Page 50
“And if I choose not to?” she asked quietly, no longer challenging but wanting to understand what the future could bring.
“Then we will both be miserable for the rest of our lives.”
“That’s a bit dramatic, isn’t it?”
“No. When we are apart, do you sense me?”
She reflected for a minute and had to nod, “Yes.” Darius’s presence always seemed near, even when distance separated them. Like when he and the others had gone to question the bank hierarchy, he’d been miles from her but a mere thought away. The feeling of loss was more than simply missing him—it was a need to have him closer that impacted her mental processes and emotions.
“I’m sure that will get better with time. Isn’t that what everyone says?” She lobbed that out there as a bluff.
“No, Zoí mou. The loss of a mate will compound with each moment that passes.”
A sudden vision of Darius years after her life ended popped into her mind. The gut-wrenching heartbreak that could never be alleviated brought tears to her eyes. She glared at him. Was Darius attempting to control her by planting horrible thoughts into her brain?
Seeming lost in consideration, Darius didn’t respond to her anger. His face was drawn with a pain that didn’t need an explanation. His emotions had bled over into her mind. Not by his intent, but through their connection. If this devastating anguish was a sliver of what he felt, Mara couldn’t imagine what he was experiencing.
Her anger vanished in a flash as shame filled her. How could she be so selfish and not consider her Daddy? Mara rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Darius’s waist, clinging to him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“No, Little girl. I am the one who should apologize,” he said, holding her so close she could barely breathe. “You have the right to live your life. We need to figure out how to guard you while allowing you some freedom.”
“I don’t want to lose my job.”
“Of course you don’t. And you shouldn’t. But I need to keep you safe.”
“Take me to work, and we’ll talk on the way. I will do whatever I can to ease your mind, but I won’t give up my autonomy.”
Darius considered her before agreeing. “Let’s go to the car.”
When they were on the road, Mara told him, “I had a meeting a couple days ago with one of the tech guys at the bank’s headquarters. I may need to scoot over there to meet to him.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Darius,” she warned. “Meet me halfway.”
“I will assign a guard to watch over you at the bank. But you must remain at your branch.”
“I can’t have a vampire hanging around the lobby or seated at my desk all day. Someone is going to notice that,” she said in exasperation.
“You will never know who he is or where he is. We are not bumbling fools at providing protection.” His tone wasn’t sarcastic or uncooperative—simply factual.
“Then can’t he follow me without being spotted to that other branch?”
“How do you get into the building? And back to the IT offices?”
Mara wrinkled her nose. That was a problem. “You have to scan your badge. You’re right, there’s no way to get someone who isn’t a bank employee inside.”
His assessing glance told her he’d already figured that out. She rushed to reassure him.
“I’ll be fine there. A bunch of people will be around. They can’t do anything to me there. Your guy can watch me go in and wait for me to emerge. Remember, we don’t even know for sure this guy will have a moment to meet with me today. That might give us more time to plan.”
“You are optimistic, Zoí mou. I predict he will immediately reschedule when you contact him with an alternative that just happens to be available.”
“Maybe. But maybe not.” Mara had a hunch that Darius was right, but she didn’t want him to be. “If he does, couldn’t you come through the shadows to help me if I need you?”
“I definitely would. How would that appear to your colleagues if I pop in and kick butt?”
