Her breath escaped into my ear as I clutched closer—doing my best to crawl inside her. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders, hesitantly at first then braver as I buried my face into her neck and inhaled.
Christ, she smelled amazing beneath the stench of police and stupid laws. Laws I’d spent most of my life breaking and had the smallest amount of tolerance for.
Did she still mean what she’d said in that hotel room?
That she loved me?
Did she love me as a friend or something more?
The question stained the tip of my tongue, ready to demand an answer.
Because just like the other two epiphanies, I had another one.
I loved her.
I was in love with her.
There was nothing platonic or grateful about my love. It was cruel and wicked and unwanted because love almost destroyed me once, and it would destroy me again if I did what I was hardwired to do and hurt her.
And I would hurt her.
Eventually.
By loving her, I not only doomed myself but her too. She would be a part of my world—a world she still knew so little about. A world where war was coming, death was hunting, and curses were sure to rule.
“Elder...” Her whisper kissed my cheek, grounding me and sending me into a tailspin all at once. I shouldn’t have come here clear-headed. I should’ve smoked every joint on the Phantom and been numb before attempting to see her.
Someone patted me firmly on the arm, clearing an authoritative throat. “Put her down. Immediately.”
“Do as she says, Elder,” Pim breathed. “I’m okay. Truly.”
It hurt right down to my bones to obey, but slowly, I unlatched my death grip and released my hug—not that it could be called a hug...more like an embrace of apology, of acknowledgment, of soul-crushing fear of what I’d just signed my life to.
Backing away, I pinched the bridge of my nose and forced myself to get it together. At least standing with a precinct of police for an audience kept my twisted thoughts on Pim’s incarceration and her needs, not mine.
I didn’t get hard or drown in all the ways I needed to fuck her.
The past few days had done what my past tricks used to achieve and gave me enough mental distance to ignore sex.
Plus...I loved her, and because of that awful, terrible fact, I was now celibate as a fucking monk.
“She’s coming with me.” I glowered at the officer in her unattractive suit. “No discussion. Whatever you’ve booked her for. Unbook it.”
The woman nodded, a smirk planted firmly on her lips. “Shouldn’t you ask Tasmin if that’s what she wants?”
I froze.
Tasmin.
To hear it outside my head. To have it become real.
I’d fallen in love with Pimlico, not Tasmin. I had enough on my damn plate to worry about switching her name. The stupid tic I lived with refused to acknowledge the new address.
“I know what she wants. Her freedom. And you’re trying to take it from her.”
“Oh, I am, am I?” The officer crossed her arms. “Do you see her in cuffs?”
I scowled.
I didn’t know what this woman’s game was but no dice. I’d come here with the purpose of a jail break, not to speak in riddles. “You arrested her. You still have her in custody. I’ve come to rectify that.”
“So you thought you’d storm the station and throw some threats around, did you?” She rolled her eyes. “You think that would work?”
Who is this bitch?
“Listen.” I drew myself up to my full height. The black t-shirt I’d thrown on acted like an eclipse next to the sunshine that was Pim. “I don’t care what your angle is. I’ll hire a thousand lawyers. I’ll pull in favours with the prince. I’ll do whatever it damn well takes.”
Her eyes widened at the mention of his Royal Highness.
It was my turn to smirk. “That wasn’t an empty threat. I know the prince. We had a business arrangement, and I’m sure I still have his personal number on my phone.” Pulling my cell from my pocket, I made a show of unlocking the screen. “Want me to call him or will you do what I ask?”
Pimlico shot me a look then glanced at the officer, “Carlyn...it’s okay.”
Carlyn held up her hand to silence her, frowning. “You have it all wrong, Mr...”
“My name is not important. What is important is you releasing Pim. She’s coming with me.”
“This is highly entertaining. Not only do you think you can overthrow the law, but you also continue to speak for Tasmin while using a name I highly doubt she has a tolerance for. I don’t care who you’re friends with. I don’t care why you call her Pim instead of her correct address. I would’ve thought someone who obviously cares about my prisoner would want to know her opinion on the matter.”
I saw fucking red. “She’s not your prisoner.”
“You don’t know that.” Carlyn sniffed. “I have a good mind to lock you up for disturbing the peace.”
My blood ran cold. “You want me? Fine. Arrest me and let her go.” I pointed at Pim. “I’ll take the rap for her theft. I’ve stolen—”
“Whoa, whoa, okay...that’s enough.” Pim jumped in front of me, her small hand landing on my stomach. “I think you should calm down.”
“Calm down?” I snorted. “I’ll be calm when they do what I ask and release you.” Clamping my hands on her shoulders, I snapped, “What’s your bail? I’ll pay it. Right now.”
Whatever trial they thought Pim would face, she wouldn’t.
The moment I had her on the Phantom and sailing in international waters, she was out of their jurisdiction.
She smiled softly. “There is no bail.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m free to go.” Steel threaded her words. “So stop being so grouchy and be polite.”
My eyes shot wide. “Excuse me?” I’d flown here to bust her out of prison. To be her protector and liberator. Yet instead of a frightened inmate, I found a freshly bruised goddess just as regal, just as fearless as I remembered.
She was in control of herself and the situation.
I was...unneeded.
That thorn lodged deep in my heart, deflating my anger. I blinked past the red in my vision, ready to listen to whatever the hell was going on.
Pim’s fingers fluttered against my stomach, reminding me I could make an oath of celibacy as easy as breathing, but keeping it would be a fucking disaster.
Glancing at the officer then back to me, Pim smiled. “We’ve come to an arrangement. I won’t press charges if they won’t.”
“What charges?” I growled.
Pim rolled her shoulders, letting her hand trail down my belly and fall away. “I’ll tell you later.” With a shared look with the woman she’d called Carlyn, they moved toward the desk where I’d bellowed at the receptionist.
I wanted to bark that I needed to know now.
That reading the bare essentials of her file wasn’t enough for my information starving brain. I needed to know what she stole, from whom, and why the hell she was covered, yet again, in bruises.
Whoever had done that to her...they were motherfucking dead.
She shot me a look as my fists clenched. It took every ounce of control I had left, but I kept my lips tightly glued.
I behaved.
Moving closer to her, I remained stiff and alert—a guardian with weapons ready.