Tempting Evil (Riley Jenson Guardian 3)

As Quinn rose to his feet, I said, "You never answered my question earlier."

"What question?" But the sparkle in his dark eyes suggested he knew entirely too well what question.

"You had the chance to take your revenge on Starr but didn't grab it. Why not, when you've declared from the beginning that nothing and no one would get in the way of your revenge?"

He paused, as if searching for an answer, then said, "Because Henri would have called me all sorts of a fool for choosing revenge over matters of the heart. In the end, Starr died anyway, so what did it matter who actually pulled the trigger?"

"That decision could earn you brownie points, you know."

He grinned. "I'm counting on it." He touched a finger lightly to my shoulder, then walked away.

jack took his place beside me. "So, how is my favorite recruit feeling?"

"I'm not making killing a full-time habit. You can't make me." I paused for impact, even though I doubted there would be any, then added, "Can I go home now?"

"Not yet." He grinned. "And killing will come in time."

I sniffed. "How goes the cleanup?"

He shrugged. "Here, fine, though we've had to bring in local cops to help handle all the arrests and documentation."

"And the lab?"

He looked at me. For the first time ever, I saw anger, true, unforgiving anger, in Jack's green eyes. "That bastard didn't deserve the easy death you gave him, Riley. What he has done - " He blew out a breath. "I've seen some truly horrific things in my time, but this lab takes the cake."

I didn't want to know the details, I really didn't, so I changed the subject. "What about the spirit lizards?"

Iktar's people, despite his confidence, hadn't been able to free themselves from the implants as quickly and as easily as he'd boasted. They were all still here when the Directorate swept in.

"We've come to an agreement. His people I've let go. The clones will be held for study to insure they have no Starr-implanted agendas in their subconscious."

They'd already had an agreement in place, but I didn't bother pointing that out. "And Iktar?"

He grinned. "Will be joining the Directorate's new daytime division, along with a few of his people."

"Don't you think their featureless face is going to be a little noticeable?"

"Just because it's called a daytime division doesn't mean it'll actually be all daytime work."

"Did you come all the way up here just to give me that cheery piece of news?"

His amusement faded away. "No."

"Then what?"

"You can't go home." His gaze met mine. "Not immediately. We're arranging a new apartment for you and Rhoan."

I had no reaction to the news. I think I was simply too darn tired. "Why?"

"Gautier slipped the noose."

"Bound to happen given he was our best guardian." I rubbed my eyes wearily. "Maybe he'll just move to another state and leave us alone."

"You don't believe that any more than I do." He slipped a hand into his pocket and drew out his cell phone. "You'd better read this."

He pressed a button then held the phone out. I took, it, and read the message.

Thank you for freeing me from the restraints of servitude. For that, I shall give you time to recover. But not long. We have unfinished business, Riley, and I fully intend to make good the promise I made in the arena.