Page 34 of The Sentinel

He took one look at my face—at whatever this was—and his expression sharpened.

“Well, well,” he mused, lifting his glass. “Took you long enough. I was beginning to think you’d been kidnapped.”

I forced a smirk, reaching for a flute of champagnefrom a passing waiter. “And what? You weren’t coming to rescue me?”

Diego gave me a once-over, his gaze narrowing. “Please. You don’t need rescuing. He might, though.”

I took a sip, letting the cool bubbles settle something in me. “What are you talking about?”

Diego arched a brow, tilting his head. “You tell me. You disappeared with Marcus Dane, and now you look like—” He gestured vaguely. “Like a woman who’s been thoroughly debauched and is trying to pretend she wasn’t.”

I nearly choked on my drink. “Jesus, Diego.”

He grinned. “Am I wrong?”

I scowled. “You’re always wrong.”

He hummed, unconvinced. “Mmm. I don’t know, mija. You’ve got that freshly-fucked glow.”

I glared, but my face was definitely burning now.

Diego’s smirk widened. “You did. Oh, my God.”

I waved a hand. “Lower your voice.”

He grabbed my wrist, yanking me in, eyes gleaming. “I need details. Immediately.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “Later.”

Diego made an exaggerated gasp. “Later? Later? Claire, I swear to all things holy, if you do not?—”

I cut him off with a look. “Diego.”

Something in my face must have struck him, because the teasing drained just a fraction. He searched my expression, then exhaled. “All right. But you’re telling me everything when we leave.”

I downed the rest of my champagne. “Deal.”

Diego started to say something else, but his sharp gaze flicked downward, zeroing in on my hand. His expression shifted, curiosity moving into something more serious.

“What’s that?” His voice was low, cautious.

Shit.

I hadn’t even realized I was still clutching the file in my fingers, its edges crumpled slightly from how tight I was holding it. Instinct kicked in fast—I turned slightly, shifting my body so that no one else in the crowd would catch sight of it. The last thing I needed was someone here—someone loyal to Dominion—seeing me walk out of Marcus Dane’s secret underground lair with something I very much wasn’t supposed to have.

Diego’s eyes narrowed. “Claire.”

I exhaled sharply, lowering my hand between us, out of view. “I found something,” I muttered. “Something big.”

His expression darkened. “Then why the hell are we still here? Let’s go before someone notices.”

I shook my head. “No way. Not now.”

He looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Are you serious?”

I lifted my chin. “Diego, if Marcus really didn’t want me to take this, I wouldn’t have walked out of that room with it.”

That made him pause. He studied me for a beat, then his lips pressed into a thin line. “You think he planted it for you to find?”

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