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The fire alarm continued to roar, and as the fae turned away, I made a break for it. Hurrying toward the stairs, I darted down them, gliding between others who moved much slower due to the glamour, the feedings, or too much to drink.
At the bottom of the stairs, Ren waited. Without saying a word, he gripped my hand, and we joined the crowd stampeding the exits. We were tossed back and forth, and I was sure if we hadn't been holding hands, we would've been torn apart. The scent of sweat and liquor was overpowering as we were packed in.
Shouts rose from behind us, and a shiver coursed down my spine as panic became a real, tangible entity in the club. Someone slammed into my back, pitching me forward. My heels slipped, but I caught myself before I fell. Shooting a look in Ren's direction, I saw his jaw set hard and his gaze fastened ahead. Finally, after what felt like forever, we poured out into the street, into the night air. We didn't wait with those who wandered the sidewalk in front of the club or had stopped, forming small huddles. Sirens blared in the distance. Quickly turning to our left, we made our way to the parking garage.
I waited until we had crossed the street before I spoke. "You pulled the fire alarm, didn't you?"
"How else was I going to get your ass out of there?" he responded without looking at me.
"I totally had it under control."
He snorted. "Didn't look like that from where I was standing. Looked like you were about to become a pop tart."
Irritation prickled from the inside out, mainly because he was right, and because I realized I was still holding his hand. What the hell was up with that? I wiggled my fingers free and resisted the urge to smack the smirk right off his lips. "I think they know where the gate is."
That got his attention. He glanced down at me as we continued to march forward. "What makes you think that?"
I told him what I'd overheard, and he let out a low curse. "If they know where the gate is and we don't, we are fucked."
"Well, don't you sound like a Negative Ned," I muttered, squinting as a cop car raced by. "Let's go ahead and stock up on water and canned beans."
He cast me a sidelong look. "Let's just say that the members they killed were guardians of the gate. That means they are down people, and those the Order promotes won't be as skilled or prepared when—not if—the fae launch their attack. If they open that gate . . ."
We entered the dimly lit garage. "I get it but . . . can't we go to David? I mean, I think we have enough evidence at this point. Together, we can make him understand. He's the sect leader. He has to know where the gate is."
Ren didn't answer for a moment. "What if David is the one working with them?"
I gasped as I stopped near a large cement beam. "Are you serious?"
He turned to me, features shadowed. "We don't know, Ivy. It could be anyone."
"It could be me," I challenged.
"They shot you. For some reason, I don't think they'd shoot the person helping them. At least not yet," he replied dryly. "Plus, you are . . . too strong for that."
Now I was gaping at him for a different reason.
"And don't say how do I know you're too strong. I'm a fucking great judge of character," he continued, and my brows flew up. "It's not you, and I don't trust any other member of the Order, except maybe Jerome."
"Jerome has been deemed trustworthy? Do tell how he earned that honor." I was insulted for the other Order members.
"He's too damn mean to be influenced by the fae," he reasoned, and yeah, I kind of had to give that point to him. "Anyone else I don't trust. And neither should you."
I folded my arms across my chest. "I'm sure they feel the same way about you."
"Do I look like I give a shit if they do? That doesn't change the fact of why I'm here and what I have to do." Turning to the side, he thrust his fingers through his hair. "Tonight wasn't a total bust."
"You're right. It wasn't. Because of me."
Lowering his arm, he looked at me blandly. "Oh, really?"
I smiled widely. "Yep. I'm awesome. Like I put the 'awe' with the 'some.' Admit it. I got the details while you played Chatty Cathy with a fae at the bar."
His eyes narrowed.
"We know that they are picking off Order members and that they most likely know where the gate is. They're working together. That is more than we knew yesterday," I said.
Ren faced me fully. "You know what I'll admit?"
I cocked my hip out. "Waiting."
"I'll admit that you felt fucking sweet as silk against my fingers when I had my hand between those pretty thighs."
Whoa. Totally not expecting that. My eyes widened as warmth invaded me. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
He laughed. "That's bullshit."
"No it's not!" I unfolded my arms, anger fueling my next words. Anger mostly directed at myself. "What happened inside that club? What do you think it was?"
Ren took a step toward me, lowering his voice. "It was you about five seconds away from having the best orgasm of your life."
Oh my God, he did not just say that. "Y-You," I sputtered. What in the hell did I say to that? "I was acting," I finally spat out. "I was pretending."
He was only a handful of inches from me now, and when he laughed, I wanted to hit him. "Pretending? You were faking inside?"
"Are you a fucking parrot?"
"Oh, Ivy, babe . . ." He chuckled under his breath. "You're a shit liar, you know that?"
My hands curled into fists. "I am not lying."
"Yeah. Okay. Then how do you explain your panties being so wet they were practically drenched?"
My eyes widened. Mortification swept through me, but he wasn't done. His mouth kept on moving. "I bet I could taste you on my fingers right now. But you were pretending? Then that sweetness between your thighs must be one hell of an actress."
I didn't even think.
Stepping forward, I swung at him. No bitch slap either. My closed fist was heading for that jaw. Unfortunately, he was too fast for that. He caught my wrist before my fist connected.
"That's not nice," he said. "No reason to be so violent and a liar."
My rage knew no limit. "Oh my God, you arrogant, self-important, mother—"
"You were not acting. You were not pretending." The teasing dropped from his tone as his voice hardened. "You were riding my han
d, and Ivy, there isn't a damn thing wrong with that. What's wrong is that you're acting like nothing happened between us. That's total shit. You lit up for me like a damn firework and I barely touched you."
"I—"
My back hit the beam, and before I could take my next breath, Ren's entire hard length was pressed against the front of my body. His head was low, his face in mine. "Do not tell me again you were pretending. You and I both know the truth. I want you. I think I've made that abundantly clear."
