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“No.” He shook his head. “Not just no. Hell no. Fuck no. No fucking way, no.”
I put my hands on my hips, trying to keep my anger in check. “I’ll take your suggestion under consideration.”
He stepped away from the counter, his eyes burning with fury. “It’s not a fucking suggestion, Ellie. It’s a statement.No.”
I shook my head. “That’s not the way this works, David. I’m in charge when it comes to the curse. You make suggestions. I consider them. ThenIdecide.”
He shook his head, his mouth twisting in anger. “Not anymore. Not after last night. I’m as much a part of this as you are. I have just as much to lose as you do.”
My mouth parted in surprise. “We had an agreement. You can’t change the rules, David.”
He spread his hands wide. “Well, guess bloody fucking what, Ellie?I just did.”
I shook my head. “No. I agreed to take your suggestions under advisement, butIget to decide. We both came up with the rules. Webothagreed on them.”
“Forgive me if I was too naïve to realize what I was getting myself into. Last night made it perfectly clear that we’re playing a very deadly game. It’s one thing to talk in abstracts, but this isreal.”
“And Ukinim and Ilena were real too. You didn’t try to change the rules then.”
“This is different, Ellie!”
“Why? Because you lost someone you care about?” I shouted. “Well, welcome to my world! I’ve lost both my parents to this curse!” But even as I said the words, I realized how unfair I was being. I was asking him to put his life and the lives of people he cared about completely in my hands. How would I feel if I was in his position? All my fight fled and I sagged against the wall.
His voice softened. “I’m your in to the Ricardo Estate. I’m the person they’re expecting. I know what to look for. This is my area of expertise. Youneedme to do this, Ellie, but if you involve him, I won’t take any part in it.”
I gaped at him. “You’re serious?”
“I am unless you can give me a really good reason to change my mind. And the fact that he has experience with breaking and entering isn’t about to sway me.”
I could argue that I needed Collin to fight supernatural beings, but we were dealing with humans in this situation. And David had just admitted Collin’s criminal past wouldn’t convince him we needed his help. “Okay. What’s your plan?”
“As you know, I have an appointment with the Guardians at ten tomorrow morning. They’re calling themselves the Henderson Foundation. I told them I know everything Allison knew about the collection and that I have the research she conducted.”
“Do you?”
“No.”
I stared at him, my eyes wide.
“Don’t look so surprised. Collin isn’t your only boyfriend who’s capable of deception.”
I bit back an ugly retort. My temper never resolved anything. “David, this could all go so wrong.” I lifted my chin. If he wanted to do this alone, we could still make it work. “But I can think on my feet too, so I think we’ll be able to get the information we need.”
“There is no we, Ellie. Me. I’m going alone.”
“No.” I shook my head. “No way.”
“They’re only expecting me.”
“Tell them I’m your assistant or something.”
“No. They told me to come alone.”
“And that doesn’t make you question the situation?” My voice rose. “Why would they want you to come alone if it wasn’t dangerous?”
His cold eyes pinned mine. “There’s something important enough in these pieces that people are dying for them. I want to find out what it is. I owe that to Allison.”
“You didn’t kill her.”
