Julian clenched his teeth. He’d like to say he was shocked at the calculating, coldness of his mind. But he wasn’t. He was forever damaged, and after spending six months in hell, how could it be any other way? The hole inside him was a reminder of what he’d lost, what had been ripped from him. It was a burn that was constant, and it wouldn’t let him rest.
And yet Julian was afraid that even if he was successful and completed his mission, he’d never be whole again. He feared the half of his soul that was still intact had been poisoned by the steady diet of darkness from which he’d fed.
He sighed harshly. Angry that he’d been back less than an hour, and things were already fucked up.
He glanced around his home and knew there wasn’t much time. He’d been liberated from his hellish prison but it seemed the demon underworld was determined to drag him back.
Though liberated might be an overstatement. It’s not like his release came without consequence if he was unsuccessful in his mission. There would be repercussions.
Deadly repercussions.
Jaden groaned and tipped her head up, dragging him from his thoughts to focus on her once more.
She’d been fucking amazing.
Her dark eyes were dulled with pain, and she moistened her lips in an effort to speak more clearly.
“I need to get to the plane,” she managed to get out.
Julian leaned her back against the counter and grabbed a glass of water, helping her drink as much of the liquid as she could.
His mind was circling the entire time, but the images of her in battle touched what little bit of humanity there was left inside him. As she struggled to stand upright, clad in his oversized T-shirt and his track pants, he knew he could never leave her here to die with the filth that littered his home.
She should be with someone when it happened.
“Where can I take you?” he asked, trying not to notice the tilt of her neck or the vibrant tattoos that shimmered along the skin there.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she pushed away from the counter. It cost her, the effort it took, and the grunt that escaped her lips echoed into the quiet.
“Forget it. I don’t need your help.” Her face whitened as she clenched her teeth. “I’ll get there on my own.”
She took a step, then another, and admiration rifled through him as he watched her slowly make her way to the door.
Something tugged at him, and he took a step forward. Fuck! He had no time for this shit. He was supposed to meet Declan in the morning. The clock was ticking for the both of them.
“It’s been a slice, Castille. Thanks for nothing.”
Jaden yanked the door open, letting in the soft light from outside, and he saw the bloody footprints that followed along behind her. Shattered glass was everywhere, and while he had his boots on, she was barefoot.
Again he hesitated, pissed off at himself, knowing in another lifetime he’d never contemplate abandoning someone who was in need of help. Except this wasn’t another lifetime ago. This was the here and now, and he wasn’t whole.
She disappeared from view, and he blew out hot air as he quickly grabbed the cell phone he’d thrown on the sofa. The headless body of the demon Jaden had slaughtered lay before him, mocking his inability to act.
He took one more look around the penthouse and cursed loudly before following Jaden’s lead. He caught up with her at his private elevator. She was leaning against the wall, her breaths raspy.
He stopped beside her and, as the doors slid open, grabbed her up into his arms. She struggled but was substantially weaker than only a few minutes before and eventually became still.
Julian entered the code that would take him to his private garage and settled back as the lift descended rapidly.
Her hair wrapped around him, the long silky strands flowing loose as her head rested in the crook of his arm.
“Where can I take you?” he asked again, his voice gruff as the doors slid open to reveal his private collection of cars. He strode toward the large black SUV parked in the far corner, ignoring the BMW, the shiny Mercedes and the collection of Harleys.
“My private jet,” she managed to whisper.
She curled into a ball as he slid her into the passenger side, and, minutes later, Julian was backing the large vehicle from its spot. The truck hadn’t been used in nearly a year, but the mechanic he paid to maintain his vehicles had done an excellent job.
He cruised along the darkened streets of DC, and when the cell phone rang, he picked up quickly.