“Good. You look healthy, and the vibes you put out are a lot calmer now, so that’s a nice side benefit.”
Vibes? Oh, he meant her allure. Sudden mortification that Keegan had noticed that made Amara’s cheeks flame. It wasn’t like she could regulate who her body tried to lure in. If only she could.
Brynn appeared at the entrance to the foyer. Her voice was dry when she said to Keegan, “You’re not supposed to mention stuff like that out loud.”
Before Amara could feel much more embarrassment, Brynn broke into a wide smile and headed toward her, then wrapped her arms around her. “You look a million times better than last time I saw you.”
“Thanks.” This time, Amara hugged her back. “And thanks for packing that bag of clothes for me.”
“No problem. Come on.” Brynn led Amara into the living room. Ronin’s presence was a tangible force at her back. No matter where she stood, her body was aware of him at all times.
Keegan headed to the bar and poured a drink, handing it to Ronin. He cocked a brow at Amara and, when she nodded, poured her one, too.
“Reiver’s working tonight, but Bram will be here soon,” Keegan said. “He’ll accompany you to Opiate. You’re supposed to be meeting with some incubus named Gofrey.”
Ronin downed the contents of his glass in one swallow. “How am I supposed to know who he is?”
“He gave a description, but it wasn’t too specific. Tall, dark hair.”
The whiskey Amara sipped settled like lead in her stomach. “I can go with you and identify him.”
“No way.” Ronin frowned at her. “I don’t want you anywhere near Asmodeus or his goons.”
“What could he do in a crowded club? Besides, I know Asmodeus and I know Gofrey. If they’re trying to play you in some way, I’ll know it.” That was the only reason she would insist on going, because, truthfully, Opiate was the last place she wanted to be.
Ronin shook his head no, but Keegan said, “She’s got a point there. Amara knows the two of them far better than anyone else we know of.”
The scowl on Ronin’s face said he was still against it, so Amara said the one thing that might have a chance of swaying him. “What if it was your mother in his hands? Wouldn’t you do anything to get her back?”
His wince almost made her regret using that against him, after all the stuff he’d confided about his mother, but it had the desired result. “Fine. But you’re staying by my side the entire time.”
When he turned to stalk out the glass door leading onto the terrace, Keegan grimaced. “I’ll go talk to him.”
Brynn broke the silence, her voice cheery. “He’ll be fine. We’d better get you ready if you’re leaving soon. Come on.” She grabbed Amara’s hand and headed toward the hallway. “Good thing I had that red dress of yours laundered while you were gone. Nothing I own would have worked for Opiate.”
§
A few hours later Amara and Ronin sat in the backseat of Bram’s black luxury SUV, headed toward Opiate. The weather outside was frigid, not that it made much of a difference to any of them. Outside, the snow from a few days before had melted into small piles of slush, but now ominous thunder rolled through the sky. As long as the rain held out until they were inside the club, she was okay with it. Her dress would hide nothing if wet, and that wasn’t exactly safe when entering a club full of Otherworlder misfits.
Outfitted in her familiar mode of dress, she almost felt like she was on assignment again. It made her feel dirty. Vulnerable. She missed the clothes Brynn had given her more than she could’ve imagined. They represented everything she wanted but never had before. Freedom. Security. A home.
Still, much as she might hate the outfit, this time maybe she’d be helping to save a life, instead of taking one.
Ronin wore black slacks and a French blue dress shirt that somehow only highlighted his pecs and the thick muscles in his arms. Even though they’d made love right before leaving, seeing him dressed that way made her wet all over again. She ached to tear his clothes off and take him. Hard. Right then and there.
From the way his body went taut, his eyelids half lowering, she knew he’d noticed the allure her body emitted.
“Stop that,” he whispered, trailing his hand along her thigh. “You’re driving me crazy. Plus, Bram can probably feel it.”
“I can,” Bram said from his position behind the driver’s seat.
Ronin picked up a small travel pillow that Bram kept in the backseat and threw it at his head.
“Sorry,” Bram said with a grin, sounding wholly unrepentant. “I’ll turn up the music so you two can talk in peace.”
It was a pointless act. Shifter hearing was excellent. Still, Amara appreciated the effort. Once Bram had cranked up the radio, Ronin refocused on Amara. “Promise me you’ll stay safe in there.”
He was worried about her. Melting, she pulled his head down for a smoldering kiss. “I promise. Now you, too.”
Though his lips curved upward, he didn’t respond. “Tell me about this Gofrey. Who is he? What can I expect?”
The memory of the incubus’s lecherous gaze made her shiver. More than anything else, he was why she didn’t want to be at Opiate. If Asmodeus ever gave him free reign with her, she didn’t know what he’d do. “He’s Asmodeus’s right-hand man. An incubus. You can’t trust him.”
Ronin hooked a finger under her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. “Has he ever hurt you?”
“No.” When he seemed dubious, she added, “Not that he hasn’t expressed a desire to do so, but Asmodeus has never given him leave to. He promised me he wouldn’t let Gofrey touch me as long as I obeyed him.”
Ronin’s mouth tightened. “I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
“But what about your negotiations?”
“If you can read this guy’s body language, you should be able to tell from a distance if he’s playing us. I’m serious, Amara. The other end of the club is as close as you’re gonna get.”
She sighed. “You won’t get too much of an argument from me there.”
“Good.” He closed his arms around her and pulled her onto his lap, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “I’m going to get your mother back for you, but not at the sacrifice of your own safety. As distant a mother as she might be, I can’t imagine she’d want that either.”
Moisture gathered in the corners of Amara’s eyelids, and she blinked furiously. Nobody had ever openly admitted to caring about her before. “Thanks, Ronin. For everything.”
He squeezed her to him. “No need.”
By the time they pulled up to the entrance of Opiate, Amara’s nerves were on fire. She couldn’t shake the feeling they were walking into a trap, but she wouldn’t risk saying anything for fear Ronin would force them to turn around and leave. Unbidden, the memory of the day she’d bound herself to Asmodeus leeched into her head.
“What are you doing, Amara?” Solara sat on the bed in what would be Amara’s new quarters, watching her apply her makeup. “Leave now. While you still can.”
“I won’t abandon you here.” Amara didn’t bother to turn around. She met her mother’s gaze through her reflection in the mirror. “Once I do this, he’s promised to leave you alone.”
“But at what price? I’m the one dumb enough to get caught in Asmodeus’s lies. You shouldn’t be forced to bear the burden.”
“I’m not backing out, Solara.”
A brief flare of anger blazed in Solara’s eyes. “If the tables were turned, do you think I would have sacrificed myself for you?”
That stung. Amara had tried hard not to think about that, because the truth was she hadn’t thought Solara would. Now she knew she was right. But the fact that her mother didn’t care enough didn’t mean Amara would be the same way. Plus, she owed it to Solara. After all, it was ultimately he
r fault that Solara had fallen into Asmodeus’s trap.
“I’ve already decided. You won’t change my mind.”
“Fine,” Solara snapped. “It’s your funeral.” She rose and stomped toward the door, but then paused with her hand on the doorknob. Without turning around, she said, “I’ll tell you one more time, Amara. Don’t do this. Please.”
Solara left without waiting for a response.
Amara forced her mouth to close. To her knowledge, her mother had never said “please” to her before. Could there be some true concern in there somewhere? Maybe she’d lied. Maybe she would have tried to save her if she’d been the one caught.
“Amara?”
Ronin’s voice drew her back to the present. She noticed for the first time that he’d opened the rear door and stepped out, and now held his hand to her.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his forehead crinkled.
“Yes. Sorry.” She slid out and Bram took his place at her other side. Together, they entered the alley and walked to the nondescript metal green door. Once they knocked, the door opened to reveal a suited bouncer whose name she had never learned. He nodded and stepped aside for them to pass. Directly ahead stood the reception desk. Noch, the demon who sat behind it, had always given her the creeps.
“Good evening,” Noch said. Then his eyes came to rest on her and they widened. “You. You’re being searched for. I can’t remember by whom.”
“Me.” Ronin slapped some money down on the counter. “Found her.”
When he moved to walk past Noch, the demon held out a hand. “Wait. The succubus killed someone in here. She’s not allowed inside.”
“Again, that was me,” Ronin said, “and as you can see, I’m still very much alive.”
They left a stunned Noch and headed upstairs into the main area of the club. It was packed, as usual. Back before the incident with Ronin, she’d been here practically every night. The place should feel old and familiar, but it didn’t. Being with Ronin made her feel like a new person. A decent one. Coming back to this club reminded her that she couldn’t change who she was. A killer.
She recognized several faces—men who’d chased after her when she was here, never realizing that every man she chose to go home with never came back. A couple of them noticed her and started to head over, but then they saw who accompanied her and must have thought better of it. Good. Dealing with them was the last thing she needed right now.
Ronin bypassed the round tables with their zebra-patterned seating and headed straight to the bar. There was an empty seat, which he directed her to. He and Bram slid in tight beside her.
A tall elf named Crull manned the bar. He grinned when he saw Ronin. “It’s been a long time, Ronin. Haven’t seen you since—”
He caught sight of Amara and abruptly cut off, scratching his head.
“Yeah, long time. Can I get a double shot of whiskey?” Ronin glanced at her and Bram before adding, “Make that three of them.”
Crull nodded and left to pour the whiskey without saying another word.
“He seems shocked to see me,” Amara murmured.
“No surprise. You’re with me.” Ronin closed his fingers over the hand she’d placed on top of the counter and squeezed.
Bram surveyed the crowd. “Anyone that look like this incubus here?”
Crull returned with the whiskey and she tossed hers back in one smooth gulp, drawing fortification from the slow burn of the cool liquid sliding down her throat. Then she turned and scanned the faces of the club patrons. Nothing. She was about to respond when someone caught her eye. A man climbed the top step. He wore a button-down black shirt with black leather pants, and his hair was slicked back. His eyes met hers and he grinned.
“There,” Amara said, swallowing past the heavy lump in her throat. “Right at the door. Wearing all black.”
Beside her, Ronin tensed. Pure rage rolled from his body in heavy waves as he surveyed Gofrey. The incubus returned his scrutiny without wavering, then gave a sharp nod toward the corner of the club closest to the door. It contained several tall, empty tables that were standing-room only. Ronin knocked back his drink and plunked the glass onto the counter. “You two wait here.”
Amara and Bram watched him go. “I don’t trust Gofrey. Or Asmodeus,” she said.
“Me neither.”
“What should we do?”
Bram shrugged. “Wait.”
She stifled a sigh. Bram was right. What other option did they have?
Ronin met Gofrey at one of the tables and they started talking. Even from this far away, she could see the lines of tension on Ronin’s body and the way his hand was balled into a tight fist. If only she could hear what they were saying. Whatever it was, Gofrey seemed too confident.
She was so intent on watching Gofrey that she barely noticed when someone walking past the bar bumped into her leg.
“Sorry,” the familiar voice of a woman said, and a second later a piece of paper was pressed into her hand. Her fingers wrapped around it. She turned to watch the figure retreat, and then she realized who it was. Karen, one of Asmodeus’s succubi and the closest thing to a friend Amara had. She wore a silver metallic skirt and tight white top, and her wavy brown hair swung from side to side as she sauntered toward the bathroom. A wide silver bracelet decorated her wrist. It’s disguising her gold band.
Amara peeked at Bram, who was so focused on the conversation between Gofrey and Ronin that he hadn’t noticed anything. Surreptitiously, she unfolded the paper in her hand and read it.
Meet me in the bathroom in five minutes. Quietly. I have word of Solara.
Her heart let out a solid thump. Crumpling the paper into a tiny ball, she let it fall to the ground. It was incredible how much dread those simple words pumped through her body. Was Solara still alive? What had Asmodeus done to her?
She waited a few minutes before sliding off the barstool. Bram straightened. “What’s wrong?”
“I have to go to the bathroom.”
“Now? Can’t you wait a few minutes?”
“I really have to go. I’ve been holding it for the past hour and I can’t do it anymore.”
“I don’t believe this,” he said, then let out a beleaguered sigh. He closed his fingers around her arm before leading her to the hallway containing the restrooms. He came to a stop in front of the ladies room. “Two minutes, tops. After that I’m coming in.”
She arched a brow. “I can’t go that fast.”
“Fine. Five minutes.”
With a nod, she headed into the bathroom. It was empty except for Karen, who sat on the counter swinging her legs. When she saw Amara, her eyes widened. She hopped off and raced toward Amara, throwing her arms around her. “I’ve been so worried about you. We all have. At first we didn’t know what happened, and then Asmodeus said you’d been kidnapped by Council employees. We feared the worst. I can’t believe they haven’t turned you in.”
Amara pulled out of her embrace. “How’s Solara?”
Tears pooled in the corners of Karen’s eyes. “Oh, Amara.”
The constant dread that had resided in the corner of her mind ever since Ronin had taken her came rushing to the forefront. “What did he do to her?”
Karen’s face crumpled. “He’s going to kill her. A few times I thought he had.”
“No.” Amara was hardly aware of grasping her by the arms and shaking her. “No, he can’t!”
Though, really, she knew he could. All too easily.
“He sent me here.” Karen’s tears now rolled down her cheeks. “He wants you back. Tonight. If you’re not, he says he’ll kill her this time.”
Amara’s stomach flopped.
“Not only that. If you don’t go back, he’ll kill the Detainors.”
No. “They can handle anything he se
nds their way.”
Karen tilted her head and squeezed Amara’s hand. “He says he’s got a large contingency of demons ready to go, as well as the aid of a powerful dark fae. You know Asmodeus. He’ll fight to the death for what belongs to him and, as far as he’s concerned, we’re his possessions. He won’t stop until you’re back with him, and he doesn’t care how many people he has to kill to do it.”
Amara fought back her panic. That would do her no good now. Karen was right. Asmodeus would never give her up. Would never stop hunting her. Every moment she spent with Ronin, she was endangering his life. Risking her mother’s life. It was beyond selfish of her. She couldn’t let everyone she loved suffer because of her.
“I’m being guarded,” she said to Karen. “How am I supposed to get to him?”
“Gofrey is meeting with one of the men you came with, and Victorine is here. Once I give her a call, she’ll distract the other one. All we have to do is make it out of here and a couple of blocks down the street. There’ll be a car there waiting for us.”
Amara’s body trembled with a sense of impending doom. She’d always known it would come to this, that he’d find a way to get her back. That she’d let herself believe otherwise, even for a moment, proved what a fool she was.
How would Ronin react when he discovered her missing? He would blame her, of course, for allowing herself to be taken. Her heart broke at the thought, but she couldn’t let that distract her. There was no choice to be made. She had to go back. If she didn’t, her mother would die. Ronin might die. If anyone could understand that, she would hope it was him.
Please let him understand.
“Amara, I’m so sorry,” Karen whispered, her voice shaking. “I wanted so badly for you to break free. Solara did, too.”
“I know.” Amara released Karen’s hand and squared her shoulders. “I’m ready to go.”
Karen nodded and dug her cell phone out of the tiny evening bag hanging from her wrist. She dialed Victorine’s number and held the phone to her ear. “We’re ready...Yes, thirty seconds...Okay, bye.”
Touch of the Angel (Demons of Infernum, #3) Page 20