He reached for a silk tie from his briefcase. “I do. With you.”
A beautiful smile lightened her already stunning face. “You’re taking me to the gallery opening?”
“Of course. You want to go, and since we’re at level red, you need an enforcer as an escort.” He tried to secure his tie and failed.
Simone gracefully rose and crossed to knot his tie. “You’re my favorite enforcer, Adam.”
Kell frowned. “Hey. What about me?”
Simone tossed her long, black hair. “You’re too preoccupied with a human cop. Adam is the best.”
The only reason Adam was going was because he knew Simone would go on her own, and then he’d have to track her down. Efficient as always, Adam hit two birds with one stone.
Kellach rolled his eyes. “’Tis probably a good idea. Adam is getting soft, just doing research on the mineral.”
Adam chuckled. “At least I’m not soft on a human cop.” He tucked a gun at his waist and another at his ankle before shrugging into a jacket. While Adam might look like a big guy on his way to a formal affair, Kellach knew just what a badass his older brother could be.
Brilliant, cold, and merciless, Adam went for the straight kill and didn’t waste time or energy on any other solution. If he found the person or persons responsible for manufacturing Apollo, he’d take them out cleanly and efficiently.
On the other hand, Kell wanted a chance to gain information. To figure out not only how, but who and why, somebody wanted to harm the Coven Nine. His curiosity had helped him in his career and in his life. The envelope from the king still sat on Kell’s bed table, unopened and unread. He’d rather his mate just told him everything about herself, but even so, that information tempted him.
“Want to come to the gallery opening?” Simone asked.
“No, but thank you.” The nape of his neck itched, and he could almost hear a clock counting down. “I’ll get some work done and maybe investigate a few of these names.” While Alexandra was at work, he might as well do the same to keep himself from going to look for her.
“Suit yourself,” Simone said, sweeping from the room.
“Don’t kill anybody, Adam,” Kell murmured, his gaze memorizing the compiled list.
“No promises,” Adam muttered as he followed Simone. At the door, he stopped. “This test in Seattle, of humans right now?”
“I know,” Kell murmured. “As soon as it’s perfected, then witches are in danger, and that’s going to happen soon.”
Adam nodded. “I believe so, too. You think human army with abilities?”
“Yes.” Kell had seen the end-game since day one. Create an army, possibly a coalition of motorcycle clubs, with the same abilities as the witches had and then take them down. “We may end up fighting humans with stronger abilities than we have.” The ticking clock was getting louder, because soon the next phase of Apollo would be arriving. He just knew it.
Adam nodded. “Soon. It’s coming soon.” He hurried to catch up with Simone.
Kell didn’t bother nodding. Somewhere on the list in front of him was somebody who wanted to harm what was his. Adam had it right. Kell would go hunting, and then he’d go killing. This time, he’d forget curiosity and answers.
This was war.
Chapter 22
Lex strolled into her shitty apartment early morning to find Kellach Dunne sprawled on her bed in a Black Sabbath T-shirt and ripped jeans, his hands behind his head. “What the hell?” she muttered.
He lifted an eyebrow. “How was the stakeout?”
“A waste of time.” She glanced at muted light pouring through the window, not looking forward to doing the same thing that coming night. “Why are you on my bed?”
“Because you’re not in mine.” He watched her, eyes lazy, body at rest. Yet a sense of danger, of barely contained energy, cascaded around him. “I figured you’d probably come back here, so here I am.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “I live here.”
“Not anymore,” he said softly.
She stilled and sucked in a deep breath. “We’re dating, Kell.” With a side of immortality, but still. “I’m not moving in with you.”
“Aye, you are.” He pushed off the bed, towering over her. “Until we get Apollo figured out, and until you’re fully immortal and not so vulnerable, you are moving to a better secured home.”
“Better secured? Meaning wherever you are?” She pressed her hands on her hips.
“Aye.”
Aye. Bossy Irish enforcer. “If I become completely immortal, then you’ll back off?”
He grinned.
She didn’t think so.
“There’s no such thing as completely immortal, as we can be beheaded.” He ran gentle hands down her arms.
Irritation, not quite temper, but suffocating tension filtered through her, and she shoved out. Flames trembled on her arms, bluish-green, and then snuffed out.
Her eyes widened. “Um.”
Kell stepped back. “Very nice.” He rubbed her arms again. “You created fire.”
Yeah, but she hadn’t meant to. “It didn’t hurt at all.”