Page 74 of Bound by Vengeance
“All better. Now, I’m doing some pampering;my nails are destroyed. The manicurist is muttering curses at me aswe speak. I won’t be able to meet with you tonight; I’ve bookedsome spa time instead.”
“Vicky—”
“I have to go, Nathan. I’m getting my hairdone soon. I’m considering a new color.”
“Wait!” he said more harshly than he’dintended, but the events of the past twenty-four hours and hergrowing distance were pushing him toward a breaking point. “Justwait.”
“For what?” she asked.
“I think you should go to Ronan’s.”
“I’m happy where I am.”
“Something is wrong, Vicky. I’m not surewhat it is yet, but you might not be safe, and I think it would bebest—”
“Thank you for your concern, but I’mfine.”
Vicky sank onto the edge of her bed andglanced around the lonely hotel room. She stared at her jaggednails as she struggled against the tears burning her eyes. OldVicky actually would be sitting in the salon right now, but shecouldn’t bring herself to do it. However, she didn’t have to tellNathan that.
“I’m worried about you,” he said.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. It’s not good though. We mayhave to leave the stronghold. I’ve spoken with Ronan, he’s agreedto let us use the hotel in Falmouth if it becomes necessary, butyou’re out there alone—”
“I can take care of myself.”
“Victoria,listento me! This issomething I’ve never seen before. You being out there alone isn’tsafe.”
“Are you in danger?” Her chest tightened atthe possibility as she rose from the bed. She had no idea where hewas. By the time Brian returned from Maine, it might be too late tofind Nathan if something went wrong.
Her melancholy over deciding to end it withhim was pushed aside by the burgeoning fury filling her gut. If thehunters did something to him, she would make them pay for it. She’dvowed never to take another life unless it was necessary, but ifthey hurt him, she would destroy as many of them as she couldbefore they took her down.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but contactRonan and have him come get you,” he commanded. “I have to go, butI’ll talk to you later. If you need me at all, call me.”
“I don’t think your people would like thatmuch.”
“I care too much about you to give afuckwhat they like.”
Before she could respond, he hung up andleft her gawking at her phone. She didn’t know if he realized whathe’d said or not, but his words ran on a loop in her head.
Pop that hope bubble, dumbass. He’s still ahunter and the leader of a group who would prefer to see you toeup.
Vicky set her phone down and sank onto theedge of the mattress again. She had no intention of calling Ronan.If there were threats out there to her or her family, she’d return,but this sounded more hunter related.
If she went back, Ronan might not let herout again if something did happen with the hunters, and she wasn’twilling to take that chance. She would also sit there and go insanewaiting to hear from Nathan. When she finished waiting to learn ifhe was safe, she would start waiting for the announcement of hisengagement.
Rising, she paced from one side of the roomto the other. She had no idea what to do with herself until sheheard from Nathan. She couldn’t join Duncan tonight; she wouldn’ttake the risk of Ronan finding out and punishing Brian because ofit.
But if she stayed here, she’d go crazy.
CHAPTER 33
On one of the computer screens, Nathanwatched as Alejandro appeared, followed by twelve other hunterleaders. Most of them were in their offices, but Jaroslav in Pragueand Abasi in Cairo were both outside on their phones as theyinspected the perimeter of their strongholds. He was acutely awareof the small, black squares where the leaders of Moscow and SanFran should be.
“What do you think this is?” Jaroslav askedin heavily accented English.
Nathan was raised to speak the languages ofthem all, but they often held their conversations in English.
