“Like I said, he might have once fought you for her. Not now. The black diamond wouldn’t have stopped him. But seeing her holding a baby boy, being part of a family? That screams to Drew that he lost his chance. He’ll know that he has no one to blame but himself.” Jolene sipped her coffee. “He’ll brood and stew and whine, but he’ll move on.”
Knox wasn’t so sure about that. “He has a tattoo of a sphinx snuggled up to a hellcat. A sphinx without wings.”
Shock stiffened Jolene’s shoulders. She sighed. “The dumb bastard.”
Levi snickered. “He’ll be a dead dumb bastard if he doesn’t get rid of it soon.”
Jolene went rigid. “Don’t, Knox. Don’t kill him. You’re understandably angry. But think what it would do to Harper and Devon’s relationship if you were responsible for Drew’s death.”
Knox stared at her, incredulous. “You’re asking me to drop this?”
“Of course not. I’m asking that you give me a chance to deal with this. I’ll talk to him. I’ll make him see sense and have the tattoo removed.”
“You truly think you can?”
“I won’t know until I try. Grant me this. For Harper’s sake.”
Exhaling a heavy breath, Knox nodded. “You have one chance to deal with this, Jolene. One. If he doesn’t make the right decision and move the fuck on, I’ll make him—even if that means doing something that causes problems between Harper and Devon.” He would not allow another male to wear a symbol of his mate as if she’d branded him.
“I understand.” Jolene rubbed her forehead. “You know, this only goes to prove what I’ve been saying. Despite caring deeply for her, Drew isn’t able to put her needs before his own.”
“Like Lucian,” said Knox.
“Like Lucian,” Jolene agreed. “She would never be as important to Drew as she is to you.”
That went without saying, as far as Knox was concerned. She would never be as vital to another as she was to him. “I don’t think he’ll return to Cuba without trying to stir the sort of shit that will get him killed. Talk to him, Jolene. Make sure he gets rid of the tattoo, backs off, and moves on.”
“I highly doubt he’ll bother trying to cause trouble when he knows nothing could come of it.”
Keenan’s mind touched his. Knox, I thought you might want to know that Devon’s brother is at the studio, talking with Harper. I could be wrong, but it looks like he’s trying to stir the pot.
Knox’s jaw hardened. He sighed at Jolene. “It seems you were wrong.”
Watching Asher roll on the breakroom table like a dog performing a trick, Harper shook her head. The kid did the weirdest stuff.
“You were pretty shaken last week,” said Drew, beside her. “How are you feeling?”
No less shaken, but … “Fine.” She’d feel a whole lot better if Drew would sit elsewhere, since Keenan kept glaring at them like they were having sex or something.
Drew folded his arms. “Do you miss working here?”
“A little. But I’d miss Asher more.”
“I suppose you don’t have to work, now that you’re shacked up with a billionaire.”
Harper blinked, shocked. She was used to cutting remarks like that, but she’d never expected to hear one from someone who knew her better than that; someone she considered a friend. Still, she only said, “True.”
Drew swore under his breath and then held up his hands. “That was uncalled for, Harper, I’m sorry.” When she only inclined her head slightly, he put his hand on her arm. “Harper, really, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, forget it.” She shifted position so that his hand fell away from her arm.
“Smile for Khloë!” the imp sang at Asher, holding up her cell phone to snap a photo of him. Asher just kept on rolling from side to side. So Khloë snapped a photo of Keenan instead who, for some unknown reason, hated having his photo taken. The sentinel practically leaped on her, trying to snatch the phone so he could no doubt delete the photo. Khloë just laughed.
“Do you worry Asher won’t have wings?” Drew asked Harper.
She did worry a little, since it had once been a limitation of hers. Although she had the tattoo-like markings of wings on her back, they hadn’t surfaced at her call. Very few people knew that her wings finally came to her after Knox’s power poured into her mind and body. Asher didn’t yet have the markings on his back, but that wasn’t uncommon since he was so young.
She also worried he’d share her inability to conjure orbs of hellfire. It was something the majority of demons could do, but although Harper could infuse it into objects, she wasn’t able to shape it into orbs. “I don’t want there to be anything that people could use against him. Weaknesses matter in the world of demons. Many people look down on me for not being able to call on my wings. Except for Knox. It never mattered to him.”
“It doesn’t matter to me or anyone else here either,” Drew insisted.
Yeah, but they’d known Harper all their lives. She’d expected it to totally matter to someone as powerful and high-status as Knox, but he’d genuinely never batted an eyelid about it. She loved that.
“Devon tells me he’s also your anchor,” said Drew.
“Yep.” Eager to move off the subject of Knox, she asked, “You met your anchor yet?”
“No, not yet.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “Considering that your parents were anchors and that everything went to shit for them, I wouldn’t have thought you’d ever get involved with your own anchor.”
“I’m not Carla, and he’s not Lucian.”
“He’s like Lucian in some ways.”
That got her back up. “And you think you know Knox so well because, what?”
His mouth tightened. “It doesn’t bother you that Thorne has a whole line of exes?”
“They’re not exes per se.”
“Excuse me, ex-bed buddies,” he said, voice dry as a bone. “What-the-fuck-ever. It has to bother you.”
Yes, it did, but she wasn’t about to talk of her relationship with Knox to another guy—especially one who so clearly disapproved of it. “Everyone has a past.”
“I heard that the encantada who was killed on the YouTube video was part of his past.”
Harper narrowed her eyes. “Did you now?”
“Well, see, no one—not even Devon—told me about you getting together with Thorne or any of the things that followed. I’ve been catching up fast since I got back to the US. I also heard that the encantada was always flirting with Thorne and insulting you like it was her job.”
Harper’s fingers flexed. “You think Knox killed her? Is that what you’re saying?”
Drew tossed her an incredulous look. “No. If he had, he wouldn’t have broadcasted it on YouTube. But it made me wonder … what if the Horseman killed her because she was once with Thorne? What if the Horseman will target women from Thorne’s past as he works up to the main event? And what if he then targets the woman in Thorne’s present?” Keeping his eyes on hers, Drew gestured at Asher. “You need to take that little boy over there and go stay someplace safe, lay low for a while.”
Her inner demon bristled, and Harper lifted her chin. “I don’t hide.”
He sighed. “Harper, you need to push your pride aside—”
“This isn’t about pride. This is about my need to be proactive in keeping my son safe. Hiding isn’t the answer. Finding the Horseman is what will keep Asher safe.”
“Thorne doesn’t need you for that. He’s not a guy who’d ever need anyone.” Drew’s eyes hardened. “Definitely not a guy I would ever have envisioned you with.”
She so didn’t want to have this conversation.
“Ma!” shouted Asher, crawling toward her, saving Drew from a “Back the fuck off” glower.
“Hey, baby boy.” She sat him on her lap and kissed his hair. “Done rolling around like a pup?”
As he squinted, nose wrinkling, his head abruptly snapped forward and he sneezed. Then he jumped, startled by the sound.
Harper chuckled. “Bless you.”
He giggled, dimples deepening in that way that melted her heart. Drew laughed along with him, and Asher abruptly went quiet, studying him with a sober expression. It was almost like a … “Did I say you could laugh with me?” look.
Harper glanced at Keenan, who was smirking, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
The air chilled slightly as Asher’s eyes bled to black and his demon surfaced to study Drew with an unblinking stare. “Bye,” it said, voice young but flat. It wasn’t a farewell; it was a fuck off and get out of here.
Drew leaned back in his seat. “Whoa. Does it get like that around all strangers?”
“Only the people it doesn’t like,” said Keenan, offering Drew a toothy grin.
At that moment, the breakroom door swung open. Knox, Levi, and Ciaran entered the room. Demon retreating, Asher beamed. “Da!”
“What’s this I hear about you cuffing your mom, little man?” Knox picked him up, kissed his cheek, and then bent down to brush a kiss over Harper’s mouth. “Hey, baby. You okay?”
“Yeah.” She shot Levi and Ciaran a brief smile. “This is quite the surprise.”
“Ain’t it, though?” Ciaran ruffled Khloë’s hair. “Hey, bitch-face.”
“Touch me again and I’ll throw you out the fucking window,” Khloë threatened, matter-of-fact. Her twin just laughed.
Harper stared up at Knox. “What brings you here, I wonder.” Keenan called you, didn’t he?
Knox’s mouth twitched. He doesn’t like how friendly Drew is with you.
Oh, my God, you actually called Ciaran to you just so that you could show up here and figuratively mark your territory? She tried to sound outraged but failed. Honestly, it was just far too dumb for her to be annoyed by it.
Not quite, replied Knox. He was at Jolene’s house when I paid her a visit.
Her brow furrowed. Why were you at her place?
Long story. I’ll tell you later. If Knox wasn’t so pissed with Clarke, he’d be amused that the hellcat was doing his best to keep his mind clear right then—even to the point that he was internally humming a tune. Knox’s demon found no amusement in it either. All it wanted to do was launch itself at Clarke and rip him to shreds.
It was incredibly tempting to do exactly that. But as Knox took in the way Devon smiled adoringly at his son and he recalled all the times she’d been there for Harper, he knew he couldn’t. His mate and Devon had a solid friendship that had lasted a long time. For Harper, he’d give Jolene the chance to deal with it.
Levi crossed to Harper. “I’m curious about your brand-new cuff.”
Drew’s brows snapped together. “Cuff? What cuff?”
“It’s a temporary gift from Asher,” said Harper as she lifted her arm so that Knox and Levi could study the cuff. “Asher has an identical one on his own wrist.”
Touching her psychic cuff and feeling the hum of power, Knox pursed his lips. “Hmm. It’s strong.” His demon was quite proud of Asher’s show of power. It was also completely unsurprised. “Very strong, actually.”
She frowned. “You can’t take it off?”
“I could,” said Knox. “But I’d much rather see how long the link lasts without interference. If the cuffs aren’t gone by tonight, I’ll take them off. Unless you’re absolutely desperate to have them gone …?”
Harper chewed on the inside of her cheek. “I’ll wait till later. It would be handy to know how long they last, just in case he does it again.”
“Wait a minute, your kid bound you to him?” asked Drew, casting Asher a wary look.
Before Harper could answer, Knox interlinked their fingers and squeezed her hand. “You done here, baby?”
“Yep.”
“Good.” Knox tugged her to her feet. “I’ll walk you outside to the Audi before I head to my next meeting.” Because there was no fucking way he was leaving her with Drew. Not after what Knox had discovered.
Slinging Asher’s bag over her shoulder, Harper said her goodbyes to everyone, adding, “Take care, and be alert.”
“Be alert about what?” asked Drew, brow creased.
“I’ll explain in a minute,” Devon told him.
Drew waved at Asher, who frowned at him, expression once again sober.
Asher doesn’t like him much, apparently, Harper told Knox, unable to hide her amusement.
Knox shrugged. Kids can sense evil.
Snorting, Harper let Knox lead her out of the studio. Tanner, Keenan, Levi, and Ciaran surrounded them protectively as they walked down the strip. Still in Knox’s arms, Asher babbled to himself.
“I take it you fully warned the girls,” Knox said to Harper.
She nodded. “I don’t think the incorporeal will turn its attention their way, but it’s best that they’re warned just in case.” The rest of demonkind would be warned after the Primes met and discussed the issue. Her demon’s upper lip curled at the thought of the meeting. It had no time or patience for politics. Imps didn’t take politics whatsoever seriously, but Jolene never missed a meeting.
On the subject of her grandmother … “I should probably give Grams a call and check she’s okay,” said Harper. “She was pretty mad when I first told her about the incorporeal. I’m worried she’ll do something dumb.”
“She seemed fine when I visited her just now.”
Harper glanced at him. “Are you going to tell me just why you went to see her?”
“We’ll talk about it later. We don’t have enough time to cover it right now.”
“Ma!” Asher pointed toward the rodeo, where a guy was struggling to hold tight to a wild bucking bull.
Harper smiled. “I see it.”
Recalling the time Harper had engaged in such a sport and nearly took a hundred years off his life, Knox warned, “You’d better not try putting Asher on the back of a bull.” Having been raised by imps, his mate had engaged in lots of dangerous and often highly illegal activities since a very young age—including breaking into bank vaults and indulging in high-speed car racing. He didn’t want Asher doing the same.
Her mouth kicked up into a smile. “Not even once?”
“No.”
“But it’s fun.”
Knox looked at her, incredulous. “It’s the most dangerous eight seconds of sport.” A sport that imps especially loved to do when drunk.
“What’s your point?”
Knox shook his head. “Never mind.”
His mate just chuckled.
“Ooh.” Fire erupted out of Asher’s hand, and then he was holding a little truck. Smiling, he showed it to Harper. “Ma!”
“I see it, but that’s not yours.” Gently prying the truck from him, Harper shook her head in reprimand. “We don’t take people’s things.” She glanced around in search of the owner. A little boy in a stroller was hanging over the side, his teary gaze sweeping the floor like he was looking for something. Harper walked over and gave the little boy the truck, and he instantly calmed.
The kid’s mother, who’d been gossiping with another woman, completely oblivious, turned.
“I was just handing him back his toy,” said Harper, knowing the woman would assume he’d simply dropped it.
“Th-thank you,” she stuttered, recognizing Harper and seeming a little intimidated.
“No problem.” Harper returned to her son, whose eyes bled to black as his demon surfaced. It touched her mind, communicating its displeasure. “Don’t be a brat,” she told it. She cut her gaze to Knox. “It’s not funny.”
“I’m not laughing.”
“You are in your head.”
Yes, he was. Outside, Knox buckled Asher into the car seat of the Audi and then gave her a lingering kiss. “Unfortunately, I can’t go home with you. I won’t be long.”
“Don’t work too hard.” She smoothed a hand down his tie. “See you soon.”
He gave her nape a little squeeze. “Stay safe.”
“Right back at you, Thorne.” With that, s
he slid into the car.
Tanner and Keenan both gave him reassuring looks that said they’d keep her and Asher safe, and then the sentinels hopped into the Audi.
Only when the car was no more than a dot in his vision did Knox then head back inside the club, where Ciaran then teleported them all back to Jolene’s kitchen. She was waiting there, body tight, fists clenched.
“Is he still alive?” she asked.
“I told you I’d give you an opportunity to deal with it yourself, and I will,” Knox told her. “Make the most of that opportunity, Jolene, because I won’t give you another. No one gets to covet what belongs to me.” He and Levi then exited the house and headed to the Bentley.
Inside the car, Levi clicked on his seat belt and said, “Didn’t you mention the tattoo to Drew?” He tapped his temple to indicate he meant telepathically.
“No,” said Knox. “I’ll leave Jolene to deal with that problem. Clarke was careful to keep his mind blank, but it didn’t take telepathy to sense his jealousy or bitterness.”
Pulling onto the road to merge into the traffic, Levi smirked. “No, it didn’t. I couldn’t help but enjoy it. Did you notice that Asher doesn’t like him?”
Knox smiled. “As I told Harper, kids sense evil.”
“Are you going to tell her about Drew’s tattoo?”
“Yes.” Knox didn’t particularly want her to know. Not that he worried she would be so moved by the news that she would try leaving Knox to be with the hellcat or something equally unrealistic. But he got the feeling that the situation was awkward enough for her as it was. Knowing about the tattoo would only make it worse for her. Still … “If she found out about it some other way and then realized I already knew, she’d be pissed that I didn’t tell her.”
“And you want to see her reaction.”
Knox felt his brow crease. “I don’t worry that she cares for him.”
“No, but you still want to see her reaction. I think she’ll be shocked.”
Probably. Despite knowing her inside out, Knox could never predict her responses. Never. She continued to surprise and astound him. His demon loved that about her.
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