Personal Demon (Otherworld 8)

"I think she can tell me that herself."

"She doesn't need to. I just did. Now, if you'll excuse us..."

Karl put his arm around my waist and led me away. When we reached the elevator, I slipped from his grasp.

"I thought you want me dating more supernaturals. What's wrong with that one? He's closer to my age, wealthy, gorgeous--"

"--with a reputation for leaving girls in worse shape than he finds them. And with your powers--"

"--he's hoping I'd get off on it. I caught a few vision scraps, enough to know his reputation is warranted, which is why I stood for your 'hands off my property' routine."

Karl grunted.

"Given the choice between insulting a Cabal son and letting him think I'm otherwise engaged, I'll go with option B. But if you try that with anyone else, you'll get a very different reaction."

I said it lightly, teasing him, and expected a retort, but he just watched the floors of the elevator count down, then stepped off when the doors opened.

"YOU DIDN'T GIVE me much of a choice in there," I said as we walked down the street. "I didn't want to argue in front of Benicio. But I don't need--"

"--protection. I believe I've heard this before."

I kept my tone

even. "If you want to repay the debt, that's fine. You go off and do your thing, I'll hang out here and do mine, and we'll say you protected me. No one will be the wiser."

He turned a corner so sharply that I went another three steps before realizing he wasn't beside me, and had to backtrack.

"I'm just saying you don't need to protect me. I don't need it, and I don't really want it."

"And you think I do? You think I like having to drop everything and fly out to Miami to see what kind of trouble you're getting into this time? You think I'm looking forward to spending the next few days skulking in shadows keeping an eye on you?"

I stumble-stepped, stunned, then stopped.

"You don't have a choice," he said, back to me, still walking. "And, apparently, neither do I."

He jaywalked across the road and strode away. I stared after him, unable to believe what I'd heard. I'd never asked for his protection. He was the one who chased after me, fretted about me and hovered over me. I wanted to go after him. To pound on his back and shout, "How dare you!"

Self-centered, arrogant bastard.

What a shock.

I turned and headed back to the main road, managing a graceful exit, should he turn to see it. But I knew he wouldn't.

I HADN'T FOUND a cab yet when my cell phone rang. I scrambled to grab it, eager even when I didn't want to be. Then I realized it was the gang phone.

"Hey," Jaz said when I answered.

"Hey, yourself," I said with a genuine smile. "I was going to call you this morning, but I don't have your number."

"It should be on your phone. Rodriguez--"

"--programmed it in. Okay, I feel like an idiot. I completely forgot."

"No problem. I'd have called earlier, but I didn't want to wake you. Figured you might be a little rough after the tequila."

"A little."

"Anyway, uh, I wanted to call and say I'm sorry about last night."