Gravity (20 page)

***

“Stop it,” I complained, leaning against my car and turning my back on Christian.

He wasn’t tolerating my defiance. Christian slapped his hand around my wrist and took the car

keys, walking me to the passenger side and shoving me in.

“What’s the big deal?” I yelled out. “I’m immortal.”

“Aye, you’re immortal. But you’re also langered. A woman and child crossing your path wouldn’t

be so lucky.”

When he cranked the engine, it didn’t start. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes and saw he

had popped the hood open. I had my doubts that Vampires were very handy with a dead battery,

so I pushed open my door and got out.

“Where’s your bike?”

His hands were spread across the engine and he glanced up. “Think I’m letting you hang on to

me in your condition? Liable to fall off the back and end up as roadkill.”

“Come on, Sister Christian. Let’s take a walk and we’ll catch the soul train and walk the rest of

the way home. Don’t be such a big baby.”

I shuffled down the road like a drunk zombie, my eyes closing like hammers striking a nail—

forcefully and without hesitation.

“I’ll have Simon take a look at it tomorrow,” he said, coming up from behind. “Why don’t you

get Justus to buy you the newer model?”

If my eyes hadn’t been glued to my lids, I would have rolled them.

I stumbled on the curb and fell to my knees. “Ah, shit. That was almost a faceplant.”

Christian had finally had enough of the public intoxication sideshow act and picked me up.

Every muscle relaxed into a pool of bliss. My plan when I got home was to sleep on my red

chaise, just for old-times sake.

Ten minutes into the walk, Christian abruptly stopped. I had tucked my face in the crook of his

warm neck and could feel his pulse thumping faster against my cheek. I opened my eyes and

noticed tiny specks of snowflakes glistened like diamonds against my clothes.

“Stay back,” he said in a low, almost dreamlike voice. “I know you’ve been following her. Keep

your distance.”

I grew alarmed when I heard a distant growl that sounded like a Chitah.

“We could stay like this all night or you could let us pass,” Christian said in a thick voice. “If you

have a problem, then it’s with me, and we can settle this whenever you like. Just say the word.

But I will not stand here a minute longer, enduring your tantrum. Move away.”

When the voices grew louder, my eyes snapped open. I was pretty damn sure that dreams

didn’t vibrate your skull with profanities.

Christian held me with only one arm. In the other hand, he palmed a knife. I twisted my neck

around to see what the situation was.

The situation was Logan.

He held an aggressive posture with his arms heavy at his sides and head tilted down. Blond

hair hung freely over his shoulders, tempted by the touch of the wind as it spun in its play.

“Put me down, Christian.” His arm relaxed and my feet hit the concrete.

I had to play my emotions carefully. Logan could jeopardize this if he questioned the truth out

of me, or worse, continued to pursue me. He needed to let go, because holding on to me would

only bring death.

“It’s over between us, Logan. I want you to stop following me.”

He tilted his head to the side and locked his savage eyes on mine. It was the same riveting

gaze as when he’d appeared at my doorstep one rainy night to capture me for a price. His

shoulders were broad and his stance was confrontational. His cheekbones cut into his profile,

giving him an animalistic expression.

“I’m sorry it had to come to this, Logan. I really am. But your claim on me is bullshit and you

know it. I don’t know why you fabricated such an incredible story just to win me over.”

“I spoke to Leo.”

Of course he did. I’m sure Leo couldn’t wait to tell him about Tarek. In many ways, I was doing

Logan a favor. Now he could be with his own kind and have a chance at a normal life with a family.

But what rubbed the salt deep in his wound was that I chose the man who had not only tried to

end my life, but had also raped Logan’s former mate.

“Then you know, and there’s nothing for us to discuss.”

“How could you!” he roared.

“Because of free will. You said from the beginning that I’ve always had the choice. And I chose

Tarek.” Logan continually lifted his nose, drawing in scent, and I knew I had to be careful about

not lying. “Tarek has power, Logan.”

“But he bit you.”

“And you kidnapped me. Your point?”

He lowered his head, his gaze, and his volume. “Am I that expendable? Tell me why I wasn’t

enough.”

“Stop following me. Stop thinking about me, and just let me go. I’ll never choose you.” My

words were nothing short of gunfire erupting over the surface of his heart. “I’m not the person you

think I am, Logan. You promised that if I chose another that you’d accept it and not seek

revenge.”

Words he’d spoken the night we’d laid in my bed when he tenderly kissed the rib my ex once

broke with his fist. Before I lost it, I let rage consume me to extinguish the pain. “You promised me

that. And yet here you are, lurking in the shadows like the ghost of relationships past.”

My eyes swallowed every visual inch of him. Lips I would never taste again, the feel of his face

as it nuzzled against my neck, and the tiny laugh lines carved in his cheeks that I could only see

when curled up against him.

And that hair—that beautiful, long hair that had become a symbol of hope for winning my love.

“Come on,” Christian said. “Let’s get your drunken arse home.”

Logan’s hands trembled, but he kept his animal in check as we moved around him and I

walked regretfully out of his life.

Chapter 16

“Where are you taking me?”

I wiped my sweaty palms against my jeans, glaring at the large ring on Tarek’s hand that the

passing streetlights illuminated. It was the next day, and he had picked me up in a short limo

without giving me any information on our destination. Christian tailed behind on his motorbike. I’d

confirmed with Tarek that I’d kept my end of the bargain.

Tarek pushed his hips forward in the seat across from me and smiled a wolfish grin. His finger

tapped against the window. “Soundproof, you know.”

I looked around, noticing the peculiar lining on the doors and seats. Of course it was

soundproof. He had access to all the amenities a Lord was offered.

The car rolled down a busy street where people scattered, clutching their scarves and kicking

up dirty flecks of snow as they hurried through the darkness to get to their destinations.

“I’m very impressed with your follow-through, Mage. Although in retrospect, I might have

suggested you bed Leo.” Tarek rubbed his Mohawk and cursed. “Damn, why didn’t I think of that

before,” he breathed.

I shuddered.

“But, the Vampire was an interesting choice. It’s a slap in the face to choose a male who is not

even a Chitah, so that went over well, I’m sure,” he said with a malicious grin. “I think you should

speak to your employer about getting a new guard. It’s a conflict of interest to be sleeping with a

man you employ.”

“Christian was assigned to me by the Mageri, not Novis. Are you going to tell me where we’re

going?”

“Our first date, of course. Informal, as promised. We need to be visible, and I have the perfect

location picked out.”

When the car rolled in front of a building with bold red letters on the window, I slid down in my

seat. It was a Chinese hole-in-the-wall restaurant near Logan’s apartment. He visited that place all

the time with his brothers—the same restaurant that he’d ordered takeout when he held me

captive in the cave.

“Your friend comes here a lot. Every Thursday night around…” He looked at his watch and

grinned. “Right about now.”

“I’m not hungry,” I protested with a whimper.

He snatched my wrist. “You’re fucking starving. My terms, my conditions. Refuse and I’ll call it

off. No second chances. Don’t forget who you’re dealing with, you little battery charger. I’m a

Chitah, and I think we both know what I’m capable of,” he said, pushing a meaty finger against

the scars on my neck.

“Why the parade? If we’re going to marry, let’s just do it and get it over with. You’ve had your

revenge.”

He slid his hands down the lapel of his jacket. “What would be the fun in that? I want you to

make it believable, so wipe that fucking sad face out of my sight. Make it smell real, because if you

don’t pull this off, then I won’t hold to my end of the agreement. There are droves of women who

would kill to be in your position, and soon enough, there will be.”

I reached for the handle and Tarek leaned forward and pinned me against the seat. His scent

was thick and filled the car as he rubbed up against me. “This will mask any emotion you leak,” he

said decidedly.

It was a quaint restaurant with square wooden tables and booths lined up along the outer

edge. Various images of dragons and women holding fans decorated the walls, but nothing helped

the tacky green carpet underfoot. That aside, the food was excellent as far as buffet goes, and

they would prepare anything fresh on order.

Tarek led me to a table dead center in the room. I hung my purse over the back of the chair

and when I lifted my eyes, I saw Logan sitting in a booth with Finn. He was wearing one of my

favorite outfits on him. It was a light brown knit sweater with a loose turtleneck collar—one that

was sentimental because he dressed me in it on the night we met.

His plate was half-eaten, but his eyes were full as they took in the spectacle of our entrance.

Finn turned his head to look and his eyes widened.

That’s when my heart fluttered. Finn’s animal was still volatile, and so help me if Tarek so much

as laid a pinky on him, I would lose all control.

Four of Tarek’s bodyguards positioned themselves near the doorways, and Christian stole a

booth on my left.

Tarek made three trips to fill our plates and seated himself on my right.

“Eat,” he said as he shoveled a forkful of fried rice into his mouth. “Not bad for a dump. But

then, we Lords can’t eat caviar every night, now can we? Smile, Silver. It relaxes the face.” He

thinned out his eyes with a cruel expression and I tried to relax and twirl a few noodles, imagining

myself strangling him with them.

“Next time, I’ll take you to one of my favorite places,” he said. “It’s one of the most extravagant

Breed restaurants in the city, and I can always get a table at short notice. How’s your Ghuardian

these days?” I watched his jaw work like an iron machine. “Does he know I’m taking out his

Learner?” Tarek laughed and licked his finger. “I’ll have a man-to-man talk with him.”

“He knows about us, Tarek.”

“Good, good,” he said agreeably. “As it should be. We make an acceptable match, even with

your shortcomings.”

The candlelight melted across our table like a pool of fire. I sipped my water and concentrated

on my plate, studying each pea as I removed it from the rice.

“Some of the formalities of my position can be dull. Meetings, making connections… it all gets

to be a little excessive,” he said, feigning small talk. “I like getting out and having a meal with my

female.” His voice rose, wanting me to respond. I took an unnoticeably deep breath and smiled at

him.

“When do I get to meet your brothers?” I asked hopefully. Maybe Tarek was corrupt, but from

what I’d heard, his brothers had disowned him. I held on to the hope that his family might look

after me.

A muscle in his cheek twitched.

“If we’re taking this to the next level, then I’d love to meet my new brothers. I’ve heard so

much about them, they sound like—”

His fist dropped on the table, not so loud that it would catch anyone’s attention, but enough

that I could tell I’d hit a nerve. The vein in his forehead bulged and his lips thinned. I was walking

a thin line, but considering the history with his brothers, there was a remote chance they might

offer me protection.

Christian leaned forward to get a better visual.

Tarek placed his hand over mine and stroked it softly. “Of course you can meet my brothers,

I’m honored that you want to meet my family so soon. It lets me know you’re as serious about us

as I had hoped.”

His fingers pinched a small piece of beef from my plate and he held it in front of my mouth.

“Have a bite.”

“No thanks.”

That was an intimate gesture for a Chitah that you only shared with someone you trusted.

Letting him feed me was as good as having sex on that table.

He dropped the beef and looked over our plates, holding his hand like a claw in one of those

quarter machines kids play that gives false promises of winning a purple elephant or yellow teddy

bear. My heart thumped.

“Cross, what a surprise to see you here,” Tarek said, twisting around in his chair. “Who is your

friend? You must join us. I insist.”

This is not happening, I thought.

At the request of a Lord, Logan rose from his table with his plate and glass and sat in the chair