” she said cheerfully. “I’m glad you’re on board with us. I was worried.”
I gaped at her.
“Top floor,” she said. “We have to do a roof exit.” Her grin widened. “You believe in werewolves now, dearie?”
“I … uh …” I gulped. “Do you think you’re a werewolf, Mari?”
She laughed. “Don’t be silly. I’m a sidhe .”
“She,” I repeated. “I kinda knew you were a girl.”
“Sidhe,” she said more forcefully. “Otherwise known as a fairy or the fae.”
“Oh.”
“Why the roof?” grumbled Adulfo as he pushed the button labeled R. He shot me a dirty look as though it were my fault their original escape route had been thwarted.
“He caught me resetting the security cameras,” said Mari.
“Was zum Teufel!” exclaimed Adulfo. “He’s coming with us, too?”
“No,” said Damian. “He is not.” The inoperable cuffs clanked to the floor and he moved around his son so that he could plant himself between me and my ex-boss.
“I’ll come for her,” said Jarred. “You know you can’t hide her. Not from me.”
I opened my mouth so I make sure he knew I’d chosen this path and I didn’t want to be found by him, thank you very much , but Damian’s arm snaked around my waist and squeezed. I took the hint to keep quiet, though I had no idea why he wanted Jarred to believe I wasn’t leaving of my own accord. Damian didn’t let go of me, instead bringing me fully into his embrace.
Jarred noted Damian’s genteel capture and his eyes narrowed. “I didn’t think kidnapping was your style.”
“And I didn’t think the great Dante would ever break his word,” said Damian tightly.
“I assure you that my honor remains intact. Is yours?”
Damian’s fingers dug
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