He dangled the cherry of the Lia Saifire in front of our eyes then yanked it away, ensuring at the same time that the jewel’s whereabouts were well publicised. He found a weak spot with Taylor and bought his loan, then demanded immediate repayment – along with impossible interest – to force the issue. Who else but a Sidhe princeling could pull the police’s strings and get Brochan and Speck arrested on nonsensical charges? Byron pretended to be into me while I pretended ‒ sort of pretended ‒ to be into him. He made me promise to come back tonight. All this was part of some elaborate plot to make me do as he wished and go to the Sidhe court. I still had no idea why but I didn’t bloody care. The utter wanker. The total bastard. The…
‘You can come out now, Integrity.’
I swore bitterly and flung open the door, glaring at him. ‘You prick,’ I hissed. ‘You set me up.’
He linked his hands behind his head and grinned at me. ‘You set me up too.’
I jabbed my finger at his chest. He was bloody lucky I hated violence because right now I was tempted to poke his eyeballs out. ‘Why? Why go to all this trouble?’
‘If you’d answered the first missive…’
‘Missive? What are you? An eighteenth-century weirdo? Why not phone? Or show up at my door? If you’d talked to me in person…’
‘You were already making plans to run off,’ Byron said calmly. ‘You wouldn’t have listened. This way I got your attention.’
‘My friends are in jail!’ I shrieked. ‘My mentor is hiding out in my flat under the impression that his throat is about to slit!’ I glared at the Wild Man. ‘Your henchman knocked me out!’
There was a rumble. ‘Sorry about that,’ the Wild Man said. ‘I tried to be gentle but you’re pretty fragile for a Sidhe.’
‘It wasn’t his fault,’ Byron said. ‘Candy was under orders.’
‘Candy? That’s his name?’ I muttered under my breath. ‘You’re all a bunch of nutters.’
Byron swept a bow while I continued to glower. ‘At your service, ma’am.’
‘The champagne,’ I accused. ‘You knew it was spiked and you switched the glasses.’
‘Hello? I’m a telekinesis expert, remember?’
I shook my head. All this bloody time… ‘You can’t keep me here,’ I spat. ‘This is a free country and I’m not eleven years old.’
‘No. You’re not that pathetic either.’
I narrowed my eyes. ‘You remember who I am.’
He looked at me patiently. ‘Integrity, how many other women are there with your colouring wandering the streets? Of course I know who you are. Everyone knows who you are.’
What did that mean? I cleared my throat. ‘Everyone?’
‘Your location was found less than forty-eight hours after you flitted from Bull Scrymgeour. Lots of people have been keeping tabs on you, not just me. We needed to know where you were because we knew we might possibly need you in the future.’ His eyes gleamed. ‘I must say, you’ve had a very interesting career.’
My nausea increased. ‘Let me out of here.’
Byron stepped back. ‘You’re free to go at any time.’
‘Just as well,’ I huffed. I stalked past him, eyeing Candy in case he tried anything. Fortunately, the Wild Man didn’t move a muscle. I placed my hand on the doorknob and tugged.
‘There is just one thing,’ Byron interjected.
I swung my head round. ‘What?’
‘Your mentor, whatever you want to call him, still owes me money.’
Shite. Well, I’d just find another way to solve that little problem. ‘You’ll get your money.’ I opened the door.
‘And your friends are still enjoying the very best that the prison service can offer.’ He tutted. ‘It would be a real shame if someone tipped the police off about all those thefts that have been occurring in the city. Your friends might never get out.’
I stared at the lift. It was right there, waiting for me. All I had to do was get in it and go home. I clenched my fists. ‘What do you want?’ I asked finally.
‘Close the door, come inside, sit down and we can talk about it. I promise, it’s really not that bad.’
Like I’d believe that. My shoulders slumped. So you can never escape your past after all. Fine. I’d listen to what he had to say then I’d take Bob and make whatever wishes were necessary to get myself and my adopted family out of this mess. Sod the consequences. Byron Moncrieffe might think he was holding all the cards but he didn’t know everything.
I crossed my arms and stalked over to the sofa. I pushed myself into the far corner. The stupid hot pink dress immediately rode up my legs. I pulled down the hem and crossed my arms again. ‘Speak then.’