AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I could give them the name of the man who drugged me.”
“His word against yours. And I bet he’ll have a watertight alibi.”
That was almost funny, given we were talking about a sea dragon. “So we’re just going to do nothing?”
“What you’ll be doing is keeping out of their way.” His voice held the whip of command. “I’ll sort out the problem of our kidnappers.”
Anger rose and I clenched my free hand against it. I should have been used to dragon men bossing the rest of us around, yet it still irritated the hell out of me. But then, I guess it was something of a family trait to defy authority. My brother didn’t exactly take to being told what to do, either.
“Considering how well you were doing on your escape plan before I got there,” I said, voice dry and holding little to hint at the annoyance, “that might not be such a good idea.”
“If you have so little faith in me, then why are you still here?”
His tone was amused, though there was little to be seen in his expression, which was as forbidding as ever.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” I said. “You might still come in handy.”
Besides, I did trust him. To an extent, anyway. That was odd, considering I very rarely trusted anyone—and especially not strangers. But there was something about this man—something about his calm, dark strength that sparked a hint of faith.
“Despite the heat I stole, I may not be up to the task if we get hit again.” He slanted me a glance that said our kidnappers had better not be on our trail—not if they valued their lives. “And you didn’t answer my question.”
I must have looked confused, because he added, “About somewhere safe to go.”
“Oh. I can go to my brother’s.” He probably wouldn’t be there, but I knew the security code and could get past the additional deadlock easily enough.
Damon didn’t look happy with my answer. “That might not be the wisest move. It’s not hard to look in the phone book for his address.”
“He’s my half-brother. And he’s not listed.”
“Then that’s a little better.” He contemplated the fog ahead for a moment, and though there seemed to be little to threaten us, his tension was a living thing, filling the soupy darkness with a dangerous energy.
But I really hoped no one else came after us. I’d had enough excitement for one day.
“Where does your brother live?” he added, his gaze coming back to me.
“Parkside. Twenty-ninth Avenue, near Taraval.”
“Then we can get you home easily?”
“We can,” I said. “But don’t feel obliged to escort me. I can look after myself.”
“Consider it payback for getting me out of that place,” he said, a smile playing around the corners of his lips.
My pulse did a happy little dance at the sight and I dragged my gaze away. It had to be a leftover effect of the drugs, combined with the fact that I hadn’t eaten much. Nothing else.
I didn’t want it to be anything else.
We headed toward the shell-like construction that was West Portal Station and waited for the next train. It wasn’t empty; they never were. We sat in silence and were left alone—not surprising, given that his stolen coat couldn’t quite cover the bruised and bloody state of his body.
But even on the train, where there was little threat to either of us, his tense alertness never dissipated. By the time we reached my brother’s building, I was beginning to jump at shadows myself.
Damon stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked up at the mustard-colored building. “No one appears to be home.”
“No. But I’ll be all right.”
“Are you sure?” His gaze met mine, and though there was nothing to see but distant coldness in those dark depths, there was an edge of concern in his voice. Or maybe it was my imagination, and sudden unwillingness to be left alone.
Which was stupid. Those men couldn’t possibly track me down so quickly. They might have my driver’s license and press card, but I didn’t even keep a photo of my brother in my wallet, so how would they know about him, let alone suspect I’d come here?
