Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)(32)

‘The champagne,’ I accused. ‘You knew it was spiked and you switched the glasses.’

‘Hello? I’m a telekinesis expert, remember?’

I shook my head. All this bloody time… ‘You can’t keep me here,’ I spat. ‘This is a free country and I’m not eleven years old.’

‘No. You’re not that pathetic either.’

I narrowed my eyes. ‘You remember who I am.’

He looked at me patiently. ‘Integrity, how many other women are there with your colouring wandering the streets? Of course I know who you are. Everyone knows who you are.’

What did that mean? I cleared my throat. ‘Everyone?’

‘Your location was found less than forty-eight hours after you flitted from Bull Scrymgeour. Lots of people have been keeping tabs on you, not just me. We needed to know where you were because we knew we might possibly need you in the future.’ His eyes gleamed. ‘I must say, you’ve had a very interesting career.’

My nausea increased. ‘Let me out of here.’

Byron stepped back. ‘You’re free to go at any time.’

‘Just as well,’ I huffed. I stalked past him, eyeing Candy in case he tried anything. Fortunately, the Wild Man didn’t move a muscle. I placed my hand on the doorknob and tugged.

‘There is just one thing,’ Byron interjected.

I swung my head round. ‘What?’

‘Your mentor, whatever you want to call him, still owes me money.’

Shite. Well, I’d just find another way to solve that little problem. ‘You’ll get your money.’ I opened the door.

‘And your friends are still enjoying the very best that the prison service can offer.’ He tutted. ‘It would be a real shame if someone tipped the police off about all those thefts that have been occurring in the city. Your friends might never get out.’

I stared at the lift. It was right there, waiting for me. All I had to do was get in it and go home. I clenched my fists. ‘What do you want?’ I asked finally.

‘Close the door, come inside, sit down and we can talk about it. I promise, it’s really not that bad.’

Like I’d believe that. My shoulders slumped. So you can never escape your past after all. Fine. I’d listen to what he had to say then I’d take Bob and make whatever wishes were necessary to get myself and my adopted family out of this mess. Sod the consequences. Byron Moncrieffe might think he was holding all the cards but he didn’t know everything.

I crossed my arms and stalked over to the sofa. I pushed myself into the far corner. The stupid hot pink dress immediately rode up my legs. I pulled down the hem and crossed my arms again. ‘Speak then.’

‘I did tell you,’ Byron said, ‘that I preferred it when I was in charge.’ Rather than joining me, he ambled over to the fridge and reached inside for a bottle of water. ‘Would you like a drink?’

‘No,’ I replied stiffly.

‘Not even pink champagne?’ His amusement was clear.

‘Piss off.’ Oh, what a brilliant rejoinder that was.

‘Not just yet. Candy, if you’d be so kind…?’

‘Sure, boss.’ The huge Wild Man lumbered out, closing the door behind him.

Byron smiled. ‘Alone again.’

I felt sick. This could not be happening. ‘Spit it out,’ I snapped. ‘What do you really want?’

‘You know, you were far more pleasant to talk to last night.’

‘Last night I didn’t know that you were a scheming manipulative wanker who enjoys playing with innocent people’s lives.’

His eyebrows shot up. ‘Innocent? Is that what’d you call a group of thieves who between them are responsible for some of the biggest heists this century has seen?’

‘It’s 2016,’ I said flatly. ‘That’s hardly much of a feat. And besides, you know exactly what I mean.’

He grabbed a chair, pulled it over and placed it in front of me before sitting down. ‘You were quite prepared to steal from me when you thought I was innocent.’ He ran his tongue across his lips. ‘I can still taste you.’

Oh God. I hugged myself. ‘Either tell me what it is you really want or I’m walking.’

‘Tough words.’

I stared at him. He sighed, his amusement fleeing. ‘It’s not as sinister as you imagine. All you need to do is open a box.’

‘Really?’ I sneered. ‘All the might of the Sidhe world behind you and that’s something you can’t manage on your own? They didn’t cover box opening in Fey finishing school?’

He took a long swig of his water. ‘It’s a very special box.’

For a brief moment, a saucy sexual innuendo was on the tip of my tongue. I bit down very hard. No way was I going there. Not again. ‘Go on,’ I said grimly.

‘On the wall behind you, there’s a thermostat. It controls the temperature of this room so it’s never too cold or too hot. It’s really an extraordinary feat of technology when you think about it.’

I was going to get a lesson on thermodynamics now, was I? I resisted the urge to look round. ‘And?’ I asked, sounding as bored as I could.

‘The Sidhe lands run on a similar concept except instead of temperature control, what we concern ourselves with is magic. Too little magic and systems start to fail. Too much magic and, well, kaboom. It’s not pretty when that happens.’ His mouth tightened and his eyes were momentarily distant and unfocused. ‘The tidal surge down the Dee a couple of years ago? That was one of those occasions.’