Lover Uncloaked (Stealth Guardians #1) - By Unknown Page 0,59

as he always had: dark brown hair, parted in the middle, the longer strands hanging into this eyes. He wore a four-day stubble, and his eyebrows were slightly elevated ridges when he furrowed them as he did now.

Glaring at his old friend, Aiden pulled his ancient dagger from his boot, ready for combat.

When Leila didn’t move, he repeated his order. “I said now!”

Hamish raised a hand, his stance remaining strangely relaxed. “That’s not necessary.”

“What the fuck, Hamish! You’ve got nerves showing up here.” Aiden advanced on him, both relieved and angry at the same time. Relieved that his friend wasn’t dead, and angry because he couldn’t tell whose side he was on.

“I had no choice, but I have no time to explain now. We have to leave.” Hamish nodded at Leila. “Get all your things. It’s not safe here anymore.”

“The hell she will.” Aiden glanced at her. “You can’t trust him, Leila. He went rogue. He might be working for the demons now.”

With a shriek she rushed to his side. Aiden acknowledged her presence by squeezing her arm briefly.

Hamish let out an audible breath. “That’s not true. And in your gut you know it. I’m not working for them. I’ll explain everything, but later.”

Aiden shook his head. He didn’t know what to believe. Could he really trust his gut? Or Hamish’s words for that matter? Conflicted, he let his eyes wander over Hamish’s face, focusing on his eyes. They stared back at him as always, clear and without blinking, a soft brown. Not a hint of green. But was that proof enough?

“Explain it now. We have all the time in the world. And if I don’t like your explanation, I’ll acquaint you with my dagger.” It was best to make his position clear immediately. He wouldn’t take any bullshit.

Hamish gave a slow shake of his head. “I understand your sentiments, I do. The circumstances don’t show me in a favorable light.”

Aiden snorted. No, they didn’t. They showed him in a crappy light. So why had he shown up here?

“But you would have done the same in my situation.”

Aiden growled low and dark. “You abandoned me and my charge. Because of you, the demons got control over her. Because of you, I had to kill her.”

Hamish darted a nervous look past them toward the window. Early afternoon sun shone into the room.

“I had bigger fish to fry, and once you know the whole story, you’ll agree with me. Now pack up your charge and let’s get out of here before they come,” Hamish insisted.

Bigger fish than fighting the demons and saving his charge? Aiden had a hard time believing that claim. “We’re not going anywhere with you. You can’t expect me to trust you after all that’s happened. The council is already on your heels, but frankly I’m glad, that I’m facing you first. We have a bill to settle.” Aiden pushed Leila behind him and took a step forward, arms stretched out to his sides, hips squared.

“As much as I’d like to fight this out, there isn’t the time.”

The barking of a dog came from outside the building.

Hamish blinked. “Shit, they brought dogs.”

“The demons?” Aiden asked.

“No, it’s not the demons who are after your charge, not right now anyway.”

“Who is after me?” Leila asked from behind him, her voice laced with panic.

Hamish shrugged. “Honey, I wish I knew, but whoever they are, they just found you.”

Aiden heard the barking of the dogs come closer. This wasn’t good. He knew exactly what the arrival of dogs could mean.

“But how?” she despaired.

“Take your pick: Manus, a mole in the council, a phone call traced back to here, it doesn’t matter . . . ”

Suddenly, a loud bang came from downstairs. Instantly, excited voices echoed in the building, doors opened and closed, and hasty footsteps filled the corridors.

“Raid!” somebody screamed.

Hamish rushed to the door and opened it an inch, peering out into the hallway. “They’re making it look like a police raid, but they’re coming for Leila.”

He looked over his shoulder. “It’s up to you now, Aiden. Do you want to save your charge or not? Because if you don’t come with me now, they’ll be here in thirty seconds and kill her. There are too many of them to fight off.”

TWENTY-ONE

Aiden realized he only had seconds to make a decision. He faced two immediate dangers: falling into the hands of the people raiding the Thai massage parlor, or being led into a trap by Hamish, the man he once called brother. Had