How many knives was she packing? he thought. And how many of them would be flying at their heads by the time this was over?
She didn’t ask any questions, didn’t even seem to breathe. Her eyes were locked on Lucian, unemotional. He didn’t back down, instead sat up straighter and gave a long breath. “You’ve been with us a long time, and I think it’s in everyone’s best interest that you take a break.”
Before she could open her mouth, he continued on. Talon sat there, motionless. “I need your badge, suit, and weapons. You’re off the field.”
Her reaction was not what he expected. At all. He could tell that even Lucian was shocked. Devlin’s face turned pale and her hands, which had been clenched so tight across her. And then tears filled her eyes. Talon jerked, horrified.
“Why the fuck am I off the field?” she snarled-whimpered. It was an odd combination, but it worked for her. Lucian’s face hardened.
“You need a break. You have until tomorrow to bring in your things. Get out of my office, please.” Talon stared at him, narrowing his eyes. He couldn’t tell what the man was thinking, and he didn’t know what was up with Devlin. Never in his life had he seen her cry. Not ever.
Devlin started rambling and mumbling, waving her hands and coming apart. Her bright red hair became dangerously messy as she shoved her hands in her hair and pulled, almost having a full blown panic.He stared at her, not knowing what to think anymore.
Lucian rose to his feet with a lethal grace, grabbing her shoulder. He pulled her to her feet and stared her in the eyes as he disarmed her, throwing each and every weapon on the table. They clanked and clunk, and with each gun that he took out, he dropped the clips and with a heavy chest, Talon watched the discharged bullets roll around the table.
Devlin was quiet, a tear tracking down her face. Was it wrong that he didn’t feel as bad as he should have? His lips pressed as she turned her eyes to his, rage suddenly filling them.
Lucian reached around her leg and took out the final blade, setting it on the table with finality. “You are done here,” he said quietly. They stared at each other before he turned his back on her.
She stormed out of the room, slamming the door closed behind them.
Talon stared at the table, scratching his face.
Lucian sat his hard ass in the chair and let his head fall back. “On the bright side, I still have my money maker.” Talon looked over in time to see him rubbing his junk with a relieved look.
Talon couldn’t agree more.
He pushed the branch out of his way with a weak hand. Living on nothing but scraps of meat and water from a river that came from untrusted sources hadn’t been the best idea he’d ever had, but it was too late to go back and he didn’t think he’d want to even if he could.
The time away had been…solemn. Grieving. A break from stress and life and pain.
Weak legs carried him to the edge of the forest, and right onto smooth black pavement shining with a sheen of ice. His eyes were burning and his chest was caving in -- or at least it seemed like it. The bare skin of his back was burnt and his legs, covered in ragged jeans, were only moving forward because of pure motivation.
A car honked, jarring him out of his entranced state. The broken silence was almost painful for him. He jerked back from the road, grabbing onto the nearest tree to keep from falling over. His fangs lengthened at the smell of prey, but he forced himself to ignore it. He wasn’t a vampire and he wouldn’t act like one.
He expected to feel sorrow, or maybe even anger. He didn’t. The site of the road was enough to make his body pulse, like a new strength had risen inside of him.
Gravel crunched. His head snapped in the direction of the car that pulled onto the shoulder on the road, stopping just before him. Since it was dark, headlights were on and they were shining right in his eyes. Averting his gaze, he brought an arm up to his face and backed away.
A door opened, causing his eyes to train on the car. Like a wounded tiger, he was dangerous when injured. And god, was he weak. Was he even strong enough to fight