"Can you grab those?"
Dmitri would have preferred having his hands free to fight if need be, but he figured the faster he did what Quinn wanted, the faster they could get out of there. He grabbed the bags and looped the straps over his shoulder. "We need to go quick. Stay right on my heels."
"I'll be as quick as I can," Quinn replied, "but I'm working with little people here. They don't always move fast."
Dmitri frowned and then reached down to pick up the little girl. "I am Dmitri. You will not be afraid."
He eyed the little girl, waiting for her reaction to him and his words. She eyed him right back. Dmitri wasn't really sure what to think, but apparently, they had come to some sort of understanding. Hannah laid her head down on his shoulder and stuck her thumb in her mouth.
Dmitri raised an eyebrow as he turned to look at Quinn. He almost laughed at the man's slack jawed look. "Can we go now?"
Quinn nodded. "Yeah."
Dmitri turned without another word and led the way out of the apartment. He tapped his comm. unit. "We're headed out."
"Copy that," Saul replied. "We'll be ready."
Dmitri kept a tight hold of the child in his arms as he made his way down the stairs. He was curious about this place, even more so now that he knew Quinn had run here to hide. It was readily apparent from the nursing staff and medical equipment that the place was some sort of clinic, one that catered to vampires—or half vampires—rogues, and humans who donated blood.
It definitely needed to be investigated a little more.
Dmitri barely kept from growling when they received more than one strange look as they walked through the clinic. He didn't like eyes on his rajaaka and the kids.
His new family.
That was going to take some getting used to. He'd always dreamed of finding his rajaaka, but he never even considered the possibility that he would come with kids. He wasn't exactly averse to the idea. He just wasn't sure what to do with them.
When they reached the front door, Dmitri stopped and hit his comm. unit again. "We're at the door. Is it clear?" He frowned when he received no reply. "Saul? Nico? Come back."
The silence was not good.
Dmitri turned, set the bags down on the floor, and then put Hannah down, giving her a little push toward Quinn. "Stay here."
"What's wrong?" Quinn asked.
"My men are not responding."
Quinn paled.
"Do you know where Marcus Aguilera's estate is located?"
Quinn nodded.
"If anything happens, take the kids and get there as fast as you can. Prince Marcus knows who you are. He will keep you safe."
Quinn started shaking his head. "No, I don't want to—"
"You have to, Quinn. It's not safe out here on your own."
"I've been on my own for a very long time."
"And I'm sure you've done admirably, but something is going on with the rogues. I want you and the kids somewhere safe." When Quinn's jaw firmed and then he opened his mouth, Dmitri played the last card he had. "Please?"
Quinn huffed and his shoulders slumped. "Fine, but it would be easier if we just went out the back door together."
"I need to find out what happened to my men. I have an entire unit of enforcers out there. One of them should have answered me. I can only think of a few reasons why they wouldn't, and none of them are good."
There was a glimmer of fear in Quinn's green eyes. "We could just wait here and you could come back for us."
Dmitri stepped closer to Quinn and then cupped the side of his face. "I will always come for you, Quinn." The man needed to know that. "There is nothing in this world that could keep me from coming for you or the kids."
Quinn's eyes widened. "You really mean that."
"I do."
"Because I'm your rajaaka?"
"Yes."
His brow flickered as he frowned. "But you don't even know me."
"I will." Dmitri couldn't prevent the slight curl up of his lips. "I will know you better than you know yourself."
"Just like that?"
"Yes."
"I wish I had your optimism."
"You are unfamiliar with what the bond between a vampire and his rajaaka is like. You will understand the bond once I claim you."
"Claim me?"
"Yes." He couldn't wait. "I will bite you here"—he grazed the side of Quinn's throat with his fingertips—"and say the ritual words that will bind us together for all eternity."
Quinn's eyes narrowed. "You try to chain me to your bed, and I'll cut