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“No flights in her name.”
The car stops outside my building. I step onto the sidewalk, take a quick look around at the empty street, and walk inside. But it’s not until I’m in the elevator that I keep talking.
“If Cara turns up?—”
“I’m already here in New York,” Orion mutters.
“Didn’t know you cared enough to come back for her.”
“Relax. She’s good in bed, asshole, and I’m not a fucking cold bastard.”
I just snort.
“But I dragged her into this, and…”
The elevator dings and I step out, then wander up to my second-floor study. Collapsing on the sofa, I let out a deep sigh. I know what he’s getting at. If something happened because she was seen with me, then her disappearance has some other implications.
“No one’s out to get me,” I say with an edge to my tone.
“But you like to play with a certain type. Not the type you’ll fuck, but the one you’ll play with. Subs. Cara left a note at my place in Little Italy.” His home away from home in New York. “Wondered where I was, said someone had started following her.”
Suddenly the soft, comfortable sofa seems to have sprouted spikes. I jump up and stalk over to my bar. I pour a scotch but don’t drink it.
Shit.
Thank fuck Ivy’s here and not at home. If someone took Cara…
“I’ll keep an eye out and an ear to the ground.”
“Be careful, Merce.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Orion laughs, the sound humorless and dark-edged. “I think this is dirtier than we thought. And they’re getting close. We both know it. The question is, if push comes to shove, who are you gonna save?”
THIRTY-ONE
mercer
Orion’s questionfrom earlier today has haunted me since the words were out of his mouth because I have a choice to make, one with deadly consequences.
It’s also one I can’t think about tonight. There’s too much at stake, too many things that require my typical focus and control.
The room we have at Broken Angel is quiet, draped in black, one without a viewing section. And the cross is beautiful.
Ivy stares at it like I’m going to murder her.
I could calm her. Soothe her, but her nervous energy courses through me like adrenaline.
I don’t need to do this.
But it’s a burn in the blood and a throb of need in my bones. I have to see her up on the cross, hear her beg.
Besides, the people whom I want to take notice will no doubt be watching the feed.
“You’re new at this, slave, and tonight, I’m going to break you.”
She lowers her eyes and puts trembling hands behind her back. “Yes, Master.”
