Page 35

THIRTY-FOUR

DRAKE

I need to get the fuck out of here. The academy is messing with my mind and I’m not leaving Imogen behind. I need her where I can see her - care for her – protect her – love her.

Love isn’t something I’ve experienced before.

Not in this way. I love my Reaper brothers, the life we have and the job I do.

I love my family, my friends and my life, but I have never loved a woman.

Not in this way. Not where I ache when they aren’t with me and they consume my thoughts.

I shouldn’t be with her. She is my forbidden obsession, and I’m shocked at how easily I disregard that.

It’s as if none of that matters. She is mine and I must protect her.

We are a team no matter what anyone says and if her father has something to say about that, I’m prepared to argue our case to the bitter end.

I respect Flash. Fuck, more than most guys, but I fell in love with his daughter, which is a huge problem for me. She is in danger, and I’m not known for treading carefully. I’m liable to burn this fucking cesspit down if anyone lays one finger on my girl.

I see her waiting in the lane and my heart clenches. She is so beautiful. The perfect woman in every way and today is a selfish act of taking what I want and fuck the consequences.

“Hey.”

Her smile blinds me as she slips into the passenger seat and I breathe a sigh of relief. “Hey.”

My smile is gentle as I note the concern in her eyes. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

“Of course.”

I steer the car toward the open road and the tension fades with every second we leave the academy behind.

“Last night was an education in more ways than one.”

“What happened?”

I don’t miss the anxiety in her words and hate it.

“It appears that The Claiming isn’t as undetected as you all think.”

“They know!” Her horrified gasp echoes through the car and I nod, my expression grim.

“The principal has her own club and while you are all occupied, so is she.”

“Club?”

“It’s not one you want membership of.”

My knuckles tighten on the wheel.

“If you are handed a membership card, it’s because you have a lot to lose and it’s your only way out.”

“So, how are you aware of it?” Her voice trembles and I attempt to reassure her.

“I’m sorry to say this, darlin’ but she knows about us.”

“She?”

“The principal.”

“F-u-c-k…” Her slow use of the word makes me smile because rather than panic, she accepts it as fact.

“So, what are we going to do about that?”

I reach out and grasp her hand and squeeze it hard.

“Nothing.”

“That’s your answer?”

Her soft laugh lightens my mood and I nod. “It changes nothing. It was merely her reason for drafting me into her world, which was a move that is more to our advantage than hers.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

“The plan is to carry on with the plan.”

“That’s your plan?”

Her soft giggle lightens the atmosphere and I chuckle. “It helps knowing the cards we are dealt. It makes the game easier.”

“The girl?”

I was waiting for this because I’m aware Imogen is curious about her.

“She was part of the club last night and saved me from an extremely distasteful encounter with the principal.”

“No way!”

Her soft laugh dismisses any fear she would be jealous and I grin. “Principal Constable used our relationship against me to suit her own agenda. She promised to remain quiet if I became her–” I groan. “Slave.”

“Fuck, Drake.” Imogen laughs out loud. “As in sex slave?”

“You got it.”

“No way.”

Her incredulous tone causes us both to laugh, and it’s all I needed to bring clarity to the situation. Saying it out loud reduces its importance and is a welcome breath of fresh air in an otherwise toxic environment.

“So, how did this woman save you?”

Imogen sounds more curious than jealous and I don’t sugarcoat my words. “She set herself on fire.”

Her stunned silence reminds me of how brave Delilah was last night and Imogen’s voice waivers. “Is she okay?”

“She is. Apparently, the flames merely burned on the paint that covered her body and caught the cloak she was wearing on fire more than her skin.”

“I’m sorry, but what the hell is this club the principal has formed?”

“Hell is the right word, darlin’. If you thought The Claiming was depraved, step inside Principal Constable’s mind while she takes a bow. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Imogen leans back heavily in her seat. “Why did this woman save you? I still don’t understand.”

“Because she sees me as her ticket out of hell and wanted to save me from falling further into the abyss with her. She needs a hand out of there, and I would be better equipped to deal with that from the outside.”

“So, you’re sending her to the compound, right?”

Imogen’s voice is firm and my heart softens. “Of course. I must have a conversation with Ryder first, who, as we know, will be preparing her room at the end of it, but first we must use her information to tear this organization apart from the inside.”

Imogen nods and reaches for my hand. “Then tell me how I can help.”

“Enjoy the prom. That’s all I want you to do, and that requires treating every drink you are given as spiked, accepting no invitations to step outside and spending time with your friends and not leaving them for a minute. If I know you are safe, I can deal with this shit.”

“That’s it?”

She sounds disappointed.

“Yes, darlin’. That’s it.”

She changes the subject. “So, where are we heading?”

“Cripple Creek.”

“But that’s–”

“Two hours away.”

I sigh. “It’s far enough to give us some privacy and take a break from this shit and if it’s okay with you, I want us to spend the entire day locked in a hotel room.”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Her soft laughter is enough to reassure me and as we head toward Cripple Creek, we leave our problems behind us. They can wait. The world can wait because all I want now is to spend much needed time with my woman.