"The visual's still blocked.” She too spoke in a bare whisper. “I don't know about sound."
He relaxed fractionally. “I have missed you, my Cyn."
"You left me, you bastard."
"I was a fool."
Cyn closed her eyes against the rush of emotion triggered by his words. She was thankful for the still dark room, even though she knew he could feel the sudden jolt in her pulse and probably smell the tears that were inexplicably filling her eyes. He gathered her close, sliding both arms around her with a regretful sigh.
"I am sorry, lubimaya."
Cyn let her head rest on the thickness of his arm. Lubimaya, he called her. It was Russian. My love. You are such a fool, Cynthia.
A door slammed somewhere outside the cell and Raphael tensed again. “Boyd,” he said as the lights snapped on. “And others are with him."
* * * *
When the door opened, they were both standing, Cyn slightly behind Raphael. He'd pushed her there at the first click of the lock. It was instinctive on his part, so Cyn tried to ignore the implication that she needed protecting. She scowled at his back, but couldn't help feeling a little pleased.
The first person into the room was Boyd. He slipped inside quickly and pulled the door nearly closed behind him, walking directly to Raphael with the vampire's confiscated belt and tie.
"My lord,” he said, holding them out with a wry smile.
Raphael took the belt first, sliding it through the loops at his waist and buckling it on with rapid movements. The tie came next. He slipped it around his neck and turned to Cyn with a raised eyebrow. There were no mirrors in the room. She knotted the silk with the practiced moves of a woman who'd known a lot of men in suits, then straightened his collar and smoothed the tie down his broad chest. When she finished, he took her hand and raised it to his lips for a soft kiss, before turning back to Boyd.
The lawyer's expression was twinkling with poorly concealed glee as he reported.
"The District Attorney offers his profound regrets, my lord, and assures me that all charges have been dismissed. He would have been here himself to convey the same had I not convinced him otherwise, advising him you would most certainly prefer to maintain a low profile. By the way, Ms. Leighton's research was most helpful,” he added with a nod in Cyn's direction.
His cell phone signaled an incoming text message and he paused, checking the display. “Duncan has arrived with an appropriate escort, my lord. We will exit through the rear of the building."
Raphael nodded formally, but clapped a hand on Boyd's slender shoulder in thanks before saying, “Cyn,” without looking at her. She came up next to him. “Are you ready, lubimaya?” he asked her.
Cyn huffed out a laugh. “A thousand times ready,” she agreed.
He pulled her into a quick one-armed embrace, kissing the top of her head. She caught a look of surprise on the lawyer's face, before Raphael let go. “We're ready then,” he said.
The hallway outside was once again packed with people, looking considerably less happy than they had earlier. Santillo lurked in the background, shooting daggers at the vampire, his gaze shifting to spear Cyn with no less hatred, as Boyd cleared a path through the crowd. Cyn ignored Santillo, but saw Hartzler standing in an open doorway staring at Raphael in awe. She caught his eye and nodded her thanks. She would do more later, in a less public venue. There was no point in getting the tech in trouble with Santillo and his buddies. She might not understand Hartzler's obsession, but he had clearly demonstrated his loyalties, and it wouldn't hurt to have him on their side in the future.
They turned left, away from the front of the building, heading for a narrow emergency exit. Boyd exchanged a look with someone in the crowd, apparently verifying that the alarm had been disengaged. He pulled the door open slowly. Duncan was waiting outside, the relief on his face short-lived as he snarled at the humans trailing behind Raphael. He made a curt gesture and the vampire bodyguards closed in, forming a protective circle around Raphael and Cyn as they made their way over to a big black SUV whose bulk all but blocked the narrow alley. There was enough room for the passenger doors to open on one side, but no more. Raphael stopped and gestured Cyn to go before him, but she shook her head.
"My truck's parked out front."
Raphael frowned. “One of the others—"
"No,” she interrupted, then said softly. “I appreciate it, but no. I want to check on Mirabelle, see if she's heard from Liz yet. If not, I need to start looking again. It shouldn't be taking this long and..."
Her words wound down. Raphael looked ... hurt? What had he thought, that she'd jump right into his bed, now that he'd made all nice to her, now that he'd apologized? Well, okay, that actually wasn't a bad idea, but ... No. She wasn't going to be that easy. She had a life, a job, and a teenaged girl who was still out there on the street with a killer on the loose. But she wasn't going to say any of that right here with his vampires listening in.
"It's important, Raphael. I need to find her."
He regarded her steadily, his eyes glittering with emotion. “Very well,” he said somewhat stiffly. “If you require—"
"I will.” She stepped away, letting the protective circle close around him, forming a wall between them. He stared at her a moment longer, and then disappeared into the SUV. Duncan shut the door after him, but walked over to Cyn before climbing into the front seat.
"Mirabelle's appointment is—"
"I know, Duncan. Don't worry. We'll both be there."