“You’re throwing me to the wolves, aren’t you?” She asked him then.
He wasn’t going to help her escape Rule.
If Rule was even coming for her.
“The lions actually,” he corrected her, a quirk of a smile edging at his lips as he watched her curiously. “I’m confident it’s in your best interests, though.”
“Oh, I’m sure you are.” Setting the coffee cup back on the counter carefully, she stared back at him. The anger burning inside her was far stronger than it should have been. Far stronger than it would have been normally. Because normally, she would have felt she had a choice. In this instance, Cullen had reminded her that she might not have a choice. And that infuriated her.
Even more infuriating was the feeling that in some way, he was attempting to maneuver her exactly where Rule wanted her to be.
“What you’ve done for the group you’ve worked for has been commendable, Gypsy,” he said then, his voice gentle, soft. “Let yourself live now. You deserve it.”
Yeah. Right.
As she stared back at him, anger pulled her lips tight, suspicion edging at thoughts that weren’t becoming overwhelmed with a sexual need nearing critical.
“Do I? Whether I do or not, it seems I’m not working with them any longer anyway.” Despite the gentleness of his expression, there was no mercy in the somber intent of his gaze.
Oh yes, she definitely had her suspicions. She wouldn’t reveal them, not now. Far better to hold on to them for the moment.
“Go home,” he urged her. “And in a month, if you still want to run, I’ll help you myself.”
“A month? Why a month?” What did that length of time have to do with anything? What game was he playing with Jonas Wyatt and with her?
“You tell me, in a month.” Rising to his feet, he watched her with that quiet gaze, that hint of calculation. “Rest, Gypsy. Consider it a bit of a vacation, despite the aggravation of your Breed. You’ve earned it.”
Had she? Why didn’t she feel as though she had earned it?
“Go home, Gypsy.”
Go home?
She didn’t think so.
There were far too many Breeds there. One too many, no doubt. And that one, she couldn’t bear to see again.
But she did leave Cullen’s house. She even let him watch her disappear into the storm drain and let him think she was moving through the tunnels and returning to her apartment.
But if that was where Rule intended to be, then Gypsy intended to be just as far away from there as possible.
Once inside the tunnel, she turned down another shadowed path. There, stuffed inside a crevice and resting on a narrow ledge, was a pack she checked and changed often. Several changes of clothing, a weapon, sat phone, cash and the keys to the powerful black motorcycle she kept stashed in case of emergency.
This was definitely an emergency, she decided.
Of the worst sort.
CHAPTER 17
“What do you mean, she’s not in the apartment?” Even the animal that had been pacing erratically inside him came to an immediate stop to stare at the Breed unlucky enough to have to give him that information.
“We’ve used heat sensors and infrared, Commander. The sister is in the lower apartment, sleeping. The upper apartment is empty.” The Wolf, Cole Dagger, stood relaxed but on guard as his dark gaze remained steady despite the growl Rule was unable to contain.
“You’re certain it’s Kandy in the lower apartment, not Gypsy?” Rule had to be certain. He was holding on to his rage by the thinnest thread.
And his fear.
The fear that she had been taken.