Piper joined the conversation. “You must be tired, Grey. Check your math. Two adults and three kids only adds up to five.”
Her smile faded as soon as he looked in her direction. “Oh no, you don’t. I am not being packed off to god knows where right before finals. You have no right to make that decision for me.”
Yes, he damn well did, but he’d save that argument when for when they were alone. He shot her a smile that was all warning and little warmth. “Maybe they’ll let you make up the tests.”
She met him glare for glare. “It’s not happening, so move on.”
They’d see about that. For now, he turned back to Kerry. “Harcourt won’t be able to stay hidden for long. I’m monitoring his phone records and credit cards. Eventually something will pop up, and then we’ll have him.
“Dame Kerry, I ask that you leave town as well. I’d suggest your mountain retreat, because Ranulf’s wards—combined with a team of my Talions—will keep you safe.”
Before she could respond, he looked to Ranulf for support. “Afterward, I’ll bring the Packard back and park it out front.”
“To make it look as if we’re still at home.” Ranulf winced, no doubt already seeing where Grey was headed with this.
“Yes. Then you’ll disguise someone to look like the Dame, and send her back here so it will appear that Kerry returned home without you. If the enemy sees that as a weakness, it might draw them out of hiding.”
Piper butted her pretty nose right back into his business. “I could pretend to be Kerry. Our hair is similar enough in color if I cover up the pink.”
He wanted to argue against it, but she was right. She wasn’t just the best choice, but the only one.
Piper echoed his thoughts. “Who else do you have? Besides, she’s not just Dame to me, Grey. She’s my sister. I will do what it takes to keep her safe.”
“Fine, but as soon as you come down off the mountain, you’re going back into hiding.” The whole idea made his gut ache. “I’ll also need to pull the Talion guards back, again to weaken the appearance of our defenses. Any suggestions for how to keep the Talions close by while keeping them out of sight at the same time?”
Ranulf looked toward Kerry. When she nodded, he said, “There’s a secret entrance to the house. The guards can come back in that way. As long as they’re careful, no one outside will know they’re in here. We can slip Piper back out to safety the same way.”
Grey nodded, fighting hard to hide his growing frustration. When had they planned on telling him about the secret entrance? He choked back the urge to read Ranulf the riot act. Now wasn’t the time.
He deliberately met the gaze of each person in the room. “I would suggest that we all be ready to leave first thing in the morning. The earlier, the better.”
As Grey rose to his feet, Ranulf sighed loudly. “Damn, I’m going to miss that car.”
Grey didn’t blame him. The Packard was a classic beauty. He’d almost rather sacrifice his Jaguar. Almost. “I’ll try to keep it safe. For now, I’ll have two of my men go over the car with a fine toothed comb and then stand guard to make sure no one gets close to it during the night.”
But there could be no promises, and they both knew it. Not when the bomber had already declared it a target. If it came down to sacrificing Ranulf’s beloved car in order to keep people safe—and especially the Grand Dame herself—there was no contest.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get to work.” He bowed to his Dame and then her Consort.
Kerry nodded and stood, her expression solemn. “Grey, as your Dame, I grant you and your men authority to do whatever you deem necessary to stop this threat against our people.”
Then Kerry’s eyes flashed burning hot. “But let me make one thing clear: If that bastard blows up the Packard, it will mean war.”
The meeting broke up after that, and everyone scattered to start their preparations. Piper quickly took her leave of Kerry and Ranulf and headed for her office. No doubt Grey would have something to say about her upcoming role in getting Kerry out of the line of fire. She understood his reluctance, but she was an adult and capable of making her own decisions. Why couldn’t he accept that?
Grey was waiting for her.
As soon as she crossed the threshold, he slammed the door closed behind her. She’d been prepared to be civil, but really, this was just too much.
“Grey Danby! What is your problem?”
“You are.”
He snapped his arms around her as his lips came crushing down on hers before she could protest. His tongue swept into her mouth, stealing her objection and her anger. How was she supposed to think clearly—or at all—when he did that?
She gave herself over to the moment, well aware that Grey wasn’t happy with her. He thought nothing of thrusting himself into potential danger but wouldn’t allow her to make the same decision for herself. Granted, he was the trained warrior, but she had her own vested interest in keeping Kerry safe.
Gradually, Grey eased back, changing the whole tenor of the embrace to one of gentle comfort. How was a woman supposed to stay mad at the man?
“I’m still not going into hiding, Grey.”
The jerk actually laughed, although it had a definite edge to it. “You think I don’t know that? I’m surprised I survived the daggers you shot at me when I dared to suggest it.”
Okay, so that much was settled. “If we’re going to get anywhere with this relationship, you’ve got to stop making decisions without consulting me.”
Some of the humor in his eyes faded. “I don’t have to remind you that I’m the Chief Talion, Piper. It’s my job to protect our people from any threat. That alone would make me want you out of the line of fire.”
He kissed her again, a soft brush of his mouth across hers. “But it’s more than that, and we both know it. Look at Ranulf. He’s going crazy, wanting a hard target that he can fight to protect Kerry. Sandor feels the same about Lena, and we all feel protective about the kids. I can assure you that Sean’s going to be royally pissed about being forced to leave town right when things are going to get interesting around here.”
Another kiss, this time at her temple. “I worry that my focus will be fragmented with both you and Kerry in danger. My honor and my duty demand that I sacrifice everything to keep the Grand Dame safe.”
He studied her face for a few seconds. What was he looking for? Finally, he nodded as if finding an answer to his unspoken question. “The problem is that my heart has a different set of priorities.”
As the meaning of his words sank in, her knees melted. If not for the strength of his arms supporting her, she would have sunk to the floor in a puddle of—what, she didn’t know. How was she supposed to respond to a statement like that? Especially when she hadn’t yet figured out exactly what she was feeling for him, except that it was good and it was strong.
The mental replay of that bomb going off continued to haunt her, along with the image of Grey lying on the ground, still as death. Did she have enough courage to watch him put himself in danger over and over again?
Maybe not. She gave him the only answer she had.
“I want to have a say in things that concern me directly, Grey, but I’m not stupid. I can and will take orders without demanding explanations when the situation calls for it.”
After she spoke, she buried her face against his chest, not wanting to see if she’d hurt him by not owning up to her feelings for him.
Bless the man, he held her close with such tenderness. “Let me give the men their orders, and then we’ll head back to the hotel.”
“I can’t wait.”
Wes tossed Adele a knit cap. “This is for later.”
She immediately rejected the hideous thing. “No, thanks. It doesn’t go with my outfit.”
He rolled his eyes. “So? It’s not like we’re going to be parading up and down the street for the world to see. But the Dame will have her men watching for suspicious-looking people. The last thing we
need is for you to be recognized.”
Maybe he was right. “The only one who knows me well enough to recognize me is Grey Danby.”
“Not true. You said your old man used to drag you here every year. Someone might remember you, especially that Ranulf Thorsen or his buddy Kearn.”
“Oh, all right. I take it we’re going to drive by the house.” She tucked her hair up inside the hat. One look in the mirror told her that it looked every bit as bad as she’d feared.
“Yeah, but later, just before dark. There’s less chance of us being spotted that way even if they have no way of knowing what kind of car you’re driving.” He looked up to offer her a tentative smile. “That is, if that’s all right with you.”
She liked that he asked. Most of the time he was too lost in his formulas and projects to take note of anyone else, but once in a while he surprised her. Even now Wes was carefully braiding strand after strand of wire into a colorful, but deadly, work of art.
Would a red bow on the box be over the top? Probably. Besides, no one would see it once Wes attached it to the Packard. She would have loved to have seen the expression on Ranulf’s face as he watched his car exploding into little bits in that e-mail. Well, the reality would far outshine the preview. That pleased her on so many levels, and Wes was the one who would make it happen.
There was no harm in tossing him a few crumbs. “Good plan. Right now Grey and his buddies should be busy hunting for my father. We certainly wouldn’t want to distract them.”
Wes snipped the last wire and stepped back to study his creation. After a second, he made one final adjustment and then nodded. “I’ll have to watch for a chance to install this, which will only take a couple of seconds. I’m using a remote detonator, but I’ve got a small camera mounted to a tree across the street so we’ll have a front row-seat when the fireworks start.”
Adele beamed. “Good on you, Wes. We wouldn’t want to miss a minute of the excitement.”
She had to give him credit for always thinking ahead, which reminded her how much she’d regret his imminent demise. After all, how could a ruler trust someone who showed a definite flare for assassination? She studied him as he carefully packed his creation away, admiring the fit of his jeans and the smooth line of muscle under his T-shirt.
Hmmm. This far north, the sun didn’t completely set until very late in the evening. That left them with several hours to kill. And she knew just how she wanted to spend them.
She waited until Wes closed the box and stepped back before sidling up behind him. He tensed briefly as her hands expressed admiration for his backside before sliding around to the front of his jeans.
Before she could do more than give his package a quick squeeze, he turned the tables on her, pinning her against the wall. In other areas of her life, she liked to be in control. But when it came to sex, she was more than happy to let Wes take charge.
As his tongue plunged into her mouth, she gave herself up to the moment, determined to make his remaining days on earth unforgettable for them both.
Sean stood in Sandor’s garage, his duffel at his feet. He’d already stuffed everyone else’s bags in the sedan’s trunk. Lena, Tara, and Kenny were inside finishing up breakfast. The crunch of gravel warned him that Sandor was back.
The Talion set a small cooler by the car. “What’s the matter? Isn’t there room for your bag?”
“Yeah, there’s room, but I’m not going.”
Sean braced himself for a blast of power from Sandor, willing to take whatever punishment the Talion dished out. After all, Sean had sworn to take orders from the man without question. Now here he was, openly defying a man who could squash him flat with little or no effort.
When he didn’t immediately get crispy-crittered, Sean gathered up the ragged edges of his courage and faced his mentor. Sandor stood a short distance away, his eyebrows drawn down over his eyes, his mouth a straight slash of pure frustration.
“Care to explain yourself ?” Sandor’s voice sent a chill up Sean’s spine.
Not particularly, but that wasn’t an option. Okay, if he was going to fry, it might as well be for speaking the truth. “I’m supposed to be training as a Talion, not hiding at the first sign of danger. That’s not what I signed on for.”
Sandor’s hand snaked out to grab Sean by the front of his shirt. Suddenly, his feet were dangling in the air as he got up close and personal with one pissed off Talion.
“Fuck that crap, kid. A Talion’s job is to keep our people safe. If that means making sure innocents are out of the line of fire, so be it.”
Sandor dropped Sean as quickly as he’d picked him up. “Unless you think I’m a coward for protecting Tara, Kenny, and Lena. Or for following the Chief Talion’s orders.”
Holy shit! All this time he’d been thinking about how he felt being banished from the front lines. It hadn’t occurred to him that Sandor might be having the same problem with their orders.
“Oh, hell no!” Sean managed to stammer. “That’s not what I meant at all.”
“Then why don’t explain exactly what you did mean? And don’t think I’ve forgotten about your promise to follow orders or the consequences if you don’t.”
Sean forced himself to look Sandor in the eye. “I’m not some little kid who needs to go hide under the bed when the boogeyman knocks at the door. I understand everyone wanting to keep Kenny, Tara, and even Lena out of the line of fire, but I want to do what I can to keep the Dame safe. I owe her just like I owe you.”
Sean hated—hated—that his voice cracked a little as he spoke, but he meant every damn word he’d said. Following that geeky guy around the neighborhood had been his first taste of what it was like to serve the greater cause, and he’d liked it. But this was more than that.
“Somebody needs to help Grey Danby take down the bastard who sent that bomb through the mail. We both know Ranulf won’t leave Kerry’s side, and who can blame him? You’ve got Tara, Kenny, and Lena to worry about. That leaves me to help Grey.” Honesty made him add, “And maybe Piper.”
“And what can you do that those other Talions Grey brought in can’t do?”
Okay, that was a fair question. “I know the city. They don’t. I’ve had years of sneaking around without being noticed. Most of them look like you.”
There went Sandor’s eyebrows diving down again. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“You know, all polished and pricey. I bet you can’t go anywhere without making women drool.”
Finally, Sandor’s mouth quirked up in a half smile. “What’s it worth to you for me not to tell a trained pack of killers that you think they’re nothing but a bunch of pretty boys?”
Sean wished he’d kept his mouth shut, especially when he’d be hard pressed to cough up more than ten bucks at the moment. “Uh, Sandor, I’d rather you just kill me now than throw me to the wolves.”
“As tempting as that is, Grey wouldn’t appreciate me slaughtering his new sidekick.” Sandor pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll ask him, but if he says you go with us, you go.”
“Yes, sir.” Sean nodded and crossed his fingers in his pocket, both for luck and because he had no intention of keeping his promise if the Brit said no.
“Grey, change of plans. Sean wants to hang with you. Says he can make himself useful. That okay?”
Sandor had a real knack for hiding his thoughts behind a blank expression, a talent Sean really hated right then. What could Grey be saying that took so long?
Finally, Sandor hung up. “Congrats, kid. You’ve been promoted to the big leagues. And once we get through this, Grey and I are going to drag your ass down to the local recruiter’s office. You can pick which branch of the military you want to enlist in, but that’s as much say as you get in the matter. If you’re going to serve the Dame, you need to learn discipline as well as the weapons and tactical training that a stint in the service will give you. Got that?”
Memories of living on the streets, desperate to keep his stoma
ch filled and his energy tank topped off, flashed through Sean’s mind. The man standing in front of him had offered him the chance to have a real life, one with meaning and purpose. If Sandor said the military was what he needed now, Sean believed him.
He threw his hand up in an awkward salute, “Yes, sir. Message received, sir.”
Sandor rolled his eyes in mock disgust and then surprised them both by giving Sean a quick hug, pounding on his back with a heavy hand.
“I’ll make you proud,” Sean promised.
“You already have.” Sandor tossed him the keys to his sports car. “Get your stuff and head on back to Kerry’s house.”
Sean stared at the keys. “I’ll take good care of it.”
“I’m not worried about the car. Take good care of my friends.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will.”
Chapter 15
“Are you sure about this?”
Piper smiled at her sister’s worried face and nodded. “I’ll be fine. Grey left a couple of his men back at the house. When we get back, Sean and I will slip out through the secret entrance, and he’ll drop me off at school in Sandor’s car, not the Packard.”
“Are you sure it’s safe for you to go to school?”
“Yeah, it is.” Although she’d argued long and hard with Grey about it, she didn’t admit that to Kerry. “Because of finals, classes are running on a completely different schedule, making my routine unpredictable. After I finish my exam, I’ll check in with Grey and then head straight for a new hotel. He thinks I’ll be safer in a public place than I would be in my apartment.”
Kerry held out her arms for a quick hug. Piper closed her eyes, fighting off tears. Even without the blood connection, she would have loved Kerry.
“Good luck with your test,” Kerry said. “And while we’re on the subject, we have to talk about what you want to do after you graduate. I don’t want to lose you to some big corporation. Now get going before I break down completely.”
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