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"That's where the, uh, service would take place. Should make it easier for you, right? Operating on familiar ground? Anyway, I'm here setting it up, so I'll meet you halfway, in Buffalo, tomorrow. Got a place all picked out. Nice and public. A daytime meeting. Absolutely nothing for you to worry about...so there's no need to bring the boyfriend."
"Uh-huh."
"I like all my limbs just where they are."
I rolled my eyes. Clay mouthed something, but I waved him off and took down the time and address from Xavier.
"It's Buffalo, not the Gaza Strip," I said as we returned to the study with Jeremy.
I plunked onto the sofa. Clay tried to sit beside me, but I swung my legs up to stretch out. He reached to yank them off his spot, then stopped, remembering my "condition," and stalked across the study to sit on the fireplace hearth.
"I need to get out of the house," I said.
"You got out yesterday," Clay said.
"To go to the grocery store. And last week, you let me go to Syracuse for a movie. The highlight of my month so far, dinner afterward and everything...oh, wait. I didn't get dinner, because you thought it was getting too late for me, so we ended up grabbing sandwiches to eat on the way back to jail...I mean home."
"Fine, you want to go out? We'll take a trip to New York next weekend, visit Nick. You're not traipsing off to Buffalo--"
"Traipsing?"
He fixed me with a look. I returned the glare, then glanced at Jeremy, who only leaned back in his chair. No sense appealing to him anyway. I knew which side he was on. Prison guard number two.
I took a deep breath. There was only one way to win Jeremy over. Steer clear of histrionics and mount a logical defense.
"You don't want mutts knowing I'm pregnant," I began. "And I agree. But Xavier is half-demon. He can't smell that I'm pregnant, and unless I wear a tight shirt, he won't be able to tell by looking. I'm certainly not going to volunteer the news. All I want from him is David Hargrave." I paused and met Jeremy's eyes. "We do want Hargrave, don't we? He's killed three women--"
"You don't need to remind me of Hargrave's crimes." And you can't guilt-trip me with the reminder, his eyes added. "I have every intention of making this meeting with Reese. Either I will or Clay will--"
"Absolutely. Despite Xavier's hopes, I'm not planning to show up alone. Call Nick, call Antonio, even call Karl if you can find him. I'll take whatever precautions you want."
"Clay can handle it by himself, with backup from Nick."
"Clay? Oh, you mean the guy Xavier expressly warned me not to bring?"
"What's wrong with me?" Clay said.
"You scare him."
"He's never met me."
"Sorry, let me rephrase. The idea of you scares him. But I'm sure, once he meets you, he'll see that all those nasty rumors are completely unfounded."
"I'll send Antonio," Jeremy cut in before Clay could respond.
"If you send anyone, even yourself, Xavier will be out of there in a flash. I'm the only Pack member he knows, so I'm the only one he'll talk to."
"Too dangerous," Clay said, crossing his arms and leaning back a
gainst the fireplace, as if that settled the matter.
"Dangerous? Do you remember what Xavier's power is? Teleportation. Limited teleportation. The guy can move about ten feet. Worst thing he can do to me? Poke me in the eyes, go 'nyuk nyuk nyuk' and zip away before I can smack him."
One look at Jeremy and I knew I was losing "calm and reasonable" points fast. When he opened his mouth, I cut him off.
"Yes, the first time I met Xavier, I ended up as a guinea pig for mad scientists and a play-toy for a sadistic industrialist. I could argue that it took him two tries and a good dose of my own stupidity to finally nab me, but it's still a valid point."
"You think?" Clay muttered.
