"My lord,” Emelie said, her voice full of affectionate respect.
"Em,” he said, not even glancing at Sarah. “When you send someone back for the car, tell him to check inside and around the house. I want to make sure we didn't miss anyone."
Sarah sank deeper into the cushions and stared at him, brooding. Granted, she'd been way out of line the other night, and if he ever gave her a chance, she'd be happy to apologize profusely, but he didn't have to be such a dick about it. She'd never told anyone her real name, never trusted anyone that much, not even Cyn, so why would he think she'd spill her guts to him? She tried to build up some anger toward him, but it wasn't working. Of course, it didn't help that he looked so damn delicious standing there in his tight jeans, his t-shirt straining over his broad chest beneath the leather jacket. She remembered the smell of that jacket, the soft leather against her cheek, the zipper rubbing . . . Ah gods. She twisted around on the chair, turning her back on him and slouching down so she didn't have to look at him. He was probably relieved not to have to look at her anymore, too. Not that he'd been looking anyway. Son of a bitch.
Raj knew Sarah was watching him, knew she was waiting for some acknowledgment from him. He saw her flinch when he told Em to have one of the guys check the house and felt just a bit guilty. She'd been through a lot today and the worse was yet to come. She'd probably lose her job over this, and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to get a new one with all the publicity. That a**hole Blackwood would no doubt be happy to give her a job at his phony institute, but Raj knew she wouldn't even consider that. He wondered if she had enough money to get by for a while, and then wondered why he cared. It wasn't like she'd been honest with him about anything at all.
Besides, he knew if he gave an inch, if he let himself care even a little, that inch would become a mile and she'd be right back in his gut, her presence gnawing away at him until he was forced to touch her, and then . . . Well, there was no doubt where that would end. He shook his head, disgusted with himself. Jesus, he was nearly two hundred years old. Maybe he should grow a pair and stop acting like a Goddamned love-struck teenager. He heard a little hitch in Sarah's breath from behind the sofa and wondered if she was crying. Damn. He had to get out of this f**king warehouse.
He switched his gaze to Em and found her fighting a smile. Great. Just f**king great. “I think it's time we paid Blackwood a call,” he said gruffly. “He's got the resources to back something like this, and I'm curious why he was so set on keeping Sarah to himself."
"Plus he's kind of an a**hole."
"That too.” One of the bay doors rolled open suddenly to admit the two SUVs carrying Angel and the decoy team who'd whisked her away. The doors closed behind them and they piled out of the trucks, their excited post-op chatter falling quiet when they saw Raj standing there. “Problems, Yos?"
"None, my lord."
"Good. Simon, I need to know where Blackwood is right now, then you, Danny and Cervantes are with me. Everyone else, check your gear and take the rest of the night off. We'll meet first thing tomorrow night and see where we stand."
Emelie leaned in close, speaking low enough that only he could hear. “I'm not well-suited to the role of babysitter, boss. Yossi and Angel are here. They can take care of—” She stopped at the look on Raj's face. “Yeah, yeah.” She gave a long-suffering sigh. “You were a lot easier to work with before—"
"Don't say it, Em,” he warned.
She shrugged. She didn't have to say the words. Sarah Stratton had gotten under his skin good, and if he didn't get away soon, he never would. It was probably too late already, but he wasn't ready to admit that, fool that he was.
Sarah heard Raj leave. Not so much that he was noisy as that his vamps all became very quiet when he was around. The bay door slammed down and the noise level rose as his minions went about their usual activities. Several were heading in her direction and she wiped her eyes quickly, not wanting anyone to see she'd been weeping like a big baby. She dried her face on her t-shirt and glanced around, trying to remember where she'd dropped her duffle bag. Or if she'd even brought it in from the car.
"Your bag's back by the sleeping quarters.” Sarah jumped at the sound of Em's voice right behind her. She sat up and looked around to find Raj's lieutenant regarding her with a carefully blank expression. “Why don't I show you where you'll be sleeping?” Em asked.
Sarah nodded her agreement. She had to think about what she was going to do next, but she was too tired right now. Tomorrow she would drive . . . Wait a minute. “My car?” she asked Em.
"We'll send one of the human guards over in the morning. He'll check out the house and pick up your car then. Why? You in a hurry to go somewhere?"
"No,” Sarah said quickly. “I just feel better, you know, having my own transportation."
Em gave her a skeptical look. “Sure. Well, it'll probably be back here by the time you wake up. Come on, I'll show you around. You'll probably be with us a few days either way."
Don't count on it, Sarah thought privately. She'd be gone way before that.
Chapter Thirty-five
Raj and his team arrived well after midnight. It was a sprawling house on a quiet street full of sprawling houses. This one was a two-story redwood spread out over a lush two acres with a turquoise pool glimmering in the party lights. A big white tent had been set up and crowds of partygoers mingled inside and out, wearing full black tie regalia.
"This it, Simon?” Raj asked.
"Yep. He's still there. Several people are Tweeting from the party.
"Wait here. Danny, Cervantes . . . let's go."
Raj paused on the front steps, scanning the partygoers’ minds, looking for Blackwood. He winced at the overload of anger, jealousy and greed he associated with a gathering of this sort, but eventually zeroed in on the HR founder and planted a suggestion that would take him into the house and away from the crowds. Telepathy was Raj's particular strength—but the fewer humans he had to deal with the better.
"No need to knock,” he said, walking up to the door. “Mr. Blackwood is about to let us in."
True to his prediction, the door opened and Blackwood stood there, staring at them in confusion. “Gregor?” he asked. “What—” His eyes widened as he took in the two bulky vampires flanking Raj.
"Let's talk, Blackwood,” Raj said pleasantly.
"Really, I don't think—"