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"Did you get permission?"
I shake my head, trying to follow the switch in conversation. "Permission? I don't ask for permission."
"Except from me." It's a statement she's been making over the last week in various forms. I can't tell if she's reminding me or testing my resolve.
Her eyes skip away from mine, but not before I catch a gleam in them. "I can't leave the premises without permission, which Jenkins has never given me. Ever. The most I see is a sliver of the world before I'm stuffed in the back of a van with a bag shoved over my head."
"Guess we'll find out what happens when I don't ask."
Her head whips up, and she holds her hands out as if to fend me off. She blanches, doubling over as her breath comes in gasps. My first instinct is to pull her into me, but I don’t want her to spiral more. I drop to my knees, wrapping my fingers gently around her arms. Goosebumps scatter across her skin, and she shivers.
"Tell me," I demand, my tone harsher than I intend.
"I'll find out. I'll be punished. Not a damn thing will happen to you," she spits, ripping from my grasp.
She stumbles over her blankets, falling onto her ass. I reach for her, but she slaps my hand away. Huffing, I run my hand through my hair. I can't even fault her. Her reaction is entirely warranted. I know what these people are like, yet I dismissed the risk she'd be taking.
"We don't have to—" My phone buzzes, cutting off my pathetic attempt to apologize.
Pulling it from my pocket, I find a text message from an unknown source. No one has this number except Byron, the man who brought me into the Guild. I read it three times before I fully register what it says and who it's from.
"How would you like to sleep in a real bed?" I murmur, glancing at her.
She jerks back, head knocking against the wall as hope wars with terror in her dark eyes.
"How?" she whispers.
I hold the phone out to her and she hesitates, then takes it with trembling fingers. Her lips purse as she reads the screen. I glance away, not wanting to fall into the memories I've been swimming in for the last week.
Licking my lips, I swear I can still taste her sweetness. My cock swells as I remember how she melted in my arms, giving into whatever emotions were rolling through her.
She shakes her head. "This is a trap."
"Doubt it. With the steps I've been taking over the last week, I'm surprised it took him this long."
"What does that mean?" she asks, handing my phone back.
I send a quick reply—demands, really—to Jenkins. We’re both testing, seeing how far we can push the other. I doubt he’d approve of my plan to bring Aelia, but I won’t be asking. Leaving headquarters might be pushing it, though, based on her reaction. She might not even be ready to be back in the real world, even if it’s only to another Guild establishment.
“Why didn’t you run when we were in the alley?”
“Are you going to answer my question?” she snaps, wrapping her arms around her legs. It reminds me of the first time I was here.
“I can’t tell you right now. Later, when we’re settled in the room.”
She huffs, resting her forehead on her knees. Her voice is muffled when she says, “I was scared I’d get caught.”
“No one was there except for us. You could have even asked me to help you.”
“I knew you wouldn’t.” She glares at me before dropping her head again.
“I might have. I could have gotten you out at least. Dealt with the fallout,” I say, knowing it’s a lie.
Letting her run when it would have derailed everything I was working for would have been hard. I’d probably be dead right now. It hits me that there may have been cameras in the alley, catching everything we were saying. I checked before Grant stumbled out for a cigarette, but that doesn’t mean much.
“They’ll put cameras in your room.”
“They won’t unless he’s willing to risk it. Be pretty fucking stupid, though. Is there anything you need from here?” I sweep my hand out, gesturing at the space.
