Page 15 of Claimed

“Yes. I will drain the life out of him and render him powerless.”

My mouth fell open.Holy shit. He told me exactly what I didn’t want to know.“Then you’re going to kill him.”

“How many times do I have to tell you that I’m not a murderer, Holly?” He sounded offended that I would think sucha thing.

“Well, that’s what happens when you drain the life from someone,” I said.

“Again, my love, I ask that you not push for answers. You’ll hear about what I’m doing to Valentine in due time.”

I jerked my head slightly, turning to the side, and searched Jasper’s eyes for any indication that a killer lived inside of him. I saw no sign of that. After a moment, I nodded.

“Thank you.” He smirked and winked at me. “Now, let’s get the hell out of here before we’re snowbound in Jersey.”

“Where are we going?”

“To my place in the city.”

I breathed in sharply. “In Manhattan?”

“Yes.”

Valentine’s warning for me to stay away from Jasper came howling back into my memory. I touched his shoulder. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

He caressed the side of my face. “Don’t be afraid, babe. I said I’m handling Valentine. At the moment, he’s too busy trying to break his fall to worry about us.”

I frowned, wondering what he meant by that. “What about Julia? Where’s she?”

Jasper opened his door. “Exactly where she’s supposed to be.”

Jasper got out of the back seat so fast that I couldn’t ask where thatplace might be. But then again, I wasn’t sure he would tell me, anyway.