“What exactly do you want me to do with this ridiculouslyvague information? Scream bloody murder every time I see wings?”
“I’m trying to warn you,” I say. “There’s no need to be a jackass about it. I can tell you with complete certainty that the person behind this attack won’t give up. This is a courtesy heads up, and I’m only issuing it to you at all because you put yourself at risk to save Alistair.”
“Let me get this straight. A bunch of angels are hunting your boyfriend and—” Ciprian cuts himself off, narrows his eyes at me, then snaps his fingers. “Oh, I see. They aren’t after the sexy vampire at all, are they? The angels are here for you.”
“That’s none of your business.” My fingers clench around the mug.
“Like fuck it isn’t,” Ciprian argues. “Anything involving my life and sudden death is certainly my business.”
“If you would let me finish,” I say, seething at his snarky attitude, “I was going to offer to let you stay with me a few days, until all this shit settles down.”
Ciprian freezes, and his mouth drops open until he’s gaping at me.
“This offer is contingent on you keeping quiet and staying out of my way,” I add. “And you’ve got about thirty seconds to make your decision, because I’m already starting to regret it.”
Luca looks at me with a frown.
“You’re obviously invited too,” I say to him, kicking myself for not finding a way to tell him first. “Except you don’t have to keep quiet or stay out of my way.”
“You’re going to let us shack up with your girlfriend?” Ciprian turns his attention to Alistair and voices what may be the stupidest, most irrelevant question I’ve ever heard. I barely hold back a snarl.
“Don’t forget you’ll be shacking up with me as well,” Alistair drawls.
“We’ll need blackout curtains,” Luca mutters. He ambles back to the coffee pot, frowning when he pours what’s left into his mug and it only reaches the halfway mark.
“You’re good with this?” I ask him, surprised by his quick agreement.
“It’s smart,” he says. “If we stick together, we can watch each other’s backs.” Luca doesn’t sayyour, but the heat in his hazel eyes as they drill into me over the rim of his coffee cup heavily implies it.
It makes me want to argue against my own plan. “Store, sunblock, work?” I ask, keeping it simple.
“I’ll need to pick up some stuff from my apartment,” Ciprian says. He’s calm again, almost thoughtful as he traces a vein in the granite countertop. Alistair’s apartment is much fancier than mine, but it’s bare, dark and soulless in a way that makes me sad.
Luca nods. “Same.”
I take my mug to the sink and rinse it. “We can meet at my place after.”
From the corner of my eye, I see Alistair and Luca exchange a look. I ignore it. If I’m about to share my seven-hundred-square-foot apartment with them, I’m going to need a few hours to prepare mentally. This is a big change.
“Call me if you need anything,” Luca says. “Please.”
I soften at his demand disguised as a request. The please sounded as if it was yanked from him about as willingly as a hunk of hair between two fighting, stray cats. I can be gracious, though. Especially since I’m getting a chance to say goodbye to my alone time.
“I will,” I tell him.
“Can someone drop me at the club?” Ciprian asks, smiling at me with a boyish, hopeful expression. “My car’s parked nearby.”
“It’s on my way.” Luca claps him roughly on the shoulder. “Let’s go.”
I walk toward the front door, trailing after them, but Alistair is too fast. He grabs me and spins me around until I’m sandwiched between him and the kitchen counter.
“No risks,” he growls. “Swear it.”
I draw back to tell him where he can shove his possessive bullshit, but he kisses me breathless, his tongue plunging into my mouth like it belongs there. Mine tangles with his as I do my best to tell him without words that I won’t be controlled—not now, not ever.
“It’s notthat I’m trying to...” He groans as I bite his lip. “Shit, angel. I’ll be stuck inside until sundown. I don’t know if I can let you walk out that door if I’m not sure you’ll be careful.”
“I could break your arms,” I offer, mostly kidding. “Then you’d have firsthand proof of how capable I am.”
