“She is unharmed and safe.”Censure rings in his voice.First Hamish condemning me, now St.James.They all think I’ve gone too far.
Maybe I have.But the only opinion that matters to me is Inara’s.
I remember how she pleaded with me.If you ever cared for me as more than just a plaything, you would let me go.
“You can’t keep her from me,” I say to St.James to drown out the memory of Inara’s desperate begging.
“Do you want an alliance with Fraternitas or not?”
“I want Inara back.”
“You can’t fight me and protect her.”
“Can’t I?”I’ll fight all of Fraternitas if I have to.
Except, that would be a waste of resources.Theirs and mine.
What am I doing?
“It would be wiser to turn our entire focus on catching our mutual enemy,” St.James says.Since when did he become the voice of reason?
I’m almost out of the tunnel.In a few minutes, I’ll be at Club Empire.
St.James continues, “I’m proposing Club Empire as neutral territory.I have Inara here, but I promised her sanctuary.You will not harm her.”
I want to snarl that, obviously, I won’t harm her, I only want to protect her, and how dare he even think otherwise—but my screen flashes, distracting me.
The video Hamish promised me appears on my dash.It plays in a loop: Inara walks into her townhouse, visibly recoiling at what she sees.Her body stiffens, her eyes wide.She raises her hands as if to fend off a blow, then sinks down, covering her face and rocking a little.
She had a full breakdown, and I wasn’t there to help her.
I wanted to keep her safe, but she won’t let me.
She’d rather face a serial killer alone than allow me to care for her.
What have I done?
“Rex?”St.James calls me back to our conversation.
“Agreed,” I spit.“Club Empire.Neutral territory.I just want to see her.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged.”His noncommittal tone has me grinding my teeth.“In the meantime, I’ll do my part.”He reminds me of the importance of his role in the situation.“I’ll keep her here.I had to promise you wouldn’t put her in a cage.”
If you ever felt anything for me, if any of it was real, you would set me free.
She ran from me, right into danger.I can lock her up all I want, but if she escapes, she’ll be lost to me.
Even if she doesn’t escape, she’ll still be lost to me.
“Destination, Club Empire.Time of arrival, five minutes,” Alfie announces loud enough for St.James to hear.
“You can park in the underground deck,” St.James says.“And you owe Kaiser a new Jeep,” he adds before hanging up.
Inara
I joltin my seat when St.James enters the room but relax when I see it’s him.
“He’ll be here in five minutes,” St.James tells me, pocketing his phone.His face is expressionless, but I can tell he’s bracing himself for a fight.
