by Lola Dodge
Now Rich was in custody and he’d stay there a very long time after he was treated for all the claw marks. I had a feeling I’d only stumbled onto the metaphorical tip of the iceberg where he was concerned.
I should be relaxing now that the ordeal was mostly over, but my pulse still thumped. I’d been placed in a cushy interview room while Quan went off to shift, put on some clothes and provide his statement.
All I could do was stare at the door, waiting for him to appear.
Where do we stand?
And what was between us?
Quan didn’t meet my criteria for perfection by a long shot, but he was winning me over moment by moment. I couldn’t think of a better man or panther to have as my back up.
But…
I felt as fluttery as a teenager. I prided myself on my practicality and ability to handle any situation. But Quan? He would take my memory banks over like a firestorm, burning his way into every moment of my life.
That still terrified me.
But maybe I was ready to take that leap with Quan.
Was that what he wanted? I stood and started pacing the little room.
Quan stares at me with heat and possession—
His panther form leaps, a graceful blur, dragging away the danger—
He rubs against me, all soft fur and reassurance—
The memories were distracting in a way, but not exactly in the way I’d feared. Still, I was very capable of ruining everything.
My brain didn’t have a delete button. If things went south, or other unfortunate memories got added to the pile…
Stop thinking.
That had been my problem all along. I’d passed on romance my entire life, fearing the power that a man might have over me. Truly, it was silly.
I was in charge of my mind and every other part of my life.
I wouldn’t let the job or the downfalls of my power turn me into a miserable creature like Rich. Instead, I had to embrace the positive.
The door clicked and Quan stood shadowed between the posts, all dark and serious. He entered the room, followed by Agent Lu, who’d been investigating the anti-supers from the start.
“You’re both free to go,” she said, “although I’ll be checking in with you soon. There’s more work to do on this case.”
“Of course.” I tugged Quan’s sleeve. “We’ll be in town a few more days if you need anything.”
A guard escorted us from the building to a waiting limo. We slipped inside, and Quan sat across from me, his knees almost bumping mine. “You’re staying in Los Angeles? After all that?”
I’d thought about cutting the trip short, especially now that I’d missed a day of activities, but Dev had parted with a cryptic “see you Friday.” When clairvoyants hinted, I listened. Speaking of which, I likely had a dozen messages from my mother. I slid my phone from the evidence bag it had been returned in and clicked through the texts and voicemail rather than dealing with the large panther man sitting in front of me.
I wasn’t sure I was ready.
But we’d be having a conversation soon.
Thursday night found Quan and me in my mother’s backyard in East L.A. The draft—the point of all this pomp—was tomorrow, and even though I should’ve been listening to speeches and giving television interviews, I was taking a well-deserved night off.
With Quan.
Mom had cooked a trough of her famous green chili enchiladas and we’d all gorged ourselves. Now she and I stood in the kitchen scrubbing dishes as Quan and Hector played a match of checkers on the blue and white plastic tablecloth. Looking out on the backyard lit by multicolored lanterns was like replaying a scene from my childhood—although just being in this house sparked wave after wave of my past. As much as I loved New York, I missed this.
“I like him,” Mom said as I handed her a sopping dish.
“Hmm?” I’d been staring at Quan, whose brow was furrowed in intense concentration.
“This panther man.” She peered through the window as she dried the plate. “I like him. He’ll be good for you.”
I scrubbed a bit of stuck-on cheese a bit too aggressively with the sponge. Was that what I wanted? “I know next to nothing about him.” Only a few days of watching him and the history I knew from his brother. It seemed too little a foundation for what I was feeling.
“That’s what dating’s for, mija. You don’t have to marry him.”
“That’s the problem.”
She tsked. “I always want you to go at your own pace, Lina, but don’t you think it’s time to give love a try?”
“Maybe.” I wanted to, but I hadn’t fully decided whether I was going to allow it.
“Forget the man, then. Are you fulfilled in life? Happy at work?”
I pondered as I scrubbed. I was starting to see that I needed to take everything in a slower gear, but overall things were great. I was financially secure and challenged everyday. I could make more working for the government or some prestigious firm, but that would never compare to what I had now.
“I guess I am.”
“Then you’ve got nothing to lose, whichever path you choose.”
“Is that Mom or seer speaking?”
“Maybe both.” She winked and flicked me with the dishtowel. “Want to set out the ice cream? I’ll make some cinnamon whipped cream.”
My stomach rebelled at the thought of more food, but a scoop wouldn’t hurt. There was always room for ice cream.
I set the tubs on the counter to thaw, then carried the bowls and spoons out to the picnic table. It seemed natural to take a seat next to Quan.
The lanterns cast a soft glow on his skin, but his eyes were all for the checker game. He was almost out of pieces, and Hector was flush with kings.
The phone rang next door.
“Ach. I’ll be right back.” Hector grabbed his cane and maneuvered himself out of the bench, but he narrowed his eyes before he stood. “Don’t let him cheat on me, Lina.”
“I would never.”
Hector nodded before ambling off. “And save me some of your mother’s whipped cream.”
Quan rubbed his scalp. “Should I feel bad about this?”
“Hector’s the neighborhood champion. You’re not the first one to be hustled.”
Spanish music drifted from the kitchen but was drowned out by the sound of Mom’s mixer kicking on. We were more or less alone, which we hadn’t been all day.
“Angel—no, Lina. Can I use your real name?” Quan asked.
“Of course.” I liked the sound of it on his lips.
“What happens when we get back to New York?”
The urge to fidget was overwhelming, but I kept my palms flat on the table. “You’ll be released to your brother’s custody for the rest of your stay…however long that is.”
You could just ask him.
“But you could get me a visa?”
“I could. And I can clear one of the penthouses for you for as long as you want to be in the city. I’ll call as soon as we get back to the—”
Quan covered my hand with his, and I stilled. It was like every nerve in my body had moved to the skin there, but somehow his touch seeped to every other part of me.
“That’s not what I mean.”
I shouldn’t be this excited just touching hands, but my breathing was shallow. “What do you mean, then?”
He rubbed his thumb in a circle over the back of my hand. “I was thinking of staying. A while.”
I took a deep breath. It was time to be the adult and get everything on the table. At least, I knew that it was, but I still felt thirteen.
But keeping silent wasn’t fair to Quan.
Everything came out in a rush.
“I’d like for you to stay, Quan. I want to get to know you, but I’m not sure I’m ready for—I me
an, I’ve had one kiss in my life and it was only a girlhood crush, but with my memories, even now I can see him, smell his cologne—”
Quan’s mouth closed over mine.
Sweet heat rushed through my body, burning away all other thoughts and memories—everything was Quan, from his thumb rubbing to the gentle pressure of his lips and his wind-soaked scent that overwhelmed all else.
He pulled back an inch, keeping his face pressed close and fixing me with an intense orange stare that made me want to wrap my body around him. “You remember him now?”
“Who?”
Quan gave a soft, satisfied chuckle. “That’s what I thought.”
Smug bastard.
But I grinned as I cupped his cheek with my free hand. “If you’ll be patient with me…I’d like to get to know you some more.”
Quan’s smile lodged straight in my heart—broad, a bit of fang, the most genuine smile I’d seen from him yet. “I’m going to enjoy making you mine.”
I shivered.
I think I’m going to enjoy letting you.
Chapter Fourteen
Quan
Angel’s mother won me over as quickly as Angel had. Good cook, gentle heart and the same iron spirit as her daughter.
Sitting in their backyard had felt just like home. Even if I’d gotten hustled at checkers. Maybe because I’d gotten hustled at checkers.
If I replaced the Spanish music with jungle sounds, I would’ve thought I was with my own family, sitting out in the breeze.
Angel was already family, whether or not she knew it.
I’d be patient. I’d be what she wanted me to be.
That story about her fist kiss had made it clear I was already over the edge. I wanted to maul the guy. And then I wanted Angel to tell me all her bad memories one by one, so I could deal with each of the people who’d done her wrong…
Yeah. She had her hooks in.
She sidled close to me on the car ride back to the hotel, leaning her head against my shoulder. It wasn’t a question that I was going to put my arm around her.
In the crook of my arm, Angel felt perfect. She smelled like jasmine and contentment. I wanted to keep her this way.
She was dozing when we got back, and I wasn’t going to wake her up. My lady needed rest.
I carried her up to the room and set her in bed. Took off her shoes. Covered her with a blanket.
Then I kissed her forehead. Sleep now, cīhuapīlli, and conquer the world tomorrow.
All groggy, she grabbed my hand. “Stay?”
I slipped in beside her, pressing her close to my body. “Always.”
Angel
Friday morning dawned hot and dry, but I languished in bed. It was the most blissful sleep I’d had in the last decade. Possibly ever, but my brain was surprisingly silent on the records.
Quan lay curled behind me, and this felt as intimate as anything we could do together. I rolled over to his intent stare and my pulse—maybe my whole body—fluttered. “How long have you been awake?”
He stroked my hair with soft fingers. “Who’s counting?”
I tipped my face toward him and Quan’s lips found me again, moving in a slow, deep rhythm that absolutely melted me. His mouth moved down, kissing my jaw, down my neckline, nibbling at my collarbone—
A soft whimper escaped my lips. “We have to take it slow.”
Quan kissed his way back up to my mouth and dragged a pointed canine along my lower lip. “Aren’t I going slow?”
“You know what I mean.” Although the pressure building in all my sensitive spots hinted that I might be ready to give sex a shot sooner than I’d thought.
You might be ready now, chica.
Quan kissed the line of my jugular, willingly misunderstanding what slow meant.
I stifled a moan. “We’re going to be late.”
“And that’s never going to be a good excuse.”
I dragged him upward, planting a soft kiss on his nose. “Later.”
His slow smile almost sparked another moan. “Count on it.”
It wasn’t until I shooed him out to dress in peace that I realized I hadn’t flashed away from the present Quan at all. Not once. I pressed my hands to my cheeks. Maybe when I was with Quan I got to be with him.
Was it that simple? Or was he just that strong an influence that he could overwrite the stray memories?
If so, I could kick myself.
Maybe all I’d needed was my own permission to let go.
We hopped in the car for a ride to our last day of recruiting and Quan and I twined fingers. It was hard to keep from smiling, but I had to get in all the gooey first times I’d missed as a teenager.
He was ready to play bodyguard at the draft, but I didn’t need his interference as much now that the news of Rich’s betrayal had broken.
The community was gutted.
How someone who’d been given so much trust betray us? Even the college students were somber. I’d already met with reps from all the crews on site and we’d vowed to have an inter-crew meeting as soon as possible. We all needed to make sure this never happened again.
Thunder and Tank had flown in to help deal with the upheaval and show our public support to the community. Both of them eyed my hand linked with Quan’s.
Thunder waggled his eyebrows, and I swatted him. “Mind your own affairs.”
I’d been a little nervous about meeting up with Tank, given all our history, but he smiled broadly. I’m glad for you, Lina. You seem rested.
I can’t complain. I squeezed Quan’s hand, feeling as content as I had in a very long time. Since the late 1990s, if I wanted to get specific. He squeezed back.
The event was being held at the Hollywood Bowl—the famous music hall up in the hills. Only today, super heroes were on the bill instead of symphonies or concerts.
The group of us was herded through the crowd to our garden box in front of the stage. A giant screen stood behind the podium, and we had a bank of computers set up for keeping track of the process. It was a slightly less complicated version of the NFL draft, really. We could recruit supers of any age as long as they’d applied.
“Where are we in the order this year?” Thunder lifted his aviator sunglasses and waved to some of the fangirls shouting from beyond the barriers.
“Fourth.” The order was based on a complex algorithm involving population and crime statistics and a host of other factors. Population alone kept New York on top of the list. “After Chicago, Detroit and New Orleans…”
My voice trailed. As screaming fans tried to break past the barrier, Dev slipped behind the security. He strolled over like he belonged here and slapped two folders onto our makeshift table. “Here are your new recruits.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “We’re already done reviewing the applications.”
“Trust me. You’ll like these two.” Dev gave Quan a fist bump, then sauntered away, deftly avoiding the other security workers.
Clairvoyants. Always throwing a wrench in.
I opened the first file to see Dev’s smiling headshot. Maybe a few days ago, I would’ve dismissed it, but instead, I read through the application. Dev was at the top of his class until his disappearance, and UCLA would likely grandfather him into his degree. The open response field caught my eye:
Why do you want to work for the Manhattan Ten?
I never thought of myself as a hero, but I can do good with my abilities—true good. I can already see myself fitting in, and with the things happening, you’re all going to need me looking out for you. Plus, I already spent a few months as a captive because I couldn’t keep from digging for the truth. What more do you want on a resume?
He wasn’t wrong, and bad things were still brewing. We still hadn’t figured out why Dev had been hidden away so long. With so many seers on the case, he should’ve
been found in days.
I flipped open the second folder. A note in Dev’s handwriting was paper-clipped over the photo.
Lily Chou works at the Sea World in Santa Monica and she hates her life. She’s your new water worker. Look behind you.
-Dev
I glanced into the crowd and found Dev sitting next to a dark-haired girl wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a sour expression. Dev nudged her and waved our way, and she smiled in spite of herself.
Flipping through her profile, even I had to admit Lily was exactly what we wanted. Excellent grades in both her theoretical and practical classes. Fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese. Glowing recommendations on her work ethic. And most importantly, water powers. She’d certainly be an improvement on the flaky Cyclone.
Should I bump the candidate I’d already chosen?
Tank. I summoned him with a thought and passed over the folder. “What do you think about this?”
He flipped through the pages, then glanced over his shoulder, likely doing a mental assessment of the candidates. “They both seem solid, but you should make the final decision. You’re the one who was here on the ground all week.”
I didn’t have any strong feelings toward my original picks—they’d simply met the basic criteria. Not the best way to bring new people into the family. I’d probably approached this whole conference with the wrong idea—it wasn’t a chore, even if it was tiresome. This was welcoming our next generation. “I’m going with my gut on this one.”
Tank nodded—he’d already know what I’d chosen from my thoughts. “You can make the announcements.”
“Gladly.”
Crowds piled on crowds and the draft began. Chicago and the first crews all picked flashy heroes—fire, teleportation and a girl who could freeze time. Quan kissed my forehead before I moved to the stage for the Ten’s pick.
“Show them who’s in charge, princessa.” His orange eyes glowed, and I warmed with affection.
I straightened my shoulders as I strode up to the podium. Silence hushed the crowd. “For our first-round pick, the Manhattan Ten select Devadutt Atal.”
Gasps and cheers greeted the announcement. Dev sauntered to the podium, waving to the crowd. I handed him an ornamental red cape embroidered with the M10 logo. “You won me over.”
