Page 24 of Deadly Sights

“You’re trying to manipulate me by dangling something precious to bend me to your will.”

He considers my trust precious? The ache in my chest sharpens.

“Julian, you know the lives we lead. Only one of us claims to know the other, which means trust should come easier for you. I don’t have the luxury you do.”

His lips firm into a grim line. “This is what you need to be at ease with me?”

“I can’t promise that, but it’ll be a good start.”

We lapse into silence for the rest of the flight, leaving me to wonder if I’ll say my last goodbye to him when we land. Although, with his determination, I’ll have to keep moving. He’ll find me again and the next time could have deadly consequences for both of us.

When we land, I prepare myself to leave without him. He preempts my efforts by having Alastair take Leaper’s carrier off the plane and into a waiting car.

Still in my seat, I glare at Julian, ready to go at him with fists and kicks if necessary. “Are you catnapping pets now?”

The muscle in his jaw ticks, showing his restraint. “No, I’m giving us a good start.” He stands and waits for me to do the same.

“You could have said something instead of letting me assume,” I grumble as I pass before him.

A smile flirts at the corner of his mouth. “You like to make assumptions. You could have kept quiet, making all those plans to ditch me in your head, until I said where I was taking you.”

“It’s unnerving how well you read me.”

He shrugs unapologetically. “Some things don’t change.”

Julian leads me to the same car Alastair entered. Upon opening the door, my cat mewls.

“She wants an unobstructed view of the ride. Let her out once we’re on the road, or hand her to me,” I instruct Alastair.

From the rearview mirror, I glimpse Alastair eyeing me and Julian. “She’s in excellent hands.” Despite his reassurance, he continues to watch us, as if wondering how to code his next words. “Is it your intention to avoid notice, sir?”

“Yes.”

The car starts and Alastair frees Leaper who immediately extends her front paws to watch the passing scenery.

When Julian doesn’t elaborate, I poke his arm. “Do you have a bat cave entrance or something that allows you to escape detection whenever you return home?”

Alastair coughs into his hand, but can’t hide the shining amusement glimmering in his eyes.

“Something like that.” Julian turns to his window, but from his reflection, a small smile peeks back at me.

An hour later, I get the joke. Off the highway, beyond the suburbs, we pull onto a private road leading to a massive iron-wrought gate that swings open on our approach. The drive up the tree-lined path takes another ten minutes before opening onto Wayne Manor. Except it’s not a fictional mansion from the comics.

I pull Julian around to face me. “This massive structure is your home?” I nearly shriek the question, as I try to understand my reaction.

“Technically, it’s a safe house.” Alastair gathers Leaper into her carrier before exiting the vehicle.

Questions whirl within my head as I follow Julian inside. Unable to keep my curiosity caged any longer, I stop him with a hand on his shoulder. “Why didn’t you take me to your other house?”

Julian swings around and squares his shoulders. “A couple reasons. My organization knows about the other house. It would defeat the purpose of bringing you here.”

I retract my hand. “And the other reason?” Although I ask, I’m not sure I want the answer any longer.

“This is the place where I don’t have to pretend. If you were ever going to find a reason to trust me, I had to bring you here.”

I look up at the sprawling staircase and Renaissance-style paintings and sculptures on the walls and ceilings. I make good money from my legitimate company and have a massive fortune in off-shore accounts, but I never thought of living like this.

“Let me show you your room.”

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