“You?” she scoffed. “Who can just flash in front of hordes of humans, and no one’s the wiser, needsmyhelp? Yeah, right.” Then to rattle him, “If you want something stolen, I’m your girl.” She smirked. “But I get eighty percent.”
“No.” His jaw hardened further, if that was possible. “I need to get close to the underground gang or their leaders, and I know you live in one of their territories. Hade’s Disciples or Tolvi’s Vipers. Which one?”
Nothing much shocked Shadow, but her jaw hit her chest. The two assholes she was actively avoiding. Rough and Tolvi. The latter had already sent his demon thugs after her a few times.
“Nuh-uh, no way. Do you want to draw attention to me, get me killed?”
“I’ll keep you safe.”
“Yeah, while you’re there. And when you’re gone, then what? Make me fair game as to which gang brutalizes me first before killing me?”
His expression grew colder. An icy blast of air hit her, as if she’d walked into an icebox.
Frowning, she shuddered and cast a quick look around, rubbing the goosebumps from her arms. The sensation suddenly disappeared. How odd.
“I’ll take you somewhere safe, where you can’t be found. Or…” His gaze drifted over her face, causing her heart to trip—stupid organ. “I can wipe out whoever’s memories you want gone. They won’t remember you. If you prefer, I could make them disappear, too. Permanently.”
She stared at him,soootempted to be free of the danger continually stalking her. But more of the jerks would simply replace the current ones. “No.”
He slipped his hands into his pants pockets—so that he wouldn’t shake her? Did he think she was being difficult? Too bad. This was her life he was putting on the line.
“Look, you don’t have to do anything, just point the leader or his thugs out to me.”
“Why?”
A shrug rolled off one thick shoulder. “Maybe I want a different life.”
Her laughter spilled free. “Yeah, right.”
His gaze lowered to her mouth, and that odd, trembly sensation twisted her tummy again.
Jeez, the guy was funny. With his hot body, buzzed hair, ice-green eyes, and perfectly chiseled features, he was the poster for prosperous living. Yeah, he couldn’t blow smoke up anyone’s ass. The people there were homeless, not blind.
Man, how did she end up with these weirdos?
“I can’t show you around the underground,” she snapped. “You’re a goddamn stranger. Rough’s thugs are suspicious of anyone new. Hell, you don’t have to look for them, they’ll sniff you out soon enough. And his demon thugs would probably know who you are straight off. There’ll be bloodshed. The innocent will pay.”
“I’ll try to prevent it. But every war has its casualties.”
Really? The heartless oaf!
Shadow prepared to bolt. His cool expression dared her to try, and she knew she was beat. The infuriating man moved like lightning. Dammit. His presence would definitely get Rough on her ass faster than a switchblade to her throat, which she really, really didn’t want, but what choice did she have?
“How long for this damn charade?” she demanded.
“As long as it takes. A week.”
Her teeth ground down. “No freakin’ way. You get a day.”
“Two, and make them count,” he shot back.
She scowled. “Fine. Meet me here later.”
“No. Now.”
Her fingers clenched, the urge to do him bodily harm growing. Except, she’d probably come out the worst for it.
Frustrated to her eyebrows, Shadow spun around and headed back into the alley to her escape route into the underground. She entered an inexcusably narrow thoroughfare. If she kept her elbows tucked to her waist and stretched out her hands, she’d still be able to touch both buildings on either side. She cut a quick look back. Yup, right behind her, not wedged as she’d hoped. He fixed her with a cool, steady stare.
