Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(12)

“Finding it difficult to breathe with you trapping me in the bed,” she whispered, trying to clear her mind.

Nick lifted an eyebrow. “There was a time you liked me trapping you in bed.”

Heat coursed through her, zinging around her abdomen and landing in a very private place. “That was then.” She pushed his arm off and tried to sit up to get a better look at the shifter lying against the door with one boot kicked off. “What in the world is Bear doing on the floor?”

Nick rolled over and sat up, a dimple playing in his right cheek. “I needed a doorstop.”

Humor bubbled through her, totally inappropriate for the moment. She cleared her throat. “The plane isn’t moving.”

“Landed about five minutes ago.” Nick scrubbed both hands down his face, ending at the shadow lining his jaw. “I figure they’re waiting for more soldiers before letting us out.”

That quickly, all humor deserted her. “Listen, Nick—”

“No.” He pushed from the bed and gently kicked Bear in the leg. “This is not a place to argue.”

Oh, he didn’t get to dictate anything. “I don’t want or need your help. When we get out of here, you will leave me alone.” She could atone for her own sins while fighting the trumped-up charges.

“Bullshit.”

“Well.” She got up, too, irritation pricking along her back to her neck. “Get the f*ck out of my life, Veis.”

He half-turned. “Baby, you want to lose the attitude right now.” There was the stone-cold killer whispered about by frightened immortals.

Rolling her eyes would be undignified, so she tamped down her anger. “Don’t call me baby.”

“Then don’t be stupid.” He kicked Bear harder.

“Whatever we had was over a century ago, because of you, and you’ve given up any claim on me. Please go back to the demon nation and let me take care of myself.” Her family had no right to ask for his help.

His chin lowered then, the movement deliberate and a little threatening. “Wrong.”

Her foot itched with the ridiculous need to stomp. She plastered on a simpering smile. “Excuse me?”

He chuckled demon low. “Trying hard to rein in that temper, are you? How long do you think you’ll last?”

Heat flowed through her veins along with anger, ready to be freed in the force of fire. She licked her lips. “My temper is well controlled these days, Nicholai.”

“Now that’s a pity . . . and probably untrue.”

“What am I wrong about?”

“What we had is not over. I have not given up any claim on you.” Every once in a while, his century-ago Russian accent returned, the sound deep and mysterious.

Her mouth opened and then snapped shut.

A muscle ticked in his neck. “I let you go because I had no choice and figured I wouldn’t live to see peace. Yet I have, you’re unattached for a reason, and now, your time of freedom is up.”

She blinked. Time was up? Panic threatened to choke her, and she shook her head. “You’re crazy.”

“There is no doubt about that, and I also know I’m not as smooth as I used to be. It has been too long since I tried kindness.” Even with the matter-of-fact tone, his voice roughened as he leaned down and pinched Bear’s nose closed.

The shifter jumped up, swatting away Nick’s hand. “What the f*ck?” He leaped to his feet and stumbled back into the wall, hair raising on his arms. Dark hair.

“Don’t shift,” Simone hissed, backing away. The force of the change inside the small room would be painful.

His brown gaze focused on her, and he straightened his shoulders. The darker hair receded. “Where. Am. I?” he growled, the sound more animal than human.

“My guess?” Nick took a step back, obviously giving Bear some room to contain himself. “Ireland?”

Bear breathed out, his gaze remaining on Simone’s. “I can’t be in Ireland,” he whispered. “You know that.”

“I know.” Simone held up both hands to placate him. Life had just gotten way out of control, and she couldn’t see a way to fix everything. “It’s okay, though. I promise. Nobody knows anything about you being here. You haven’t broken the contract.”

“I’m not worried about myself, and you know it.” He shook his head, fury darkening his honeyed eyes to nearly black. “I knew I shouldn’t let the Enforcers into Seattle. I just knew it.”

She winced. “Aye.” Were his eyes changing color? Bear’s eyes never changed color. What in the world? Something was wrong with the lighting.

“Fuck it, Simone.” Bear knocked his head back against the wall. “I signed a contract, and if your mother knows I breached it, no matter what the reason, I’ll lose all of my holdings.”

“She probably already knows, but we’ll just get you out of here, and she’ll ignore the situation.” Fear settled in her stomach, and she tried to keep her voice soft.

Bear growled low. “I have other enemies in Ireland that you don’t even know about. They’ll try to take my f*ckin’ head.”

Simone stepped back. “Who?”

He shook his head. “None of your business.”

Ouch. That kind of hurt.