Page 73 of Dark Lover

He started forward. “He’s evil—a deamhan.”

“If he was your captor for a decade, you must know him well.”

He didn’t answer. Revulsion was etched onto his face.

She hurried to keep up. “Maclean, I’m sorry for what you went through,” she began.

“Like hell!” he turned and shouted at her. “Ye know nothing of my past! You know nothing of me!”

She wanted to touch him but she kept her hands to herself. “I know evil. I’ve fought evil for most of my life, in its every form and shape. And I’ll fight this evil with you, Ian.”

“Why? Because ye pity me?”

She shook her head. “Because I never run and I like payback. He did just challenge me.”

But he saw through her. “Fearless Sam, as brave as always.” He was mocking.

“You make it sound like a bad thing.”

He shook his head, the tension still etched in every tight line of his face and body. “No. I admire yer courage. I always have.”

She was shocked. “Did you just say something nice to me?”

For one moment, his gaze held hers. There was so much reluctance in his eyes. Then he shrugged. “It’s the truth. But ye have the death wish now. Sometimes it’s better to be a coward and run. You should run from the monk.”

“Is that what you plan on doing?”

He started forward. “I didn’t say that.”

“Good, then it’s a plan. We take on the sonuvabitch together.”

He laughed at her, slowing. “That might be yer plan, Sam, but it’s not mine. My only plan is to enjoy your body tonight and proceed with my auction on Friday.”

“You know what? I’m not buying the coldhearted sex-is-everything act. You’re shaken up, and frankly, so am I. So we need to start working together.”

His gaze was sharp. “Are ye being serious? Yer never shaken.”

“You weren’t there in that vault a moment ago. He took my power and used it against me. I almost lost my head, courtesy of my own weapons. He has more power than I’ve ever seen, except of course for your buddies, the Masters. But you know what? Even the mighty fall.”

Sam couldn’t decipher the look he gave her. What was he thinking? How upset was he? “Have you ever come face-to-face with one of your captors before?” She thought of what he’d done to John.

His mouth curled. “No.”

She decided not to make a quip about there being a first time for everything. “I owe you, Maclean. No doubt about it.”

“Ye owe me nothing.” He leaned close and said tersely, “I have the page of illusion. I am still planning to sell it and walk away with the millions. To hell with the monk and Hemmer. I am not a Slayer.” He strode past the media room.

Sam breathed hard, watching him go. He was really good at cover-ups, she decided, and this was another one. He was on edge, no doubt about it, and she didn’t blame him. She didn’t care what he said, she was not letting him go up against one of his captors alone. So when it came to the page, they were rivals, but when it came to the monk and Hemmer, they were allies. If he didn’t think so, it was tough luck. And if he intended to sell the page and walk away, that was okay, too. She’d take down the bad guys by herself.

He was almost at the elevators. She glanced at the media room. She couldn’t leave that video in Hemmer’s hands. She didn’t want him using it against Ian, not in any way.

She didn’t want Ian to know about it, either.

He suddenly halted and faced her. “I’m not leaving you here. Let’s go,” he ordered.

To hide her concern, she mocked, “But you don’t care about my welfare.”

His eyes blazed. “Let’s go, Sam.”