I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. And here I thought I had convinced her to stay behind. Of course not now that she knew we talked about it without her.
“Uh, princess,” Tate stepped in her path, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. You could be recognized—”
“And so can you!” she pointed out, shoving at his chest. “And I don’t care if you don’t think it’s a good idea, I’m not getting left behind. So, you can either come to terms that I’m coming with you, or I’ll go without you.” She crossed her arms over her chest, staring each of us down. “Which is it going to be?”
Now we really had no choice but to bring her with us. If she wouldn’t stay behind, I’d rather her be with us where we could keep an eye on her than going half-cocked on her own. That’s when shit usually hits the fan quickly.
“Fine,” I grunted, relenting reluctantly. “Come with us. But if no one talks to us because they recognize you as a Durand, you’ll only have yourself to blame.”
I watched as realization came over Jack’s face and then her eyes lit up. “Then I’ll just wear a disguise.”
Kyren made a noise in his throat. Kind of like a cross between a scoff and a laugh.
“What?” Jack snapped, spinning around to face him. “You think I haven’t had to hide who I am before? We have specific face masks for this kind of work, you know. I can be discrete when I want to be.”
“Of course you can, princess.” Tate placed his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll do your best to blend right in. And, if things get hairy, Kyren can always get you out of there.” The werewolf shot a pointed look at the vampire.
Kyren inclined his head. “Of course.”
“Alright, then it’s settled,” Jack announced, scanning the three of us before stopping on me. “I just need to borrow your mask and then we can go.”
I could refuse her. Tell her that I didn’t have one. Then she’d have to go home and get hers or to headquarters, during which time we could get in and out of the black market without putting her in harm’s way.
Jack’s eyes narrowed on me, the longer it took me to respond. “Don’t make me use my powers on you. I know how to use them now.”
“You do?” Tate’s brow rose. “When did this happen?”
Jack turned to him with a wide grin. “Just last week. Tabby and I figured it out. I still have to work the kinks out, but I can pretty much use it on command now.”
“Pretty much isn’t completely in control,” I reminded her, while I dug through my bag searching for the face covering. “You still shouldn’t be using them so easily until you are one hundred percent sure you won’t accidentally use them on the wrong person.”
Jack shot me a look. “You’re just worried it’ll be you.”
“Yeah, I am.” I pulled the half face mask out of my bag and handed it to her. “But, more importantly, how much you’regoing to blame yourself if it does happen. So please, don’t use them while we are there unless you absolutely have to.”
Blowing a raspberry with her lips, Jack took the mask from me. “Alright, I guess that makes sense.”
Without warning, she pulled her shirt off, leaving her in a lacy, royal blue bra that did nothing to hide her gorgeous swell of her breasts. Not even realizing the effect she was having on all three of us, she pulled the half mask on, which was attached to a sleeveless shirt over her chest, before pulling her other t-shirt back on over it. When she lifted her gaze, she noticed the three heated looks on her.
“What?”
Tate cleared his throat. “Uh, you guys ready? Yeah? Me, too. Let’s get this done.”
Lips twitching, Jack pulled the lower half mask up over her face, dragging her hands through her hair to tie it in a knot on her head.
Oh, she knew exactly what she was doing.
“Let’s get this over with.” I threw the bag over my shoulder and headed for the door.
“I’m driving!” Tate called out behind me, starting a whole argument of who would get to ride shotgun.
By the time we got to where the black market was being held, the moon was high in the sky, and Tate’s driving had become a bit aggressive.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay being here?” I asked as we stepped out of the car. “We don’t want you wolfing out in the middle of the mission.”
“Yeah.” Tate visibly took a deep breath and then shook out his shoulders. “I’m good.”
My eyes followed Kyren’s hand as it slid along Tate’s back, moving t up and down in a soothing motion. The wolf visibly relaxed at the vampire’s touch, leaning into it.
