Born of Fire (44 page)

“I used to sleep outside here on the streets without shoes. Trust me, this isn’t cold.”

It still didn’t make it right. Her throat tightened at the thought of how bad he’d had it in his life.

Who am I to complain to him?

He made her look like a wimp.

Seven blocks later, he stopped. Shahara stared up at the building in front of her and her stomach shrank. Like a hulking ghoul, it stood against the eerie backdrop of three pale moons. No light inside the building could be found, and what few windows were still intact were covered with rotting boards. Weeds obscured the broken walkway and an old faded sign swung over the door.

“It’s vacant?”

He went to the boarded-up door without commenting.

With great trepidation, she eyed the sign that threatened to fall on their heads. “This is useless. I’m sure it’s gone.”

He tore the large board off the door and tossed it to the ground. “Probably, but my research said the building was closed just days after I stashed the chip. There was nothing online to say what office I put it in or who owned it. I’m hoping we either find the chip where I left it or find a clue about what happened to it.”

“And if we don’t?”

“We’re screwed.”

Anger tore through her. “You don’t really think that after all these years the chip will be where you left it, do you? ’Cause if you do, I have some city property you might be interested in buying.”

He gave her a look that would have withered stone. “So what are you saying, we should just give up? After we’ve come so far?”

“No,” she said hesitantly in spite of the voice in her head that urged her to argue with him. She really had no desire to go inside another rundown building and face the unknown.

“Then follow me.” He bent over to crawl between the other boards.

This was crazy. Most likely suicide, and yet she followed in after him.
Why do I bother?
Surely there wouldn’t be anything left in the building. Well, nothing but dust and scurrying little things she didn’t want to bother identifying.

“I just
love
the places you take me.”

He didn’t acknowledge her comment in any way as he continued down the hallway. Shahara turned around, studying the abandoned office furniture covered by years of dust, debris, and webs. Contrary to her prediction, but for the dust and decay, it looked like people had just picked up and left. There were even cups and dishes left on some of the desks they passed.

It looked like the workers had abandoned everything in one heartbeat.

Why?

Shahara caught herself as she tripped over a half-full trash can. “Don’t you find it weird that they left all this stuff behind?”

“Not really. Someone released a virus through the
air ducts that killed fifteen workers in less than an hour. Those who were ill or unaffected ran screaming for the doors. My money says Merjack did it to cover his tracks after he had me in custody. I’m sure he crawled through every office and file here looking for that chip. And since he still wants me, we know he didn’t find it. Once the building was vacated, no one wanted to come back for anything since they feared it might be contaminated from what killed the others.”

“Should we be scared?”

“Probably.”

Shahara couldn’t resist goosing him on the bottom.

“Hey!” he snapped, jumping away from her as he rubbed the cheek she’d pinched.

“That’s what you get for being such a pessimist. You’re lucky I didn’t go after something else.”

He growled at her as he limped away. “Next time I’m throwing you at my enemies.”

She didn’t comment.

Syn wanted to be angry at her, but he couldn’t quite manage it. In truth, he melted every time he looked at her.

Why?

Because she’d told him she loved him. He couldn’t get those words out of his mind. That was the only thing he’d ever wanted in his life. Did he dare believe her?

Why would she lie?

He kept trying to keep her at a distance, and instead she stayed and quipped with sarcastic humor that he actually found entertaining. Shoving that thought away, he continued his search.

Finally he found what he was looking for. A thick metal door sealed off the office he remembered so well from his youth. The last time he’d been here, his breathing
had been ragged, his body sweating. Even now he could see the lights dancing from torches in the hallway, hear the angry voices as they searched for him.

Now he was back . . .

Shahara snorted as he fumbled with the old controls that were rusted out. “Forget it. You’ll never get that open.”

Ignoring her hostility, he pulled out his charger and studied the lock. True, there was no electricity, but he’d opened far more secure things than this in his time. “One day you will learn not to doubt me.” He opened the panel and began crossing wires, connecting some to the hand-held battery.

After several minutes, a spark ignited and the door rasped open.

Shahara gaped at what he’d done. “I’m impressed.”

He disconnected the battery. “Once a filch, always a filch.”

She frowned. There was an odd note in his voice. Bitterness, maybe. And she realized it must be strange for him to be confronting this part of his past. A part he must have struggled hard to forget.

The last time he’d been here, he’d gone to prison . . .

Her heart ached for him.

Without even glancing at her, he entered the office and began searching it. Taking out a lightstick, she trailed its beam over the scattered debris. “What am I looking for?”

“Something that can tell you who was once assigned to this office.”

“I take it the chip isn’t here.”

He shook his head. “We have to find something personal about the occupant.”

She groaned. “That could be anyone. And anything
I find could be from someone who had this office
long
after you stashed the chip.”

“No. Look at the furniture and the dust. It’s at least twenty years old. Just like it said in my reports. They shut this place down and never returned to it.”

“The office still could have changed hands.”

He gave her a fierce glower. “Well, we don’t have anything else to go on, now do we?”

She held her hands up in surrender. “All right, don’t get testy with me.” She continued looking through the garbage.

Syn started going through an old desk.

Just as she was about to give up, her light flashed against a stationery pad. Taking three strides, she knelt down and picked it up. “Does the name Merrin Lyche ring a bell?”

He looked over at her. “What did you find?”

“Some old stationery.” She held it out to him.

Taking it, he nodded. “At least it’s somewhere to start.” He tore off the top sheet, folded it, and put it in his pocket. “Thanks. Now let’s get out of here before it gets any colder.”

Shahara flashed her light up at him and noted the blueness of his lips. “I am
really
sorry I pulled you into the bath.”

He smiled before moving the light out of his face. “Don’t be. I’m certainly not.”

She rolled her eyes at him and his warped reasoning. “Then lead me back before you die of exposure and I have to explain to someone why your clothes are frozen to your body on a clear night.”

His laughter warming her, he led her out of the building.

In no time at all, they were back inside the hotel. Shahara paused at the lift area while Syn continued past it.

Frowning, she hurried to trail after him. “Where are we going?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he entered a small boutique.

What in the nine worlds was he doing? Confused, she stopped outside and watched as he sorted through a rack of jackets.

When he found whatever he must have been searching for, he looked up and eyed her. Next, he moved to the back of the store where she couldn’t see him.

She debated going in after him. She felt awkward standing outside while passersby eyed her with way too much interest. But one look at the stony-faced clerks inside the store and she decided she had no interest in getting one step closer to them or their disdain. She didn’t need them to remind her of her lowly status.

Just as she finally made the decision to go in after him, he took several things up to the cashier. The man handed him a ledger and Syn signed while the man placed his purchases in a bag.

Once Syn rejoined her, he handed the jacket to her. “You wear a small, right?”

“Yes.” She scowled down at the warm, soft suede in her hands. Dark brown, it was lined with synthetic fur that felt softer than down.

Syn continued on to the lifts.

Stunned, she hurried to catch up to him. She wanted to ask him about his gift, but the curious stares of the people around them kept her lips sealed.

It wasn’t until they were back in their room that she
confronted him. Of course, by then, she was good and angry because she knew why men bought extravagant presents for women. Especially after they had sex . . .

Every time Caillen felt guilty about sleeping with a woman he didn’t care about, he would always go out and buy something for her that he couldn’t afford to assuage his conscience.

And the more she thought about it, the angrier she became. “Why did you do this?”

He stopped in the foyer. “You were freezing.” He placed the bag on the sofa nearest him.

“I won’t be tomorrow.”

“Maybe, maybe not. We don’t know what we’ll be doing tomorrow, now do we?”

That was true.

Still . . .

“How much did this cost?”

He looked at her as if the question insulted him. “Why?”

“I don’t want you spending this kind of money on me.”

His eyes turned blank. “Why?”

She wanted to slap that innocent look off his face. “Why do you think?”

“Woman, I have no idea.” He crossed his arms over his chest and eyed her.

Anger burned deep in her belly. “You are a
Complete Idiot
!” she snarled, tossing the jacket in his face. “That’s what the C.I. stands for, doesn’t it?”

Syn caught the jacket against his chest as he gaped at her. Had she snapped a wheel?

Was
she
PMSing?

He followed her into the bedroom. “What’s your deal?”

She stopped and turned back to face him. “I didn’t sleep with you for presents. What do you think, I’m some whore you have to pay off?”

He couldn’t have been more stunned had she kicked him. Where had
that
come from? “Oh good grief, you can’t possibly think that.”

“Why not? You said you don’t love me. What does that leave?”

It left him feeling like a heel that he’d insulted her with a gift that had been purchased with only the best intentions. “I . . .” He bit his tongue before he blurted out that he did love her, that he’d only bought her the jacket because it pained him to see her uncomfortable.
I would walk through the fires of hell to get you a pair of shoes.

But he could never tell her that.

“I don’t want you to feel obligated to me, Syn. I don’t want anything from you.”

Tossing the jacket on the bed, he placed his hands on her shoulders. Then he moved them to cup her beautiful face. “I know that,” he whispered, fighting the urge to draw her into his arms and squelch her fury with a kiss. “But we can’t go out in the city tomorrow dressed like we are.”

Shahara felt her heart slide to her feet. His explanation brought an even greater pain to her chest. He was just being practical. Not thoughtful.

Not even remorseful.

She rated so low on his scale that he didn’t feel even the tiniest bit of guilt for sleeping with someone he didn’t love.

“I bought both of us some clothes that wouldn’t stand out.”

“Oh,” she said, feeling completely ridiculous.
Face it, girl, you don’t mean anything to him.

She tried to convince herself that it was for the best. Especially given what was to come. But her heart didn’t listen. It still hurt and wanted more from him than he was able to give.

Syn released her. “Why don’t you go and check in with your family. I’m sure they’re worried sick about you.”

Unable to speak past the lump in her throat, she nodded and went to comply. As she moved to the link, it dawned on her that this had been the longest she’d ever gone without talking to her siblings. She and Caillen kept in almost constant contact.

It wasn’t that she didn’t love them or that they were further from her thoughts—it was just . . .

She liked being with Syn. She really enjoyed him. Even though their lives were in danger and they were being hunted, she adored his company. Not even his bad mood could push her away.

I am so messed up
.

Syn watched her walk away, his chest tight. What he wouldn’t give for the freedom to lay his heart at her feet. To stay with her for the rest of his life. But he’d abandoned such dreams years ago. They belonged to his childhood.

And what few he’d managed to keep had been slaughtered on the altar of Mara’s apathy and scorn. He wouldn’t make that mistake ever again.

Besides, Shahara had a family who loved her. She didn’t need his tainted love. And she definitely didn’t need his screwed-up life. His best friends were outlaws and assassins.

Yeah . . . just what a seax needed in her life.

Aching at the thought, he joined her in the sitting room.

“Where the hell have you been?” Caillen snarled so loudly over the link that he could hear it from across the room. “I’ve been trying everything to get ahold of you for days. Don’t you ever check your messages? We’ve been worried to death about you.”

“As you can hear, I’m fine,” she said testily.

“Are you still with that bastard?”

Syn flinched at the hatred in Caillen’s voice.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Yeah, well, thanks to you and your hormones, Tessa’s been taken.”

Syn went cold.

“What?” Her voice cracked with obvious fear. “What are you talking about?”

“I got a call two days ago from a man named Merjack saying he has her and, if we want to see her alive again, you’d better turn your
lover
over to him.”