pty except for the cats. i use it more than the others. they're up a great deal at night, either rehearsing or performing or driving to their next destination. i take care of the vehicles, so i go to town and do the shopping and take care of business. desari and julian are probably up already," she improvised. "they like to hike. personally, i think that's their excuse to make eyes at each other with no one around."

"julian savage? he's high on the society's hit list. he has quite a reputation. some of them think he's the reason desari escaped the hit," cullen confessed.

tempest banged her knuckles, muttered a few choice words, and bent back to her task. "the way i heard it, he did save her life."

"did he kill the entire squad?" cullen asked, curious.

"i don't know. i never even knew they were dead. i rarely read the newspapers." she said it almost absently, as if she were barely listening.

"i don't think it was julian," cullen said carefully, watching her closely. "i think the bodyguard killed them."

she not only banged her knuckles this time but her forehead as well. she turned to glare at him. "i have work to do. get out of my hair for a while, will you? go check the woods for the band. dayan has one of those little tent things. don't wake him up if he's sleeping, though; he's a grouch if you disturb him before he gets his eight hours. syndil could be in the bus with the cats if you want to look," she offered, knowing full well he wouldn't take her up on it.

cullen shook his head. "that won't be necessary. i don't want to get anyone riled up. i'll just look things over to see if i can figure a way to tighten security around here."

"oh, yeah, that's all we need, one more bossy male telling us what to do," tempest muttered under her breath.

i am impressed with your ability to give the illusion we are all out roaming in the sun. see? i'm an accomplished liar when i need to be, she said.

guess it comes with living the kind of life i had when i was a kid. it might come in handy if these maniacs get their hands on me.

darius could hear the faint echo of fear in her voice. she was trying valiantly to pretend the things cullen had revealed to her didn't frighten her, but he was dwelling in her mind, and he knew she was afraid.

torture and kill.

those were the words cullen tucker had used, and tempest had a vivid imagination.

you are under my protection, he reassured her gently.

tempest smiled at his arrogance. she knew that his comment was supposed to make her feel instantly better, but she was used to relying on herself, not on the protection of some man.

some man?

darius echoed.

she could hear his soft laughter, the gentle teasing that always managed to melt her heart.

i'm trying to work here, darius. go away. you really do have trouble with authority figures. and you have trouble with anyone saying no to you, don't you?

she countered and promptly banged her knuckles again.

damn it, darius, you're distracting me. see what you made me do? pay attention to your work, and stop looking at that male. i'm not looking at him, she denied hotly, glancing up to see just where cullen was. she didn't want him snooping around the bus and being eaten by the two leopards, may be even at darius's command.

soft, mocking laughter echoed in her head.

there you go, looking again. pay attention to what you are doing or we might have to fire you. desari wouldn't let you. go back to sleep while the sun is still up.