“Yup.” She took a sip from her own glass, her eyes locked on his. Even with the sword hanging over their heads, that look in her eyes had his cock twitching and his hands itching just to touch her. “Okay, so. Dead reporter?”
The whiskey hadn’t helped as much as he’d hoped, but he forced himself to speak the words anyway. “I don’t know. I don’t,” he repeated more firmly when her eyes narrowed. “I knew a lot about the business, as I was being groomed to take it over some day. I could give you the names of every cop and city official on their payroll. But the…less savory aspects of the business were kept from me. I would not, however, put it past them to have someone taken out if that someone publicized an event they would have rather kept quiet.”
“Fucking hell, Cyrus.” She tossed back the rest of the whiskey before locking eyes with him again. “All right. Well, that’s one mystery solved, anyway. What does any of this have to do with your brother?”
“Adrian wants something. I’m not sure what, just yet, because he’s being cagey about it. But I have a feeling it’s not something I’m going to agree to easily.”
“This ‘something’ he wants. It has to do with you being the new Libra Master?”
“I assume so, yes. The Guild is involved in all manner of negotiations with various governments, so the gods only know what he might want.”
“And if you say no, you’re worried he might come after the people you care about to force you into compliance.”
“Yes. Exactly.” Relieved she’d put the pieces together, he swallowed the rest of his whiskey. “So, you understand why we can’t see each other anymore.”
“I never said that.”
Fear skittered up his spine and he pinned her with a glare, as if he could will her into compliance. “Mina. Be reasonable.”
“I am being reasonable. In fact, it seems like I’m the only one who is right about now.”
“How do you figure?”
Closing the distance between them, she tilted her face up, a smile curving her lips. “Because if I’m in the picture, you know who his target is. If I’m not, then you don’t know who he’ll come after, and you’ll spend all your time worrying about every single person in your life. It’s better to just have one person to worry about, right?”
“Not when that person is you.” Lifting his empty hand to her hair, he sank his fingers into the silky tresses and pulled her head back even further. “I won’t risk you, Mina.”
“You won’t be. I know how to handle myself, counselor. I know how to be safe.”
“Not from a man like him. If he decides to take you out, you won’t even see it coming.”
“Then we’ll figure something out. But you walking away out of some misguided attempt to protect me isn’t happening.”
Relief flooded him. He’d been prepared to do exactly that, for her, but it would have killed him. He hadn’t realized how much she’d come to mean to him until he’d faced the prospect of losing her.
Keeping his expression stern, he tightened his hold on her hair until she whimpered. “Have you forgotten who’s in charge here, little girl?”
Despite her precarious position, her grin widened. “If you’re dumping me, then you’re not in charge, are you? Can’t have your cake and eat it, counselor.”
“I’ll think you’ll find I can do as I damn well please, Ace. But as it so happens, you’ve made your point, and I agree. There will, however, be more rules for you to follow.”
Her eyes rolled upward, but the smile didn’t fade. “Of course.”
Lowering his head, he nipped at the side of her neck, just hard enough for her to inhale sharply at the prick of pain. “When you are not by my side, your phone is on and charged. We will also be installing a tracking app so I know where you are at all times.”
“You know, under any other circumstances, that might seem a wee bit controlling.”
“This is me showing restraint,” he returned, matching his tone to her dry attempt at humor. “Controlling would be insisting that you allow me to hire a driver for you until Adrian is out of our hair, restricting you to the house unless you are working, and insisting that you move in with me so I can keep an eye on you.”
“I take it back. An app soundsgreat.”
“That’s what I thought. I will also be hiring some private security for you. They shouldn’t get in your way unless they have reason to believe you’re in danger.”
“Nope, I draw the line at that.” Jerking against his hold, she glared at him. “How am I supposed to do my job with a goon squad following me everywhere?”
“You’ll barely notice them, I promise. And it’s either a goon squad or house arrest. Your choice.”
“Maybe I should have let you break up with me,” she mumbled, her lip pushing out in an adorable pout.