She released a breath. “Thank you.”
“No, thankyou. Your support matters more to me than you could ever know.”
“It’s not just support, it’s love.”
“D’accord.” He offered her a smile, but it felt tinged by restraint. He knew she picked up on it, but there was nothing hecould do. He wasn’t ready to say the words yet.Soon, maybe.“You are clearly busy; I will leave you. Enjoy your day.”
“Sleep well,” she said quietly.
Thirty
Darian’s large black Chevy Suburban waited outside her dad’s house; he leaned against its hood wearing sleek black dress pants and a charcoal button-up shirt, oblivious to the light rain.
Cally parked their Zipcar opposite, pulled her bag off the back seat, and offered Eve a tight, brief smile before they stepped out.
Darian didn’t say anything, simply opening the passenger door for them. It was imperious and irritating, but Cally and Eve got in anyway. Better that than be seen by her dad.
“Where are we going?” she asked as Darian drove.
“South side of Milton. Nice and quiet.”
“Just the three of us?”
“No,” he said, with a half-chuckle like that would be insane. “I have a team waiting.”
Cally reached across the seats for Eve’s hand, resting on the bag between them, then watched the raindrops on her window. Darian hadn’t asked if she could do the spell; he’d just assumed.
Just as well. That way she didn’t have to lie.
But maybe she could do it. Maybe all their prep would pay off, and it would work as it was supposed to.
No way of knowing until she tried.
It was a five-minute drive from her dad’s house to where Darian pulled off the road, parking near a line of trees. Two black SUVs waited, but no one was in sight.
Barely two miles. Too damn close.If she needed more incentive, she had it.
She got out, grabbing her bag. It had stopped raining, the air fresh with the smell of wet pine and damp earth.
A man stepped out of the trees, dressed in black tactical gear with a flak jacket and a submachine gun. In broad daylight, like he didn’t care.
But Darian was right: it was quiet around here.
“She’s the specialist,” Darian said by way of greeting, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at Cally. “She doesn’t go anywhere without an escort.”
“Roger,” the man acknowledged. “And the other?”
“Her friend. They’ll stick together.” Darian turned to Cally. “You stay with Mikhail here. Go where he goes and do what he says.”
“I do, do I?”
Darian narrowed his eyes and said nothing, then went to the trunk of his SUV and retrieved his own flak vest and weapon. He pressed an earpiece into place and thumbed a throat mic. “All teams, this is Sentinel. Report.”
Cally threw Eve a look, and she gave a subtle eye roll in response. Then they were off through the trees, damp pine needles and mulch under her boots. Darian didn’t seem to care about the state of his dress shoes. Three other men fanned out around them, all with weapons in their hands. They walked only far enough for the road to be out of sight, before stopping well back from the tree line. Beyond lay open ground, with a large house in the distance. Two men kept watch on a balcony, while others patrolled the grounds below.
Thralls.
Darian turned to her. “Is this close enough?”
