Emerge: The Captive: (Book 3)(47)

It was an offer she’d never extended before. An offer many in their shoes would leap to take.

“I’d rather not have to destroy you to gain your allegiance,” Livia added.

“No,” Quinn and Santi said in unison. They didn’t even need to discuss it. “You’re asking us to betray our own kind—our families. It’s just not an option. This….” Santi gestured to the whole of Soma. “This is not how you earn a person’s allegiance.”

Quinn nodded in agreement as he sat up, but his voice caught in his throat. Something oppressive crashed into him. A presence unlike any he’d ever experienced threatened to suffocate him. He couldn't seem to get back on his feet or catch his breath.

“What’s the matter with you now?” Livia said. “I couldn’t have hit you that hard … shit.” She turned toward the door. “He's here. Ummm … hide. Now!” She tugged her gloves off and dumped half the contents of the water bottle over her head. “On the balcony. Quick.”

She heaved Quinn up to his feet and ushered them toward the back of the gym and onto the balcony beyond the open glass partitions. She frantically shoved them against the brick wall.

“Here. Get down and keep quiet. He’ll take you from me if he senses your strength. You don't want that.”

“What’s going on?” Santi demanded.

“Please, Santi. Hide,” Livia begged as she broke Santi’s restraints, sending the chain retracting back into the wall.

It was so unlike her it startled Quinn. The silvery ice of her eyes warmed into green fire as she stepped back inside, returning to her punching bag.

He pulled Santi down to the cool slate floor, crouching in the corner. He couldn't fathom why Livia wanted them to hide from the Immortal who’d just entered the building and was on his way up to the penthouse. But if his ancient lifeline was any indication, simply hiding was not going to shield them from Livia's father. Quinn pulled an oversized wicker lounge in front of them, praying she wouldn’t do what he knew she was about to do.

"Won't he sense us?" Santi whispered.

"She has a plan for that and I'm sure it involves me," Quinn said. "Lay down here beside me, Santi." Quinn maneuvered their position until they were both laying on the floor behind the lounge, peering through the bottom of the glass partition. From their vantage point, they had a good view of the gym where Livia was busy beating the hell out of her punching bag as if she’d spent the afternoon working out at home alone.

“Stay quiet and do not fight me on this, Quinn. I’m honestly trying to help you,” Livia whispered as she backed away from the bag, glancing in their direction. Her power charged through him like a kick from a bull. Whatever control she’d exerted over him before was nothing compared to the force she pressed against him now.

“What’s happening?” Santi reached for him when he cried out. Her hands fluttered over his face, searching for something she could do.

“She’s using my gift to shield us.” Quinn managed to get the words out, but between his fear of Livia pushing him too far and the arrival of the oldest Immortal he’d ever sensed, he was a total wreck.

“Is it … her father?” Santi’s voice was almost inaudible as she shrank against him, pulling his arms around her, trying to make herself as small as possible.

Quinn nodded, holding on to Santi as tightly as she clung to him. Their lives depended on remaining silent. If Livia’s father sensed them, it wouldn’t bode well for either of them. If Quinn hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t believe it, but Livia was protecting them. She drew on his cloaking ability like a leech, taking everything she could from him to shield both Santi and Quinn, not just from her father’s sight, but from sensing their Immortal presence—something Quinn himself could not do with his own gift. He’d often suspected he would be able to do that eventually, but it was decades beyond his current ability.

“Where are you?” The curt voice reached them from the penthouse living room. Livia’s father didn’t deign to shout for her, but his urgency was clear.

“In here, Father,” Livia called in such a calm voice, Quinn would never suspect she was in the midst of using her power in such a way. “I’ve just been working out,” she said, dabbing a towel over her brow to mop up the “sweat” from her workout. “I thought we were meeting at the restaurant later. I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting you.” Her tone was respectful and polite but there was no warmth there for the man who’d raised her.

“It’s urgent.” Her father marched into the gym like he owned the place—which he probably did.

Quinn and Santi peeked through the window, watching with bated breath.

“Can I get you a drink? You look like you could use one. Let’s go to my office and sit.” Livia tried to direct him out of the room and away from her two charges, but the ancient Immortal just sat on the weight bench in his Italian suit and waved his bodyguards away, gesturing for them to close the door behind them.

“This must be bad,” Livia said dryly, crossing her arms over her chest.

“She’s escaped.”

“Who? Mother?” Livia frowned.

“No, of course not. Your mother is safe at home.”