Shadows (Dark in You 5)

“But it did work,” Khloë pointed out, wiping down the reception desk. “And if it will make a difference while there’s someone out there who wants to get his hands on you, I’m good with it. Besides, the mark’s kind of cute.”

“Cute but pointless if his demon isn’t completely invested in protecting Devon,” said Raini, “and it damn well better be. Tonight, you’re going into Maddox Quentin’s club, which will be full of his people. If they all converged on you, you’d be on Shit Street.”

“I still think Grams should take me along, but she’s being stubborn,” said Harper, tidying her station.

“She’s being smart,” Raini corrected. “She has no choice but to deal with this her—”

“I know, I know.” Harper sighed. “I accept that, but I don’t like it. You can’t make me.”

The bell jingled as the door swung open. Tanner prowled inside, muscles bunching and rippling in a way that almost made Devon shiver in delight. But then he gave her that taunting grin that pricked at her patience.

“Hey kitty cat,” he said in that deep, gritty voice. “Have you missed me?”

Devon gave him a mockingly bright smile. “Of course I have. What’s your name again?”

The corner of his erotic mouth hitched up. “You don’t have to be embarrassed that you’re so obsessed with me—these things happen.”

She ground her teeth, tempted to swipe out with the brush and knock him off his feet. “If I could just Photoshop your personality, I’d be a much happier woman.”

Chuckling, he slid his gaze to Harper. “You ready?”

“Almost,” the sphinx replied. “We can give Devon a ride home, right? Her car is still out of commission.”

He nodded, turning back to Devon. “I’m always here for you when you need a ride, kitten.”

She almost blushed at the sexual innuendo. “My, my, aren’t I the lucky one?”

“I’d say so, yeah.”

Once she and Harper were ready, he escorted them out of the Underground. He took Devon home first, promising he’d return at 9pm and pick her up on the way to Jolene’s house. All three of them would be riding to Maddox’s club together, apparently. Whoopdeefuckingdoo.

After dinner, she took a long, hot shower and dried her hair before slipping on her favorite black dress and high heels—perfect club attire. The dress accentuated her cleavage and dipped low at the back.

It was a little before 9pm that Tanner’s mind touched hers. I’m outside, kitten.

God, it so wasn’t fair that even his telepathic voice was like a carnal stroke to her senses. I’ll be down in a sec, she told him.

When she stepped out of the building moments later, he unfolded from the car, all graceful menace and dark sensuality. And her libido had a mini orgasm or something. Well, in her defense, how did you brace yourself against that kind of concentrated sex appeal? It simply wasn’t doable.

He opened the rear passenger door as he blatantly raked his gaze over her, his eyes broody and hooded. The all-too-familiar sexual chemistry sparked to life and thickened the air, making little bumps rise on her flesh. “Well, now,” he said. “You—”

“Don’t talk, pooch, you’ll just mess everything up.”

But, of course, he taunted her throughout the journey to Jolene’s house. No sooner had he beeped the horn than Jolene came striding down the path with her eldest son, Richie. They appeared to be squabbling about something.

Shit, Devon hadn’t thought her Prime would bring Khloë’s father along. Hey, Richie was a great guy. A talented artist who could recreate any painting—hence why he made most of his money selling counterfeits. Jolene often called him a “fixer.” If something was broke, he’d mend it for you. If something of yours had gone missing, he’d find it. If you needed an alibi for the police, he’d give it to you.

He could also break the bones in your body with a stray thought. Which might have been cool if he didn’t lose control of that ability when he was pissed off. Really, he wasn’t the ideal person to take along to what would no doubt be a highly tense situation.

Richie opened the rear passenger door for his mother, saying, “Well, see, this is what happens when you don’t listen to me. You’ve known me since I was, what, born—you really should have known what I’d do.”

“I don’t need an army,” Jolene gritted out.

“Probably not. But just in case you do, we’ll be close by.” He gestured for her to hop inside the car. “You have somewhere to be, remember.”

With a regal huff, Jolene slid into the car. “I should have put you up for adoption.”

“Yeah, so you always say.” Rolling his eyes, Richie gave Devon a quick wave and then shut the door.

Returning the wave, Devon asked, “Everything okay, Jolene?”

“No. That idiot is paranoid that Maddox is going to pull something. I vetoed him coming along, so now he’s insisting on hanging close to the club with a large number from our lair.”