Page 42 of Hers to Claim

With a sharp look for Samar intended to keep him out in the hallway, Cisco moved to help get her settled in the bed with the covers bundled all the way up to her chin. When Nova reached for her, Karma slid into the bed next to her and wrapped her in a hug.

“Samar would like to see you if you’re up for it.”

She glanced toward the doorway, her face easing when she saw him in his shifted form, and then nodded slightly. Samar padded into the room with a little trill and then jumped up on the bed on the opposite side of Nova on top of the covers.

Cisco waited for them to settle before he began, “There are some people still missing from the club. Do you know who has them?”

“Vincent has all of them,” Nova said, her voice still hoarse but gaining strength. “He’s the one who grabbed me. Traded me away like trash to settle a debt. It seemed like he was headed out of town soon. Something has him scared.”

“So that means we need to move fast.” Cisco ground his teeth for a moment. “Do you know where he is?”

Nova shook her head. “They kept me hooded the entire time so I didn’t see anything, but I know it’s near the train tracks and there wasn’t a lot of road noise.”

Cisco reached out a hand and stroked one of Nova’s snakes. They seemed more relaxed since she’d come out of the shower. “I’m sorry it took me so long to find you.”

“I thought about trying to get out right after we heard about Basilio, but I worried Argento would take it out on the others.”

“Next time worry about yourself.” Cisco leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Rest now. Karma and Samar will stay with you and keep you safe.”

Nova settled back and closed her eyes, sighing heavily as she nuzzled into Samar’s furry form next to her.

Chapter 13

A flurry of activitypoured out of Cisco’s office when Mari came back to the downstairs hall. She slid inside and tried to be unobtrusive while piecing together what the guards were discussing.

Rio was making notes on a tablet while several of the guards pointed at various places on a map stretched out over Cisco’s desk. They had apparently gotten the details from Cisco about what Nova knew about where Vincent was. Rio looked up and noticed her hovering, so he gestured her closer, making room in his lap when she approached. After she was settled, he wrapped his arms around her and continued jotting down what the guards around him were saying.

Mari read over the locations he’d already made note of, though none of them meant anything to her. She rested her head on his shoulder and relaxed, the voices of the guards calming her as they talked about various buildings that might house the people they were after.

Cisco came in a few minutes later and dropped a kiss on each of their heads. “Where are we?”

“Got it narrowed down to a handful.” Rio handed over the tablet.

Cisco glanced over the list before he looked up at Kima. “Get me some recon on these locations. Take one of the hellhounds with you to sniff out the wards. Call me the second you have anything.”

Kima nodded and gestured to Dasher, and the two of them headed out without any more discussion.

Cisco swept his gaze over the remaining guards. “Everyone else be ready to go at a moment’s notice.”

Mari watched the rest of the guards file out before she broached the subject she thought would likely lead to an argument. “I want to go.”

Cisco turned her way, his expression considering as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Tell me why you should go.”

She stared for a moment, completely unprepared for him to ask for her reasons rather than a flat denial. “Dash said that you’d need all hands on deck for this fight. You don’t want to have to leave anyone behind to guard me.”

“Not good enough.” He smiled faintly. “Don’t tell me why to not leave you here. Tell me why to take you.”

Mari frowned. He clearly thought there was an argument she could make, but what was it? She went over the conversations she had overheard again. “You need someone to help on the magic side. There are going to be wards that need taking down or they’ll hear you coming.”

Cisco nodded. “That’s it.”

“What?” Mari blinked up at him. “You mean you’ll let me go?”

“The days when I wouldletyou do anything are behind us.” Cisco reached to touch her face with a gentle brush of his clawed fingers. “I would rather you stay here, but I respect you too much to order you around.” He showed her a flash of fang that made her pulse race. “Except in bed.”

“What about office chairs?” Rio asked carelessly as his hand drifted to her thigh. He lowered his head to kiss her bare shoulder. She knew what her clever puma was up to, trying to take Cisco’s mind off his guilt.

Cisco flicked a heated look Rio’s way. “Behave.”

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