Page 18 of Red Fury (The Dragon Tributes #8)

F ury

I adjust my collar for the third time, staring at my reflection in the hotel room mirror.

My black button-down shirt is snug around my chest and biceps.

The top two buttons are undone, hinting at my tattoos.

It’s a good combo paired with black jeans.

I checked in with Thompson, who is coming with us, and he assured me that my outfit would be appropriate for Kozlov’s club.

I sigh as I look at my phone, which sits on the dresser beside me, the screen dark and mocking. I’ve sent four messages to Shadow in the last few hours. Four messages that haven’t even been marked as read, let alone answered.

I pick up the device and scroll through our non-conversation:

I need to talk to you. It’s important.

We need to share intel. This is bigger than us. Come on!

I was out of line earlier. I’m sorry.

Then lastly:

Please answer me. We need to talk this through…please.

All delivered. None read. The little indicators might as well be giving me the finger.

“Crap,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “I really fucked this up.”

Did I, though?

The question has been eating at me since she stormed out of that conference room.

Would it be wrong of me to question Shadow’s honesty?

To wonder if she’s keeping information from me that could benefit her people over mine?

We’re talking about the survival of our species here.

Blind trust could get everyone I care about killed.

But even as I try to justify my actions, the thought doesn’t sit right. The hurt in her eyes when I accused her of lying…that was real, and it stung more than it should have.

No!

Fuck!

I made the right decision, dammit. I was right to question her in the way that I did. Especially after our meeting with Kozlov.

Then I think of her anger when she called me out for not trusting her despite everything we’ve been through together.

It’s so damned confusing. I want to trust her, but I can’t…I just can’t. Why did she have to be so touchy about it? Surely someone like her, someone in her position, should understand?

I massage my temples, feeling a headache building behind my eyes. My dragon is making himself known. I would love nothing more than to find a place to shift. I know it would take away this edge and make me feel better.

It doesn’t matter how I feel about what happened.

I have a job to do, and that job just got a hell of a lot more complicated.

Nuclear weapons. Two small countries. The implications of what I learned today are staggering, and Shadow needs to know what went down.

More than that, I need her on my side if we’re going to find out more about the whole thing, so that we have a chance to warn our people.

She’s positioned perfectly within Harrison’s inner circle. I’m just muscle, standing around looking intimidating while the real decisions get made by people like Kozlov. If I’ve burned this bridge with her…I’m in serious shit.

No. It’s going to work out. I’ll apologize in the morning. I’ll eat humble pie and grovel if I have to. I’ll explain what I learned today and why I was so frantic, so desperate for any scrap of information that could help us understand what we’re facing.

A sharp knock at my door interrupts my thoughts. I glance at my watch; right on time. I grab my things, shoving them into my pockets as I head for the door.

Webb stands in the hallway wearing a navy suit that is probably a little over the top for a club, but what do I know? Thompson is beside him in dark slacks and a gray button-down shirt, looking more the part.

“Ready for this?” Webb asks, his eyes bright with anticipation. “I have to admit, I’m excited to see what Kozlov’s club is like. Word is, it’s freaking amazing.”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, pulling the door shut behind me and ensuring it locks.

We start walking toward the elevators, Thompson checking his phone as we move.

“Man, what a day,” Thompson says, sliding his device back into his pocket. “That last meeting ran long as hell. And getting kicked out of that classified session? That was a first for me.”

My steps falter slightly. “You were kicked out?”

“Yeah, you weren’t there. The two of you went to the meeting with Kozlov.

” He sighs. “I’m sure General Delport has balls despite being a woman.

She’s tough as nails and, quite frankly, I’m a little scared of her.

Anyway,” he goes on, “she dismissed a whole lot of us, including all the security personnel, before they got into the heavy stuff.” Thompson shakes his head.

“Whatever they were discussing must have been seriously classified.” He widens his eyes.

Holy shit!

Thompson was kicked out, too. Just like Shadow said.

She was telling the truth.

Of course she was telling the fucking truth. Deep down inside, I knew it.

My stomach drops as the full weight of my stupidity crashes over me. Shadow wasn’t lying or holding back information.

I’m a complete asshole.

I was so frantic after learning about the nuclear weapons, so desperate to know if she’d gathered any information that could help us understand the scope of the threat, that I took my fear and frustration out on her.

I was still right to question her, but I didn’t have to be such a dick about it.

“You okay, Marsh?” Webb asks, studying my face with concern. “You look a little…I don’t know…off.”

“I’m fine,” I manage, though I feel anything but. “Just thinking about the schedule tomorrow.”

We reach the elevators, and Webb pushes the down button.

“Don’t think about the schedule. Your mind should be on tonight. Have a few drinks, relax. I want you on good terms with Kozlov. He likes you.” Webb gives me a strange look.

“What?”

“Maybe get yourself laid.” He chuckles. “A guy like you should have no trouble. You’re wound up tight. Lord knows I would be on the prowl if I were young and single to mingle.” He bumps his shoulder against mine.

“This is business, sir.”

“Laurence,” he corrects.

“Laurence.”

“Relax. There is no reason why it can’t be a bit of both.” Webb winks at me.

We get out of the elevator and walk through the reception area that leads outside. Thompson and Webb are talking about which celebs might be at the club tonight. I couldn’t give a shit. I need to try to pretend to care, so I laugh at something supposedly funny that Thompson says.

My mind keeps going to thoughts of Shadow, which needs to stop.

There’s nothing I can do to fix it now, not tonight, anyway. I need to focus on the task at hand: rubbing elbows with Kozlov and gathering whatever intelligence I can from this club visit. It’s the last thing I feel like doing right now, but it’s necessary.

Maybe I’ll learn something that can help us both.

“There’s our ride,” Webb says, pointing to a black sedan that just pulled up to the curb.

We start walking toward the Uber when Thompson suddenly stops, patting his pockets with increasing urgency.

“Shit,” he mutters. “Shit, shit, shit.”

“What’s wrong?” Webb asks.

“My wallet. I left it in my room.” Thompson groans. “I’m such an idiot. I pulled it out to tip the room service guy earlier and left it on the dresser. I’d better go back for it.”

Webb checks his watch and sighs. “Hurry!”

“Five minutes, tops. You guys wait here?”

I nod.

“Yes. Go already.” Webb waves him away, sounding irritated.

Thompson jogs back toward the hotel entrance, leaving Webb and me standing on the sidewalk beside the idling Uber.

I’m tempted to lie about my wallet being in my hotel room, too, so that I can go back and apologize to Shadow.

I don’t!

I really need to get a grip.

Maybe this whole thing was a blessing in disguise. We were starting to get a little too cozy.

Shadow

The elevator doors slide open, and I step into the hallway leading to my hotel room.

I’m irritated. I should be full and satisfied…

possibly even halfway to a food-induced coma.

I’m not. The salmon the waiter brought to my table earlier was delicious, but I couldn’t even get through half of it.

I decided to go downstairs instead of ruminating over what happened earlier, and it turns out that it was a mistake.

Perhaps that bubble bath Harrison suggested earlier will turn this shitshow of a day around.

I’m fishing my keycard out of my purse as I turn the corner leading to my room when I am nearly bowled over by someone rushing down the hallway.

“Whoa!” a familiar voice says, steadying me with firm hands. “Sorry about that. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

It’s Thompson, one of the security team members, dressed to impress.

“No harm done,” I say, taking a step back and giving him an appreciative once-over. “Wow, Thompson. You look really smart. Hot date?”

He grins, smoothing a hand over his styled hair. “Something like that. Actually, I’m on my way to Black Blood.” He looks at me with a grin on his face and says it like I should know exactly what that means.

“Black Blood?” I raise my eyebrows. “I’ve never heard of it.” I frown.

“You know, the club that opened about a year ago here in Chicago?” When I shake my head, his eyes widen with surprise. “Seriously? It’s only the most exclusive nightclub in the city. Maybe in the whole Midwest. It’s owned by one of the richest men in the country.”

“Sounds fancy,” I say, genuinely curious now. “Where is it located?”

“Gold Coast area, near the lake.” He checks his watch and grimaces. “I’m actually running late. Going with Webb and the new guy, Marsh.”

My heart stutters at the mention of Fury’s cover name, but I keep my expression neutral.

“Business meeting?” I ask.

Thompson’s grin turns wicked. “Business and pleasure. We’ve got some meeting with the club’s owner, but afterwards…

” He chuckles, shaking his head. “Marsh and I are looking to get lucky tonight. If rumors are to be believed, there are some real honeys who frequent Black Blood.” He bobs his brows.

“I mean, we’re both single.” He chuckles.

My dragon snarls inside me, and jealousy floods through me so fast and fierce it takes my breath away. The image of Fury with some random woman, his hands on her body…

I hate the idea.

But that’s my crazy dragon talking. I’m ignoring her flat, so I shove the emotion aside. I don’t care what Fury does with his dick. I don’t care if he fucks half of Chicago tonight. We’re done working together. He made that crystal clear when he accused me of lying and withholding information.

“Sounds like quite the night,” I manage to say, proud that my voice sounds steady.

“It should be. I’ve been dying to get into Black Blood since it opened.” Thompson looks down the hallway. “I almost forgot my wallet like an idiot. I’m on my way to fetch it now.”

“Thompson,” I start, trying to sound nonchalant, “this business meeting you mentioned—”

His expression immediately shifts, becoming guarded. “Sorry, Claire. Can’t really discuss the details. You know how it is.”

Of course he can’t.

“Right, no problem. Just curious.” I smile.

“I really need to run,” he says, already jogging down the hallway. “Webb and Marsh are waiting for me downstairs, and Webb hates being kept waiting. Have a good evening!”

“You, too,” I call after him, watching as he disappears around the corner.

I stand there for a moment, my mind racing. A business meeting at an exclusive club owned by one of the richest men in the country. Whatever this is, it’s not a coincidence. This has to be connected to whatever happened during their mysterious outing this afternoon.

And I’m completely out of the loop.

I swipe my keycard a little too forcefully and storm into my hotel room, tossing my purse onto the bed. The space feels too small suddenly.

What the hell is Fury up to? I’m not talking about his dick, either. I couldn’t care about that. What is this business meeting?

I grab my phone and open our message thread. All evening, I’ve been dying to know what he said in those texts, even though I told myself I didn’t care.

I stare at the messages, my anger flaring higher. That’s it? That’s his idea of an apology? A halfhearted “I’m sorry.”

Well, fuck that.

I start pacing the length of the room, my dragon stirring. She’s picking up on my agitation, my frustration at being sidelined yet again.

I could call him. Demand to know what this Black Blood meeting is about. But it’s clear where I stand with him now. We’re no longer working together. He made that decision when he chose suspicion over trust.

When he didn’t say a single word about this meeting.

He did try to talk to me about something. Maybe…? No! It was too little too late.

Fine. If that’s how he wants to play it, then I’ll play by the same rules.

I’d already decided earlier that I was done sitting around waiting for intel to come to me. Done hoping that opportunities would present themselves. If I want answers, I’m going to have to go get them myself.

I move to the closet and pull out the little black dress I pack on every business trip, just in case. It’s a simple but elegant piece that hugs my body in all the right places, with a neckline that’s professional enough for business dinners but sultry enough for after-hours activities.

Tonight, I definitely need sultry.

I lay the dress on the bed next to the black stiletto heels I brought for the same just-in-case scenarios. The shoes add four inches to my already impressive height and make my legs look like they go on for miles.

If Fury and his team think they can cut me out of whatever operation they’re running, they’re about to learn otherwise. I’m going to Black Blood tonight, and I’m going to find out exactly what the hell is going on.

Whether they want me there or not.