"No, but - "
"Then let me take one. We can't afford to presume these people have stopped watching me - or at least, stopped watching the Rocker. With Gautier on their payroll, they probably know the profile of every Directorate employee. They see any of them arrive at the Rocker with me, they'll suspect it's me, disguise or no."
Jack's green eyes narrowed slightly, like he knew I was up to something. Given we'd been working together a long time now, that was entirely possible. But my shields were strong enough to keep him out of my mind, so he couldn't check and be sure.
"All right," he said eventually. "But when the session with Misha is over, you come straight back here. No detours."
"'Deal," I agreed, without qualms. After all, the detour I planned was before my date with Misha, not after.
Jack's frown deepened, but he rose and said, "Let's go," then walked out of the room.
Kade followed. Rhoan stopped by my chair and swooped to kiss my forehead. "Be careful."
"You too."
"I'm not walking into the enemy's boudoir." He squeezed my arm. "Just remember, keep aware even when you're having fun."
"Stop worrying, and just go do your job."
"It's a brother's task to worry about his little sister." He cast a glance Quinn's way, then murmured, "Remember, too, that some sweets, however delicious, can be bad for long-term peace of mind."
"I remember. Now mind your own business and get moving."
He grinned, dropped another kiss on my forehead, then added, "Liander left some wigs and colored lenses if you want to play around with your look. Just promise me you'll keep out of sight when you go into that restaurant."
I grinned. Rhoan didn't need to be psychic to know what I planned - he knew, simply because it was exactly what he'd do. "That I promise."
"Good." He kissed me a third time - three times for luck, as we always said - then pushed away from the chair and left.
Which left me with the moody Quinn. Joy, oh joy.
"We have a conversation to finish," he said, the moment we were alone.
I untucked my legs and walked across to the water dispenser. "I've said all I have to say."
"Then tell me why you fucked Kellen last night. Was it just to get back at me?"
I snorted softly as I filled the little plastic cup. "Quinn, I like you and all, but you seriously need to get over this jealousy thing. Especially when you have no right to it."
"So is that a yes?"
"It's a no. I fucked him because I wanted to, because he was hot, and because I wanted him to answer some questions afterward. Which he did." I took a sip of water and turned around, meeting his stormy gaze. "Kellen was well aware that I came to the event with you, mind. I believe he took great delight in the fact that he took me from you."
"And you intend to see him again?"
"Lots of times. And if you don't like that fact, walk away now. It's not worth the angst to either of us."
Quinn didn't react. "A vampire never walks away from what he considers his." His midnight gaze burned into mine, touching something deep inside, making it quiver, dance. But whether it was joy or fear, I couldn't entirely tell. "I cannot, and will not, walk away. Nor will I let you. And if that means having to put up with you fucking a hundred different wolves, then so be it. What lies between us is worth exploring, and you will hold to the bargain we made."
I raised my eyebrows. "That almost sounded like a threat."
"Take it any damn way you please."
"Threat then. So my next question has to be, or what?"
He was still giving me his vampire look, but underneath it, I had a sense of turmoil. Frustration. "You don't want to know."
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know."