Page 67 of Claimed
Ruin hauls me to him, crushing me to his chest as Tanner smoothes his hand over my back.
They are quiet as I cry, their presence strong and oddly familiar.
I force myself to stop and press from the comfort of Ruin’s arms. Scrubbing at my cheeks, I risk a glance at them both. “I swear I’m not normally this much of a mess.”
Tanner frowns. “You are not a mess, Onyx. You’re human. There is no fault in that.”
Ruin nods as he glances back once at the gala. “I still want to kick his ass.” Tanner grunts in agreement. The captain peers sidelong at me. “You still feel up to this?”
I sniff. “Are you kidding?” I ask. “Right now I need to work.”
He smiles, but it’s cold. “There she is,” he murmurs and my already hot face scalds. He turns me back to the SUV. “Well come on then. The cases aren’t going to steal themselves.”
Chapter 24
Onyx
I drop onto the hardwood and scan the shadows.
Empty.
Pressing the mic on my throat, I breathe, “I’m in.”
“That may have been faster than practice, Onyx.” Ruin’s voice still holds a hint of a growl, but I appreciate the compliment.
Smiling, I ease along the walls to the door and crack the panel. The hall is gloomy. I peer out as far as I can. Swinging the door open, I roll out into the hallway and come up, knives held in a reverse grip.
The hall is empty and I rise to my feet. Every step is carefully measured over the hardwood as I scour every dim corner, every empty space. My heart tries to speed but I force my breath in and out through my nose, slowing my pulse until each beat is soft. Almost non-existent.
I take my time, checking every room before moving past the empty doorways. There are no sounds. No signs that anyone is at home. And considering the crowd around Helios at the gala, I’m not even surprised.
Rolling my eyes at the arrogance, I slip up to the master suite and slide one knife between my teeth to turn the knob.
The door opens inward on a sizeable room with a bed covered in thick midnight silk. Heavy blackout curtains hang from every window, and the room is frigid. Like an icebox.
I shiver and re-palm my blade before easing inside and making for the closet door. The twin panels are locked, but not much of an obstacle. Slipping my daggers back into their sheaths, I pull the small pouch on my hip.
Unfolding it, I select a pick and thin tension tool and insert both into the narrow lock.
My eyes seem to unfocus as Ifeelalong the shallow mechanism. The catch grabs and I press down. There is a barely audible click.
Smirking, I slide the tools into the pouch and enter the closet.
The space is full of expensive suits and polished dress shoes. A few gleaming canes wait in one corner near a fancy rack of ties. I push aside each cluster of items, careful not to leave my scent on anything. Empty sheetrock greets me.
My smile slips. Moving faster, I scour under the shelves for any cubbies or hiding places. But there is nothing. Nothing but an air vent …
I turn back to it and my head cocks.
Walking over, I crouch and feel along the edges of the grate. A small latch is wedged in one corner. The space barely large enough for my fingers to fit into it. I slip my smallest finger under it and lift. The grate unlocks. Pulling the panel to one side, I take in the midnight safe.
My thumb presses my com. “Vault has been located.”
A small burst of static. “Keep me posted,” comes Ruin’s affirmative.
I slide my lock pick set back into its place on my belt and open the other pocket. Pulling out the stethoscope, I press the diaphragm two inches from the combination dial and exhale.
Closing my eyes, I let my heartbeat slip away as I turn the dial. The soft rustle of the mechanism is loud in my ear. Each slight rasp is like the clack of boulders thanks to the diaphragm. But it's not what I need.
