“Do you need more phones?” Tarrant asked. His brother supplied him with disposable phones that were heavily encrypted and when in use also emitted some signal that would block anyone trying to listen in on the conversation. Darius didn’t even pretend to understand how it worked. He left that to his brother.
“I have a half dozen or so.”
“I’d send you more if you need them, but you need to get out of the city. Tonight.”
As much as he hated to admit it, he knew Tarrant was right. “I’ll call my people and have them put the plane on standby.”
“You need to come to the mountains.”
“I don’t want to bring trouble your way.” No way did he want to lead Temple to his brother.
“If Temple has found you, none of us are truly safe. We’ll take precautions and can brainstorm together.”
“You just want to meet Sarah.”
Tarrant laughed. “That, too.”
“I shifted for her.” He hadn’t shifted in front of a human for well over a hundred years.
“You just met her.” He could hear the disbelief in his brother’s voice.
“I know.” He couldn’t explain why he’d found it necessary to show her all sides of him. It just was.
“That’s worrisome. Are you sure she’s not with the Knights?”
Darius heard a rustling by the door. Sarah was fully dressed, but instead of her sweater, she was wearing his shirt. The sleeves had been rolled back several times and still hit her wrists. The tail of the shirt almost reached her knees.
“I’m sure,” he told Tarrant. “I’ll call you when we’re in the air.” He hung up the phone and closed his fingers around it, crushing it into little pieces and letting them fall on his desk.
“How do you feel about the mountains?” he asked her.
…
Herman Temple answered his phone on the first ring. He’d been expecting the call. “Do you have her?”
Riggs paused. “No, sir. I’m in her apartment, and she’s not at home.”
“Damn it. Where the hell is she?”
“I don’t know, sir, but I’ll find her. It doesn’t appear as though she’s fled. All her things are here. The only thing missing seems to be a coat and purse. She changed after she got home from work. Maybe she’s out on a date that turned into an overnighter.”
That was unlikely. His men hadn’t found any evidence of a boyfriend when they’d investigated her, but after this security breech, he realized his intel wasn’t infallible. “Keep someone there. I want her the moment she surfaces.” He paused and thought for a moment. “What about her phone? Can we track her phone?”
“I’ve got someone on it.”
Herman ended the call and tossed his phone down on his desk. He’d come too far to lose now, and certainly not because of some librarian. He stood and his knees ached. He stilled and sweat broke out on his brow. The last of the dragon’s blood was gone, and he was noticing small signs of aging. If he went too long without a new infusion, he’d begin aging and eventually die.
All the money and power he’d amassed over his long life meant nothing if he wasn’t alive to enjoy them.
He needed Darius Varkas, and he would have him at any cost.
Chapter Eleven
“The mountains?” Sarah had come to the office to find Darius, only to discover him on the phone.
She was feeling much better after her bath. The biting cold that had enveloped her hands and arms had been replaced with much-needed warmth. She was wearing one of Darius’s shirts instead of her sweater. It was huge, but it carried a hint of his woodsy scent and felt like being wrapped in his arms. But from the sound of things, she might need a sweater.
“The mountains?” she repeated, not sure she’d heard him correctly.
He reached into his desk, pulled out a small plastic bag, and filled it with plastic and metal pieces from the phones he kept destroying. They weren’t the latest touch-screen models. They looked like something from about a decade ago, used strictly as a phone. He swept the most recent pieces into the bag.
“Yes. We need to get out of the city tonight. I thought I’d hang around a few days to see what I could discover about the Knights, but it’s too dangerous now. We don’t know how long it will take them to discover you have the book. I’m surprised they haven’t already made a move.”
Sarah’s stomach knotted. She knew he was right. She’d known when she left her home this evening she might never be going back. Had it only been earlier this evening? Her life had changed so much in such a short time.
Darius walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. She knew she shouldn’t lean on him for strength, couldn’t depend on him for the long haul. After all, she was a virtual stranger, and he had friends and people close to him that he needed to protect. She was under no illusions as to what would happen if it came down to a choice between them and her.
She was human and nothing more than a pawn in this game between the Knights and the drakons.
“Which mountains?” She forced herself to push out of his embrace.
“Cascades in Washington State.” He released her but only let her retreat to the length of his arms.
“It’s as good as anywhere, I guess.” She gestured to the book. “What about that?”
Darius walked to the bookcases and plucked a wooden box from one of the shelves. “This should do the trick. The symbols carved on the sides should help contain the emanations from the book. At least for a while.”
It was a heavily carved piece and looked old. “Where did you get it?”
Darius removed the cover and set the box on the desk. Then he picked up a metal letter opener and used the tip of the blade to push the book into the wooden container. She held her breath until it was safely inside. She finally took a breath when he retrieved the cover and secured it. The book was contained.
“This was a gift from a holy man from Persia.” He tucked the box under his arm. “It was a long time ago.” Just another reminder of how old he was. “Get your things. We need to go.”
She went back to his room long enough to collect her sweater. She yanked it on over the borrowed shirt and pulled her coat on over it. By the time she grabbed her bag, Darius was waiting by the elevator door. Like her, he had a knapsack. She knew the book was inside.
He placed his hand on the security pad and the elevator door slid open. She glanced back at the luxury apartment and wondered if she’d ever see it again. Not that there was any reason she should. She and Darius were allies in this strange war, nothing more.
“How are we getting out of here?”
“I’ve got a plan.” He seemed sure of himself, but she wasn’t convinced. They’d been lucky so far. She didn’t expect it to last.
“And that plan is?” The man was huge and seemed to take up most of the space in the small elevator, but she must be getting used to him, because it made her feel safe instead of claustrophobic.
The elevator stopped and the door silently slid open. He poked his head out and looked around before he ushered her out. They were in the basement. She recognized it from their trek earlier this evening. His hand was big and warm against her lower back. Even through the layers of clothing, she could feel his heat.
He leaned down and murmured in her ear. “Stay quiet. I don’t know how many men the Knights have watching me. Stay right behind me.”
“You still haven’t told me your plan,” she whispered.
“Trust me.”
She didn’t have much choice. The man was infuriating. She was used to being in charge of her own life and didn’t like the idea of leaving all the decisions in someone else’s hands.
He must have sensed her hesitation, because he sighed, his hot breath wafting over her ear and neck. Goose bumps raced down her arms. “I’m going to get us out of here and to a vehicle. Satisfied?”
Not nearly enough, but it would have to do. She nodded as she glanced up at him. His mouth was only a few inches from he
rs. Their breath mingled. He narrowed his eyes and they glowed green in the dim light. For a brief second, she thought he might kiss her, but then he drew himself upright and nudged her toward a dark corner of the basement.
Embarrassment swamped her, and she could feel her face heating. What was she thinking? This was no time to indulge in any attraction—not that he seemed to be having any trouble controlling himself.
She followed close behind Darius, keeping within reach of him. She was trusting him with her life. The only leverage she had to save herself from Herman Temple and the Knights was in the knapsack on his shoulder. Darius could easily dump her, take the book and run, and leave her to take the fall alone.
Sarah sucked in a breath and tried to banish the dreadful thought. He wouldn’t abandon her. Would he?
Darius paused by the door tucked in a poorly lit corner of the room. “When I open the door, we’re going to move quickly and quietly. If I tell you to stop, you stop. If I tell you to run, you run like your life depends on it, because it likely does. Understand?”
She nodded. “Yes,” she added, not sure if he could see her or not.
His large palm covered the entire side of her face. “I’ll keep you safe.” He used the edge of his thumb to tip her chin upward. Then his mouth was on hers, and it was just as glorious as the first time they’d kissed. Maybe better, because this time she knew what to expect.
…
Darius knew it was stupid to give in to his carnal urges at a time like this, but he was unable to stop himself. Her worry and hesitation bothered him deeply. He knew she didn’t fully trust him. And while that made perfect sense, it also made him want to roar his displeasure at the heavens.
He wanted her to trust him completely, to know he’d protect her at any cost.
And there was nothing logical about those feelings.
She made a tiny sound of pleasure as she parted her lips beneath his. He smothered the sound and deepened the kiss, pulling her fully into the shadows with him. Her tongue met his in a dance as old as time. She ran her hands over his chest and wrapped her arms them around his neck.
Caution, he reminded himself. She was human and therefore fragile. He usually had no problem tempering his strength with his lovers, but Sarah made him forget everything but the sweet heat of her mouth.
He finally pulled back, not because he wanted to, but because this wasn’t safe. They had enemies out there who would stop at nothing to get her and this book, not to mention what they’d do to him if he were captured.
The hands that had been holding him close only seconds before were now pushing him away. He reluctantly released her, but he didn’t apologize. He damn well wasn’t sorry he’d kissed her, but his timing sucked.
She stared up at him, her lips moist and her breath coming hard and fast. Then she seemed to shake herself and narrow her gaze. Before she could reprimand him for his actions, he leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Later. We need to move.”
Her lips pulled together in a firm line, and she gave him a curt nod. Idiot that he was, he was looking forward to verbally sparing with her once they were safely aboard his plane.
He grabbed her hand and kept her close as he led her out the door and maneuvered through the shadows. He noted several men who looked suspicious, but he kept moving through the back alleys that had existed since he’d purchased the surrounding buildings more than a century ago. Even then he’d recognized their strategic value and had made certain they’d remained intact.
He could hear Sarah breathing and knew she was struggling to contain her fear. He knew how scared she must be, but she kept up, never once distracting him from the job at hand. Okay, so her simply being there was a distraction, but that was his problem. She was holding up her end of the deal by following close behind and remaining quiet.
Sarah gave a sigh of relief when they finally stepped out onto the busy sidewalk. Even this late, there were people out and about. He leaned down so no one around them would overhear. “We’re not out of the woods yet.”
She nodded her understanding and kept her eyes facing forward, even though he knew she probably wanted to look around for potential threats. “How much farther?”
“Parking garage in the next block.” He kept her smaller hand locked inside his. No way was he going to allow them to become accidentally separated.
When they reached the garage, he walked right by the main entrance. Sarah asked him no questions and kept pace with his long strides. He should slow down, but the urge to get her away from here was pushing him to hurry.
He ducked in through a small door all but hidden around the back of the building. A large SUV was parked off by itself. Darius narrowed his gaze and studied the vehicle. “Wait here,” he ordered.
He cautiously approached the car even though he wanted to toss Sarah aboard and take off out of here. He didn’t think it had been tampered with, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
…
This was getting ridiculous. Follow me. Stay here. Do that. Honestly, she was getting sick and tired of the orders. She knew he was obviously much better at this kind of subterfuge than she was, but she wasn’t stupid. She wanted to live, but she wasn’t about to take a backseat in regard to her own safety and depend totally on Darius.
She kept to the shadows and moved closer to the vehicle he was approaching. He turned his head and glared at her, but thankfully he didn’t say anything about her blatant disregard for his orders.
While she appreciated his skill and expertise, she wasn’t about to blindly follow anyone. It wasn’t in her nature. The events of the day had shaken her, but she wasn’t going to allow anyone to run roughshod over her. She was an equal partner in this venture.
Darius walked around the large black vehicle and studied it intently. He lifted his head and sniffed the air. She wondered what he could smell that she couldn’t. Lastly, he set his knapsack down on the pavement, went down on his knees, rolled to his back and pulled himself beneath the SUV.
He had to be looking for signs of tampering, maybe even bugging. That kind of thing happened in movies and books, and she’d never expected to have to be worried about such things in her everyday life. She was a librarian for crying out loud, not James Bond.
The longer he took, the more her nerves stretched to the breaking point. She bit her bottom lip to keep from asking questions. He didn’t need the distraction, and she didn’t want to alert anyone to their presence.
She scanned the area but didn’t see a single person. That didn’t mean they weren’t out there. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. Now she was as paranoid as he was.
Darius finally pulled himself out from beneath the vehicle and rolled to his feet in one lithe motion. In spite of his enormous size, he moved like a dancer, quick and easy. He held out his hand and curled his fingers in a come-here gesture.
It was harder than she thought it would be to leave the dubious protection of the shadows, but she made herself cross the open area to where Darius waited. He had a set of keys in his hand—she wasn’t sure if he’d had them with him or if they’d been hidden on the vehicle—had grabbed his knapsack, and now opened the passenger door.
Sarah slid in, and the smell of rich leather tickled her nostrils. Darius got behind the wheel and set his bag down between the seats.
She clicked her seat belt into place. She could put her knapsack on the floor, but she held it in her lap instead. All her identification, banking information, and money were in that bag, along with her laptop. It was all she had to start over if it came to that. A part of her still couldn’t believe this was happening to her.
The powerful engine roared to life, but Darius didn’t pull away. When she glanced at him, he was watching her intently. “Put your head down and stay there until I tell you.”
“Why?” She was tired of simply following his orders.
“The windows aren’t tinted, and I don’t want anyone to see you.”
That made perfect sense. “What about
you? If the Knights are watching, they’ll certainly recognize you.”
Darius reached around to the back seat and grabbed a hat. It was baseball style with a logo for a local security firm on the front. He pulled it down low, hiding most of his face. Then he sat lower in the seat, making himself look smaller.
Sarah leaned forward and rested her head on her knapsack, but turned so she could watch Darius. He gave her a nod of approval and then put the vehicle in gear. They rolled through the parking garage. It seemed to take forever for them to turn onto the street. She could tell the difference from the sounds. The blare of car horns from impatient drivers was much louder.
Neither of them spoke as Darius drove through the city. “Is it safe yet?” She didn’t like not being able to see what was going on around them. Plus, with her head in her lap and turned toward him, she had a perfect view of him from the waist down. It was impossible not to notice the impressive bulge filling out the front of his jeans and the way the material pulled taut over his muscular thighs.
She was in danger, not dead.
“Yeah, it’s safe, but be ready to duck again if I tell you.” His rough voice sent tingles skittering over her skin.
She ignored the physical sensation as she sat up and peered out the window. “Where are we going?”
“Teterboro Airport.” He reached out and gave her hand a reassuring pat. “My plane is there.”
Sarah briefly closed her eyes. This was really happening. They were fleeing the city with minimal belongings and an ancient book that was frankly evil. She didn’t know how else to put it. The book was dangerous, and they had to find a way to destroy it.
She hadn’t realized she’d spoken her thoughts out loud until Darius answered her.
“We’ll find a way. If it can be created, it can be destroyed.” While she appreciated his confidence, she wasn’t quite as certain.
“I hope so,” she muttered.
“I’ll have more resources at my fingertips once we’re safely away from here.” He stopped at a red light and peered over at her, his green eyes shimmering in the dimly lit space between them. The city lights poured through the windows, but it was still night. The atmosphere was intimate. The light changed, and he looked away, once again focused on the traffic around them.
Drakon's Promise (Blood of the Drakon) Page 11