Not organized crime, Jordan thought. Chimera.
And Malcolm Rook dropped off the face of the planet because he wasn’t permitted to live openly. It’s what had been worrying her all morning because it’d suddenly dawned on her that she wouldn’t be able to live openly, either. It’s why he was sticking close, because people knew where she lived and worked. Why they had to “talk”—he had yet to drop the bomb that she had to pack up and disappear. Mr. Conner, if that was his real name, would probably be suggesting the same thing to Maze, who was not going to cooperate no matter what threats he threw at her.
Vince touched her arm to catch her attention again. “Get away from him and stay away. In fact, I’d feel more comfortable if you came and stayed at my place for a little while. Separate rooms, of course. A little vacation.”
Huh. Vince actually was a reasonable option. He made sense.
Michael, or Malcolm, had lied to her, which made her tighten with anxiety, but the more she thought about it…she didn’t blame him. Either she trusted him or she didn’t. And if he had wanted to harm her or Maze, he’d had the opportunity several times.
“That’s a generous offer,” she said. “I need a little time to think about it.”
She didn’t need time—the answer was no—but putting Vince off seemed easier than refusing, which would beg other questions and concerns.
And if she was correct about what Rêve had done to her life, then it was pointless to come in to work tomorrow anyway. Messieurs Conner and Rook could deal with the local authorities when Vince put in his missing persons report about her.
Served them right.
“You don’t have the luxury of time, Jordan,” Vince pressed. “Malcolm Rook, a known criminal, sits a few yards from this room.”
She smiled reassuringly. “And as far as he knows, you’re just a client. Not a friend who’s helping me out.”
The friend thing seemed to work, because Vince relaxed. “I’d like to be more than a friend. Leave with me now. We’ll work out the rest as we go. You can even bring your sister. I know you don’t do anything without her.”
Jordan cooled at the mention of Maisie. “I’m not prepared to make a decision right now.”
“Well, I can’t very well let you leave with Malcolm Rook.”
Vince was smooth. Vince was polite and articulate. But for the first time, she heard the subtle break of a threat.
“There’s a simple way to resolve this.” Jordan stepped to the corner of the conference room, where she could signal Malcolm to join them so he could explain why he was there himself. Put him on the spot.
“The way to resolve this is to get the hell out of here, then call the police.”
Jordan wasn’t listening. She’d caught Malcolm’s eye—he straightened in his chair when he noticed her.#p#分页标题#e#
He didn’t seem to realize that his creepy little brother was back, this time in the waking world, standing with malevolent patience at his shoulder.
Oh dear God.
“Jordan, let’s leave together right now,” Vince was saying behind her. “I have people who can protect you.”
Aggravated, she half-turned, not taking her gaze from the boy, and waved Vince silent.
It was Vince’s body dropping to the floor that brought her attention all the way around.
Dark and Deadly: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance by Jennifer Ashley, Alyssa Day, Felicity Heaton, Erin Kellison, Laurie London, Erin Quinn, Bonnie Vanak and Caris Roane
CHAPTER 6
“I told you we needed to talk,” Rook said. The elevator wasn’t coming quickly enough, so he directed Jordan to the stairs. She’d go even faster without those damn shoes.
“I’m freaking out here,” Jordan snapped. “You tell me what just happened right now.”
“You drowned him, is all.” Rook was reeling. Holy hell, she drowned him. “He’ll float back up to the surface sooner or later.”
Rook had propped him in a chair to sleep off the effects. With his head bobbing forward like that, Millions looked like he was reading something on his tablet. Not the file on Malcolm Rook, however. That had been deleted.
Aptitude didn’t begin to describe the talent Jordan had. Brilliance got a little closer. Genius?
“Drowning sounds like he’s dead.” Panic laced her every word.
Technically, she probably could kill if she wanted to.
Rook paused on the fourth floor landing. Looked her right in the eyes. “Drowning is Darkside lingo, that’s all. When we go under, it’s like going under water. Drowning someone means you shoved them deep into their dreams.”