Текст книги "Wicked Edge"

Автор книги: Rebecca Zanetti

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

She sucked in a breath. “Daire—”

He reached down and ran his palm and the fire over her nipples.

The sharp bite overloaded her senses. So damn good. Beyond good. Her internal muscles quivered. “Oh.”

“My name fits me,” he said, pinching a nipple.

She glanced down, her mind blank, her body clamoring. Fire crackled between his fingers, licking her flesh. So much power. “Name?”

“Daire,” he whispered, his hand caressing down her abdomen.

“No.” Her gaze flew up to his. “I, ah.” The look on his face, she’d never forget. Male. Intent. Possessive.

The fire crackled, and she jumped.

He chuckled, low and male. “I wouldna’ move, were I you.”

She stopped breathing, her body clamoring. The flame torched over her stomach, and she tried to back away, but he held her fast. His heated fingers separated her labia.

Her eyes widened, and she met his gaze, almost straining toward the flame.

Fire flicked her clit.

She exploded, throwing back her head, hissing his name. He shoved up inside her, moving her, pounding so hard she could do nothing but hold on and feel. The orgasm, if that’s what it was, consumed her, burning through her, taking every ounce of energy she possessed. The waves crashed endlessly, prolonged by the heat and his furious thrusting.

Finally, her body went lax, and she sighed in relief.

He manacled one of her shoulders, one of her hips, and held her in place for one final thrust. His body, all sleek power, shuddered as he came.

When he released her, she fell against him, kissing his salty jugular. He dropped his head to the vulnerable area where her neck met her shoulder and planted one soft kiss.

She sighed, her attention caught by the clock ticking on the mantel. “Oh God.” Her head lifted. “Daire, I—”

The door blew open and glass shattered. Flash grenades popped all around them. Men in black filled the room.

Daire jumped up, shoving her behind him onto the sofa. He grunted as five tranquilizer darts were instantly shot into his chest. His hand shook as he reached back for her.

She scrambled away and yanked on the yoga clothes, stumbling a little from the grenades. Even though she’d known they were coming, she hadn’t had a chance to fully duck her head first.

He growled and reached for her, and two soldiers immediately turned and fired shots into his neck. He dropped back onto the couch, fury glinting in his eyes.

Oh man, this was so bad. Sure, she’d made certain the tranq was temporary and wouldn’t harm him in any way. Her hands trembled when she reached him. “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry, Daire.”

Rage, the real kind, contorted his face right before he passed out. She grabbed an afghan off the end of the sofa and tossed it over him. There was going to be hell to pay. She just knew it.

Chapter 12

Daire rolled over and hit the floor with a hard clunk. Sparks lit across his rug. Smoke filled the penthouse and his phone buzzed from the table. An alarm should’ve gone out immediately upon breach, but Adam and Simone were out to dinner and Kellach was in Ireland.

Backup would take precious minutes.

He sucked in air, focusing on the tranq in his blood. ’Twas the same as the drug Felicity had first used to incapacitate him.

Big mistake.

His body would’ve created antibodies from the first dose, and he could actually feel the energy rippling through him as his blood negated the interloper. Closing his eyes, he focused more power into his cells, taking the energy of fire and burning away the drug.

Minutes later, he reached for his jeans and yanked them on.

Boot steps clamored up the stairs.

Adam and Simone rushed inside, green guns in hand. “Status!” Adam barked.

Daire shot a slightly numb hand through his hair. “We’re clear.”

Simone slowly tucked the gun into her waistband.

Daire growled. “A member of the Council of the Coven Nine does not double as an enforcer, even in case of emergency.”

Her dark eyes sparkled, and she tossed back curly brunette hair. “I’m here as your cousin, not as a pseudo-enforcer.” As a purebred witch, her voice was husky, low, and amused. For her dinner out, she’d donned dark jeans, designer boots, and a leather jacket that probably had cost more than his flat. She was a brilliant smartass, quite happy being a bitch, and made no apologies. Ever.

Daire adored her. “Put yourself in danger again, cousin, and as an enforcer, I’ll lock you down.” His main job as an enforcer was to protect the members of the Nine, and if anything happened to the spirited witch, the world would lose too much beauty.

She rolled her eyes. “Please tell me another little blond human didn’t just take you out.”

He paused.

Adam glanced around at the smashed window and broken glass strewn across the floor, his frown dark. “Again? Who is this Cee Cee?”

The feeling finally returned to Daire’s legs. “She’s actually Felicity Kyllwood.”

Simone gasped, her eyes widening.

Adam stiffened, his mouth pressing together.

“Exactly.” Daire grabbed his phone. “They couldn’t have gone far. Simone, get to your flat and hack into every camera within a mile. Relay the information to us through the earbuds.” He jogged to his room to yank on a dark T-shirt and motorcycle boots.

Adam followed him. “The smart move is to notify Zane Kyllwood and let the demon nation handle the woman.”

“I’m handling the woman,” Daire bit out, reaching for his key from the dresser as he passed by.

“Shit.” Adam, always the strategist, shook his head and followed. He stepped over rubble and broken glass, his phone in his hand, already punching in orders. “I had no sense she was a demon. None at all.”

Daire prowled out of the penthouse and reached the stairs, running down. “She doesn’t have the ability to attack minds, and she can’t teleport. So she doesn’t really give off demon vibes.”

Adam coughed from behind him. “She can’t mind attack?”

“No.”

“Interesting.”

“Not really.” Daire didn’t give a shit if she could attack minds, but it made her vulnerable if she was going after an enemy. At least he wouldn’t have to waste energy shielding against an attack when he caught up to her.

Adam leaped onto his Harley next to Daire. “She seems so innocent.”

“Ha.” The woman had drugged him . . . twice. Yet there was a sense of wonder to her, and even though she’d been sheltered, she’d dealt with pain and loss. Not that her history mattered. As an enforcer, he had the present to deal with, and that pertained to planekite and mines. As a man, he had his woman to deal with—whether she liked it or not.

Adam ignited his bike.

Daire glanced down at his aching hand and slowly turned it over, already knowing what he’d see.

Adam caught the gaze, saw Daire’s palm, and quickly turned the key. The pipes silenced. “You’re kidding.”

“No.” An intricate Celtic knot, the emblem of his people, stood in raised relief on his palm. The marking that a witch transferred to a mate. “It just appeared.”

Adam shook his head. “Wow. She’s a demon, bro.”

“Aye.”

Adam scratched his chin. “Demons brand their mates with the letters of their surnames. If you brand her, will she brand you?”

Daire lifted a shoulder. He’d never met a witch mated to a demon. “If it’s a brand, I’d have to allow it to remain on my skin, I think. Besides, you and I both have had the marking appear before on our flesh.”

“True. Remember that crazy wolf shifter I almost mated? The marking appeared, and I willed it away. Thank God. So don’t worry, you can will that marking away and don’t have to mate the demonness who keeps making you look like an ass.”

Daire cut him a sharp look.

Adam gave a body shudder and reached for his phone to quickly dial. “Simone? What did you find out?” He listened and then nodded. “Keep looking.” The phone disappeared in his pocket. “Felicity and her gang went north, and Simone is sending tracking information to our cell phones.”

Daire twisted the key and his bike roared to life. A marking might appear just because a possible mate had gotten close; it didn’t mean he and Felicity were fated. He didn’t believe in fate, and if he did, fate would have a nice, docile, sweet woman ready for him. One who didn’t get in the way of his job and was a soft place to land when needed.

Fate definitely wouldn’t stick him with a wounded demon who’d rather drug him than work with him. No way. He jerked his head toward the exit and swung his bike around, heading out at full speed.

Felicity Kyllwood, demon or not, wasn’t getting out of his reach this time. He reached into his pocket and grabbed an earbud to shove in his ear. Heading north, he swerved around cars, past restaurants, and around drunken pedestrians. Simone gave directions in his ear, her keyboard clacking across the line.

“They’re on bikes and just turned east onto Bentley Road,” she said.

Daire cut Adam a look. “Bears’ territory?” he mouthed.

Adam exhaled heavily and twisted his throttle.

Oh, the bear shifters had better not be in on this. The bears lived in plain sight as the Grizzly Motorcycle Club and usually kept to themselves. Anger tightened Daire’s hold on the handles, and he pushed his bike harder. A rumble from up ahead disturbed the airwaves. He focused, realigning oxygen molecules, applying quantum physics in a way humans would never understand. Five riders, about a mile ahead.

His blood thrummed with the thrill of the chase. He’d forgotten. Actually forgotten the excitement of a challenge. It had been so long since he’d had one.

Felicity was one hell of a challenge.

He leaned over the bike and let the wind roll across his shoulders. Lights. Up ahead, he saw lights. So he kicked it into gear, fire all but burning through his skin.

Her scent. That hyacinth sweet scent wafted back, and his nostrils flared. Mine.

Forgetting his job, forgetting formality, even forgetting diplomacy, he chased her. She sat behind a large shifter, her arms around his back, her glorious hair streaming in the wind.

The sight of her with her arms around another male had fury careening through him until green sparks shot from his fingers.

She turned her head and caught sight of him. Her eyes widened and her lips pursed. Then, slowly, her mouth curved in a smile, and challenge filled her eyes.

Oh, baby. It was on . . . and it was the smile that drew him toward her. Aye. That damn smile.

Felicity held on tighter to Lucas Clarke, bear shifter, her heart leaping to life. Daire Dunne, on a Harley, chasing her down looked like every nice girl’s dream of a bad boy fantasy.

Yet the enforcer was all man, and he was pissed.

Green fire crackled across his hands, and even the air around him seemed charged.

Wind whipped across her face, yet she couldn’t look away. Determination stamped hard on his rugged face, anger tightening his lips into a line. Moonlight slanted down, glinting in his furious green eyes. Yet something else lived there.

The thrill.

The thrill of a chase, the excitement of a challenge.

Her breath panted out. When was the last time she’d felt so alive? Never.

Dark anticipation crossed Daire’s face as he drew near.

She shivered and pressed closer to Lucas, who was one of the top lieutenants in the shifter organization and currently under contract to work for her. “Go faster,” she yelled.

The shifter handed back a green gun. “Shoot.”

The weapon chilled her hand. Drugging the enforcer was one thing, actually shooting him another. Yet she swung around, tightening her thighs on the seat, to point the barrel at him in warning.

His foot lashed out, and he kicked the weapon from her hand. Holy hell. How had he moved so quickly?

The bear shifter swerved to the left, and Daire followed. Adam Dunne pulled up on the right, bracketing them. A second later, a shifter drove up beside Adam and punched him in the jaw.

The bike beneath Felicity swerved, and she cried out, holding tighter to the leather. Daire reached for her, his hand enclosing her nape. She yelped and kicked out, throwing up an arm to sever his hold just as the shifter driving her kicked Daire’s bike.

Daire swerved away, both hands slamming on his handlebars to control his bike.

Felicity bunched against the shifter. “Go, go, go,” she yelled. Daire had tried to grab her, and his hold hadn’t been gentle. Not even close. For the first time, she doubted her safety, no matter her allies. “Hurry up, Lucas.”

The shifter ducked his head and opened the throttle. Felicity jerked back and then dug her fingers into his leather cut, holding on, trying to see as the wind made her eyes tear. Pine trees spun by them, their scent competing with the misty air.

Daire reached them again, and this time, he struck out and nailed Lucas in the face. The shifter’s head jerked to the side, and he let off the throttle. Then Daire reached out and grabbed Felicity’s hair, twisting his wrist until he reached her nape. She punched him, yanking her head, pain scoring her scalp. Fury roared through her and she kicked out, nailing him in the thigh.

His hold tightened.

Lucas regained control and sped up, his muscles bunching.

“Wait,” Felicity cried out as her head was yanked back. Daire wasn’t letting go.

Lucas opened the throttle, while Daire slowed down. Time ended. Felicity flew off the bike, and only Daire’s impossibly quick reflexes kept her from spinning right into the night. He shifted his shoulders, tugged, released her hair, and she landed on the seat behind him. She hit hard enough her thighs bounced, bruises instantly forming.

Pure instinct had her hands clutching his T-shirt.

Son of a bitch. “You could’ve decapitated me,” she yelled into his ear.

His chuckle only fanned her fury hotter, and she punched him in the kidney. He didn’t even flinch. She swallowed, coughed back fear, and tried to concentrate. She didn’t have any leverage or power seated behind him on the bike, and if she forced them to crash, she’d get hurt, too. The ability to attack minds had never been more necessary, but she didn’t have any way to do it. Her inadequacies settled like hard lumps of coal in her stomach.

Lucas swerved his bike in front of them, turning to face them and driving straight at them.

Daire’s entire body tensed. Anticipation popped in the air around them.

Felicity shook her head. What were they going to do?

Lucas held out a hand, and Felicity instinctively put hers out. If she could grab him, she could jump to his bike. Daire neatly countered by hitting the brakes. The bike skidded and tipped up on the front wheel. She screamed, landing on his back and then slapping back down. Lucas barreled past them.

Daire chuckled and twisted the throttle again.

Felicity smashed into his back and held on, her mind reeling. The man was crazy and having too much fun. Over to the side, Adam and two bear shifters fought full on while steering their bikes. They were all insane.

She stopped struggling and just held on. At some point, the enforcer would have to stop the bike, and then she’d fight. Right now, she needed to get her breathing under control so she could think.

Buildings appeared on the sides of the road, and suddenly, Daire swerved and stopped the bike before hitting a massive garage.

Felicity swallowed and looked around. Daire and Adam sat on their rumbling bikes, a garage behind them, a wall of shifters on bikes in front of them. Oh, this was so not good.

Massive lights clicked on, illuminating the concrete courtyard. Garages took up three sides, while the shifters blocked the only road.

Daire’s body stiffened, and his legs bunched.

A smaller door to the main garage opened, and a man prowled out. He looked like a bear. Broad and graceful at well over six feet tall, he had shaggy brown hair and honey-chocolate eyes. A primal sense of danger cascaded off him, and he moved with the ease of a wild predator. Sleep cleared from his eyes as he took in the scene, obviously having yanked on a pair of jeans so old the white creases had creases. His lightly haired chest was bare but roped with fierce muscles. “What the holy fuck?” he rumbled.

Even over the bike engines, his words were clear.

Daire glanced at him. Apparently making a decision, he cut his engine. Adam did the same.

The guy jerked his head, and the wall of shifters on bikes followed suit.

Quiet roared in on the echoes of the pipes. An owl hooted in protest through the trees.

“I thought we were allies, Bear,” Daire snapped.

Felicity peered at the leader of the bear shifters, who at the moment, no longer appeared sleepy. Instead, a slightly pissed-off curiosity glimmered in his honeyed eyes.

“We are,” he said, his gaze moving to Lucas, who sat alert on his bike. “Luke?”

Lucas jerked his head toward Felicity. “Side job.”

Bear glanced at Felicity, Daire, Lucas, and back to her. “Somebody talk,” he ordered.

Felicity started to swing her leg from the bike. Smooth as silk, Daire half turned, grabbed her waist, pivoted, and plunked her down in front of him, her back to his front. One arm banded around her rib cage with enough pressure to compress her lungs.

Bear cocked his head to the side. “The human is yours?”

Felicity winced. “Demon,” she rumbled.

Now Bear’s eyebrows lifted. “Interesting.”

She shrugged, hampered by the strength of Daire’s hold. His body, warm and solid, shielded her from the wind. Almost against her will, her body relaxed right into his strength. “Human or not, I’m not a puppy, thus I am not his. Kindly order him to release me.”

Daire stiffened.

Bear threw back his head and laughed, the low rumble echoing around the garage doors. “The Coven Nine enforcers don’t take orders from me, sweetheart, and you’re far too beautiful to be a puppy. I meant no offense.” Quicker than a thought, he sobered, his gaze hardening as he glanced at the shifters. “In contrast, they do answer to me. So I’m wondering why I have a pissed-off ally here surrounded by my own men.”

Felicity shivered. Okay. Bears could be scary. “I, ah, hired them to do a job.”

“Which was?” Bear asked silkily.

“To bomb my apartment and shoot me full of tranquilizers,” Daire barked. “You’ll receive the full bill for damages within a week.”

Bear kept his gaze on his men. “Lucas?”

Lucas shrugged. “We often take side jobs.”

“Not against allies,” Bear shot back. He scratched his head. “Lucas, I’ll deal with you later. Daire, Adam, ah, demon lady? Why don’t you all come inside?” Without waiting for a response from anybody, he turned and loped back toward the still open doorway.

“Felicity.” She raised her voice. “Instead of demon lady, call me Felicity.” Maybe Bear would be an ally after all. She could currently use one.

He stopped moving, and his bare shoulders went back. Almost in slow motion, he turned around. “Felicity?”

She swallowed. “Yes.”

His gaze darkened and focused over her shoulder at the tense enforcer. “As in, Felicity Kyllwood?”

Mutely, she nodded her head.

“Well, fuck me.” Bear turned back around and strode for the door.

Chapter 13

Daire leaned back in the cushioned chair in Bear’s rec room, eyeing the bar set against the corner. In contrast to the play room at Fire, this one was clean, shiny, and comfortable. Bear might be a deadly shifter, but the guy liked his comforts. Several plush lounge chairs faced a huge screened television. Pool tables, dart boards, and various video games took up the other room, while the scent of orange cleanser filled the air. He sipped his whiskey. “The damage to my penthouse is going to cost you a mint,” he said, savoring the liquid.

Bear grunted from a nearby chair.

Felicity sat to Daire’s left, flanked by Adam. She swirled the brew and downed a good portion of the drink. Color sprang into her cheeks. “I paid Lucas enough to fix your place, Daire. Now, if you don’t mind, I do have work to do.”

Amusement, the kind that would get him shot, pinged up through Daire. “Actually, Cee Cee, I do mind.”

Bear shifted his weight, stretching out his bare feet. “Why do I feel like I’m going to be the one screwed here?”

Daire lifted a shoulder.

Bear sighed. “You can’t keep a member of the demon ruling family a prisoner, Daire. I sure as hell won’t help you.”

“I’m not asking for help,” he rumbled.

“I am.” Felicity turned a sparkling smile on the shifter.

He perked up.

Daire growled.

Felicity leaned forward. “I hired Lucas and your men because I needed help, as I still do.”

Bear frowned. “To be honest, I don’t like any woman being held captive, demon ruling family member or not. What do you want, pretty lady?”

Daire cut him a hard look. Was the shifter flirting?

Felicity’s dimples winked, making her both cute and undeniably sexy. “I just need a ride to the airport. Nothing big.”

Bear scratched the whiskers at his chin. “Does your, ah, family know where you are?”

Her eyebrows lifted, suddenly regal. “My son doesn’t need to know my whereabouts, Bear.”

“Well, shit,” Bear said.

“That about sums it up,” Adam said cheerfully.

Daire fought the urge to hurl the heavy crystal glass at his brother’s head. “Where is the plane heading this time?” he asked.

She turned her focus on him, and he felt the punch from those stunning eyes right in his solar plexus. “A spa in Alaska.”

Cute, and a terrible liar. “I wonder if I spanked you right now, whether anybody would try to stop me?” he mused.

Fire snapped from her eyes.

Bear cleared his throat. “This ain’t no sex dungeon, kids. Keep it PG rated.”

Daire rolled his eyes. “Where are you planning to go, and don’t lie to me again.”

She kept her lips tightly together.

He leaned forward. “What’s the name of Bychkov’s partner, Cee Cee?”

Her eyes widened.

Yeah. He’d figured out she had an inkling as to the identity of the traitor witch, and it was time she helped him instead of hindered his mission.

Bear’s phone buzzed and he glanced at the face, frowning. Then he reached over his shoulder for a remote control with enough buttons to launch a space shuttle. “I think it’s for you,” he murmured, pointing the device at the massive screen and pushing a key.

Vivienne Northcutt, the leader of the Council of the Coven Nine, slowly took shape.

Daire and Adam both snapped to attention and stood. “Aunt Viv,” Daire said.

Her black eyes shot all sorts of sparks. “Don’t you even think of Aunt Viving me, Daire Dunne.” She’d pulled her dark hair atop her head and wore a sparkly dress enhanced with diamonds, obviously having been interrupted doing something fancy.

“You look lovely, Aunt,” Adam said.

“You’re in trouble, too.” Viv leaned toward the camera, which distorted her face. “I take it you’re Felicity Kyllwood?”

Cee Cee stood. “Yes.”

“Ah.” Viv glanced to the side. “Bear?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Bear stretched to his feet, all lazy grace. “I’m innocent in all of this.” Charm coated his smile.

Viv sniffed. “Right. The term has never been applied to you, young man.”

“Fair enough,” Bear returned. “Why is the leader of the entire witch nation using my phone number?”

Viv glanced at the enforcers. “Rumor has it my enforcers are holding Zane Kyllwood’s mother hostage in your territory, so I went to the source. After leaving a very nice ball, I might add.”

Daire shook his head. How the hell had she gotten such quick Intel? “This is enforcer business, and we’ve got it handled.” He ignored Adam’s snort.

Blue fire crackled in Viv’s eyes. “This is Coven Nine business, and you’re out of it. Ms. Kyllwood? Per your earlier request, I guarantee your transport to the airport, as soon as you give me the name of the witch mining planekite in Russia.”

Daire slowly turned toward Cee Cee, whose skin darkened to a nice color of strawberry. Somehow, the woman had sent a message across the world in order to bargain with the Coven Nine. Yet again three fucking steps ahead of him. “How?” he asked.

She lifted her chin. “I may have borrowed Lucas’s phone before leaving your penthouse.”

Ah. So she’d been smart enough to know Daire would come after her. “You offered a deal to the Coven Nine?”

“Yes.”

Bear rolled his shoulders. “All due respect, this is Coven Nine and demon nation business, and I’m out of it.” He turned to head toward the doorway.

Cee Cee shook her head. “You can be out of it, but Lucas promised me five men on the next mission.”

Bear turned back around, eyed Felicity, looked at Viv, and then landed on Daire. “No.”

Felicity huffed. “Yes.”

Bear grinned, dimples flashing. “No way in hell, Blondie. My men are out of it.” He loped back toward the doorway, pausing just long enough to throw over his shoulder, “If you and the enforcer reach peace, give me a call. You haven’t lived until you’ve ridden on the back of my bike.”

Daire’s muscles tightened. He was going to kill Bear . . . when he got the chance. Right now, he eyed his aunt and boss. “Kyllwood will declare war on us if we allow his mother to be harmed, and believe me, whatever crazy plan she has right now, she will come to harm.”

Felicity pivoted in a stunningly graceful move and kicked him in the jaw.

His head snapped back, and stars exploded behind his eyelids. Slowly, fighting every urge he owned, he lowered his head and kept from grabbing her and tossing her over his knees.

Viv chuckled. “Nice move.”

“Thank you.” Felicity stepped closer to the screen. “My mission is my own, and I don’t require my son’s permission or assistance. If you want my information, then I give you my word I’ll send it to you once I’m in the air.”

Daire growled low, about to give in to temper. He wasn’t known for restraint, and yet he’d showed nothing but with Felicity Kyllwood since day one. Enough was enough.

Viv’s eyes glimmered. “Isn’t it an odd world when the kids whose diapers you changed start to give you orders?” Her gaze slammed both Daire and Adam.

Felicity nodded. “Yes, yes it is. You and I both know it’s unacceptable.”

“Yet I don’t need war with the demon nation,” Viv said, calculation littering her tone.

“I can see how that would be troublesome,” Felicity murmured. “Holding me hostage isn’t the path to peace, I assure you.”

Viv played with a ten karat diamond at her throat. “Turning you over to Zane would guarantee peace with him, and yet, I agree that we can’t allow the younger generation to dictate our lives.”

Felicity smiled, obviously thinking she’d found an ally.

Daire knew better. Viv was a master negotiator as well as manipulator. “Get to it, Aunt Viv.”

“Here’s the offer. Felicity, I will ensure you meet your plane at the airport. When you reach cruising altitude, you’ll send me the name of the witch working with Bychkov to mine and distribute planekite.” Viv leaned in.

Felicity nodded. “That’s acceptable.”

“And Daire accompanies you to your destination,” Viv finished.

“There it is,” Adam whispered.

Aye. There it was. “I’m not taking her anywhere,” Daire bit out.

“Enforcer? You are hereby ordered on protection detail of our good ally, Felicity Kyllwood.” Viv leaned over and signed something with a bold stroke.

Felicity clasped her hands together. “Absolutely not.”

Viv sighed. “It is my understanding that the forces you thought you had just walked out the door with Bear, which means you’re going it alone. Sending you off on a dangerous mission, without even informing the leader of your people, regardless of your affiliation with him, would be a colossal mistake I am not prepared to make.”

Daire relaxed his stance. Felicity was tough, but Viv had about six centuries on her and understood family and duty. He wanted to believe there wasn’t the slightest glimmer of matchmaking frenzy in her eyes, but he wouldn’t bet his bike on it. Viv loved to get them tied up in, well, love. “Whatever you are planning in your head, Auntie, knock it off,” he said.

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, nephew. I can already see she’s too good for you . . . as well as too young. Ironic, right?”

Now that was a direct hit. Daire lowered his chin, recognizing a challenge when one rammed him full in the head. “Felicity? Coven Nine orders or no, you’re not getting on a plane without me. Period.”

Felicity took several moments to think, a myriad of expressions crossing her face. “In exchange for allowing the enforcer to accompany me, I’ll require his assistance in several matters.”

“Done,” Viv said.

“Good. I will send you the name of the witch you seek upon completion of these matters,” Felicity said, meeting Viv’s gaze head on.

Viv lifted her chin. “That was not the deal.”

“We hadn’t struck a deal, Ms. Northcutt.” Felicity kept her stance. “I’ve just offered you one. Take it.”

Damn, the woman had balls.

Viv breathed in. “The traitor witch is causing havoc and mining planekite as we speak. I can’t wait for the name.”

Felicity smiled. “I assure you, the witch and Ivan Bychkov are distracted right now and not mining. They will, I’m sure, begin doing so again in the near future, at which time you’ll have the name. If you and your enforcer cooperate.”

Daire leaned back and watched the women play chess. If Felicity called him the enforcer one more time, he was going to retaliate for that kick to the face. Oh, he wouldn’t hurt her, but she’d think twice before kicking him again.

“Fair enough,” Viv said, and the screen went dark.

Felicity turned toward him. “How do you feel about bank robberies?”

Felicity leaned into Daire as he took a corner, acutely aware of the hard body in front of her and the rumbling machine between her thighs. How different from when she’d ridden behind the shifter. Daire had wasted no time in setting her on the back of his bike and taking off, his back a rigid line of anger.

While she couldn’t blame him, not really, she had to finish what she’d started in order to protect her kids. Finally. She wouldn’t fail again. Clouds began to cover the moon in true Seattle fashion, and soon the wind carried a bite. After thirty minutes of riding, she realized they weren’t heading for the airport. In fact, they had turned in the opposite direction.

She dug her nails into Daire’s flat abdomen and levered herself up to yell in his ear. “Wrong way.”

He didn’t answer.

She wiggled and tried to move the bike, but he slapped a hand over hers and held her in place. When she struggled, his grip tightened. A warning.

Damn it. Not for one second had she even considered he’d disobey a direct order from the leader of the Coven Nine. He was an enforcer, for Pete’s sake. Anarchy would ensue if enforcers just willy-nilly decided not to follow orders. She fumed behind him, her hand caught, the inside of her thighs tight to the outside of his. His hard, very masculine, oh so hot thighs.