Page 40 of Amethyst Flame
Dane’s gaze found me. “We’re good. Let’s go.”
“Ah, yes,” I said, with a guilty glance at my guard. “We do have an appointment.”
Latham looked disappointed. “You know where I am.”
“I’ll ask him,” I promised her.
Once Dane and I were back in the Kidnapper, he asked, “What was that about?”
“She wants whatever spy job you have,” I said. “I told her I was recruited, so I didn’t know how it worked.”
“Was it necessary to speak to her at all?” His tone said it wasn’t.
We cleared the two manned posts on the narrow road without pursuit, the glinting spike strips retracting, letting us go.
I told him how my moths hadn’t been able to penetrate the space beyond the lobby. “So, yeah, it was necessary.”
He was quiet a minute as he navigated back on the highway, but I got the sense that the news alarmed him. When he spoke, however, he was still icy and controlled. “The technology is moving fast. It’s imperative we stay ahead of it. I’ll analyze the intel I collected tonight. Maybe there will be something there about the new containment measures.”
“But we’re done for the night?”
“We’re done. We’re going back to Phoenix. I want to put as much distance between you and that place as possible.”
“Well, did you find the dragon stuff?”
“Yes.”
When he didn’t elaborate, I asked, “Are you going to tell me about it?”
“No.”
“Seriously?” I wanted to zap him. “After I just risked exposing myself back there?”
“It’s for your own safety.”
“You know I could send my moths after it right now, right?” I wasn’t helpless here. I had power.
“And what?” Dane returned coldly. “Give it to Jacob to analyze? Jacob with all the secrets? Who knows too much?”
Jacob had given my tech to his MIT friend. And he wanted to level-up so bad. Too bad.
“I’m trying to keep you alive, Imogen.”
“You could try trusting me too.” I fished around for my phone so that I could return to my serial strangler. I’d have to satisfy myself with fantasizing about garroting Dane with his tie.
When I went to unlock my phone, I had a million notifications from my mom, missed calls and texts:
Call me.
Call me now.
Where are you?
Shit. Had she fallen again? I was too far away to help. Where was Jacob? Or Swann was in town! Maybe she could run over and help until I got there.
“Is there a problem?” Dane asked beside me.
I ignored him and hit the arrow to call her back, and she picked up after one ring. “Imogen?”
