Page 53 of Coveted

CHAPTER 13

Lucan

The armory always has the same effect on first-time visitors. They expect a cabinet, and instead they get a gallery-sized room.

Bright white lights fizz on overhead, illuminating rows of metal.

The weapons were arranged with obsessive precision by my father. And later me, once he was satisfied I’d had enough training.

Holding the door, I let Sadie enter before me, because I want to see her reaction in detail.

I like seeing everything about her in detail. She wears an incredible amount of thought and emotion on her face. Why would I miss any of it?

Squeezing past me, she pauses in the doorway. Her honey-vanilla scent is distinct in the cold, metallic air of the subterranean armory. Slowly, her head turns to take everything in.

I try to look at the room through her eyes.

Racks of rifles line one wall. Another holds tactical gear, including helmets, body armor, and night-vision rigs. Glass cabinets display handguns like museum pieces.

In the center of the room sits a long steel table of smaller defensive equipment. Pepper spray, stun devices.

Her eyes widen at the rifles on racks.

“What’s that for?” she asks, pointing at an extra-long, sand-colored one.

She stays well back, as if going near the weapon might set it off.

“Accuracy International AXSR,” I reply automatically.

Her brow furrows. “A what?”

“Elite sniper rifle. A gift from my father’s friend.”

“You don’t… use it, do you?”

I shrug. “Only if someone manages to escape. The range is excellent.”

Her eyes fill with concern. “Yeah. Right.”

She’s not totally sure that I’m messing with her, which only makes it more fun.

The way she unconsciously hugs herself as she gazes around triggers an intense protective instinct in me.

She couldn’t be more out of place, yet she’s here anyway. Despite her clear reservations, she came. I wasn’t sure she would.

No person as sweet as Sadie should have to think about self-defense. I wish she’d let me handle it all for her.

She should be thinking about writing and books and me. Preferably nothing else, ever.

Getting her here is a start though. Bringing her close.

“I’ll show you something you can handle,” I say, moving to the center table.

The stun device fits easily in my palm. Matte black, it’s the size of a small flashlight.

I feel pretty confident she’ll avoid hurting herself with it. Although, a person’s ability to cause themselves harm should never be underestimated.

She eyes it warily, which reassures me that she’ll wield it with care.