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“You put her in danger,” he says.
“She wasn’t in danger with me,” I tell him, rolling my eyes. “You just like to be the one protecting her.”
“It’s my job.”
“It’s more than that,” I say, cocking a brow. “Youlikeher.”
Now it’s Shayd’s turn to roll his eyes. He bends to pick up the bag, then gives me a playful smile—which I’m not exactly expecting. “Actually, speaking of my job…where should I bring this?”
I throw my thumb over my shoulder. “Let’s take the long way around; I don’t want to run into any other Ganivets.”
I turn on my heel and glide under an arch and into a lush garden, the sun peeking out from over the peaks of the mountains. Shayd stays just behind me, his footsteps so soft that I can barely hear them. Carrying heavy luggage like that, he should be louder.
“So where’d you come from anyway, Shayd?” I ask. “I know Atlas vetted you, but…”
“I was part of the Ombra Family,” he says, offering the information freely. “I left the Rookery six years ago to pursue private contracts; didn’t like working through an intermediary.”
Not an uncommon story; the Ombras keep their men on a tight leash. “And Atlas pays you better?” I ask.
Shayd smiles and confirms. “Atlas pays me better.”
He’s cute. Lanky, with a climber’s build. I can’t believe I never noticed before…but if he’s Ombra, that means he’s good at staying out of sight, flying under the radar.
Maybe he’s the rat.
New to our operation, close to Penn. But she would know, wouldn’t she?Doesshe know?
Is she lying to me?
It shouldn’t hurt, but it does. The prospect of her keeping things from me is so painful as to be almost visceral, my fingers curling at how she’d wrapped her lithe body around me last night.
I don’t like losing control. I’m the one who plays others; not the other way around.
“So you like her,” I say, glancing over at Shayd. I’ll keep poking him, see what happens. If I’m going to be unsteady, so should everyone else. “Penelope—Atlas’ wife.”
Shayd licks his lips. Hm…pierced. Interesting. I make a mental note that’s not so much professional as it is personal. “I’m not one of those men immune to beauty,” he says, his words measured. “She’s unique.”
I pause, and he stops with me, his brow furrowing in confusion. “She’s a novelty, I know,” I say. “And she’s not the only one; I don’t know that I’ve met very many Ombras with a tongue piercing.”
His lips curve in a smile, and he flicks his tongue out again to wet them. It has to be a conscious act; he’s playing games with me, responding to me.
I want to get under his skin.
And clearly, he wants to get under mine.
“The other Families think you don’t know how to have fun,” I say, cocking my head. I tongue one of my canines, feeling the prick of it. “But I get the impression you’re a man who does.”
Shayd narrows his eyes…but he’s not angry. He’s discerning.
Curious.
“Atlas told me there was a chance you would come onto me,” he says matter-of-factly.
“It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve fucked a guard,” I say. I take a step toward him and extend my Gift, letting static ghost over his cast iron skin. He doesn’t move, but I think I see a touch of gold in his eyes. “Did he tell you what to do in that situation?”
“He told me I was permitted to indulge, or to decisively say no,” he says.
“And your choice?” I ask.
