Air of Seduction (Elemental Enforcers #3)

Chapter 27

Payton

I stare at him as he runs the towel all over me, meticulously removing every drop of water from my skin.

You’re important. There was a smile on his face when he said those words, but his tone held a gravity that told me he was serious. It wasn’t just a joke or a phrase he threw out without consideration. Those words carried a deeper meaning.

His talk of mates comes back to me. What did Ronan say when he spoke of Noah and Olivia? She’s the only woman in the world for him. They have a special bond, which snapped into place the moment they met. He will be devoted to her for the rest of his life. Their meeting could have been so romantic, but instead, she panicked when Noah picked her up and wouldn’t let her go.

But what did Ronan mean when he said I’m important? Did he mean that I’m his… No. He would have told me by now if I was his in that way. Wouldn’t he?

“Aidan wants us to join him in his office.” Ronan rises in front of me after finishing with my legs and feet. “Do you think you can leave Olivia here by herself for a little while? I’d like you to come with me to find out what they’ve discovered.”

My eyes roam his face for any sign that I mean more to him than just a lover or a girlfriend. But his expression is neutral, almost like he’s consciously trying to hide his thoughts. “I’ll check on her and ask if she’s okay with it.”

He nods. “Please do. Now come.” He takes my hand and leads me out of the bathroom.

After rummaging through my bag, I get dressed in fresh clothes. My hair is a mess, even though I washed it only this morning, so I gather it in a messy bun. Curly hair like mine doesn’t take well to being tousled and subjected to damp environments like a shower.

Ronan is dressed and ready when I walk out of the bedroom to see him standing by the window. He turns when I walk up behind him and put a hand on his back, but he doesn’t smile. I wonder if it’s because of something Aidan said when he requested our presence in his office, or if it’s something else.

“I’ll just check on Olivia.” I give Ronan a quick smile before I turn away. Whatever has him so somber all of a sudden, I don’t like it.

Olivia is on her side, facing away from me when I enter. “Olivia?” I walk around the bed to where I can see her.

“Yes.” Her gaze meets mine, but she doesn’t move her head.

I frown. She’s paler than she was at breakfast, and the dark circles under her eyes are more pronounced. “How are you feeling?”

Averting her eyes, she visibly swallows. “Exhausted. I’ve barely slept the last week, so I guess it’s to be expected.”

I nod, not sure what to say. She hasn’t mentioned anything specific about her week with Barry, and I haven’t pushed her to tell me. It might do her good to talk about it, but I’m not sure she’s ready for that yet.

“Do you mind if I leave the suite for a little while?” I’m not sure I should even be asking her this right now. “I’m just going downstairs to talk to some of the others. Apparently, they’ve got some new information. But I won’t if you don’t feel safe here by yourself. Ronan can find out and tell me later.”

She shakes her head against the pillow. “No, go. I’ll be fine. I need some more sleep anyway.”

“Okay. I’ll be back soon.”

Ronan is still standing by the window, his eyes on me as soon as I emerge from Olivia’s bedroom.

I close the door behind me and nod.

He takes my hand as we leave the suite, and I breathe a silent sigh of relief. His solemness is getting to me more than it should, even after the three orgasms he gave me and his attentiveness in the bathroom. But I think I know why.

I’ve only known Ronan for a short time, but I already care more about him than I’ve ever cared about any other boyfriend. And I’m worried he doesn’t feel the same about me.

He might have said I’m important, but what does that mean? Important in what way? As a friend? Or worse, as Olivia’s friend since she’s Noah’s true mate?

There are four people present when we walk into Aidan’s office, only two of whom I’ve met before. Aidan is sitting behind his desk with his mate, Ingrid, standing behind him massaging his shoulders.

The two people sitting in front of the desk both stand when we enter.

“This is Callum and Vamika,” Ronan says as he leads me over to them. “They’re the ones who located Barry and Olivia.”

“Thank you.” I shake hands with each of them. Callum is blond with a broad smile that immediately puts me at ease. Vamika’s smile isn’t as wide, but it’s warm and genuine. Her brown skin is a little lighter than mine, but her hair is just as black.

“Where’s everyone else? Don’t they want to know what these two geniuses have found out?” There’s a smile on Ronan’s lips, his good mood seeming to have returned.

Aidan swings his chair to the side and wraps his arm around Ingrid’s waist. “They were already informed at breakfast.”

My gaze returns to the couple in front of me, wanting to thank them again. They’re the reason Barry is dead, and Olivia is sleeping upstairs. No matter what she went through in the week she was gone, at least it’s over now.

“As much as I would like this to be good news, I realize it probably isn’t.” Ronan’s arm comes around my waist, and he pulls me closer. “But please tell me this is something that can help us take down the master.”

Callum’s smile falls. “Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn’t. It’s difficult to tell before we check it out.”

Ronan sighs. “Okay, let’s hear it.”

Callum nods. “We have facial recognition software running constantly, using footage from various cameras around London to try to locate the master’s entourage from the plane. We have pictures of sufficient quality of three of the master’s servants, but not of the master himself.”

“The master never shows his face willingly, so I’m not surprised.” Aidan pulls Ingrid down onto his lap.

“Two of the master’s servants were spotted last night in the same place but at separate times.” Callum glances at his mate before he continues. “We’re not sure exactly how, but they both seemed to disappear outside the southern wall of Temple church before reappearing about an hour later.”

My eyes widen. “Disappear, as in into thin air?”

Vamika nods. “That’s how it looks, but I doubt that’s really the case. The footage isn’t going to tell us anything more, though. We have to go there to figure it out.”