Page 19

Chapter Fifteen

Niko’s full attention focused on the couple as he descended upon them. He barely restrained his urge to don battle armor and strike down Julian’s lieutenant where he stood.

Stalking through the crowd, he noticed every one of the pair’s movements. Kinnick sneered at a grey-haired waiter, a suspicious spark in his eyes. Moments later, a tray of champagne clattered to the ground. The server scrambled in its wake, apologizing profusely as he rushed to clear up the mess.

When Kinnick smirked, there was no doubt in Niko’s mind. The immortal playing Jade’s ‘date’ was nothing more than a bully—a man addicted to the pain of others. The fact that he’d shown his true colors so swiftly was another nail in the coffin.

It solidified his resolve to remove Kinnick from Jade’s side. Her agitation was heightened, but neither of them noticed him as he entered their space.

“Jade Lascaux,” Niko purred, his arm stealing around her waist and gently pulling her from Kinnick’s grip. “Lovely to see you tonight.”

Kinnick’s eyes were on his in an instant, but given their audience, he had to cede his hold to avoid looking confrontational. Nothing but ill intent suffused Kinnick’s gaze, but the villain maintained his false smile like a good actor.

Jade melted into Niko’s arms. If she was shocked that he was registering as a human, she didn’t show it. “Niko.”

He pressed a kiss into the baby-soft skin of her cheek, lingering for just a moment before retreating with a genuine smile.

She blinked for all of two seconds before shaking off her surprise and turning to Kinnick. “Kinnick, this is Nikolas Church, my business partner. He’s the one acquiring the company from us.”

Us .

The very word grated over Niko’s skin. Thinking about this man’s relationship with Jade was enough to rile his inner predator. The way he’d hurt her made Niko irrationally aggressive. He wanted to snap Kinnick in two for even daring to touch her, let alone for that possessive smirk when he did it.

Extending his hand, Niko couldn’t help but rub salt into the wound. “Pleasure meeting you, Ken.”

Jade cleared her throat to correct him, but Kinnick beat her to the punch. “Kinnick, actually. But some people just aren’t capable of pronouncing it correctly, so I’ll forgive you this once.”

His handshake was crushing. Niko forced himself to keep his strength in check and not reciprocate. Grinning back at the other immortal with a pedantic smile, he asked, “And what it is that you do, Kyle?”

“ Kinnick ,” the other man corrected once more, “and I run a penitentiary.”

Niko nodded slowly in a move of fake awe, “You’re in corrections?” As an aside to Jade, he added, “I knew you were charitable, dove, but I didn’t think your good graces extended to bringing someone so much less fortunate than us to these events. You truly humble us all.”

The tidbit of information was far more damning than Kinnick knew.

For centuries, Roman and Niko had searched the vast expanse of Julian’s territory in vain for the detention center where he’d housed his political prisoners and Roman’s mother. They had never found it, and they’d begun losing hope.

Kinnick might be the key to unlocking that mystery.

“Where is your penitentiary located? Are you state or nationally run?”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss my work.”

“Ah, definitely wouldn’t want you being the one behind bars.” Niko winked at him. “Have you worked there a long time?”

“Seems like centuries,” Kinnick replied, entirely bored.

“Fortunately, it’s not a long commute from where we both grew up—where Kinnick still lives,” Jade added. “I’ll likely be going back, too, once you’ve given me the boot.”

Inwardly, Niko winced. It was a reminder that Jade would be returning to Julian’s legion territory, and that Kinnick would be there waiting for her.

The information she’d supplied, whether she knew it or not, was incredibly valuable.

Now he just had to get rid of their tagalong. Preferably, off a cliff.

“Apologies, Jade,” he said. “I was just making small talk. Trying to involve our friend in the conversation. I’m sorry, was it Kannon?”

Following on the heels of his latest jeer, Niko sensed a probe into his mind—one that failed, but an attempt, nonetheless. The shield he’d wrapped around his mind had held.

Humans were occasionally immune to Sagani influence, but it was rare.

With any luck, Kinnick would cease his attempt to enter his mind and try something more reckless.

If Kinnick took a swing at him—and Niko certainly wished he would—Julian’s lieutenant would be leaving in a full-body cast with a Post-it apology stuck to his forehead.

The intensity of Kinnick’s eye contact had Niko smirking. “Must be difficult being in the shadow of a woman so commendable.”

“I hardly think that Jade—”

“Kinnick and I aren’t together,” Jade clarified. “He came as a favor to me tonight, but these events aren’t really his favorite.”

Niko picked up the baton, dismissing Kinnick now in a way that obviously irked the other man. “I see. In that case, I’ll let you off the hook tonight, Kevin, since I know this crowd must intimidate you. No worries, I’ll see to it that Jade makes it home in one piece.”

Kinnick’s lips pulled back from his teeth in a loose semblance of a smile. “That’s not necessary. It’s been a while since Jade and I had the pleasure of dining together, and I’d looked forward to—”

“Oh, I’m sure you can grab a plate from the kitchen if you’re hungry.” Jade gestured dismissively toward the kitchens. “Niko and I have confidential information to cover, and I’d prefer to keep that just between the two of us.”

“I appreciate your discretion,” Niko added. “Jade’s always looking out for our best interest, and it speaks well of you that you’d respect her wishes.”

Kinnick’s smile was as sharp as a shark’s, his bared teeth an outward sign of the aggression that was building in his magical charge. Jade sensed the change, and immediately took action. A tickle of electricity thrummed through the air, and Niko knew the two were conversing telepathically.

Kinnick threw Niko a smirk as soon as the hum of telepathy receded and closed the distance between him and Jade.

His lips crushed to hers, forceful and without warning.

Niko could feel Jade’s shock, accompanying the other man’s unwanted invasion, and the toe-curling hatred that followed in its wake.

Kinnick was demanding that she cede to him and respond in kind.

The monster didn’t care that Jade loathed him. In fact, given the smitten look on Kinnick’s face, Niko had a feeling the man liked her revulsion .

Retreating from her lips with a darkly seductive look, Kinnick turned to leave before Niko cleared his throat and extended his hand. “Pleasure meeting you, Kingston.”

Except when Kinnick reached out to take his hand in farewell, Niko passed him a twenty.

“For the cab home.”

The warning in Kinnick’s eyes rose to an intense crescendo before he pivoted to leave. Conversation began around them once more, dismissing the odd interaction, but neither Jade nor Niko spoke until they felt Kinnick leave the building.

Jade’s sigh of relief meant everything to him.

“Forgive me if I went about that the wrong way,” he said quietly. “It seemed like you weren’t his biggest fan.”

Jade shrugged. “You did me a favor. I’ve been contemplating ways to escape since he first phased into my apartment an hour ago.”

Niko’s teeth grated together at the thought of Kinnick invading Jade’s personal space. “Has he hurt you?”

“Not recently.”

The urge to follow Kinnick and run him through with his blade was nearly overpowering. Slowly, purposefully, he took two deep breaths before saying, “I’ll make it look like an accident. No one will ever know it was premeditated.”

Bumping her shoulder against his, Jade said, “Let’s not add murder to your list of grievances. I’ll handle Kinnick. I’m not a wilting flower.”

“No, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be your knight in shining armor.”

“Now who’s obsessed with fairytales?”

Chuckling, Niko dismissed the earlier angst, and they seamlessly transitioned into conversation. Jade admitted that she looked forward to a time when she was no longer required to participate in events of this type. Niko commiserated with her, bonding over how much they hated networking.

It wasn’t long before Caleb and Anita found them, the latter grinning unrepentantly as she took in the sight of Jade on Niko’s arm.

“I’ve been dying for a chance to meet you, Ms. Lascaux. I’m an avid follower of your work.”

Jade returned the grin. “Well, I’m flattered.”

“My name is Anita and I understand you know my husband, Caleb.” Bumping her spouse with her shoulder, she looked between them. “Niko and Caleb have been telling me all about you, and I must admit, I’ve become a bit starstruck.”

“Oh, I don’t think there’s anything to be starstruck about,” Jade said.

“You’re an advocate for underprivileged woman, on the board for several charity organizations, achieved entrepreneurial success as at a young age, and promote ethical business practices.” Anita made an astounded sound when Jade shrugged humbly. “I don’t know where you find the time!”

“Time is something I will now have too much of, I’m afraid.”

“If only I could say the same!” Anita’s grin broadened. “Of the three, which one is your favorite? I have to say, I’m a fan of the Snow Leopard Preservation Society. How ever did you get caught up in that?”

“My favorite animal.”

“Gorgeous creatures,” Niko echoed.

“Well, I’m just happy you’re not holding a grudge against these two, and I got to meet you”” Anita tipped her wine glass to Niko. “Honestly, I think in this economy Jade still comes out the winner from the move.”

“Agreed.” Caleb nodded along with his wife, then gave Niko an expectant look. “Did you hear Oscario filed for Chapter 11?”

Jade’s surprise shivered through her, vibrating up Niko’s arm. “What?”

“Oscario, that pharmaceutical company?” Caleb shook his head sadly. “They’re folding. An outside company discovered that the CEO had been embezzling funds. Totally out of character, or so they say.”

Anita nodded. “Depredate’s stocks shot way up this morning. Somebody must’ve made a fortune on that.”

Every ounce of expression left Jade’s face, draining away along with every ounce of color she’d had. Though Niko wondered about the exchange, he couldn’t ask without giving her away.

They stayed and made idle conversation for a while, but when Jade asked to see him alone for a moment, he gave her an eager nod. Together, they excused themselves from their audience and attempted to find a quiet place where they could speak privately.

Linking fingers, they ascended a grandiose staircase to the quieter upper portion of the ballroom. An unoccupied nook that overlooked the city below welcomed them with its air-conditioned chill. Niko tucked her into his side as they sat on a plush ivory sofa, allowing her to lead the conversation.

“I’ve never known an immortal who can come across as so mortal before. Is that why Julian didn’t notice your entry that first day?”

“Or since? Yes. If I want to look, sound, and register to the magical senses as human, I can. It’s part of my magic—it forms a barrier.

” He gently extracted her hand from his grip and pressed a massage into her palm.

“I can limit my abilities to register only to an audience I chose. When we met in that conference room, you’d already sensed what I was. No sense in hiding it after the fact.”

“Impressive repertoire,” came her comment, but her eyes had closed as she savored his ministrations against her palm.

“Well, according to some, my water ability leaves plenty to be desired.” When Jade blushed and gave him a sidelong look, Niko chuckled and traced his thumb over her cheek. “A little pink looks good on you, dove.”

Jade nodded, then stiffened as something became clear to her. “Julian doesn’t even know you’re here, does he? You never petitioned for entry.”