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I’ve only got a fewhours to go shopping for a dress for the party tonight, so Nick takes Oliver home. As soon as they’re gone, Terrance hands me a wad of cash. “What—Terrance!No.”
He shoves the money at me again. “For your dress. Get something nice.”
“Terrance.”
I give him my best no-nonsense stare, and all it does is cause him to retaliate with a much more serious I-mean-business scowl. I’m not ready to back down. “Oh,” I say, throwing a bit of sarcasm into my voice, “and while we’re having this conversation—”
“No.” Terrance grunts.
“That car outside—”
“It’s yours. I said no arguments.”
“It’s acar, Terrance. I can’t accept that.”
He grunts again and flops down on the couch, looking anywhere but at me. “I own the dealership. It’s not a big deal.”
I blink. And then I laugh. Of course he owns the dealership. “Even still. I hate feeling like I owe people, and I’m not a mooch. I didn’t earn that car, or the laptop. I can’t accept any of it.”
“Didn’t earn it?” Terrance finally looks up at me. “You’re risking your life to find my clan member. If you need a reason to accept my gifts, consider them payment for a dangerous job.”
I suck in a deep breath through my nose, still feeling annoyed, but seeing his reason. “Well, when you put it that way,” I mutter. I plop down on the opposite end of the couch, scowling at my lap, and grumble, “It still feels like too much.”
Terrance sighs. “You are doing a service for my clan that we can never repay. We are the ones indebted to you. Especially me. If you bring Shandra home, I will be in your debt for life.”
I’m shocked by the admission. A life debt is a huge deal. People don’t just spout off something like that. If Terrance says it, then he means it. “Because she might be your mate?” I ask.
Terrance flinches, and all of the blood drains from his face. I duck my head, cringing. “Sorry. Your sister mentioned it in the vision I saw of her and Shandra at the bar. Shandra was so nervous. She didn’t think you were going to be happy about your clan sending her.”
Terrance’s entire body deflates. After a long sigh, he shakes his head once. “I wasn’t happy. I was shocked more than anything. I sort of freaked. That’s why Shandra walked off by herself.”
And now I see why he’d consider it a life debt. “It wasn’t your fault, Terrance. It may have been your club, and she may have been upset because of you, butyoudidn’t get her kidnapped. It’s not your fault.”
Terrance lifts his head, his lifeless eyes meeting mine. “She was my responsibility, potential mate or not, she and Nell both. Our clan is not in this city. Here, I am their head of clan. I was her protector, and I failed her.”
I feel awful. I want to make him feel better, but I don’t want to be inside his head right now, so I gently pat his shoulder once and then sit back. “You haven’t failed her,” I promise. “You’re doing everything you can to get Shandra back. You haven’t given up. You even went as far as to hire a crazy human psychic to find her.” When he looks at me again, there’s a spark of hope in his gaze. I shoot him a wink and then make him a promise. “I’m going to find her, T-man. I’m going to get her back for you, and when I do, you’ll be a hero to your clan—a hero to Shandra and your sister both.”
He sucks in a deep breath, swallows hard, and then clears his throat. In a husky voice, rough with emotion, he says, “Thank you, Nora.”
“You’re welcome, Terrance. And I suppose…thank you for the gifts. I admit I do love the car. It’s very badass.”
Terrance grins. “I thought it suited you.”
“Very much so. Now if only I had any freaking clue where and how to buy a dress.”
“I don’t know a thing about that.” Terrance lifts his arms above his head and stretches deep while he releases a mountain of a yawn. “But I do know someone who can help.”
I glance his way, curious as to who he might recommend.
“You met Cecile at the club the other night.”
I want to play it cool, but my eyes bulge of their own accord. “The succubus?”
Terrance laughs. “She’s safe. Or…she will be with you, if I call her.”
“That’s reassuring.” Yes, heavy sarcasm.
Terrance chuckles again. “You have my word, Trouble. She won’t mess with you now that you’re under my protection. She works at the club.”
