His tone was gently mocking, and I resisted the urge to flick some cake in his direction. But only because it would have meant taking my hands from his.
“If Death is all-knowing, then why doesn’t he know that the notes are actually on a netbook that wasn’t in either apartment?”
His dark gaze scanned mine, as if searching for lies. “So it’s safe?”
“More than likely.” If no one had stolen the thing out of the desk. “I’d been writing up the latest batch of notes at work and left them there.” Rainey had been in such a hurry to get back to Nevada that I’d forgotten to pick up the netbook on the way out.
“So we can still get to it?”
“If you can figure out a way to enter the building without being seen. Those men have my license and press card, so they’ll know where I work and will probably be on the lookout.”
His sudden smile was full and rich, and crinkled the corners of his eyes. And I’d been right before—it was absolutely heart-stopping.
“I’m a dragon
It took a moment to ignore the glow of that smile and to think like the calm and rational person I supposedly was. To remember
“I won’t help you retrieve the netbook unless you stop insisting that I walk away and let me help.”
His smile faded and I mourned its loss. “I understand why you need to do this, but that could be tantamount to condoning murder.
“I’m going to keep investigating regardless of whether I have your help or not. And it seems to me that if we’re investigating the same thing, we’d be better off pooling resources.”
He pulled his hands from mine. “You’d be better off. I’d be landed with a complication I don’t really need.”
“Kindly remember the complication rescued your butt from hibernation and might yet have some information you need.” I picked up the coffee mug. It really didn’t provide the same sort of comfort as his touch, but it was better than nothing. I studied him for a moment longer, then added softly, “If you had the chance of saving a friend’s soul, wouldn’t you take it?”
“Yes.”
There was something in the way he said it that made me say, “I’m thinking your reason for tracking these people isn’t all that dissimilar to my own.”
His gaze met mine again. “You might be right.”
“Then don’t expect anything less from me.”
“I don’t expect
“That hasn’t stopped you from trying to boss me around.”
“I’m only trying to keep you safe, Mercy. I’d hate to see you end up like your friend and mine.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask why my death even mattered to him when we were strangers, but I resisted the temptation. Most people didn’t like to see lives thrown away needlessly, and though Damon was far from most people, it wasn’t fair to think he wouldn’t feel the same.
“I’d hate to see me end up like Rainey, too. But you’re investigating the same thing, so you’re just as much at risk as me.”
He smiled again, but this time it held a bittersweet edge that tore at something deep inside. He reached for the other fork and scooped up some chocolate cake, and I knew in that moment I’d won.
But I didn’t feel victorious. I just felt even more afraid. Because I knew, without a doubt, that this whole quest had just gotten a lot more dangerous. Because of this man, and because of the world he appeared to walk in.
“The difference between you and me,” he said, “is the fact that I’m as deadly as they are.”
“I can protect myself,” I said softly.
He didn’t say anything to that, but he didn’t have to. I could taste his disbelief in the air. “Tell me about this Angus you keep mentioning,” he said instead.
I shrugged again and picked up my fork, scooping up some more cake. It wasn’t doing a lot to ease the ache of losing all I’d held dear, but at least it stopped my stomach from rumbling. “We were going to meet him when the truck hit us. I contacted him again after I got out of the hospital and arranged another meeting. You saw the end result of that encounter.”
“How much did you tell him before you met him?”
“He knew we were investigating the cleansed towns.”
“If he was involved in the death of your friend, then meeting him alone was a pretty stupid move.”
According to him, my life was full of stupid moves. I squashed down my irritation and forked up more cake. If he didn’t hurry, he was going to miss out on his share—and given the barbed comments he kept flinging my way, maybe he deserved to.
“He’s a sea dragon. Rainey was killed in the middle of nowhere. My guess is that there was no direct involvement.”
“You can’t be sure of that.”
No, I couldn’t. But in this case, I trusted my instincts. Angus might be peripherally involved with whatever was happening, but I didn’t think it went as deep as murder—I’d overheard him say as much in the van. “I’m going to interview him tonight.”
“We should go get the netbook first. Just in case those men decide to do a little desk investigation of their own.”
“It won’t do them any good. I wasn’t using my desk.” I hesitated, but couldn’t help adding, “I’m not
Amusement twinkled in his eyes. “So there’s hope for you yet?”
“Apparently,” I muttered, unable to keep up with this man’s sudden mood changes. Although I couldn’t be annoyed by this one. Or that half smile. I glanced at my watch. “We’ve hours to spare.”
“But good disguises take time. Finish the cake, then I’ll show you some magic.”
I looked up into his dark eyes and saw the devilry there. I felt myself smiling. “Are you sure you’re capable of magic after being locked up for so long?”
“Why don’t you come back to my car and find out?”
He rose and took my hand, pulling me gently upward. “Then let’s go.”
As I followed him out the door, I let my gaze wander up the length of him—admiring the way his jeans clung to his butt and emphasized the long, lean power of his legs. The silent, easy-flowing way he moved. The shoulders that hinted at the strength of the man, both within and without.
He reminded me of a predator, and I guess in many ways he was.
But however dangerous Death might be, however moody he might be, there was one inescapable fact.
He was also damn
A wig, some artfully applied makeup, and a change of clothes later, and Damon did indeed look like someone else. He now looked and walked like a man twenty years older, and if I hadn’t seen the transformation myself, I wouldn’t have believed it. I certainly wouldn’t have looked twice at him on the street.
I watched him disappear into my office building, then glanced up and down the street. I couldn’t see anyone acting suspiciously, let alone anyone who seemed to be watching the entrance, but that didn’t mean anything. I hadn’t seen the watcher at the Ritz until it was almost too late.
Of course, Damon had insisted that I also undergo a change of appearance, which is why I was sitting at the bus stop with blond hair, a low-cut top that exposed way too much breast, and a miniskirt that bordered on indecent—all courtesy of a recent shopping spree. Damon’s theory was that if they were looking at my body they weren’t looking at my face, but the twinkle in his eyes as he’d said it suggested the bad guys might not be the only ones enjoying the look.
