"Oh, I'm sure we will, dear." Cara's tinkling laughter grated on Ria's nerves. "I'll make certain of it."
Ria's gaze sharpened on the other woman before moving away. The feeling of panic sweeping through her intensified.
"How is security holding?" she asked Mercury, keeping her voice low as they moved through the ballroom and he drew her onto the dance floor.
He danced as well as he made love, she thought, restraining her sigh, waiting as he checked the security points.
"Everything's holding," he murmured in her ear. "What's wrong, baby?"
The endearment weakened her knees. Which was silly. Dane called her sweetheart or baby often. He always had. Yet the effect had never been the same.
She shook her head, lowering it as she let him draw her closer.
"Ria, we need to talk soon," he told her softly, his voice deepening, almost a growl as she flicked her earlobe with his tongue. "Very soon."
She closed her eyes and smiled. She could feel his erection beneath his dress jacket. She could feel him, warm and aroused, holding her as close as convention allowed.
"Do we have to stay very long?"
"Longer than we're going to stay. Damn," he cursed, his head lifting. "Let's go. Jonas has just ordered us to Callan's office."
As he released her, she glanced at the minute receiver barely visible at his ear.
"What's wrong?"
His hand settled in the small of her back, pressing her forward toward the ballroom doors.
"Hell if I know," he muttered. "He's not saying."
The panic intensified. Ria couldn't explain it; she couldn't force him not to go to that office, but every feminine instinct she possessed was screaming out at her, demanding that she run, that she escape.
That instinct was a part of her. She always heeded it. The few times she hadn't had seen her heart broken, her pride in shambles. And she had seen the pity for her weakness in Leo and Dane's eyes. Always the sad, poor little orphan.
"Ria?" Mercury questioned her as they entered the foyer and moved to the back of the hall. "Are you okay?"
"Fine." She sent him a smile she hoped wasn't as brittle as she felt. "I think the shoes are pinching my feet or something."
Or something. The closer they moved to that office, the more she had to restrain herself not to turn and run.
"I hate it when you lie to me," he snarled softly.
"I hate it when you ask me questions I don't know how to answer," she hissed back. "I've had a bad feeling all day."
She clutched the side of her dress, lifting the long skirt as they moved closer to their destination. She could run now, she told herself.
Like hell. She wasn't a coward. And it wasn't physical danger she could feel awaiting her. She couldn't explain the premonition. She had never been able to explain them.
"Jonas, Callan and Dane are waiting in Jonas's office," he told her. "Dane wouldn't allow you to walk into danger."
She shook her head. "It's not danger."
She could see the door. It was closed. They moved closer and she wanted to scream. She licked her lips nervously, ignored her sweating palms and waited as Mercury knocked on the door.
It opened, but only partially. Dane stepped outside.
"Mercury, I'll stand outside with Ria." His expression was livid.
"The hell you will." Mercury tugged her closer to his side. "She doesn't need a babysitter."