He linked his arm through mine and guided me into the building. “Yes. I saw it and it was recorded on the computer.”
We got into the elevator alone. “How did you get there so fast?”
“I was on a phone call so I didn’t catch you until you were already getting out at Russo’s,” he said, still holding onto me like he was afraid I’d fall—or run away. “I didn’t know what was going on, but Dark looked tense. I called an Uber just in case and while I was on the way, I saw the whole thing with the glass on my phone.”
I glanced over when he took his phone out of his pocket. “You can see that through your phone?”
He held it up as we stepped out of the elevator, and I saw what the camera on the pin saw, us walking down the hallway to the door of our apartment.
“It was hard to see but after I played it back two times, it was kind of obvious what had happened,” Xander said. “And kind of obvious something was going on by Declan’s behavior.”
I dropped onto the couch, suddenly aware of how much my feet were aching. “So you believe me now.”
He held up his phone. “I have the proof right here, but I still can’t believe it.”
“He’s not just fast, he can…heal himself,” I said my voice sounding flat despite the incredible words that were coming out of my mouth.
“Definitely not Batman,” Xander said. “Wine?”
“God, yes.”
“Stay there.”
I didn’t argue, just took off my shoes and groaned at how good it felt. I could use a hot bath and something to eat, but I also needed to hear what Xander had to say. And figure out how to deal with this.
When my phone rang, my heart lurched. I looked to my purse sitting on the floor by the couch.
“That better not be who I think it is,” Xander said. He walked over with a glass of wine and passed it to me.
When I didn’t move except to take the glass, he crouched to retrieve my phone. His eyes widened when he looked at the screen.
“It’s Declan.”
I sat up straighter. “Don’t answer it.”
“No shit. What did he say to you?”
“What?”
The phone fell silent and Xander set it on the coffee table. “When you saw his hand, what did he say? I couldn’t hear.”
“He said, ‘I can explain.’”
Xander frowned, his hand fisted around the stem of the wine glass that resembled the one that had shattered in the restaurant.
“I mean, maybe he can,” Xander said reasonably. “Explain. Maybe that’s why he took you to dinner.”
Heat rose in my cheeks. I’d thought he’d taken me to dinner to discuss the kiss. To figure out what the hell was going on between us. But Xander was probably right. Maybe he was going to tell me the truth.
“I don’t know… That’s a pretty big secret to tell some random woman he barely knows,” I said.
Of course, he knew me well enough to kiss me. Maybe he wanted someone to confide in.
My phone buzzed, this time with a text message.
I looked at my screen. Declan again.
Answer your phone, he texted. We need to talk.
It rang again, and I squeezed it in my hand but didn’t answer.
“Persistent,” Xander commented. “But I guess I would be too if someone knew my deep, dark secret.”
Once the phone fell silent, I drank half my glass of wine. “You think my father knew and that’s why he was going to meet Declan?”
“I don’t know. I guess…” He scratched his chin. “I guess it makes sense.”
“None of this makes sense,” I told Declan, staring at the face of my phone because I knew it was going to ring again. “If my dad knew he was in trouble, why didn’t he say something?”
Xander shook his head. “Maybe he didn’t know. Or…” He pointed to his computers. “We have proof of what Declan can do. That’s what we need to focus on right now.”
I wasn’t exactly a master at blackmail. Even with proof, what was I supposed to do with it?
Instead of a call, another text came through on my phone.
I gasped.
Xander leaned over. “What does it say?”
I held the phone up so he could read Declan’s words: Dammit, Royal. If you don’t call me back in one minute, I’m coming over there.
Shock coursed through me. “He knows who I am. And he knows where we live.”
Xander stood, looking around the room for something.
I stood as well. “What? What are we supposed to do?”
“Find a weapon,” he suggested.
I frowned. “Xander. I have to call. I have to see what he wants.”
“What if he wants the camera or—”
“Maybe he doesn’t know about that.”
Xander pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Call the police?”
“And say what?” I asked, incredulous. “My boss is a superhero, and he wants me to answer my phone? They’ll laugh their asses off.”
“If he shows up here and tries anything, no one will be laughing. He could get in trouble.”
“Yeah, if he does anything.” I lifted my phone. “I have to call him.”
Xander hesitated for another minute, then nodded. “Okay.”
I pressed the green button on the phone, put it on speaker, and waited. It only rang once before Declan’s rough voice came on the line.
“Royal,” he said.
“Declan,” I returned. “How do you know my real name?”
“This isn’t something I plan on talking about over the phone. And you shouldn’t either. It’s safer if we meet.”
Xander shook his head. “No fucking way,” he said, quietly enough Declan couldn’t hear.
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea,” I said, trying to keep my voice from wobbling.
I
