Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Daniel licked his lips. “I . . . I can’t discuss my cases or my clients.”
“You will with me.”
“I really can’t—I’m legally bound to share very little.”
His patience a thing of the past, Luka edged closer to the table, raring to strangle the little shit. “You seem to think you have a choice here. You don’t. Let me speak plainly. I don’t give a fuck what assurances you granted your clients or what legalities are in place that prohibit you from revealing details. Naomi is under my protection. If you insist on making yourself a problem for her, then I become your problem. That’s how this works.”
The blood drained from Daniel’s face—a sight that pleased Belial. “I didn’t know that she had protected status. I swear I didn’t know.”
“Now you do. And you can either tell me what I want to know, or I take you somewhere we can get more . . . comfortable. And you’ll still tell me what I want to know.”
Daniel swallowed so hard it looked like it hurt. “I-I have a client that’s interested in meeting a ghost artist who works with Naomi’s psi-mate. The artist wishes to remain anonymous, so Tobe won’t reveal their identity. I was hired to find out who they are and obtain their contact details.”
“What does that have to do with Naomi?”
“Anchors share secrets with each other. I thought maybe Tobe had mentioned names of his ghost artists to her.”
“I’ve already told you I don’t know any,” she said to Daniel.
So they’d come into contact before now?
The PI lifted his shoulders. “I’m struggling to get answers for my client, so I thought I’d try again.”
“Well, you did,” said Luka. “And it was fruitless. It would be just as fruitless if you questioned her again. But you won’t do that, will you?” It wasn’t a question; it was a straight-up order that carried a promise of very dark consequences.
Fear flickering in his eyes, Daniel shook his head. “No. No, of course not.”
Abraxas snorted at his cowardice, finding him pathetic. Luka’s other two entities agreed with that assessment.
Luka cut his gaze back to Naomi and held out his palm to her.
She slowly placed her hand in his as she pushed out of her seat. It was only then that she seemed to notice that the twins and Daniil were a few feet behind him. “I just need to put my rubbish in the—” She cut off as Nikandr grabbed her tray and did it for her. “Right.”
“Let’s go.” Luka splayed a hand on her back to guide her away from the table.
She threw him a quick look. “Konstantin telepathed you about Daniel,” she guessed.
He dipped his chin. “He’d noticed that someone was watching you. When I arrived, he said the person was at your table. It was clear by your body language that he wasn’t welcome.”
Mikhail led the way as all five of them exited the restaurant and then, with Konstantin sliding in behind them, walked into the side alley. Once they were deep in the shadows and away from human eyes, Luka looked at his teleporter. “My house.”
Surprise flickered across Daniil’s face. Understandable. Luka didn’t bring his bed buddies to his home. But right then, his protectiveness a feral thing, he wanted Naomi in the place she’d be safest.
Their surroundings momentarily blurred before altering completely, and suddenly they were all standing in his foyer.
Luka swept his gaze over his demons. “Leave us.” After the four males had obligingly exited the house, he refocused on Naomi. She was glancing around with her lips parted, taking in the winding staircase, marble flooring, and sparkling chandelier.
“Wow,” she breathed.
“You never mentioned that you’d been approached by a PI,” said Luka, a bite to his voice.
She shrugged, visibly unfazed by his annoyance. “Why would I? It wasn’t necessary for you to know. It had no bearing on anything.” She didn’t add that it wasn’t his business, but the implication was there in her tone and expression.
Luka felt his face harden, and all three of his demons bristled. Because this felt like his business. “If there’s a threat to you, I need to be aware of it.”
“He’s not a threat, just a pest.”
Perhaps so, but . . . “That isn’t the point.”
“Look, you don’t tell me all of what goes on in your life. And why would you? I’m not entitled to know your business. We’ve made no commitment to each other.”
“You’re under my protection.”
“Super. But it doesn’t change the facts. Come on, Luka, you wouldn’t have told me if you’d been approached by a PI. You can’t have it both ways.”
“Why not?”
Even as irritation scraped at Naomi’s skin, she couldn’t help but chuckle. “I can’t even whine about how much of a handful you are. I knew what I was getting into. But don’t think I’ll stand for any bullshit,” she softly warned. “That isn’t who I am.”