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I stepped into the mouth of the monster and let the elevator carry me alongside Erelle to floor twenty-eight. She started walking out the moment the doors moved. She headed straight for number two-eight-six. The front door was already open. Another man in black—or maybe the same one—stood beside it, blaster in hand.
“Your blaster, Ryon.” He held out his hand. I knew the drill. To see Regin, I had to give up my protection. No point arguing. I’d just get shot. So instead, I handed it over. Feeling naked, I went in.
The apartment was the same opulent place I remembered, although some of the expensive décor had changed and a couple of pieces of furniture had been replaced. Time did that to places.
Sitting on a huge armchair, looking like he was wearing an invisible crown, Regin reclined with a drink. The most powerful beta in the city. His lackeys stood around waiting for orders.
“Erelle.” He smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
“Ray,” she greeted him. “It was awful. I thought I was going to die—”
He held up a hand. “Slow down. Take a seat, both of you. Drinks?”
One of his men stepped forward with glasses of something that had already been poured, presumably while we were in the elevator.
“Thanks.” I took the cup. Knew better than to refuse when Regin wanted me to have a drink in my hand.
“Who took her?” He addressed me directly.
“Teranse. Lives next door to me.”
“He’s back from the prison colony, already?”
I nodded. “Three months.”
“He made a mistake, today. I’m gonna make sure he can’t ever hurt you again, sis.”
For the first time since I’d known him, I saw genuine affection in Regin’s eyes. I hadn’t thought it was possible, but then again, I’d always kept my distance. Even when I’d had to work for him as part of an assignment. Brief meetings to get orders, then I’d left as fast as I could.
“You still owe me, Ryon.” He threw the words out like an accusation. “You didn’t leave under a good light.”
“I saved your sister’s life. Doesn’t that count for something?”
He looked at her thoughtfully. “Yeah. But you haven’t finished the job. She isn’t safe until Teranse is dealt with. Take care of him.”
Shit. I didn’t want to kill my neighbor. Not because I was afraid, or cared about him at all. He had targeted women for the last four decades and barely got a rap on the knuckles earlier this year, when the enforcers had finally caught up with him. Seventy-five women had been kidnapped and killed, and he’d gotten out for good behavior.
To my mind the fucker could die in a ditch. I wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire. But I disliked shitting and eating in the same place. However, I disliked being dead even more, so I knew I had to accept or I wasn’t getting out of this apartment. Not now Regin had decided I owed him something.
“Fine. I’ll sort him out.” I didn’t need to say that he’d be in the bottom of the river by sundown. That kind of talk was incriminating. Regin didn’t like to say anything that might be used against him by the authorities. I was glad he didn’t know I worked for them.
“Actually... bring him to me. I want to talk to him myself.”
Ugh. I hated being present when Regin wanted to “talk” to someone who had seriously crossed him and pissed him off.
“I’ll deliver him. Then, we’re even.” I didn’t ask. He’d correct me if I was wrong.
“Sure. But he’d better make it here alive.”
I nodded. “You got it.”
I knocked back my drink and left.
***
Ryon
Teranse was easy to find. Still in his apartment when I got there. The door hadn’t been fixed, yet. I walked straight in. Suppressing my urge to simply punch him in the face and hoist him over my shoulder, I kept my hands by my sides.
