“I’ve heard you’re heading to America.” Deb’s brown eyes softened.
“So you’re here to talk me out of it?”
“Um, no.” Deb tangled her fingers together over her dress pants. “Here’s the thing. Mating is hard. I mean, marriage or mating or both . . . either way, combining lives isn’t easy. No matter what.”
Brenna frowned. “All right.”
“So, ah, well. I’m thinking you should go and maybe give it a try.” Deb flushed.
Surprise jerked up Brenna’s head. “You want me to go?”
“Of course not. I want you to stay here and have everything stay the same. But I don’t want you to ever wonder.”
“Wonder about what?”
“If you could’ve had something great. I know you. Already, you’re half in love with the guy . . . maybe all the way in love.” Deb leaned forward, her gaze earnest. “So give it a shot. You’ll never wonder if you should’ve gone.”
Brenna exhaled slowly. “If I get my heart demolished?”
Deb smiled. “Then come home. We’ll plot revenge of the quantum physics kind.” She eyed the storm outside. “Besides, now you have more bodyguards than ever before, and I practically got frisked just trying to get to your office. If you leave town, you might be safer.”
A shadow filled the doorway. Brenna’s breath caught. Jase stood, hands in faded jean pockets, strong face expressionless.
Deb turned her head. “Vampires know how to make an entrance, now don’t they?” She stood and sashayed her way to the door. She paused as Jase stepped to the side. “You hurt her—I’ll cut off your head myself.” Then she disappeared.
Jase raised both eyebrows, his gaze on Brenna. “I think I’m growing on her.”
Aye, like a fungus. “You’re a charming guy.” Brenna stacked files together in order to keep her hands busy.
“I used to be.” He glanced around the office, gaze lingering on the oil paintings. “Did I hurt you last night?”
Heat washed through her. “Of course not.”
“I was rough.” His shoulders hunched, and suddenly, she could see the boy he’d once been.
“I’m fine, Jase.” She pushed away from the desk. “Where did you stay last night?” After tucking her in, he hadn’t returned. She’d wanted to kick herself when she’d awakened at dawn and reached for him.
“Nowhere. I went running—got back an hour ago.”
The guy had run until dawn? “You do that a lot. Run, I mean.” Did he think he could outrun his own memories? She fought to keep sympathy from her face. That would just piss him off.
“Yes, I like to run. Have you packed?”
She stood. “No.”
“We leave today.” His jaw firmed.
“I haven’t decided to accompany you to America. If I do, I’ll fly over after the holidays.” Confrontation always dropped a rock in her stomach. The man would have to be reasonable.
“We leave today, Brenna,” he repeated very softly.
Why was it the deadlier the guy, the scarier he sounded when he quieted? Softness should offer comfort, not warning. The marking on her butt began to burn. Damn vampires.
She shook her head. “After Christmas.”
His chin lowered, while his gaze hardened. “The plane leaves at four this afternoon. You will be on it, packed or not.”
She’d already been lectured by her aunt Viv as well as her sister, Moira. Of course, Moira just wanted Brenna close enough to keep an eye on in case the demons attacked again. Aye, she needed to go. But why make it easy on him? “I’m surprised you fly since being inside makes you edgy.”
“You’ve noticed the claustrophobia?”
“It’s hard to miss.” Sure, she was sympathetic, but getting caught in a private jet with the guy if he had an attack would be suicide.
“Well, it’s all right in the jet because I pilot it.”
She stilled. Why didn’t that make her feel better?
Chapter 11
Realm headquarters looked like a subdivision where doctors and soccer moms lived. People like those housewife ladies on reality television. Well, except for the innocuous armed guards, patrolling Dobermans, and over-the-top security.
Brenna stretched her neck. She’d fallen asleep on the plane with her neck at an odd angle. Conn, Kane, and Moira had worked the entire trip, and Jase had piloted the plane.
She glanced at Jase when he pulled into the driveway of a single-story rancher with intricate stone detail. “Where’s the tennis court?”
He grinned. “East of the main lodge.”
“Ah.” She stepped out of the SUV, wondering if there was a way out of this rabbit hole. Skirting the sensors planted in the ground, she headed up the brick walkway. The air swished, and she found herself cradled in a pair of hard arms. “What in the world—”
“Carrying you over the threshold.” Jase climbed the several steps and pushed open the door.
“Oh.” Her cheeks heated, while her heart thumped.
He set her down inside the foyer. Across the spacious living room, wall-to-wall windows showcased the Pacific during winter. Gray and dark. “You don’t have any furniture,” she murmured, her voice echoing.
“We should probably get some.” He slipped his fingers through hers and led her around the sparsely furnished house—grand kitchen, guest room, office, bonus room she might use as an art studio, and finally, the master bedroom.
She swallowed. At least he had a bed.
He cleared his throat, passed the bed, and opened the walk-in closet. His fingers danced across a keypad by the door, and the side wall slid open to reveal steps leading down. “The tunnel leads to the underground headquarters. If we’re attacked, if we’re in danger, punch in 4425, and run.”
Ah. Figured the headquarters would be in the mountains.
Jase shut the passageway. “Why don’t you freshen up and then spend time on the office computer buying whatever furniture and art supplies you’d like. I’m going to go work out.” With a soft kiss to her forehead, he turned and strode from the room.
She’d wondered how long he’d last after being cooped up in the plane for so long. With a last glance at the keypad, she wandered back through the lonely house. No personal touches had been added—besides the big bed. The refrigerator was empty, as was the pantry. A big walk-in pantry shouldn’t be empty. She paused. Neither should the room have a long wall in the back without shelves.
Curiosity prodded her forward. She stepped into the small room, spreading her palms along the wall. Then she felt until her finger hit a groove. She tugged.
A door opened.
Sliding her hand inside, she tapped until finding a switch. Light instantly sparked off a myriad of weapons along two walls. Guns, knives, stars . . . some that had been banned by treaty centuries ago. The final wall held a series of photographs. Pictures of several demons, including Willa, had been tacked up in logical order.
His kill wall.
A chill swept down Brenna’s spine. While she understood Jase’s need for revenge, this was just creepy. How obsessed was the guy?
The doorbell rang, and she jumped about a foot. Hurriedly shutting the wall, she rushed to open the front door.