by Lisa Kessler
She nodded and headed up the stairs, strangely disappointed. The hand-holding had been a show for her mother. Nothing more. But somewhere deep in her heart, this man was inspiring her to wish for things she had no business wanting.
CHAPTER 3
Gavin waited for her to disappear upstairs before returning to his bag. He took out some portable infrared motion sensor alarms and set them up by the front door and the downstairs windows, grateful for something to take his mind off his beautiful client in the bedroom above him. Since leaving the military, he briefly joined the police department, that was where he met Nate, but unlike his friend, Gavin didn’t enjoy the work. Fighting crime after the fact frustrated him. He wanted to keep bad things from happening.
He resigned, and threw himself into his own personal security company without looking back. There wasn’t time for dating, let alone a relationship. And he’d welcomed it. Life was much simpler without navigating the rocky road of searching for a special someone.
But something about Tera already tugged at the well-crafted barrier around his heart. It had nothing to do with her looks. He’d worked for a couple of cover-model, wannabe pop stars, and he had barely noticed them.
His fascination with Tera went beyond her rare smile. Hell, he’d already held her hair back while she barfed behind her studio. The attraction was much more dangerous than a purely physical one. Tera intrigued him. She was a walking contradiction. She obviously struggled with anxiety, and yet, she didn’t let it stop her. She ran her own business, and he knew firsthand that was no cakewalk. And underneath her shyness, he’d witnessed a dry sense of humor he couldn’t help but enjoy.
He still didn’t know who or what they were up against, but he wasn’t going to let them harm her. No way. That was probably why Nate had demanded Gavin handle the case personally.
Once the temporary security devices were in place, he grabbed his toiletries and headed for the bathroom. At the threshold, he frowned, rubbing his abs just below his navel. That burning sensation was back—now a dull throbbing ache.
He lifted his shirt and pushed down the waistband of his jeans. Holy shit. His birthmark was inflamed, bright red and angry. The crescent-shaped mark had never been a problem before. These pants weren’t even tight. What the hell? Maybe he just needed some hydrocortisone cream or something.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement outside, and his birthmark was instantly forgotten. Gavin drew his weapon and hit the lights, drenching the downstairs in darkness. With his back to the wall, he crept toward the window. He stared into the night, holding his breath. It wasn’t in his head; he’d seen something. Finally, there was a flash of gold. It looked like a mask of some kind.
He glanced upstairs. Dammit. He couldn’t leave Tera alone, but if this stalker was his target, he couldn’t let him get away either.
He slid his phone from his pocket and shot her a text.
Stay in your room. Lights out and stay away from the windows.
He slipped out of her condo and locked the door. He inspected the perimeter silently. Tera’s place was a corner unit with parking on the rear side through the security gate. Had the masked intruder broken in, or did he have a code?
Gavin didn’t find anyone hiding in the landscaping, so he headed for the gate to the parking lot. His birthmark throbbed again. He buried the pain and focused on the hunt. No sign of a busted lock. His money was on the perp having a gate code.
A car engine roared from the far end of the lot, and his head snapped in that direction. Tires screeched as a black Camaro lurched from a parking space and spun toward the exit. Gavin barely had time to jump out of the way as the driver gunned the V8 engine into action. Fuck.
Gavin rolled to his feet without losing any time and sprinted after the car. If he could get even a few digits of the license plate, it could be a lead to tracking this asshole. He pumped his legs faster, the landscape blurring around him.
And he memorized the entire plate.
He stumbled, struggling to keep upright, and finally slowed to a stop, gasping for air. What the hell was happening to him? Unwilling to think on it right now, he typed the license number into his cell with shaky hands and sent it over to Nate.
That car had to be going sixty miles per hour. Olympic sprinters didn’t run that fast. Hell, a Quarter Horse probably couldn’t hit that speed. There’s no way he had kept up with a Camaro… But the plate number meant he had kept up. Somehow.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and jogged back toward Tera’s place, relieved at his slower, more humanlike pace. Hopefully Nate could at least pull some information on the registered owner.
Ted Belkin sat across the table from Kevin Elys, grateful his late father’s friend didn’t seem to hear Ted’s heart pounding. Kevin was far from human; Ted understood that now. The fiery explosion on the Oceanus, one of Belkin Oil’s offshore rigs, had opened the door to the Titans’ prison of Tartarus for a fraction of a second, which had been plenty long enough for Kronos to escape.
He had chosen to take the form of a rich, sixty-something mortal man named Kevin, and now Ted had to convince the Father of the Gods of his loyalty. The plan sucked, but Ted saw no other viable option. If he didn’t keep his finger on the pulse of Kevin’s plans, the muses could end up with targets on their backs.
Ted wasn’t a dreamy-eyed hero—far from it. He’d lost himself over the years, and in a blind effort to win his father’s approval, he’d committed unforgivable crimes with the Order of the Titans. The group had originated in Greece lifetimes ago. Their mission never evolved beyond their original call, to free Kronos from his prison at the center of the earth. Ted’s father had raised him with the belief that once Kronos was freed, he would bring back the Golden Age of Man, and the mortals who broke down the door of Tartarus would be worshipped as the saviors of humanity. No more war, hunger, or pain.
In hindsight, they had been naive. The Father of the Gods walked among them now, but he seemed to have plans of his own that didn’t include saving this world.
Innocent lives were lost as the Order neared their goal, and Ted was the direct cause of two of them. He couldn’t make things right, but he could keep them from getting worse. He hoped.
Deep down it sickened him to imagine this world without Trinity Porter in it. She was the Muse of Music and his first love. Until she found her Guardian, she was also an easy target for Kevin and the Order. A few weeks ago, the muses had killed Kronos’s immortal lover, Philyra. They had been defending themselves, but that probably meant nothing to the god sitting across from Ted. Kevin would be seeking revenge, but if Ted could find out details, maybe he could keep Trinity alive. He had to try.
Kevin lifted his wineglass with a gleam in his eyes. “I notice you came to this meeting alone.”
Ted shrugged. “Mikolas has never been as devoted to the Order of the Titans as I am.”
Since Ted’s father died, Mikolas Leandros had come in from Greece as a majority stock holder in Belkin Oil. He not only took of Ted Sr.’s office, but leadership of the Crystal City area’s Order of the Titans too. However, Mikolas wanting no part of killing Muses.
Kevin chuckled and took a sip. “About that…” He placed the glass back on the table with a smirk. “Your group intrigues me. I’ve met many of the members of the Order here in Crystal City, and all of them seem convinced that I will bring back the Golden Age of Man. No more wars or famines. They imagine a world as it was in the days before my son banished me to a prison in the center of the Earth.” He straightened and gave a lopsided smile. “You humans fascinate me with your ability to make yourselves so self-important.”
Ted shifted in his chair. “I’m not sure I follow.”
“Humans named my reign the Golden Age of Man, not me.” He tapped his chest. “My reign had nothing to do with your race. I don’t care if you live or die. I never have.”
An icy chill crept down Ted’s back like a reaper’s scythe. “We worshipped you and spent millions of do
llars freeing you from Tartarus.”
“You think that entitles you to my protection?” He leaned in closer. “Your race is worthless. You ruin the planet you were given, you war with one another as if any of your kind would be worthy of ruling this world that I created—” his voice dropped an octave “—and now my son’s treasured daughters have killed the only woman who never stopped caring for me.”
Ted scrambled for something to say that might matter to the god across the table. “But the muses are your granddaughters.”
“They are nothing to me!” He slammed his fist against the tabletop and shot out of his chair. Kevin slicked his silver hair back again, in a seeming effort to soothe his sudden flare of rage. His gaze pinned Ted in place. “I’m handling the muses. You will help me locate my wife. Rhea will pay for helping our son entrap me in Tartarus.”
Ted had already found Rhea, but so far, he’d been able to keep that information away from Kevin. Before Ted could respond, the door opened and man in a gold mask entered. He removed the golden face of Kronos, and Ted immediately recognized Mark Gibb.
“Mark?” Ted asked. They shared a silent moment. Ted’s gaze fell onto Kevin again. Shit. He and Mikolas had warned the members of the Order about Kevin. They’d tried to convince the others that Kevin “thought” he was Kronos. A delusional senior citizen. But apparently their efforts didn’t work as well as they had hoped. How many members of the Order were still worshipping this man?
Kevin turned toward Mark. “Did you find her?”
“Yeah.” Mark fidgeted with the edge of the mask. “But she wasn’t alone. There was a man there.”
Kevin’s eyes glowed bright gold, exposing the power of his true identity. “You told me the Muse of Dance hadn’t found her Guardian yet.”
Ted balled his hand into a fist, struggling to remain quiet. Shit. Trinity would be Kevin’s next target. If the guy with Tera was really her Guardian, then Trinity was the only muse sister without one.
Ted stood up. “She doesn’t. I heard they might hire a bodyguard for Tera. He doesn’t have special powers. He’s probably well trained and armed, but he’s just a man.”
Kevin crossed his arms, his full attention on Mark now. “Bring her to me. I want her alive.”
Ted frowned, unsure what Kevin was planning. Did the immortal know that Mark owned a landscaping company? He wasn’t a trained soldier or mercenary; he was a damned fine landscape architect.
Kevin clasped Mark’s shoulder, his mouth twisting into a humorless smirk. “I’ll make her scream until my son can hear her pain all the way up on Olympus. He’ll come back to the world of Man. He won’t be able to resist.”
He answered on the second ring. “This is Detective Malone.”
“Nate?” Tera sat on her bed in the dark, her heart racing like a rabbit hiding from a wolf. “It’s Tera.”
“Hey Tera. What’s up? Did you meet with Gavin?”
“Yeah. That’s why I’m calling.” She kept her voice hushed. “Someone’s outside.”
Concern colored his voice. “Gavin’s there, right?”
“He was…well…is, I guess.” She glanced at the window.
“What’s going on? Want me to send a car over?”
“No.” She rubbed her forehead. “I think he saw something. He’s investigating. I just wanted to…” She peered up at the ceiling and forced herself to speak. “He’s staking out my place downstairs. Is that normal?”
Nate’s tone warmed. “Gavin’s a good guy, Tera. If he thinks you’re in danger, he’s not going to be far from you. That’s his job.”
“Okay… So it’s safe to go to sleep? I mean, when he’s done looking around? I won’t wake up and find him standing in the dark watching me?”
Nate chuckled. “Nah. You’re in good hands. He’s a pro.”
Gradually, the tingling in her hands eased up. “Thanks, Nate.”
“Anytime.”
He hung up, and she stared at her phone. Suddenly, a message lit up the screen, and she flinched.
All clear out here. I’m on my way back in.
She took a deep breath and sent back a quick, Okay. Thank the gods he had warned her or she might’ve jumped out the window when the dead bolt downstairs turned again. The door opened and closed, and footsteps creaked on the stairs. Finally, a big silhouette filled her doorway.
His deep voice was soft and controlled. “There was someone outside. It looked like a guy in black wearing a gold mask. I chased after him, but he got away. I did manage to get his license plate number. Just sent it over to Nate.”
She pulled her knees into her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them. “I’ve seen those masks before. Those are the same guys who killed Nia and Polly. They worship Kronos.”
There wasn’t much more she could say without outing herself and her muse sisters. Some of them could lose their jobs if people found out they believed they were the vessels of the original Greek muses, the nine daughters of Zeus. Sometimes it was still hard for her to believe, and she was living it.
He leaned against the doorframe. Even in the shadowy room, the sharp angles of his face were defined, masculine. “Kronos? Isn’t that a Greek god?”
She swallowed and nodded. “He’s the Father of the Gods. Zeus and the Olympians rose up against Kronos and the Titans, and banished them to Tartarus in the center of the Earth.”
He chuffed, his white teeth gleaming in the moonlight as he smiled. “You know a lot about Greek mythology for a dance instructor.”
“Did Nate tell you about our theater project?” He shook his head, so I explained. “When I moved to Crystal City, I joined the Muses Anonymous LLC with my sisters. We’re serious about restoring the Theater of the Muses. It’s more than just mythology to us.”
All true. She just left out the craziest parts.
“Fair enough.” He crossed her room to the window and looked down into the courtyard. “So why would these guys wear Kronos masks and come after you and your sisters?” He glanced over his shoulder at her. “These are your friends, not related by blood, right?”
“No. We’re sisters in the cause. Why?”
He shrugged, focusing out the window again. “I’ve only met you and Mel so far, but you two don’t look remotely related.”
Tera had no idea how to respond to that. He was right. Mel had auburn hair and a larger frame than Tera’s willowy one. It was more that he had pointed out that he’d noticed, or looked, or—Damn, she wished her overactive brain would shut up. “Thanks for chasing the car down. I hope the license plate number can lead Nate to him.”
She rested her chin on her knees, staring at the stars through the window. “I thought the Order had disbanded.” Holding her legs tighter, she willed the anxiety to vanish, but no such luck. “Guess not.”
He came toward her and stopped a few feet from where she sat on her bed. “Everything is quiet out there now. I’m going to check in with Nate. You should get some sleep.”
She let out a weak chuckle. “I’ll try, but no promises.”
He went to the door, then turned back. His eyes locked on hers. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
She swallowed a lump in her throat. His words weren’t a threat or an empty promise. They were a vow. She got up from the bed and walked toward him, grateful the lights were still off. She stopped in front of him and tentatively reached for his hand. His strong fingers laced with hers, and her heart beat harder. But for once it wasn’t because of her anxiety. In spite of the excitement with the stalker, Gavin gave off an addictive wave of calm and confidence. Peace.
Staring up into his eyes, she whispered, “I’m not used to feeling…safe.”
His other arm moved around her, tentative at first. She settled into his chest, accepting the comfort, and his embrace tightened as she closed her eyes and breathed him in.
His voice rumbled in her ear as he spoke. “They won’t touch you while I’m here. We’ll get these guys.”
Gods, she hoped it wouldn’t
be the other way around.
CHAPTER 4
Gavin plugged in his cell phone and settled on Tera’s couch. The adrenaline finally faded out of his bloodstream, exhaustion taking its place. The scent of Tera’s hair still teased his nostrils. She had fit so perfectly in his arms.
Damn, he wished he didn’t know that.
He shifted positions, trying to get comfortable. He needed to sleep, but his mind kept circling around the inexplicable events of the day. He glanced down his torso, pulling up his shirt to inspect his birthmark. It wasn’t red anymore. Had he imagined it?
He ran a shaky hand down his face. This was no time to lose his shit. Tera needed him. Between the guy in the gold mask and her mother, the threats were real.
So was the fact he had somehow caught up with a V8 Camaro—on foot.
It was too late to check in with his doctor now. Besides, he wasn’t sure even an MD would be able to explain that one. He’d have to wait until Nate arrested the people threatening Tera, and then he’d take a couple of mental health days.
He lay back on the couch and stared at the ceiling. He tried to slow his breathing and focus on the rise and fall of his chest. When he had returned home from his last tour in the desert, he’d struggled to relax, and one of his docs had turned him on to meditation. It usually helped, but not this time. When he closed his eyes, he saw the fear on Tera’s face when her mother had driven into the parking lot of the dance studio.
That was when his birthmark had first burned.
He opened his eyes and sat up. His birthmark had also burned right before he’d realized someone was watching the condo.
Was he seriously considering that his birthmark might be able to sense danger? Shit. He shook his head. If he believed he had run over sixty miles an hour, how much farther down Crazy As Fuck Lane was a danger-sensing birthmark?
He rubbed his forehead and forced himself to concentrate on his breathing again. Insane or not, he was still a master of self-discipline, dammit.
