“So her being a draman has its advantages, in some ways.”
“Yeah. Although she was mighty pissed off when she discovered she couldn’t shift shape like I could.”
“I can imagine.” I glanced at the time, then said, “We really need to get moving if we’re to make that appointment this morning.”
He glanced at the clock himself, then said, “You want to pack everything up once you’ve eaten? I’ll go shower.”
I watched him walk into the bathroom, admiring not only the burned gold and silver swirl of his dragon stain, but the strength of his shoulders, the V of his back to his hips, then I sighed and pushed the lusty thoughts away.
Not only did I have a dad to see, but I had kids and a mom depending on me to get them out of hell. Lusty thoughts were not going to achieve either aim.
I packed up most of the breakfast stuff, then munched on some cereal, using the tiny cartons of milk in the room’s bar fridge. Outside, the sunshine was giving way to clouds, as the storm I’d sensed coming last night began to roll in.
I was halfway through my breakfast when a car pulled up at reception and a man got out. His clothes had seen better days and his left arm was wrapped in bandages. The driver sported a huge shiner, and even from this distance, looked a little worse for wear. There was a third man in the rear seat, but I couldn’t really see him.
I didn’t need to.
These weren’t strangers.
They were our remaining hunters.
Chapter Nine
I swallowed hastily and the cereal went down the wrong way. Caught between coughing and choking, I shoved the bowl away and ran into the bathroom.
Trae was toweling himself dry, and raised his eye-brow, amusement deep in his eyes. “Want some water for that cough?”
I shook my head and somehow managed to gasp, “Hunters.”
His amusement fled and he swore. “Where?”
“Outside.”
He touched my shoulders, forcing me to one side, and left the bathroom. I followed. He grabbed his clothes off the chair as he passed it, and began dressing as he stopped near the window.
“Red car?”
“Yeah.” I peered past him. “One of them was the man I knocked out last night, and the other—the one that’s inside reception—was wearing bandages.”
“He’s probably one of the three that got singed by the car fire.”
“Maybe you should have done more than singed them.”
“I didn’t exactly know what we were dealing with then.” His glance was grim. “If they’ve found us here, then they definitely have another means of tracking you.”
“Obviously. But where would it be? You searched every inch.”
“Yeah, but nanotechnology is minute. It really could be anywhere, even internal rather than just under the skin.”
“How the hell are we supposed to get at something that’s not only tiny, but could also be internal?”
“Simple answer is, we don’t.”
The reception door opened and the man with bandages came out. He spoke briefly to the guys in the car, then the man in the backseat got out of the car and headed toward the first room.
“Get into the bathroom,” Trae said. “Don’t come out until I tell you to.”
“But won’t they recognize you from the car explosion?”
“The man approaching wasn’t there, and I have no intentions of being seen by the others. Go, Destiny.”
I spun, grabbed my coffee cup, the bowl, and the extra plate of toast he’d made—all of them giveaways that more than one person shared this room—then ran into the bathroom.
About three seconds later there was a rough knock on the door.
“Sorry to disturb you,” a strange voice said, “but we’ve had reports of an escaped felon in the area. You haven’t seen anyone resembling this woman, have you?”
“I don’t believe I’d
“She’s wanted in connection to several burglaries.” The stranger hesitated. “You alone here, sir?”
“Yes. You a cop?”
“No, sir. I’m a bail bondsman.” He hesitated. “The couple in room two reported you had company. They said you came in with someone last night. Someone resembling this woman.”
“If you call both of them having black hair similar, then yeah, I guess she was.”
“Is she here now?”
“No. At the rates she charged, I couldn’t afford her for anything more than an hour or so.” Trae’s voice was dry. “And if you’re not a cop, then I have no reason to answer any more questions. Good day, sir.”
The stranger grunted. It didn’t sound like a happy grunt. “Thank you for your help, sir.”
The door closed. A few seconds later, Trae appeared in the bathroom doorway. “He didn’t believe me.”
“Maybe he didn’t believe you’re the type to use hookers.” I took a sip of coffee, then raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are you?”
“On occasion. When the need arises and the help of a good woman isn’t near.” He shrugged, his gaze on the small bathroom window at the back of the shower. “You think you could get through that?”
“I think a better question would be, why would I want to get through that?”
“Because they’ll be watching me leave, which means you can’t be with me. It’s either stay here, or climb out through that window and meet me down the road somewhere.”
I grabbed a bit of toast and munched on it while I contemplated the window. “It’ll be tight, but I can manage.”
“Good.” He stepped up to the window, slid it all the way open, and peered out. “There’s a line of pines just past the back fence. Once there, head to the right. There’s a side street just up the road—I’ll meet you there.”
“What about the tracker still in me?”
“If those men look to be leaving before me, I’ll take them out.”
“Be careful. They know what you’re capable of now, and they’ll be watchful for an attack.”
“Sweetheart, I’m always careful.”
“And arrogant.”
He merely grinned. I took a swig of my coffee, then said, “And if those men follow you?”
“I’ll drive past the trees and take them on a scenic tour. You grab a cab and head into Florence.”
“Where will I meet you?”
“I’ll call you.”
“I don’t have a phone.”
“I’ll give you mine. Once I’m clear, I’ll find somewhere for us to meet.”
“Just don’t take any risks. If they have a dragon tracker with them, they can bring you down, just like they brought Egan down.”
He smiled and touched a hand lightly to my cheek. Warmth slithered across my skin and reached deep into my soul.
“This thief knows how to sneak. It’s the fish who needs to be careful.”
“They suspect you, Trae. That was evident in his tone. If it goes beyond suspicion, they’ll react, and react nastily. You don’t know what they’re capable—”
“Nor do they know me.” He leaned forward and dropped a quick, warm kiss on my lips. “You need to get out that window.”
