Page 54 of Burned

Blaze shoots a finger gun at me. “Your girl’s got a point.”

“Stop agreeing with her,” Lucian snaps.

“I see why you like her, but I’m still confused about what she sees in you,” Blaze jokes.

Bayne’s low voice makes an appearance. “Enough games.”

Gregory always chooses his timing carefully.

This is his time.

“Lucian,” he says slowly, with a voice tense enough to remind us all about Carlos. “The guards searched her. They didn’tfind a wire. We need information. She has it. We control the environment, not him.”

“Gregory is right,” Rafe says. “There’s no sign of Carlos. But whether he sent Isobel here or not, he knows where we are. And we need to know where he is. And she might be able to tell us.”

Lucian directs his attention to Bayne. “What’s the report right now?”

Bayne answers Lucian, “There are no other vehicles in sight for miles.”

Gregory lists directions as casually as items on a grocery list. “Bring her in, search her, isolate the driver, lock down the perimeter.”

Lucian looks at the screen. At her. At Isobel. Not at me.

She’s wrapped her arms around herself, trying not to shiver.

The room waits. I hate that it is his decision. I hate that there is no good answer.

Either way, she’s real, alive, and here.

I want to cry. I want to throw up. And silly me, I’m still worried about her being cold.

This is his dead woman. His fire. His betrayal.

The reason for his nightmares.

Finally, he says, “Cass and Ryan stay put in the back bedroom, Mack with them.

Have the men search her again. Outside. No one speaks to her alone. No one gives her access to the rest of the house. She comesinto the front room only.” He looks at me. “And you are nowhere near her.”

Everyone agrees to his terms except me.

Mack nods and heads toward Cass and Ryan, following Lucian’s command. Rafe steps outside for the second search.

The others do their thing.

While I do not.

I stand quietly by his side, attempting to shrink into the shadows so he forgets I’m still here.

The press of his cheek against mine. His warm breath caresses my ear. “I always know what you’re thinking.” A hand tightening around my wrist. “You will not be here when she comes in.”

“Lock me away up in that tower; I’ll let my hair down and get one of your porch dwellers to bring me in the front door.” I eye him. “They like me, you know. They might do me a favor.”

The look he gives me has me backtracking. Quickly.

“I’m joking about that. Obviously, you’re the only man to save me.” I stretch up, pecking a kiss on his cheek. “But I’m serious about being a part of the conversation. I’ve made that clear.”

“Have I not made my feelings about your safety clear enough?” He’s whisper-roaring. “The answer is no. Not that there is a conversation even to be had.”