CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Down this way, Ms. Marshall.” The CA soldier pointed to the hallway on the right. “Just follow me, and you won’t get lost.”
I brushed a piece of my black hair away from my face. “Rune’s there?”
She nodded. “Mr. Mason is waiting for you.”
My hand caked with dried blood waved in the direction we were supposed to go. “Lead the way then. But don’t walk too fast. I’m tired.”
Her gaze ran up and down my frame, blood and guts splattered every inch of my clothing and exposed flesh. “I would imagine so.”
She began the journey to Rune while I followed closely behind.
The black uniform she wore was glaringly clean under the harsh neon light. The white walls and white tiles should be repelling me out of the CA headquarters. But instead, they welcomed me further into their abyss of many hallways and stairs leading down and then up, pulling me deeper and deeper until I had lost all sense of direction.
I muttered, “It’s a damn maze in here.”
“Wood Corporation was the architecture company for this building. It’s supposed to confuse individuals who aren’t allowed inside.”
“Alaric did a stellar job with it then.”
She sniggered. “I think it was actually him who designed it, not one of his employees.”
“It makes sense. It’s an integral building for New City.”
And the soldier just kept walking.
“Are we even above ground right now?” I asked in exasperation. “There aren’t any windows in this part.”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
“That’s so helpful. Fuck you very much.”
Her shoulders shook in front of me. Sounding amused, the soldier inquired, “I have a question for you.”
“I may not be at liberty to say.”
The soldier snorted. “I read in the rags that you’re dating Mr. Mason. Is that true?”
My blue eyes zeroed in on the back of her head. “Let me guess. You’re a fan of his.”
“That would be no. But I am curious. You never know if what you read is true.”
I rubbed at my forehead, ready for bed. A long shower first, of course. I explained in a quiet tired voice, “Yes, Rune and I are dating. It’s serious too. So if you know any women who want to jump him, tell them to please refrain—unless they like broken bones.”
“Thank you for being candid with me.” We moved down four more hallways before she eventually added, “I’ll let everyone know that Mr. Mason’s cock is off limits.”
Rune stuck his head outside a room, his brows furrowed. “Why are you talking about my cock?”
The soldier halted, her back straightening. “Sir, I apologize.”
“Don’t do it again. I’m taken,” he growled, his golden eyes alarmingly scary. Then his head disappeared back into the room.
It dawned on me that he couldn’t see me behind her. The small part of me that was showing was covered in dried blood. And the blood most likely hid my scent.
My lips trembled in humor as I passed her, patting her on the shoulder in sympathy.
But Rune unwittingly passed a test with flying colors. Because the soldier was knockout gorgeous. A typical man would beg to even speak with her, much less have sexual relations with her.
I knocked on the open door to the room. “I’m here.”
Sitting at a round table, Rune and Finn both looked up from a translucent notepad they were viewing. They didn’t look anywhere near as bad as I did. I only saw a few spots of blood on their clothing, and the location they had gone to was considered hostile.
My eyes narrowed on them. “Did you guys even fight anyone? Or did you just walk in after the hard part was done to grab my father?”
Rune jerked to his feet. “Are you all right?”
I held up my hands. “I’m past exhausted, but I didn’t get hurt. Not one blade or fist landed on my delicate body.” My hands then waved up and down my frame to indicate how ‘delicate’ I wasn’t.
His nostrils flare, and he inhaled deeply.
I rolled my eyes. “None of it is my blood.”
Rune sniffed a few more times but eventually nodded. “I have some news. Do you want to sit down for it?”
“Do I need to?”
“It would probably be best.”
I trudged forward and plopped my ass on a seat next to his vacated one. I rubbed at my forehead. I made myself speak the words, “Just tell me. If he got away, it’s okay. We’ll find him eventually.”
“Actually, we did find out that we have another mole in the CA ranks. We thought we’d gotten them all when I was sent to jail.” Rune ran his fingers down my cheek before he sat down on his chair. “Your father was notified ten minutes before the raids began.”
My brows pinched when I felt no disappointment.
Rune opened his mouth, and I quickly held up a hand to stop him. His mouth closed.
I lowered my hand and knocked my knuckles on the table while I studied his face. The god-man’s perfect blend of features, utterly captivating and enthralling, but, eventually, my eyes landed on his heart.
Had I fallen for him? Because that was the only reason I wouldn’t be the slightest bit disappointed. To know he had tried his hardest… And that was enough for me. The one time I really had a shot of taking my father down, and it didn’t bother me that the plan failed.
Because of him.
I sucked in a sharp breath, my gaze finding his. That was what this warmth in my chest was. It had been growing considerably each day I spent with him. I was truly falling for Rune Mason. Not just a simple like either. It was head over heels shit that frilly women were always giggling about.
Rune dipped his head to place his face in front of mine, his golden regard honed on my eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay, Megan?”
With a flush that rose like a hot burn, my cheeks colored horribly. I nodded and squeaked, “I’m fine.”
His eyes instantly narrowed. “I think you’re lying to me.”
I shook my head quickly. “No, no. Go on. I was just lost in thought.”
Rune’s nostrils flared again as his gaze expanded to my entire face. “If you’re too tired to talk, we can do this later.”
I sat straighter in my chair and shoved my surprising feelings for him aside. “Seriously, I’m good. I can last a little longer.”
Across the white, circular table, Finn rumbled, “Let it go, Rune. She’s fine.”
Rune’s gaze snapped to him. “Are you sure?”
He nodded, his eyes straying in my direction. “Just let her be for right now.”
“All right.” Golden eyes swung back to me. “If you get too tired, just say so, and we can do this whenever you’re ready.”
I helped him along so he would quit asking right now. “So my father got the details in advance, and hightailed it out of there.”
Rune nodded. “He did, but he didn’t know we hacked his bracelet. We are aware who the mole is, and we knew his exact location. The crew went in without us while Finn and I tracked him down.”
I jerked in my chair. “What? You found him?”
He nodded slowly. “It didn’t turn out as you wanted, though.”
“What do you mean?” I glanced at the small blood splatters on his clothing. “It looks like something happened.”
“I lost control, Megan. Your father, he started telling us the horrors he did to you as a child…” He ran his fingers through his fine, black hair. “Anyway, I lost it.”
My eyebrows furrowed deep over my eyes. “Meaning?”
“I didn’t bring him in alive as you wished.” He cleared his throat and twisted in his chair to duck his upper body under the table. When he lifted, he set a black plastic bag on the table in front of me. “I did bring you proof that he’s dead. Finn managed to stop me from completely chopping him to too small bits.”
“Wait. You thought I’d be upset because you killed him?”
He nodded. “You said you wanted to be the one to kill him.”
“It would have been nice, but ultimately, I don’t care. As long as he’s dead, I’m freaking ecstatic.” My wide eyes turned to the black plastic bag, and I bounced my legs to release energy. “There’s proof in here?”
“Yes.” One simple word. It meant a lot.
I grabbed the opening of the black plastic and pulled it apart. My resulting grin was magnificent as I stared into its depth, a weight of terror vanishing from my shoulders. I felt like I could breathe again, my chest pumping swiftly in excitement.
I stuck my right hand into the bag and grabbed a handful of hair—bald spot included.
Then I lifted the decapitated head from the bag’s depths and held it high in the air. My father’s lifeless eyes stared out at the room. I turned my elation on Rune, bubbling with joy. “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten in my entire life. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Finn placed a fist in front of his mouth and started having a coughing fit. He quickly excused himself from the room, leaving Rune and me alone.
Rune’s eyes ran over my features like a predator hunting for weakness. But his lips eventually curved up with an impish grin. He flirted, teasing, “So you love my gift, huh?”
“I do!” I squealed. I sat my father’s head down on the table and grabbed Rune’s cheeks, pulling him closer. “You deserve a reward, stud.”
“Do I get it now?” he whispered.
“Yeah, you do.” I pressed my lips against his, and thoroughly kissed him. His tongue and mine met in the most sensual of teasing. I bit his bottom lip, pulling it between my teeth until it released from my mouth. “But your real reward will have to wait until tomorrow. I would be utterly useless to you tonight. In fact, I may let you carry me out of this dungeon like a babe. That’s how pooped I am.”
Rune brushed his lips over mine again, hovering over my mouth. “Are we going…home?”
My blue eyes pinched at the corners in contentment. “So it’s our home?”
“If you want it to be,” he whispered, his finger sliding over the neckline of my filthy shirt, running his finger back and forth over my skin. “Is that what you want?”
Gradually, I nodded. “I think I’d like that.”
He stood and turned around, bending. “Jump on. I know you don’t want me carrying you out like a babe in front of all the soldiers.”
That would be very true. “A piggyback ride again?”
“Fuck yes.”
I jumped onto his back and leaned forward to kiss his cheek.
He grinned at me over his shoulder. “Finn, get rid of the head. We’re leaving.”
“All right. Leave me with the disgusting shit.” Finn twisted into the room, and as his eyes traveled over us, he smirked in hilarity. “Go home and wash up. Right now, you’re both parts of the disgusting shit too.”
“A shower does sound divine.” I peeked at the side of his face. “You do have hot water there, right?” Because my apartment never had it.
“You’ll see.” Rune tightened his hold on my thighs, bouncing me as he walked out the door. “I think you’re going to like our home.”