Page 59 of Burned

She notes everything. Does she see his action as controlling a weak woman? Or as a man staking his claim?

I pull free.

Lucian lets me, but the damage is done.

“Whatever you know,” I say, looking directly at Isobel, “say it now.”

Her brows lift slightly. “I beg your pardon?”

Her manners make me want to throw something messy.

“Whatever information you have, or lies you want to tell, if they are about Carlos, the fire, the Bachmans, or the people currently trying to kill us, tell us. Right now.”

Lucian turns to me. “Erin.”

“No.”

His eyes narrow.

Mine do too. “If she’s come all this way, why wait? Why the dramatic reveal? Spit it out and negotiate your terms.”

Then leave. Go back where you came from. And my man stays with me.

The last part goes unsaid, but everyone hears it.

Isobel watches us with the stillness of someone watching a weapon being loaded.

“I need to speak to Lucian alone,” she says.

“No,” I break. “Hell no.”

“Erin,” Lucian breathes.

Rafe coughs into his fist.

Gregory looks like he would pay to be anywhere else.

Blaze looks like he wouldn’t miss this for the world.

Lucian steps closer to me, lowering his voice. “Baby, you don’t understand what’s happening.”

Regret crosses his features, but I am already bleeding.

“No,” I say. “I understand perfectly.”

“Erin—”

“We said no one is alone with her. She wants to speak to you alone. You were about to let her.

And somehow, I’m the one who doesn’t understand?”

Silence.

I stare up at him. Lucian’s eyes burn into mine. I can feel his desire to pick me up and carry me out of the room like an inconvenient problem with legs.

Let him try.

Isobel’s gaze moves over me again, more slowly this time.