The cuffs had been an impulse steal, and once she realised she couldn’t sell them without the key, she’d tossed them into her old room. It had all been a test, and when she’d succeeded, she’d actually forgotten about her first souvenir in the disarray of being forced into the guild, and officially becoming just another pawn for the Syndicate.
But now the same cuff cut into her wrist, and she still had no key. She just hoped Erik could actually get the bloody thing off, because while Titus-fucking-Liu Wood was drop dead gorgeous, she didn’t want to be attached to him for the rest of her, admittingly, short life. Although, it would have been a fun way to go.
Rae sneaked a peek to her right, his movements mechanical as he followed her directions with little acknowledgment of her presence. The picture she’d received along with his name didn’t do him justice. A square jaw, sharp cheekbones and a perfectly straight nose that clearly made him God’s favourite. A silver ring pierced through his nostril, matching the one through the centre of his bottom lip. Those lips were relaxed, slightly fuller than usual for a man, but soft enough that it only emphasised the masculine angles of the rest of his face, framed slightly with dark blonde strands that had escaped his bun. Even darker brows over golden skin pulled together, and his eyes when he turned were as if they were on fire, a shadowy reddish brown that seemed to glow the more she stared. Maroon, or maybe even burgundy, a colour so unique she’d never seen it on anyone before, not even one of the Fae. Back at the house she could have sworn his irises had been silver, metallic. But that could also have been her brain being deprived of oxygen.
“How did you find me?” she asked when he took a sharp right, pulling her almost across the console and onto his lap. She hissed out in pain, but Titus didn’t seem to notice as the metal cut into his wrist. His long sleeves clearly protecting him compared to her bare arms.
“You never changed your licence plate,” he said, voice like rough silk. He’d been in a calm rage, even when he’d pinned her so effortlessly to the wall, his fingers wrapped around her windpipe. “Plus you seemed to be friendly with an acquaintance of mine.”
She’d made a mistake following Riley Storm.Fuck.
“Dangerous move on your part.” His eyes slid to hers, a smirk twitching his upper lip. “It was even easier to follow you once we had an image of your face. A few clicks and I could find you anywhere there was a camera.”
“That’s impossible.”
Titus pulled out his phone, clicking a few buttons before handing it to her. It showed a crappy image of the back of her car, the darkened image barely showing the license plate.
“Swipe.”
Tensing at his smooth command, Rae grumbled as curiosity won. The next image showed her car over Tower Bridge, and then down another road, and then another. Stomach twisting, she swiped through fifteen images of her car, and then the first of her face appeared.
She was inside Storm Industries atrium, waiting in her business attire with her legs crossed and hands clenched in her lap. The image was as clear as if it was taken on a professional camera, despite the timestamp indicating it was CCTV. The next picture was of her outside, the angle taken from across the street. One from inside Mystic Medlock’s on her knees, another outside her brother’s flat. The final picture was taken from within the guild, her expression angry as she walked to her car in the underground garage.
Vivian exclusively owned all the CCTV in the building, watching who came, and went from her office. So how did he get access?
“So you’re some creepy stalker then?” she asked with more humour than she felt, disguising her anxiety at how easily he’d been able to find her. “Explains the hit. So, how did you do it?”
Without a word he touched the screen, and one last image appeared.
A couple smiled in the foreground, the man’s long arm stretched to take the picture. It looked like any other selfie, except right in the top corner was Rae. She was barely a blob in the background, but her face had turned towards the phone, the shape of her features made out against the rain.
Holy fucking shit.
Now that was impressive.
She had to tell Killian, he’d piss himself with excitement at being able to hack someone’s personal phone. Might make him a bit more helpful at tracking down targets.
“You can park anywhere here,” she said when they’d arrived, any nerves at the pictures disappearing in a flutter as she pulled back the reins. She was in charge. She’d trappedhim,not the other way around.
Titus frowned, the industrial area she’d taken him to quiet. Secluded. Not at all suspicious.
“Relax,” she said, noticing the tension along his shoulders. “What’s the worst that could happen?” She smirked at his frown, waiting for him to get out the car before she could crawl over the space. It wasn’t exactly dignified, especially in a short skirt. It had been more awkward to get in the car, having her bare cheeks out as she figured how to climb over to the passenger seat, all while her right wrist was attached to his.
“What is this place?” he asked, continuously scanning their surroundings. He’d put the glittery gun in the top of his dark jeans, hidden beneath his black t-shirt. She was pissed at losing a weapon, but at least he hadn’t found her knife still hidden beneath her skirt.
Rae studied the warehouses, empty due to being after hours. Everything was a sea of grey. Boring, bland, and exactly why the secret club thrived, hidden beneath the concrete. “It’s called Bite.”
“Bite?”
“Yeah, It’s a dance club.” She gestured to a door down the side of one of the warehouses, inconspicuous in its design, it blended into the brick from a distance. An optical illusion that changed depending on the angle. “It’s Friday, so Erik should be here.”
“So he might not be?” An impatient glare. “Can’t you just call him?”
“Erik isn’t someone you can just call.” He didn’t even own a phone, or if he did, he never shared his number with her. “He’s a creature of habit.” She hoped. It wasn’t like she knew his exact schedule, but every time she’d been with Atlas and Winter, Erik had been there. Not that it was often, considering Rae usually only went for karaoke night, which was once every few weeks.
“What exactly is this club?” Titus asked, catching her hand before she could knock.
“One that isn’t openly advertised.” She shrugged, not sure what to say. “It’s a place for Vamps to come and relax, I suppose.”
