People who fear what cannot easily be explained. People who cannot trust what their hearts know to be true. She closed her heart to his thoughts. This wasn't the time to argue about her refusal to trust. “Is that why you killed Jasper's brother?"
Again Michael hesitated. Pain rose briefly through his soul. She wanted to reach out and tell him she understood. Instead, she clenched her fingers and waited for him to continue.
"No. I killed Jasper's brother because he murdered my brother, Patrick." Revenge. Everything was based on revenge, and it could end up killing them all. “How often have you and Jasper met in the past?"
Then she frowned. “If you're three-hundred-years-old and Jasper is only one hundred, wouldn't your brother have been well and truly dead before Jasper and his brother were even born?" The pain in Michael's soul became sharper. “Patrick was a vampire." And Michael had turned him. Nikki wondered why. “How often have you and Jasper met in the past?"
"Three times."
And each time Jasper had somehow slipped from Michael's noose. But it wouldn't happen again, she thought, staring at him. Deep in the dark depths of his eyes she could see the promise of death. One way or another, Michael was determined to finish it here in Lyndhurst. Foreboding pounded through her. Shivering, she turned away and locked the car door. Dark laughter ran through her mind, taunting her. She closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath. Jasper wouldn't win this battle, either.
"Let's go inside,” she said, avoiding Michael's gaze and walking around to the front of the car. “I should be able to find something to trace Jake with."
She climbed the steps and unlocked the door. The office was as cold as the ice forming in the pit of her stomach. Dark laughter again scurried past the edges of her mind.
"Nikki.” Michael touched her arm and swung her around to face him. “Jasper's only teasing you, trying to make you fear every step."
"He's doing a damn good job of it,” she muttered, wishing Michael would wrap his arms around her and hold her until the scent of evil left her skin. But it was no use wishing for things that could not be. He couldn't stay. She didn't want him to stay.
So why did the thought of him leaving cut pain through her heart?
He placed a finger under her chin, raising it until her gaze met his. “He can't control you, Nikki, only undermine your confidence."
It was a lie. He knew, as she did, that Jasper only had to call, and she'd probably go running. “Why is he bothering? I'm no threat to him."
Michael's smile was edged with anger, his eyes layered with a darkness that chilled her soul.
"He fears you, Nikki.” He raised a hand, pushing a wisp of hair away from her eyes. His touch trailed heat against the ice of her skin. “Fears the strength of your abilities." His touch felt so good ... She shivered, fighting the need to fall into his arms. Fighting the desire to jerk away from it. “Why? My psychic talents can't hurt him."