vamp. I’m going to arrange for a security detail to keep watch on your apartment for the next couple days in case he takes another go at you. Is your office building where you work secure, or will you need some assistance there as well?”
Huh. The officer was really going out of his way on this. There were not enough police in this city to cover something so inconsequential as watching out for my ass, even if it was only for a few days. “No, I think I’ll be okay. You don’t have to go to the trouble; I’ll call again if I need help.”
He smiled and shook his head, spreading his hands a bit. “Sorry, ma’am. If a vamp is after you, it’d be on my head if something bad happened because no one was around to prevent it. Being threatened with kidnapping is serious business. You’re lucky Mr. Royce stopped by when he did.” The officer and vamp shared a look that made me wonder what private joke I was missing.
I gave a frosty smile and brushed a stray curl out of my eyes. “Okay, whatever you think is best.”
He apparently didn’t get the hint since he smiled back and gave a cheery wave before heading off down the hall, Officer Bowman in tow. I shut the door behind them and stalked to the couch, dropping down with a muttered curse. Trying to do my job with a bunch of cops following my ass was going to be hell.
“So, you want to tell me why the cops were so happy to see you and so insistent on treating me like a Fort Knox shipment?”
Royce shrugged and resumed his comfortable lounging position. “Probably because I donated half a million dollars to their Police Association two weeks ago. I imagine they want to do what they can to ensure I remain so generous the next time they request donations.”
I blinked. “Yeah, I can see where that would do it.” No wonder they wanted to keep a tail on me. They wanted to be ingratiated with Royce, not protect me for the sake of it. Wonderful. Stifling another yawn, I rubbed at my eyes. “So what were you saying before?”
He studied me before speaking, looking hesitant. “It’s late, and I can see that you’re tired. I don’t think Max will try anything else tonight, but it may be wise for you to stay elsewhere for a few days.”
I shook my head, managing a wry grin. “The shields here work beautifully. I think Arnold outdid himself on them. I’ll be okay.”
“If you insist. I have an idea that might handle this problem, but I don’t think you’ll like it.”
“What’s that?” This ought to be good.
He hesitated again, looking away before speaking. “While I completely understand and respect that you are averse to being bound to anyone, as you know, you are still contractually connected to me. Since you refuse to hide yourself, perhaps we can use the connection we already have to appease Max without any loss to either of us. If you go to him willingly, it may cool his anger enough to listen to reason and accept your explanation regarding Anastasia’s death, where he did not listen to me.”
“Oh, hell no!” I exclaimed, jerking back from him. Was he crazy? I paused, eyes narrowing. “Wait, you already talked to him? You didn’t mention that!”
He smiled grimly. “No, I didn’t. We’ve been speaking by phone for the last several months, negotiating a price for the loss of his agent. He isn’t a forgiving sort, and our rivalries from past times have made him exceptionally bitter about Anastasia.”
“So what is handing me over to him supposed to solve? What does he want me for?”
Royce’s gaze was dead serious as he turned back to meet my eyes. I was almost too shocked by what he said to notice there wasn’t a hint of compulsion behind it.
“He wants you to take her place.”
“You are out of your fucking mind if you think I’m going to give myself to him. Especially to be turned.”
Royce shook his head, gesturing for me to calm down. “He won’t rest until he’s had some measure of vengeance. Taking you is probably the only thing he would consider adequate amends. However, if you went to him willingly, it would ruin any plans he might have of taking you by force. It would also make his claims for retribution look less valid in the eyes of those who enforce our laws. Or if he saw you as more trouble than you’re worth, he may leave you alone and attempt some other means of getting to me. It is also entirely possible that you could use the tools The Circle gave you and kill him.”
“I can’t believe this.” I was seething and not about to be placated so easily. I got up and stalked to the door, opening it and pointing to the hall. “Get. Out. Now! ”
With a deep sigh, Royce rose to his feet. He moved closer, but rather than leave, he put one hand on my shoulder and tilted my chin up with the other. I was sorely tempted to jerk away, but stood still long enough to hear him out. However, I kept glaring spitefully into his eyes, making sure it was no secret that I was still pissed at him for even suggesting I deliver myself up to Max or, worse, fight him to the death.
“I do not want to see harm come to you. I only make the suggestion as I don’t like the idea of leaving you to fend for yourself against Max, and I fear that he might hurt or kill you if he gets his hands on you by his own means. It’s much preferable if we handle this on our terms rather than his.”
I slowly pulled away from his touch, some of my anger cooling at his explanation. Despite his logic, I wasn’t sure how much I believed him. I was sure he was saying he cared about me because he was trying to save his own ass and saw me as a means of protecting him. After all, I’d done it before.
“There has to be another way. Whatever that option is, I’m going to find it.”
He let his hands drop to his sides, sliding them into the pockets of his slacks before leaning casually against the door frame. There was something about the look in his eyes I didn’t like. A winsome smile curved his lips, one that would’ve been warm and inviting if not for the hint of extended fang that was all too visible. “You could always let me turn you. He’d likely lose interest if I did.”
I immediately regretted having moved so far from my gun, stiffening and taking a few swift steps away from him until my back hit the wall. His gaze darkened, becoming all too predatory as he pushed off the door frame, closing in. Panic threaded through me, though I was clearheaded enough to wonder what brought this sudden hunger to the forefront. Particularly after he’d been taking such pains to be so carefully polite and cordial earlier; he only used this tactic with me when he saw no other way to force me to agree to something.
Before I could run, he reached out until his hands were pressed against the wall on either side of me, effectively trapping me between his arms. In return, I let out an involuntary squeak of fear, wondering how the hell this had turned so bad so fast. Maybe he just wanted to make a point again. Maybe he was pushing my buttons because he knew this would terrify me. Oh, God, please let him be trying to scare me and not really do anything to me.
I braced myself against the wall and put my hands against his chest, trying to push him back as he leaned toward me. I might as well have been trying to move a boulder.
He stopped of his own accord and stared down at me for a moment. His chest felt solid and cool, only the material of his shirt shifting under my hands. There was no sense of life to him, no heartbeat or
