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“There’s somewhereI wanna take you,” Poe said when I handed over his drugs.

“Yeah?Where’s that?”I was too exhausted to deal with this creep and had to force myself to keep the repulsion out of my voice.

“We have a special event happening very soon.Something reserved for people who have proven themselves to be loyal.”

I fought to keep my expression neutral.This could be the break I needed, but I didn’t buy his bullshit about loyalty.They’d literally just cut off Luke’s finger because they didn’t trust me—this was something else.Maybe a way to inextricably tie me to whatever twisted shit they were a part of so I had no escape.“Does Tarrant know you’re inviting me?”

His lips twisted.“Don’t worry about Tarrant.Once he knows you can be trusted, things will change.”

“What things?”

“You don’t need to worry your cute little head about that either.Trust me to take care of this.”He looked kind of pissed off now.

Trust him?I wasn’t sure I’d met anyone more delusional in my life.I curled my lips in a soft smile.“Sorry.I’m just a bit nervous, I guess.So, what kind of an event are you taking me to?”I asked, doing my best to sound excited.

“It’s a surprise.”

My stomach churned.“Well, I’ll at least need to know the dress code.Is this thing dressy, casual, black tie?A girl needs to know these things,” I said and huffed a laugh.

He gripped the side of my throat, his hand sliding higher until he was cupping my face, and his eyes dipped to my lips.“Dress to kill, sweetness.”

I swallowed, and the sound was audible.“So dress and heels, the works?”

He nodded and leaned in.I wanted to jerk back, to shove him away, but I had to stand there and take it.I had to let him put his mouth on me and pretend I liked it.

While his hands roamed over me, I switched off; while his tongue invaded my mouth, I pretended I was somewhere else.I had to do this.For Luke and all the other people this asshole and his sick, twisted boss were hurting—and because Lucifer had commanded it.

Jagger was somewhere close, watching right now, and I imagined him fighting back his beast while this creep pawed at me.His canines would be extended, his eyes red, every vein and tendon straining with his rage.Knowing someone else was angry on my behalf helped as the seconds ticked by.And after seeing what Kurgan lived with, the pain and longing inside him for his mate that he could never have, I knew what Jagger felt for me was something he had no control over, something no one would ever voluntarily ask for.Jagger said it wasn’t the same for him, and the fact that he was staying back and not tearing Poe to shreds now, I guess, proved it.

When Poe lifted his head, I blinked up at him, coming back to myself, and he grinned, looking cocky as hell, obviously taking my faraway look as some kind of befuddled desire.

“Fuck, sweetness, love that look on you.”He cleared his throat and dragged his thumb over my lips.“Tarrant doesn’t like us fucking around with contractors, shit has gotten messy in the past, but once we bring you into the fold properly and his doubts are alleviated, we can be together.”

I wondered why he was being as restrained as he had been.Tarrant ran a tight ship; no fraternization with lowly members of the team, like me.Thank the goddess for that.

“The way you took care of me, healed me, no one’s ever done that.I know now you want to be with me too.You’re mine, and I want everyone to know it,” he said, gripping my jaw tight.“That’s why I get so angry when I see you with those hounds.They act like you belong to them.”He shook his head and leaned in again.“It’s making me fucking crazy, not getting a taste of you.I want you in my bed, witch, and I will do whatever it takes to make that happen.”He kissed me again, roughly, then with a growl lifted his head.“I have to go.Our buyer is waiting.”

I nodded.“Okay.”

“Get a nice dress,” he said.“And something sexy for underneath.”

I smiled and laughed again.“What’s your favorite color?”

“Red.”

Of course.How unimaginative.“What night is this event?”

“That’s a secret as well.Just make sure you get something ASAP, and be ready to drop whatever you’re doing when I call with a time.”

“Sounds good.”

He gave me another slimy head to toe, then left, getting in a car with Lars and taking off.

I quickly walked to mine, got in and, as agreed, headed straight for home.Jagger was worried someone could be watching, and after what Poe said, being seen with Jag now would blow this thing wide open.

Traffic was heavy, and it took me an extra twenty minutes to get home.

There was no sign of Jagger when I got out of my car, unlocked my door and headed upstairs.As soon as I reached my apartment I knew I wasn’t alone, though.The door wasn’t locked, but I wasn’t afraid, no, excitement burned through me.