"Don't you think you're being a little ridiculous?"
"Some days. Not today."
Again, Harper sighed. "Fine. I'll do it later," she lied.
"Now you're just lying." Raini took Harper's hand and pulled her out of her seat.
"You're stronger than you look."
Raini shoved the bag at her. "Go get it over with."
The urgency in Raini's tone sent a chill skittering down Harper's spine. She cocked her head, watching the succubus closely. "You really do think this is necessary, don't you?"
Raini gave her a wan smile. "Yeah, I really do."
Swallowing hard, Harper strode out of the office and went off to "humor" Raini so she could have that peace of mind she seemed to need. But when Harper walked to her station ten minutes later, she wasn't feeling so nonchalant anymore. Raini took one look at her face and flashed her a small smile that was both anxious and supportive.
Devon's brow creased. "You okay, Harper? You're awful pale."
Harper licked her lips. She wasn't ready to tell them yet. Besides, Knox should be the first to hear the news. "I just feel a little lightheaded, that's all." That wasn't entirely untrue.
"Huh." Devon's expression said she wasn't buying it.
"Knox called me," lied Harper, gently tapping her temple – a temple that still ached like a bitch. "He wants to see me. I shouldn't be more than twenty minutes."
"Take as long as you need," said Raini.
With a nod, Harper cleared her throat. Pretty much in a daze, she grabbed her purse, and slipped on her jacket. Ignoring Khloë's intense scrutiny, she walked out of the studio with Tanner close behind.
Sidling up to her as they walked along the loud, busy strip, he said, "Where are we going?"
"Knox wants to see me." If the hellhound detected the lie, he didn't show it. He simply stayed at her side, protective as ever, guarding her from pedestrians.
It didn't take long to reach the office that was located above the combat circle. Heading behind the dome, she jogged up the flight of stairs and over to the door where Levi stood like a sentry.
Surprise briefly flashed in Levi's eyes, but he stepped aside and knocked on the door. "Harper's here to see you."
"I could have done that myself," she grumbled at the reaper, but he just smiled.
At Knox's "Come in!" she turned the metal knob and pushed the door open, feeling a little like she was walking to her doom. Leaving Tanner with Levi, she then closed the door behind her.
Mouth curved, Knox rose from his leather chair, rounded the desk, and crossed to her. "Hey, baby." He slid his arms around her waist and kissed her long and hard. "This is a surprise."
///
Harper almost laughed. If he thought this was a surprise, he was going to find her news one hell of a shock. "How are you?" Yes, she was procrastinating – go judge her.
"Better now that you're here." He nipped her lower lip and then laved the mark. "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but what brings you here in the middle of a work day?"
"Um … well, we kind of need to talk about something."
"We kind of need to do it?"
"Yeah. See, I just … Well, the thing is … I mean, you need to … God, there's really no easy way to -"
The office door burst open, and Levi declared, "Knox, we got a problem."
Knox went rigid. "What sort of problem?"
"Talia's apartment is on fire. That kind of problem."
Harper's mouth fairly dropped open. Well, shit.
In no time at all, Harper found herself standing outside Talia's apartment building for the second time in the space of a week. Nobody was sitting on the old couch outside this time. Nu-uh. Everybody simply stood across the street, staring at the blackened section of the building and watching as dark smoke drifted into the sky.
A fireman walked over to Harper and Knox, covered in soot and sweat; she recognized him from their lair. He nodded respectfully. "Mr. Thorne, Ms. Wallis."
Knox inclined his head at him. "What happened here, Blaine?"
"The fire didn't spread beyond Talia's apartment. Oddly enough, it was easing off before we even arrived … as if it was under the control of someone."
"Hellfire," said Knox quietly.
Blaine nodded. "That would be my guess."