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"Ms Leighton" There was the smallest of tre "This is unexpected and it is late Did you have so forMirabelle, fighting to breathe in air grown suddenly thick with equal parts of lust and fear Jabril growled her nahts slithering below the surface of his eyes, the obvious swell of an erection beneath his elegant slacks He ss It was a terrifying sight She struggled not to show her fear as he took a step closer, thinking of her gun and how fast he couldclearly She did not want hiain She didn’t knohy it was so important, but her stomach revolted at the very idea
Jabril repeated her naone, his eyes allanced at Mirabelle and stood to face hi herself to forget his arousal of only irl at her feet "I know tiht have a feords with Mirabelle? And perhaps take another look at Elizabeth’s things? I’ve spoken to some people who believe they’ve seen her and to Mrs Hewitt--"
Jabril frowned "The caseworker," Asim provided
"--and IIt occurred to ht have said so lying about in a pocket or a drawer that could helpas Jabril studied her "My own people have turned up nothing," he said "I see no reason why you think you ht--"
She smiled "Let us say, my lord, that my sources are soator There are hundreds of children, teenagers, living on the streets of Houston; Elizabeth isthem As experienced as your , it is more likely these children would run fro they will speak to you?" Asim didn’t even bother to deny they’d hired so her attention from Jabril "I dress the part My lord," she continued "I am confident I can turn this case around within twenty-four hours if I can narrow my search There is a chance that Mirabelle--"
"Very well" That was all he said, but he continued to stare at her unblinking, as Mirabelle gasped in see pain and scrahtly at her sides
"Sire," the girl whispered, her gaze riveted to the floor between her feet
"Mirabelle, Ms Leighton seeh job on her last visit If you could escort her to Elizabeth’s rooht, e in Mirabelle’s de woman had been cowed before, she was positively terrified now
"Yes, my lord" Mirabelle’s voice was barely audible as she sidled over to the door without ever once turning her back or raising her eyes froht back, my treasure The sun is near" Mirabelle flinched as if struck
"Yes, ain
Cyn turned back to Jabril, her face schooled to show nothing "Thank you, my lord" She probably should have saidshe wanted right then was to get the hell out of his sight She followed Mirabelle through the door, turning her back on the va to scuttle backwards like some sort of slave Fuck him
"What does she want?" Jabril snapped when the toone
"She asked to speak to Mirabelle, my lord She claiuard reports she was ?" Jabril gestured for Asim to follow as he strode toward the elevator and his private hareator reirl before it’s too late I hardly think Ms Leighton can do better She is the spoiled daughter of a wealthya detective No doubt she has tired of the local nightlife and wishes to find soo home"
"Perhaps," Jabril said absently as the elevator doors closed He glanced at his watch, thinking only of the time left to partake of a slave or two before the dawn took hiht outside the door, breathing deeply Unlike before, however, there was no sense of release in the action She stood hunched over, her hands clenched, her breath gasping in and out Cyn realized the girl was crying and reached out to touch her shoulder Mirabelle flinched at the gentle contact, taking a step away
"I’m sorry," Mirabelle said in a dead voice "This way, please"
Cynthia frowned, but walked along quietly for a few paces "Tell me, Mirabelle," she said conversationally "If there was a fire and you had ten seconds to grab everything that ave her a startled glance before looking away quickly Cyn thought at first she wouldn’t answer, but then she said, "Nothing"
"Nothing?"
"He’s already taken everything away There’s nothing here I want"
"That’s what I thought What about Elizabeth?"