"I’m fine," I said, hoping he’d ignore the fact my voice ached with tiredness. And I was really glad he couldn’t see the state I was in.
"Ilianna’s here at the restaurant, so I’ll warn her as well. She can stay at Mirri’s until you give us the all clear."
"It’ll probably be just for tonight." Once the Raziq discovered the book wasn’t at our apartment, we’d be good to return home—I hoped. "How come you’re at the café tonight?"
"Hanna called in sick and we couldn’t find a temp." He gave me a decidedly wicked grin. "It’s just as well I have legendary stamina, given I’m also on for the morning shift."
I smiled back, even though what he said was true. He did have fantastic stamina, in the bedroom and out—a fact I knew because we’d once been lovers.
"I daresay you already have some luscious lady on standby to massage your poor tired self afterward."
"I daresay I have," he said cheerfully, then his expression sobered. "Keep in touch, or I’ll be contacting Riley."
"I will." Riley had given both Tao and Ilianna stern orders to get in touch the minute they even suspected I was in trouble. And Aunt Riley could be pretty damn scary when she wanted to be. "But I’m meeting Lucian at six, so don’t expect to hear anything from me until midday, at least."
"Oh, thank God," he replied, voice fervent but a twinkle in his eyes. "Do you know how grouchy you’ve been lately?"
"Says the man who has never experienced sexual frustration in his entire life?"
"And who has no intention of ever experiencing it," he replied. "Take care of yourself."
"Will do." I hung up, then caught the elevator down and walked across the ramp over the road and into the airport. I desperately needed to sleep, but I wasn’t about to walk into the nearby Hilton looking like something the cat had coughed up. Thankfully, there were showers in the airport, and the stores were open twenty-four seven. I ignored the curious looks my bedraggled appearance was prompting and bought a week’s worth of clothes, simply because I had no idea when I was going to be able to head back home. Then, keeping Lucian’s promise to rip anything I was wearing right off again in mind, I found a sexy but inexpensive dress and headed to the nearest bathroom to shower and change.
Only to find someone waiting for me on the other side of the door when I opened it. I instinctively jumped back before I realized it was Azriel.
"For fuck’s sake," I said, my gaze sweeping him and noting with relief that both the blood and the bullet wound had disappeared. "You could have at least warned me you were here."
He crossed his arms and leaned his butt back against one of the sinks. "Do you not usually sense when I’m near?"