Eve sat in one of the two chairs in the restroom, her head buried in her hands. Kataya and Brenna burst inside. A match flared, and the acrid smell of smoke reached her nostrils.
Her breaths short and jerky, Eve took a tissue from her bag and dried her face. It was useless to pretend in front of her friends.
Kataya took a drag on her cigarette. Brenna leaned against the sink, watching Eve with worried eyes.
“No one is to blame but me,” she whispered, swallowing back another bout of tears. “He warned me. I didn’t listen.”
Kataya exhaled heavily, killed her cigarette, and tossed the remains in the trashcan. She came over and rubbed Eve's shoulder. “Then it’s his fucking loss. You don’t need him, Eve.”
“Kat, let’s not be hasty,” Brenna said, crossing to Eve.
“Not be hasty? You saw what he did out there?”
“Yes, that woman kissed him.” She kneeled in front of Eve, smoothing out the creases in her dress. “Talk to him, hun, there must be a reason for all this.”
“God, Brenna, you and your romantic heart! Rein it in fast, or it’s going to be the death of you.” Kataya glanced at Eve. “You want to leave? It’s long gone midnight.”
Eve balled the shredded tissue and nodded. She couldn’t bear to be near Reynner right now.
“You're talking, Eve, the moment we get home,” Kataya warned. “There’s something else going on. And I'm betting it has a lot more to do with Reynner than getting rid of the damn V.”
They were her best friends, and she so badly wanted to tell them. But what could she say? She was in love with an immortal who didn't want her. That he only needed her to find his artifact. They’d probably think she’d lost her mind.
After she said goodbye to Eric and David, Eve realized her goodbye to David was final, too. No matter what she told Reynner, she could never be with anyone else.
Struggling not to think about him, Eve left the gallery with Kataya and Brenna.
In the elevator, she braced her hand on the metal wall, and as she slipped off her stilettoes, she tried not to think of the last time she’d done this, the night that had changed her life.
Her feet hurt, but she far preferred this pain to the one riding her chest.
Hooking the straps over her gloved finger, she massaged her temples with her other hand.
“You okay, honey?” Brenna stroked her arm.
“It’s all right, Bren. I’m fine, really.” Or she would be after this weekend. How difficult would it be for immortals to track down the Stone in a city the size of New York?
The elevator pinged and the door rolled open. Reynner stood there, waiting to enter. His gaze zeroed in on her.
A redheaded fury stormed up to him. Kataya snapped, “Stay away from Eve. She’s coming home with us.”
Shocked, Eve stared. She really hadn’t expected Kat to attack him.
Reynner didn’t say anything but stepped back. His unwavering gaze held hers, and Eve knew he wouldn’t let her leave without him.
“Kat, I’ll be okay.”
Furious, Kataya swung back to her, her mouth tightened at whatever she saw on Eve’s face. Then she stormed out. Brenna gave her a quick hug and hurried after Kataya.
Eve didn't look at Reynner as she followed them, wishing she could leave as easily as her friends had.
Out in the street, she inhaled the oppressive air along with the faint fragrance of exotic spices. It made her heart bleed, knowing that woman had to have been in his arms for him to retain her scent. Eve put more space between them as they headed for his car. The heat from the sidewalk added to the suffocation in her chest.
“You didn't have to come back.”
“Don’t, Eve.” His low, angry tone broke the fragile hold on her control.
“Don’t what, Reynner?” She spun around to face him. The bitter pain she tried to hold back spewed out. “Don’t get in your way? Don’t make this harder?”
