Keystone (Crossbreed #1)(83)
The door opened, and Darius entered the room. “What’s going on in here? What have you done?”
My black hair curtained my face, and I was beginning to feel the pattern of the burn that started at the corner of my mouth and stretched across my cheek to my eye.
I finally looked like the monster I’d become.
“Get out,” he said, snapping his fingers. “Both of you.”
Some of my hair blew forward as I breathed steadily, in and out through my nose. I must have sounded like a fire-breathing dragon. I was vaguely aware of the pain around my wrists from the handcuffs pinching my skin. My teeth were clenched, muscles tight, and shoulders hunched. Rage funneled through me in the form of energy, and I focused on leveling it down before it spiraled out of control and caused me to black out. That was the first lesson every Mage learned whether someone taught them or not: control your energy before it controls you.
Darius tilted my head back and threaded my hair away from my face. “I instructed them to rough you up. This was certainly uncalled for.” He grimaced when he got a close look at my face. “That’s going to take a while to heal on its own. It’s a good thing they didn’t have any liquid fire.”
The statement hung in the air like a thinly veiled threat.
Darius plucked a handkerchief from his suit pocket and shook it out. He knelt before me and wiped Declan’s blood from my mouth. “Who is protecting you now? Why should you protect them?”
“I don’t protect anyone.”
“Who is Houdini?”
I furrowed my brow. “I don’t know.”
“Who was the man you were sitting with in the pastry shop? I want to know who lives in that house and what they know about me. My men followed you there, and something tells me your friends know my business. I don’t like anyone knowing my business. Are we clear about that?” A ridiculously long moment of silence stretched between us, as if he actually expected me to answer. “As much as I’d like to untie you so we can speak as equals, I don’t think cooperating is what you have in mind.”
I steadied my eyes on the iron poker.
“We haven’t been formally introduced, Miss Black. I’m Darius Bane.”
“Delighted,” I ground out.
He folded up the bloody handkerchief and tossed it into the fire. “Are they worth giving up your life for them? You can’t mean that much to them if you’re wandering the streets alone. Have you heard of the Shadow? If you’re who I think you are, I’d rather have someone like you on my side.” He stood up. “Let me get a chair so we can talk.”
When he left the room, I searched for a way out. I can always throw myself into the flames to burn the ropes, I mused.
Darius returned with a wooden chair. He closed the door behind him and sat down in front of me, his fingers steepled. “Who is Keystone?”
I shook my head.
“That’s the name I heard when you were screaming.”
Oh shit.
Those moments had been a blur, and I couldn’t be sure of what I’d said. What did it matter anyhow? I didn’t have any loyalty to Keystone.
“I’m not with them,” I said. “He owes me a favor, so they’re giving me pointers on how to protect myself on the streets.”
Darius sat back and ran his fingers through his curly hair. “Tell them you want a refund on your favor. I don’t see that it’s helped much, do you?”
I averted my eyes.
Darius leaned forward again, his eyes narrowing and forming wrinkles at the corners. “What has Keystone truly given you? Their loyalty? Their unwavering protection? It looks as if they have more important things on their agenda than protecting a scavenger. Groups like that will never elevate you to a better position. I’ve spent my entire life working to amass a fortune; all it takes is a little vision and good partners I can trust. It just so happens I’m missing my right-hand man. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
I shook my head.
“If he’s missing, then he wasn’t qualified for the position. You could fill those shoes, Raven. I can offer you a place where people will respect you and follow your lead.”
I tilted my head back and settled my eyes on his. “You’re offering me a job?”
“I’m offering you much more than that. I can give you a place at my side, and our empire will prosper. Choose the right opportunities, because you don’t always get a second chance. I can protect you from men who would harm you,” he suggested, his gaze fixed on my burn. “If there are people you love, then you already realize how your very existence puts them in danger. I can offer them my protection as well.”
“I don’t have anyone.”
His brows arched. “Oh? I’m curious why my driver had to venture all the way out to that gas station this morning. That’s a desolate side of town. The only notable place in the area is a human trailer park just down the street. You strike me as recently made, and I’m sure it’s not been easy to let go of your human life. I’ve seen it all too often. According to my men, that wasn’t your usual spot. Sometimes the biggest flaws a man can have are right under his nose.”
My skin went ashen. Darius didn’t know who was in that park, but it wouldn’t take him long to find out. It was another indirect threat, and this time I gave him my full attention.