Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark #6)(73)

Cade’s eyes widened. “To break up with him?”

“No! Just because you told me I’m your female doesn’t make the corollary true. We still don’t have a relationship.”

“In other words, the square root of f*ckall is f*ckall.”

“You don’t want me to be with Tim, but you’re not offering anything else.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You told me I’m your female, but you have no plans to ask me for any kind of commitment.”

He ground his teeth. Because I can’t! “Would you say yes if I did?” he asked, noting that he’d gone still, awaiting her answer.

“No, Cadeon,” she finally said. “I wouldn’t.”

A fear skittered up his spine—something he’d considered, but dismissed. “Are you in love with that human?”

With an unflinching gaze, she said, “He’s what I want.”

*

They’d made the cab ride from the motel to the closest car dealership in stony silence.

Now, as a bemused salesman escorted them about the lot, they bickered over what to buy for the rest of the trip. She wanted a new, smaller SUV, and Cade wanted a used “gas-guzzling behemoth,” as she put it. Though he’d calmly pointed out the various merits of his choice, she refused to see reason.

He kept his cool until she said, “But that manufacturer doesn’t have environmentally conscious policies.”

Enough. “Oh, like I give a shite! I just want to get a truck and get the hell out of here.”

At that, the wide-eyed salesman excused himself.

Clearly grappling with her own temper, she said, “But a new one will be less likely to break down.”

He shook his head. “Trucks today aren’t made as well.”

“I don’t agree,” she said. “And I think we’ll be more comfortable and safer with the options offered in newer models.”

“More options means more things that can break. Now, there’s not a damn thing wrong with that white Bronco—”

“Oh, please,” she snapped. “O.J. called, wants his car back.”

“Were you even born in time to see that car chase? Or did you have to catch it on YouTube?”

“I saw it live. I was already twelve, cradle-robber! Now what’s wrong with the little Range Rover?”

“The dealer might frown on me paying for an eighty-thousand-dollar car with cash. Besides, after you offed our seven-figure ride last night, you’d think your mind would be on economizing.”

“You know whose car I offed last night? Not—mine. Is this the gratitude I get for saving your life? Don’t count on me to come rescue you again. I’ll let you fricassee the next time you’re on fire!”

Cade’s sat-phone rang then, like a ring-side bell. “I’m taking this call. Hey, I’ve got an idea. While I’m gone, why don’t you try to see reason? If you can recognize it.”

He stormed across the parking lot. “What?” he barked in answer.

“You sound like hell,” R?k said.

“Any word on Rydstrom?”

“My spies in Tornin are almost certain he’s being kept there.”

Cade said, “And no one escapes from Tornin.” The thought of that sent his foul mood plummeting.

It was time for Cade, the master of blocking out unwanted realities, to analyze some pretty grim f*cking realities.

His brother: being used by an evil sorceress for impregnation.

His female: stubbornly clinging to her relationship with the f*ckwit, and approximately two weeks away from hating Cade bitterly anyway.

Himself: in full-on identity crisis. The killer for hire with no conscience was finding that lies to Holly tasted like soot in his mouth. The big, bad mercenary was having nightmares about an accidental death . . . .

“But I do have some news,” R?k said. “You know that mortal you skewered?”

Speak of the devil. Cade scowled. “Néomi. What about her?”

“I just saw her singing karaoke at the Cat’s Meow.”

Cade’s jaw slackened. “Singing?”

“Yeah. There were a few pitch problems in the beginning, but in the end she really worked it out—”

“R?k! Are you saying she survived?”

“Unless she has a twin . . . But my gut tells me that was the vampire’s Bride I saw.”

R?k’s instincts had saved their lives more times than he could count. If this was true . . .

Néomi’s male knew of another way to kill Omort—an alternative to the sword. If Cade could get his hands on that information, he wouldn’t have to betray Holly.

“Why didn’t you abduct the mortal? You know how valuable she is.”

“She’s quick. She seemed to have just . . . disappeared out from under us. But I’ll find her again. I’ve got a good lead.”

If they had Néomi, the vampire would do anything to get his Bride back, even divulge how to kill a sorcerer . . . .

“Capture her at all costs, R?k.”

“We’re already on it. But you’re still continuing on—in case we don’t, right?”

He exhaled. “I am. I have to. But you will find her. Use any means necessary.” Once they’d hung up, Cade gazed over at Holly, and his heart thundered in his chest.