“Bullshit. There’s no need for Bernie to know about witches.” Her breath heated on the end at the direct hit, but she’d never admit it. Not to Kell. Not even to herself, if she could avoid it.
“I’d like for you to be my strength, Alexandra.” His eyes glittered with an expression she couldn’t identify but wasn’t sure she liked.
“Not for me,” she said slowly, her lungs compressing.
“Too late. If anything happened to you, my heart would be ripped out.” He lifted one muscled shoulder. “So I can’t let anything happen to you, now can I?”
Pleasure burst through her at the declaration—followed by unease. “I can protect myself, but thank you for the hint that you were about to turn into a Neanderthal. I’m glad we had this discussion.” She tried to keep sarcasm at bay and failed miserably.
“I do appreciate that we’re on the same wavelength.” Sarcasm from Kell still seemed classy. “So I’m going to ask you, very nicely, if you wouldn’t mind taking a leave of absence and visiting my home in Dublin for a short time.”
“No.”
“You can take your mother and sister with you, all expenses paid, and have a lovely vacation,” he continued.
“No.”
“That way, I can take care of the drug issue here and then join you in my homeland, which I truly believe you’ll enjoy.” His tone remained level, but he drew his hands free of the pockets.
“No.”
“You’re in danger here, Alexandra, and it’s my fault. You’re in danger because you’re my mate, and you’re in danger from a witch, so this is my responsibility, and I have to take action.” His words, no longer warm and calm, emerged clipped.
“No.” She ignored his rapidly approaching anger and focused. “Why do you think I’m in danger?”
Kell’s gaze remained steady. “Whoever’s behind Apollo will discover, at some point, that you’re mine. You will be in danger at that point.”
She’d ignore the archaic language for the moment. “Good. Let them try to come and get me.”
“That’s not how I work. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry—be pissed.” Her blood pumped faster with the thrill of a good hunt. “We can take them down. Bad guys are bad guys regardless of the location or, ah, species.”
“My duty is to you and to the Coven Nine. If you’re in danger, my focus is split. So you’re going to Ireland, Alexandra.”
She smiled. “No, I’m not.” It wasn’t the time to arrest him, and frankly, if they fought hand-to-hand, she’d lose. “I’m going to find out everything about Simone and Trevan Demidov, but I’d rather you just told me the truth.”
“I’d rather you told me why.”
“According to my sources, Demidov is somebody I need to investigate regarding Apollo. I did and found his connection to your cousin . . . interesting.” She waited for his response.
“Your sources? You mean, your father?”
She blinked. It figured Kell would have decent sources of his own.
“Yes.”
“Demidov is dead.” Kellach rubbed a hand through his dark hair. “He and Simone dated, he kidnapped her, and he ultimately died for it. Not a good source.”
“There’s no record of his death.” At least, none she’d found so far.
“My friend ripped off his head, so I can promise you, Demidov isn’t around any longer.” A veil dropped over Kell’s eyes.
She’d check relatives of Demidov. The lead was a good one, or her father wouldn’t have tempted her with it. “Thanks for the info. I’ll be in touch.” She turned to go.
That quickly, without making a sound, Kellach blocked the door in front of her. “You’re not going anywhere, Alexandra.”
Chapter 27
She paused, her breath catching at his speed. “How did you do that?”
“I moved quickly.” He leaned back against the door, the pose casual, the expression he wore anything but.
Close to him, her skin heated, the brand on her hip burned, and arousal danced through her body. She swallowed. “Get out of my way.”
“No.” His voice roughened.
She planted one hand on his chest—hard. “I’m not some damsel in distress you hide in a country far away. I’m a cop, and a damn good one. Now get the hell out of my way so I can go do my job.”
Slowly, deliberately, he lifted his arm and checked his watch. “You’re off the clock, Detective.”
She shoved, and he didn’t move an inch. “I’m trying to be reasonable here, I really am, but if you don’t move, I’m arresting you.”
So he moved.
One second, she stood, hand on his chest. The next, she found her back against the door, her ass in his hands, and her legs straddling his hips. It should’ve pissed her off, but shocked humor bubbled through her, and she threw back her head to laugh. “God, you do move fast,” she gasped.
“Don’t be cute.” He leaned in, his mouth an inch away, his gaze keeping hers. “I can’t fight cute right now.”