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Behind him, Tempest murmured in a voice thick with mockery, “Rook, huh? Close enough, I guess.”
When he glanced at her, she tossed him a defiant glare, head held high. He throttled another growl and stormed out. He locked the door behind him as he chased after Kyele, who was halfway down the hall. They entered the secured conference room together. Dorian, Hahn and Kjar stood inside with the holo system activated at the center of the table.
“What’s going on?” Rook asked in a sharp tone.
Kjar pointed at the information displayed. “Dorian’s been monitoring news outlets, making sure no alerts went up on Tempest’s disappearance.”
Rook walked closer and studied the blips flashing onscreen.
‘Prominent businessman, Daliss O’juva’zi, discovered dead. Murder suspected. Ties to criminal element. Rumored drug trader.’
Kyele lifted his hand and flicked his fingers, the holo changed to an image of Daliss O’juva’zi. Another flick of his fingers reflected last known location.
“Ice Ball,” Rook breathed.
“How?” Kyele gritted out, stomping away from the table then abruptly spinning around to face them again. His green eyes burned with fury. “How the fuck did she do this?”
She. It wasn’t hard to guess who Kyele meant. Tempest was the only viable suspect. Except she’d spent the night with Rook. He’d held her in his arms and at no point had she left his bed. He could attest to that.
“Daliss died hours later at his home. No signs of forced entry or foul play. His staff says he came home alone,” Dorian read from the report aloud.
“Poison,” Hahn muttered. “Had to be. A slow acting agent. If they do a tox, I’m certain they’ll find benzphate in his system.”
Benzphate was a powerful acting poison and undetectable when ingested.
“Did Tempest spend any time around the victim at the ball?” Rook asked.
Hahn shook his head. “I wouldn’t know from my position at the door, but he left before you took her to your room.”
Interesting. It meant she’d already given him the benzphate even as she made plans to sex share with him. By Rook’s actions, he’d unknowingly provided her a fairly solid alibi. What if he hadn’t taken her to his room?
Except. He frowned. Events from the night replayed in his head. She’d had Ahati lined up as a backup. The other man would have been a credible alibi if she didn’t spend the night with Rook. The thought caused a small kernel of anger to ignite inside of him. Had he been played for a fool?
“Did she offer him food or drink?” Rook asked Kjar.
His teammate shook his head. “Not that I saw. All food was served by workers. Daliss isn’t a trusting sort so for Tempest to get him to ingest something from her instead of someone working the room would have required a strong level of trust between them.”
Trust. After having her, touching her and exchanging a certain level of intimacy, Rook could see how a man could fall under her spell. He stood here even now fighting for a rational explanation that would excuse her.
“Or we’re looking in the wrong place. Maybe someone else is responsible and she has nothing to do with Daliss’ death,” Rook suggested.
Four gazes turned toward him. Kjar smirked. “Why? Because you fucked her?”
Rook pivoted to his right and swung. His punch clipped Kjar’s jaw. His teammate staggered back, hand flying to his face. Rage darkened Kjar’s eyes and he leaped for Rook. Dorian caught him by the shoulder and stepped in between them. “Not here.”
Kjar shot Rook a look of retribution. Rook sneered. “Bring it.”
“Enough!” Kyele snapped and pointed at Hahn. “Dig into this. I want to know everything. Details, when, where. Whatever information they find on Daliss’ death.”
A jarring alarm blared from above. Five sets of eyes darted around the room.Intruder?Someone had tripped one of the alarms.
Kjar faced Kyele. “Could it be your dau—?”
“You wouldn’t hear her coming and don’t ever mention her again,” Kyele cut in. He turned his gaze to Rook. “The prisoner.”
Adrenaline surged and fear sent him racing from the room. He ignored shouts from his team as he made his way to where they’d left her with one thought on his mind. Tempest.
***
