I glanced up at the driver, who kept his gaze forward. This really wasn’t the kind of thing I wanted to talk about in front of someone else, even if he probably already knew all about it. If Az had looked me up, maybe his driver had, too. Hell, maybe the entire Legion had. A rock tumbled through my belly. It was one thing for Az to believe in me and quite another for five whole other beings to believe in me, too. Did they know? If they did, surely they wouldn’t want me around much longer.

Not that I would be around much longer anyway. As soon as the deal was done, I was gone.

Az’s gaze went hard. “I see.”

I shook my head. “Maybe this was a mistake. I was so eager to talk to him about last night, to find out if he’d seen anything, that I didn’t fully think things through. How will I explain all of this to him? Will he think I’m involved?”

“You let me do the talking,” Az insisted.

“But…”

“Your friend’s boyfriend isn’t the first asshole I’ve had to deal with,” he said with a slight smile that looked kind of evil, if I were being honest. “I’ll make him understand you had nothing to do with it.”

“Please tell me you don’t plan on ripping out his heart if he says the wrong thing,” I said dryly. “Or his spine.”

The evil glint spread to his eyes. “What an excellent idea, Mia.”

I rolled my eyes, trying not to focus on the way he’d said my name. Deep, melodic. Almost like a purr. Memories flashed through my mind of the night before. Az’s body on top of mine. The hunger and need in his eyes.

None of it had been real. We’d been faking things so much we’d gotten confused, that was all. Combined with the alcohol, the fear and worry from the night, it only made sense we’d ended up like that. It was a classic case of “one thing led to another” and nothing more. It would never happen again.

Still, I couldn’t help but flush at the memory of his lips between my thighs.

The driver saved me from my thoughts when he stopped the car outside of Serena’s apartment. Az and I took the stairs together while the driver waited by the curb. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I knocked. Moments passed in excruciating silence. Noah didn’t answer.

“He’s probably at work,” I muttered, trying to ignore the heavy sense of doom. I didn’t know Noah’s schedule, but it seemed weird he’d head into the cafe while Serena was missing. Or maybe he was out in the streets, searching for her. That made more sense.

Az placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Try your key.”