The Emerald Key Read Online Free Page A

lights?”
    Cass laughed. “I think so.” She shut down all the lights except the ones over the counter and in the office, then locked the doors. They both stopped their work when the men emerged from the office.
    “Cass? Nic and I agree you should stay somewhere else until he gets a chance to check out the security more thoroughly. It’s too late and too dark to start now.”
    “Is all this really necessary? I mean, it’s just an e-mail. They haven’t done anything physically harmful.”
    “Yet,” Greg said. “This is a case of being safe rather than sorry. Whoever this Brotherhood is, they’ve ramped up their attacks and I don’t want anything to happen.”
    “I feel like I’m giving in to them,” Cass said. “They want me running scared. This looks like I am.”
    “She’ll be fine with me,” Minerva insisted.
    Greg shook his head. “We’ve been through that. I talked to Dori. Cass can stay with us for a couple of days. You’re welcome to come too, Minerva.”
    “No. I’ll be fine.” Minerva studied Nic, her lips pursed, then she grinned, the happiest Cass had seen her in a long time. “This man will be with you?”
    Greg nodded.
    “Okay then. Cassandra, don’t let this one get away! So much better than that other one. This one has a good aura. He will take care of you. Nicodemus is your Protector.”
    “Aunt Minerva!” Heat flowed up Cass’ face. Her aunt wouldn’t quit. Minerva didn’t care for Steve and made her feelings abundantly clear any chance she got. Steve was, well, Steve. So what if there weren’t trumpets blaring and stars bursting between them? They got along pretty well and enjoyed each other’s company. That counted for something, didn’t it?
    She shook her head, as if trying to shake off an annoying gnat. She had other problems to think about that took precedence over her less-than-spectacular love life. She hated being forced to run, but if she had to stay somewhere other than home, Dori’s worked for her.
    “Okay, Greg. I’ll pack a couple of things and meet you at your place.” She glanced at the men, then turned to her aunt. “Besides, this will give you a chance to take care of that cleaning you wanted to do.” Her aunt’s nod let Cass know Minerva would return to the store to do a cleansing and set out stronger wards.
    “Nic will stay with you,” Greg said. “He’ll ride with you to our place.”
    “I don’t need a babysitter.”
    “No, but you do need a protector,” Nic said.
    “And you think you’re him? I don’t even know you. For all I know, you could be one of these Brothers. Why should I trust you?”
    Deep green eyes bored into hers. “Because you know I’m right.”
    And she did.
    Cass swallowed hard against a dry throat and changed her earlier opinion about his physique. In addition to being familiar, his good looks ramped up her heart rate and sent heat flowing through her body. His jeans clung like a glove and the black Henley underneath the tailored jacket molded to him, outlining well-defined muscles. She also noted that he walked with a slight limp and wondered from what?
    Cass dragged her attention back to business to set the outer locks and alarms after Minerva and Greg left.
    “My place is this way.” She led the way around to the back of the building, unlocked the lower door, and headed up the steps to the second floor.
    “You live above the store?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Is this the only access to your apartment?”
    “No.” Nic followed her far too closely. In the narrow quarters of the stairs, she could smell the unique scent of him—a combination of spice and some undefined aroma that reminded her of deep forests—rich, strong, solid. She clamped her jaws against the sensations rampaging through her.
    “There’s a fire escape off the kitchen and before you ask, the door is secured with a deadbolt lock and is steel-clad with double-glazed safety glass in the window. Greg and Steve approved all my security