She stared at him. How could she have thought people were different here?
My little sister is out there alone in a big city because youre an arse. Youd better hope I find her safe and healthy, because if I dont, Ill be coming back for a little chat.
Berkley turned even paler. God, he was practically a ghost. Cat sneered at him before hopping on the banister and riding it down to the floor. She jumped off with her usual grace and strode toward the door. The butler actually held it open for her. She mocked him with a flourish of a bow before stepping out into the evening.
Where the devil had her sister gone, and how was she ever going to find her when she was unfamiliar with the land? She was an excellent tracker, but this was going to be like trying to find a particular piece of hay in an entire stack. She knew absolutely nothing about this city or the people who lived in it. But she knew someone who did. Jasper Renn, who shed sworn never to speak to again.
Damn.
Chapter Two
Jasper Renn was soaked in so much sweat his clothes clung to him like a second skin. Hed used his talent for moving incredibly fast to run around Englandliterallyand had returned to King House only seconds earlier. His body mercifully tired, he hauled himself upstairs to his room, shut the door and began undressing as he walked into the small, attached private bathing chamber.
He turned the taps in the tub until the water gushing from them was the right temperature, and then threw the lever that forced the stream to come out the shower attachment. Naked, he climbed in, letting the hot water rinse away the sweat and stink and uselessness he felt.
Miss Emily, darling of a girl, was lost. Taken. Hed just searched the entire country for a clue to her whereabouts and found nothing. Nothing. She couldnt have dropped off the face of the earth, which just left the uncomfortable realization that hed missed something.
But then, missing something seemed to be a talent of his, as well. He had missed that Mei, the girl he once loved with all his heart, was not who he thought she was. And hed missed the fact that she loved someone else. In the end, hed missed being able to save her, as well.
He didnt blame Griffin for her death, not really. Griffin hadnt known that his abilities would trap Mei in a wall, crushing her. Mostly Jasper blamed himself for not being able to stop her before she died. He blamed himself that she had fallen in with Reno Dalton. He blamed himself for a lot of things. He had more regrets than a man of eighteen should be carrying on his shoulders.
He couldnt save Mei. Couldnt find Emmy. And he couldnt forget Cat. When hed first gotten involved with Wildcat a couple years ago, hed still been half in love with Mei. Hed told himself Cat was only having funlike he was. When it came to lying to himself, he was plumb brilliant. The second timehed stopped by New York on his way back from San Fran a little while agohed known it wasnt just meaningless fun for either of them, but hed still left. In fact, he couldnt have run away fast enough. The joke was on him, though. Hed run away and thoughts of her followed him. Haunted him.
If Jasper regretted Mei, then he...well, he couldnt think of an adequate word to describe the depth of his remorse where Cat was concerned, but it was deep. The bottomless kind. It had to be, because he couldnt stop thinking about her. She was fine, of course. That girl would always come out on top. He could write to her, but what would he say? That he was sorry, but he just couldnt get involved with another girl who lived on the wrong side of the law? It made him sound like a pansy. And New York held too many painful memories for him to ever entertain living there. Besides, if Dalton ever got out of jail, he might come looking for revenge, and London would be a lot more difficult for him to get to, especially since Griffin had connections with the local port authorities.
No, London was where his life was now. Where his friends were. Where he wanted to be, even though it was sometimes painful to look Griffin in the eye, still ashamed of involving his friends in that mess. They had traveled all the way to Manhattanat great expenseto bring him home, and learned all about his shady past in the process. Finley had even infiltrated Daltons gang and risked her own life to save him.
How could he ever begin to repay that kind of debt?
Tarnation, but he was tired of thinking about this stuff. Finally feeling clean, he turned the taps and dried off with a soft towel, which he then secured around his waist. He just wanted to go to sleep and wake up someone different.
Or at least have something to wake up for. It was maudlin, but a little happiness didnt seem too much to ask.
Barefoot, he walked into his room, rubbing his hand in his hair to make the waves dry faster. He had just taken three steps in when he froze. Jasmine. Sunshine. He knew that scent. His heart slammed against the inside wall of his chest. His mouth dried up like the Nevada desert.
Hey, Jas.
That voice. He closed his eyes. Was this a joke? Had he finally lost his ever-loving mind? Now he was imagining her theresmelling her, even!
But that tingle between his shoulder bladesthat was real. That sensation of knowing that if someone had a knife to bury in your back youd be dying at that very moment. Very slowly, he turned, his hand instinctively going to his hip.
You gonna shoot me with a towel? There was mockery in that husky tone. Or you got something under there I should know about?
Jasper forced his shoulders to relax. Forced himself to relax. Cat. What the blue blazes are you doing in London? How had he managed to sound so calm and collected? She was in his bedroomand he remembered things theyd done in herssitting there with dust on her boots, as if she owned the place. Shed removed her hat, and all her hair, that glorious riot of corkscrew curls, fell over her shoulders.
She had the best hair.
Gracefully, she rose out of the chair and walked toward him. Instinctively, he placed his hands in front of his privates, because she had the look of a woman intent on damaging a man. Why, Jasper. I came to see you, of course.
Were that but true. His heart reacted as though it was gospel and not a honeyed lie just to torment him. The only way youd come to see me is if I was hanging by a noose. He knew it was true, because he had hurt her, and Cat was one of those women you could fight with, curse and wish to the very devil, and shed still come back. But hurt her...
She stuck out her lower lip. She also had the best lips. Red and soft, hed kiss them if he didnt think he was in enough trouble already. You make me sound evil.
No room for evil in you with all that pride takin up space, he retorted. Be honest, Cat. You didnt come here for me. Youd rather poke out your own eye than confess to missing me, so why are you here?
Something flickered in her eyes. Something strange. Could it be that she had actually missed him? He was such a dolt. Of course shed missed him. Her feelings had been as sincere as his own.
Sparrow, she said softly. Shes gone.
Jasper frowned. Gone? Oh, Cat. Do you mean shes...dead?
She shot him a look that said exactly how low she thought his intelligence. No, I mean she ran off with a rich white man who promised her chocolates and flowers and pretty dresses.
He swore. She chuckled dryly, as though hed understated it. How old is she?
Fifteen just this week.
How old is the bastard she ran off with?
Six and twenty.
More swearing. Other girls would have squealed in disgust, but Cat looked as those she agreed wholeheartedly. Do you know who he is?
Yeah. Fella not far from here, but that doesnt matter now.
The hell it doesnt! Well go get her and Ill teach the bounder a thing or two about the dangers of molesting young girls. Maybe six thingsstraight out of his Colt.
Shes not there anymore.
He hadnt expected to hear that. Where is she?
Not the foggiest. She lifted her chin and met his gaze with a direct one of her own. You and I are no good together, I know that, but I need your help. I know Im not the easiest woman to get along with, but I wouldnt come to you if it werent important. You and your friends know this city. I can track, but in a place this size its next to impossible unless I have a place to start. Will you help me?
She made it sound as though maybe their breakup had been her fault. Maybe in a way it was, because of her criminal activity, but hed been the one to run out. You dont even have to ask. The others are busy trying to find Emily, but Ill help you.
Cats brow puckered. The one you had with you the day you came to collect your belongings?
No, that was Finley. Emilys a sweet little Irish gal who has a way with machines. She disappearedlooks like abduction.
Its contagious.
If someone else had made that callous a joke, he would have blackened their eye, but somehow Cat managed to say these sorts of things and make the situation a little palatable. Appears so.
Well, you dont have to help me. I can do this on my own. You should go find your friend. Its obvious you have a lot of tenderness tward her.
Surprise took hold of his face. He could only imagine the hideous expression that surely had to be convulsing his features. Miss Emilys my friend. She has her fella, and I couldnt be happier for the two of them. That was a lie. He was happy for them, but sometimes he wondered why it seemed so easy for some people to engage in relationships, while others would never, ever find that sort of happiness. They dont need me anyway. And that was just him being a spoiled brat.
I dont need you, either, just so you know.
Jasper looked at her. She was staring at his chest. His naked chest. Could she see his heart pounding beneath his skin? But you want me. His voice was low. My help, I mean. Hed never thought himself particularly skilled at flirting, but with Cat it seemed to come naturally.