Page 38 of Marked
“You have gooseflesh,” he says softly. I remain rigid, hoping he will touch me again and hating myself for wanting him to. “Are you cold?”
I turn to gaze at him. My body is on fire, heated with a single stroke of his finger. “No.”
A trace of gold light spins through his irises. He closes them fast and focuses out the window before putting the car in gear. After a moment, the windows roll down and warm night air whips through the interior. Effectively drowning out the rapid beat of my heart, and the vampire’s delectable fragrance soaking into my skin.
He drives in silence, gaze averted and steady. Focused.
Too focused.
I glance down to find his hand mottled around the gear shift.
“Ruin?”
He grunts.
“Why did you come with me?”
He glances over quickly and then back at the road. “Think of it as witness protection,” he says as he maneuvers through traffic. “You’re in colony custody because you know about our target.” Something about the way he says it makes me stiffen.
My shoulders fall. Oh. “So ... I have answers you need?”
“And answers I have every intention of getting.” His eyes flash. “One way or another.”
“And accompanying me to a club is one way?”
“No, taking you to Underground is part of my orders. I keep you alive, you help me find Vlad, and we both go home happy.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “You meanyougo home happy?”
The steering wheel creaks. “Surely you have a place. Maybe on Lock Lake? I hear it’s nice there.”
I snort. “I have—hadan apartment off Dallas.” He looks at me sharply. “Yeah. They showed up at my apartment first and tracked me to Miller where you showed up.”
“Dallas is—”
“Don’t say it’s a ‘rough part of town’ ,” I warn. “I’m fully aware. But it’s what I can afford.”
He makes a sound but covers it quickly with a cough. “Do you need anything from there?” His eyes are locked out the window, no inflection across his chiseled features.
“Really?” I ask.
He shifts in his seat and glances over. “Yeah. If you want to go by there ...”
Again, there is a tone to his words. Almost like a challenge.
Does he think I’m scared after last night?
Because he’s right. I’m fucking terrified of Vic finding me. But somehow, I doubt Ruin would let him get too close.
“There are a few things I’d like to get.”
He takes the next right without me having to say anything else.
The farther we go intothatpart of Lock Lake, the more nervous I become.
Will Vic’s goons be waiting? Ruin doesn’t appear armed, but would a colony captain go anywhere without packing a little heat?
I wouldn’t be surprised if Vic staged some of his hired guns at my old place. Any opportunity to make sure my mouth stays shut, permanently, about everything he has done, Vic will take it.
