Chapter Six
Relic had given her the address of his place, a flash penthouse apartment in the city. Being Hunter's number one henchman must pay well, Blake thought as she pulled on a jacket.
She had dressed casually but nice. A pair of fitting, faded bootleg jeans and a sleeveless blue top that brought out her eyes. The jacket she had pulled on was black and fell to her knees. Black boots under her jeans completely the outfit. Her hair was brushed back so that it fell down her back and make up was kept to a minimum.
After locking her door and setting her alarm, she hopped into her jeep and headed to Relic's apartment where Hunter Redfern would be waiting to check out his newest fighter for the Night World's elite team.
She'd had no trouble finding the apartment. She just mentioned Relic's the name at the desk and the werewolf seated behind it gave her a conspiratorial wink before sending a message up to Relic that she had arrived.
The door was left open but she knocked on it anyway. Relic rounded a corner, a bottle of wine in one hand and a glass in the other. A smile was set on his face when his eyes sighted her.
"Blake! Glad you could make it." He poured a glass of wine and handed it to her. "We're just in the lounge, come through." He led the way and she followed uncertainly.
The lounge was filled with black leather couches and carpets and oak tables with lamps upon them. Intricate artworks were framed along the walls; their expense was obvious. Blake took all this in with one sweep of her eyes and then turned to see if anyone else occupied the room.
It was just her and Relic.
Relic was watching her with laughing eyes. "Don't worry Blake. I haven't set this up in the hope that a romantic spark might light."
Blake smiled back. "I wasn't thinking that. I was just admiring your artwork."
"Sure you were," he grinned. "But they're worth admiring if I do say so myself. That Cezanne cost me an arm and a leg. I got it from the-"
He was interrupted by the sound of voices in the hallway.
"I was no where near hitting her!" One of voice carried into the lounge.
"If you were any closer she would have been under the car," another voice replied.
"Aahh," Relic smiled. "We have visitors."
He went out of the room and went to meet them. Blake stood by the Cezanne that had just been under discussion and sipped her wine.
"Blake Starling, I'd like you to meet my great friend, Hunter Redfern. This manic driver here is known as Curtis Redfern, Hunter's son."
Blake had already turned to set her eyes on Hunter before Relic had finished the introduction. Her eyes had already taken in Curtis' standing form; lean and lithe in tight jeans and a black turtle necked sweater. He had been dangling car keys in his hand, a scowl marring his face.
Their eyes met and a silence fell over the room.
Blake's heart had almost stopped. She was not prepared to come face to face with Curtis so soon. Especially not when he was standing side by side with Hunter, her enemy. Curtis looked as if he was going through much the same as her. She registered surprise, shock, then disbelief and finally, anger.
"We've met." Curtis said in a low tone, his midnight blue eyes narrowing in her direction.
"Really?" Relic asked. "How strange."
"Strange indeed." Hunter's musical voice was slightly scrutinizing as he looked at Blake and then at his son. Something strange indeed was happening here and he wasn't sure if he liked it. He put a polite smile on his face and stepped forward to shake Blake's hand.
"I've heard all about you Blake. Relic tells me you're quite the fighter," his eyes were cold and calculating while his words were spoken with warmth. She wasn't fooled.
"Thanks," Blake replied easily, finally tearing her eyes away from Curtis' hostile frame. "I try my best I guess."
"Her best is brilliant," Relic put in at an obvious attempt at selling her to Hunter. He winked at Blake and raised his glass to her in mock toast.
She managed a smile. Barely.
"Is it alright if I use your bathroom?" She asked Relic, needing a moment to recover herself and regroup.
"I'll show her," Curtis cut in curtly before Relic could reply.
"Good, I have to talk to your father for a minute. Grab yourself a drink from the kitchen on the Curtis. You know where to go."
Curtis nodded and waited for Blake to leave the door before following her. As soon as they were in the hallway he grabbed her elbow roughly. She knew that he felt the electrical spark like she did when he snatched his arm away sharply.
"Come with me," he snapped and stalked down the hall.
She followed him to an outside balcony and he closed the door behind her.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he turned on her, snarling angrily. "What do you think your playing at Blake? You think I don't know what you're trying to do? You think I haven't caught on?"
Blake swallowed and shifted her eyes from his dark and brooding ones. "I really don't know what you're talking about Curtis," she managed.
"Really? Really?" he yelled. "It doesn't have anything to do with the fact that Hunter's here. Relic is a pretty good connection and he's obviously sickeningly smitten. Jesus!"
"Is there a point to this little anecdote Curtis?" Blake snapped, her anger finally beginning to surface. No one talked down to her. No one yelled at her either.
"Yeah there is a point! The point is that Hunter is going to see through you're little plan! It's pretty damn obvious you're scouting for powerful people. Do you think you can just walk in here and bat your eyelashes, hitch your skirt up and they'll let you have a seat on the New World council?"
"I'm not wearing a skirt," Blake's voice was hard and cold.
"You're funny Blake. You know that? You're really bloody funny!"
"I thought we'd been through this. Hilariously demented was the final verdict wasn't it?"
Curtis stared at her in disbelief. "You think this is a joke? This whole thing is deadly serious shit okay? Shit you don't want to get into unless you're ready to get your pretty little ass wiped out and having your ashes scattered across the river. I don't think you can handle this."
Blake was now well and truly past anger. She had steadily climbed up to plain outrage. "How dare you?" She yelled back at him. Her eyes were liquid flamed and her hair was whipping around her face from the wind. "You don't know what I can handle! One insignificant kiss doesn't mean you know anything about me so review your previous evaluation because I can handle this!"
Curtis sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Blake, listen to me okay? Hunter is not a nice guy." You don't say, Blake thought sarcastically. "I don't want you getting involved with him okay. You'll just be a pawn in his big game."
"Is that all you are?" Blake demanded. "A pawn?"
"No!" he let out a breath of frustrated air and glared down at her. "Why don't you just listen to me? I don't want you in all of this!"
His midnight eyes were wide and he reached out and shook her shoulders roughly. They felt the spark at the same time and Curtis' eyes changed. They softened and an almost tender look entered his gaze. "Blake please," he whispered. "Don't do this. For me Blake. Please."
Blake relaxed in his hold and looked deeply into his eyes. "I can't," she whispered back. "I have to Curtis. You don't understand."
His eyes changed again and he let go of her shoulders. "Understand what Blake? Stop playing games with me! What don't I understand?"
"You don't understand me," she whispered softly, looking down.
She heard him take a breath. Then he turned and she heard the door leading inside open. "You're right, Blake. I don't understand you. I'm not sure if I could or even if I want to. You know what I think now. Anything that comes from this can't be good and it's going to rest on your shoulders. And your shoulders alone."
He went back inside. She was alone on the balcony where she shivered even though it wasn't cold.