The Glass Room #2
"Forgive her?" Adrian's voice comes out shredded. "You put your hands on her and you're standing here talking about forgiving her." His voice rises. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
I don’t bother to calm him down, because as stupid as it is, I’d love to see Adrian lose his head for once.
"Lower your voice," Crispin snarls, then he glares at me. "Keep your dog on a leash or get the fuck out."
"Okay," I say, then I take a step back and turn for the door.
It lands exactly the way I hoped it would. Crispin's face falls, expression shifting into shock. He quickly sets down his glass, then he moves, coming around the end of that long table fast.
"Don't." He steps in front of the door. "Don't be a fool, Cruz.
" He's breathing harder now, tugging his jacket straight, trying to find his footing again.
"We both know why I asked you here." He glances over my shoulder at Adrian.
"I still want Lyra, and we both know the only reason you drove across this city tonight is to find out exactly how much she's worth to me.
" He leans in, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I’m about to make you a very rich man. "
My eyes drift past the asshole to the clock mounted on the far wall.
Almost time.
"I appreciate your offer," I say, preparing myself to drag this out for as long as I need to, "but I'd sooner hand you my own teeth one at a time, than let you anywhere near our omega. You piece of shit."
Crispin's smile falls, his mouth pulls tight, a snarl pulling at his mouth. But then his phone rings. He fishes his phone out of his pocket, still glaring right into my eyes.
"You will regret this," he whispers, before glancing at the screen. He frowns at a number he doesn't know, but he answers it anyway. "Maleth."
His face instantly changes.
The irritation slides off it and something greedy rises up underneath. Cold pours down the backs of my arms as I brace myself.
"Well." Crispin straightens his back, smiling at me and Adrian like he won the fucking lottery. "This is a surprise." He listens. "Say that again for me, Lyra. Hold on."
He takes the phone from his ear and holds it out between us. He taps the speaker, and he looks dead at me while he does it. Then his voice drops into that low, forced register, commanding my mate to speak again.
"Repeat yourself, Lyra. Now."
Her voice comes out of the little speaker soft and jerky from his command. "I…ush…C-can I see you?" She takes a breath. "Please."
Every muscle down my back locks at once. I dig my nails into my palms, and I hold them there. I keep my face empty, refusing to move a muscle.
"Where are you?" Crispin purrs and blood pounds in my ears.
"I’m at the library." She gives the address, saying it very slowly. "I'm here right now."
Next to me, Adrian shifts, but other than that the man is a fucking rock. Solid and calm.
"I’ll be there shortly, my love." Crispin's eyes stay locked on mine and shine. He is certain he has won the night with one phone call. "Be good and wait for me. I'm on my way."
He ends the call.
"Well, Nico." He slides the phone into his jacket and squares his cuffs, and he looks pleased down to his shoes. "It seems you have lost your omega and your payday in one evening."
I give him nothing. I grit my teeth and endure his sneer.
This is the plan, I remind myself. He’ll pay. Soon.
"Well, gentlemen." Crispin buttons his suit jacket, as he glances at the big glass doors. "Get the fuck out of my building."
In a matter of seconds, we’re back in the elevator, standing next to Rico, watching the floors light up as we go down.
Adrian sends a single text, but no one says a word.
In the lobby, I smile and nod at the receptionist. Adrian and I let the camera over the doors get a clean look at our faces.
I keep my expression easy, and I check my watch while the valet brings the truck around.
We stand under the lights of the entrance canopy in full view while we wait, letting the whole world see that we aren’t in a rush.
"Take Delancey Avenue," Adrian says as he buckles his seatbelt. "There's a camera on every block from here to the interstate. I want a lens on this truck the whole way out of the city." He glances at the side mirror. "No one will have to ask where we were, because they’ll be able to see us leave."
"Good."
Adrian pulls the burner out of his pocket, the one that he’s been using to talk to Mack all night. He powers it down and works the SIM loose with his thumbnail, then he holds the little chip up between two fingers.
"We can toss it once we get to the river," I say.
"How long do you think it’ll take Mack to meet us there?"
"Forty minutes," I say, repeating the timeline Mack gave me. "He said he could have it all done, and be there in under forty."
Adrian shakes his head, clearly not believing it either. "I know he can run pretty fast for his size, but forty minutes is going to be tight."
I don’t say anything, but I do agree. "We’ll wait longer if we need to. He has to dodge a shit ton of cameras along the way."
"I hate that he has to do this," Adrian whispers at the dark road in front of us.
"Yup,” I say, thinking about the person Mack used to be. The one who had to do horrible things to survive living on the streets.
And I pray, harder than I've prayed for anything, that he still remembers how to be that person.