The Tower

by L. A. McGinnis

  16

  Gabriella huffed out a small breath of frustration.

  She’d watched Odin like a hawk since they’d arrived, seven days ago. The way his eyes missed nothing, his nostrils flared at certain comments, his brow furrowed slightly at others. Frail old man. To think, I actually felt sorry for you.

  He knew who she was. That crack he made, that—understanding why she was here—nonsense, had been looping around in her brain for an entire week now.

  She wanted to get Odin alone, find out what he knew. Figure out what his sly remark meant before she drove herself crazy. She was still trying to find her footing here, where she could be useful without feeling awkward around the women, or weird around the…immortal gods.

  Geez.

  Balder gently squeezed her knee. “You’d better eat, Gabbie, it’s getting cold and Syd and Morgane will be pissed if you don’t.” She shoveled food into her mouth, half of her attention on the rambling conversation at the end of the table, something about raiding a warehouse for supplies and Celine’s soft laughter over suggested baby names. She tried not to look at Balder but failed spectacularly. He was so handsome, she couldn’t take her eyes from him, and his looks weren’t the only thing causing a distraction. This enforced closeness, and the fact they shared a bed nightly, was messing with her head. The other day when he left, she swore she actually—missed him.

  And everyone was so welcoming, there were times her heart ached at the idea of how much of a family they were. All these people, packed in here like sardines, and they still managed to…get along. Maybe even enjoyed being this close, judging from the laughter down at the other end of the table.

  And then there was Lilly Domenic. Gabriella remembered her, a waif-like blonde, always blended into the background. She and Freyr, the conversational blonde, stuck together like glue. Or newlyweds, if she wasn’t mistaken. How David Domenic’s sister ended up here was a mystery, and one she’d love an answer to.

  Yeah, she had to confront Odin and find out what was going on. Balder, and the rest of them, treated him like he was made of glass, which he totally used to his advantage. She watched his empty gaze drift over the crowd until it finally stopped on her.

  Feeling the sharpness contained in that stare, she gave it right back.

  So be it. Somehow, he’d figured out her secret. What she was. What she was capable of and—from that little comment about Domenic—probably intended to enlist her…services. “Balder, I need a word with Odin. Alone. Just buy us as much time as you can.” She squeezed his knee in return, sorrow in her heart. Rising, she rounded the table, grasped Odin’s arm, and escorted him from the room.

  The library, she figured, would be best. With its thick door and walls of old books, it would be insulated and private. Odin sniffed delicately. “It smells like dust in here. Old dust, at that.”

  “Yeah. From the looks of it, I’d say from around nineteen sixty. Not that long ago—for you guys.” He had the audacity to furrow his eyebrows. Look confused. Helpless. Gabriella couldn’t help it, she giggled. Looked at him again and then doubled over, laughing so hard she had to wipe the tears from her eyes.

  “Thank you for that feigned display of innocence. I’d forgotten what bullshit looked like. Sheesh, you really had me going for a while.” She drew in a gasping breath and straightened up. “Tell me, what exactly are you trying to accomplish with the blind and helpless act?”

  Odin’s face went slack before he thought to order himself. Gabriella figured it wasn’t too often he got caught with his pants down, but then again, she had had a lot of practice at being someone she was not.

  An echoing smirk flickered across his face. “You’re one to talk, Gabriella Mendoza. Or should I call you Angel?” Her gut clenched tight at the nickname, as well as his self-righteous tone. “Because I know you are not the woman Balder thinks you are.”

  Now that gave her pause. For the first time in a very long time, she’d wanted to become someone else for Balder. But she was who she was, and there was no getting around it. “No, I’m not, though I’d like to be. And don’t you ever call me that name again.” Searching Odin’s face, she weighed her choices. “You read minds, don’t you?”

  An incline of his head had her stomach churning harder, but she’d already known the truth. “All right then, so you know who I am. Which means your jab as to why I’m here wasn’t a jab at all.” No, she thought, nothing about you is random, it’s all calculated. “Before we go any further, I only have one request. Balder never finds out the truth.”

  “No offense, but the truth always outs.”

  “Fine—then you won’t leak my secrets to anyone, especially not Balder.”

  “Done.”

  Gabriella ran her fingers along the tattered spines of a line of books. “What do you want from me, Odin? What was that crack supposed to mean?”

  “Have you ever felt like you were meant for greater things, Gabriella? Besides delivering death, that is.”

  Gabriella paused in her circuit of the room. “You gods. You truly believe in all the heroic destiny stuff, don’t you? As long as it means finding someone else to do your dirty work.” She stopped, pulled out a book. “I won’t kill for you, because I don’t do that stuff anymore. I’m a doctor now.”

  “Domenic isn’t human anymore,” Odin countered. “He’s a monster cloaked in human skin.”

  “Exactly my point. What makes you think little old me could kill some big bad like that? Shouldn’t you be looking elsewhere for mercenaries?” She pulled out a book, and the cover crumbled beneath her fingers. “Like in one of these old myths and legends, maybe?”

  “Like, maybe I’ve already found the mercenary I need.”

  “Oooo, look at you, mocking me like a boss.” She teased, but she was stalling, and they both knew it. “You want me to kill him, and you think I stand a chance. I’m curious as to why. From the chatter I’ve picked through these past days, several attempts have been made on his life, none of them successful.” She raised an eyebrow. “Including yours, I might add.”

  “Those attempts were made when he was in his other form.”

  “And he can be killed while in human form.”

  “I believe you were put in Balder’s path for a reason.” Odin hedged. “You and Domenic’s histories are intertwined, and I don’t believe in coincidences. I have to know—do you believe you could kill him, given the opportunity?”

  “I’ve never failed a job before.” She turned away from him, furious she was backed into a corner, furious her past had, once again, returned to haunt her. “But like I said, I don’t do that anymore, not even for you.”

  “Regardless, here we are. And your ties to Domenic go way back.”

  Ties.

  Gabriella balked at their connection being given such a bland generic name. “Let’s call it what it was. Blood and death and outright betrayal. My father worked for the Domenic family. And—I worked for my father.”

  Odin waved a hand in the air, dismissing her, dismissing the gravity of the emotions welling up inside of her. “Past history. Tell me how deeply your hatred goes for Domenic. When you saw him that day, when you realized he was involved, you were shaken up. I felt it.”

  “He had me kill someone.”

  “I know he did,” Odin insisted. “Why did he affect you so? Killing was your job. You should have been used to it.”

  Gabriella glanced away, not even seeing the library around them. “Not like this, I wasn’t. Domenic and my father…” The words died on her tongue. “It was an accident. They tricked me. I went after one mark and ended up causing the deaths of his whole family.”

  Even now, she saw them. Their faces, pressed against the windows of the limo as it went over the side of the bridge. “It happened here, in Chicago. My father fed me the intel, the location, everything I needed to complete the job. I was told the man would be the only passenger in the car that day. But Domenic had different plans—he wanted the entire family dead. He was angry
and conspired with my father to wipe them all out. Some sort of vendetta.”

  “And that’s when you quit.”

  “I was fifteen, and yes, I walked away from everything I knew. Right then and there. I left this city—this country—and I never looked back, disappearing into the wilds of South America where even my father didn’t go looking. By then, he was used to America. Used to Domenic’s money and the cushy lifestyle it bought him and my mother.”

  Gabriella paused, remembering. “I spoke perfect English as well as several dialects of Spanish. Disappearing wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought it would be. And my dual education—murder and manipulation—served me well.”

  “Your father thought you were destined for great things. As do I. And you cannot deny your ties to the Domenics.”

  “Look old man, obviously you know something, so just tell me what it is and save me the guessing game. Killing Domenic—or whatever he is now—sounds like it’s impossible.”

  His lips thinned out. “Unfortunately, I have a blind spot when it comes to Domenic. Which is why I need you since you’re good at killing, having so much practice and all. You are here for a reason, Gabriella, there are too many connections between you and us and him to believe otherwise.”

  “Watch the judgey attitude, old man. I’ve killed more men than I care to count, but there’s a reason I quit. I will never kill again. I’m in the business of saving lives these days, not taking them.” Anger made her toss in, “Besides, you’re just salty he ended up with Ava.”

  “And you aren’t in a position to turn your back on us for the sake of principle.” Odin was doing a pretty good job of breathing hard himself. “Domenic is not even human anymore, if he ever was. He’s a monster, and if he’s not stopped, he will end the world.”

  “Why is Lilly Domenic here, then? Aren’t you afraid she might still be working for him? He could have planted her on the inside, which is what I’d do.”

  Odin tsked. “Lilly came to us—much the same way you did—when she crossed paths with Freyr. As far as her spying, I trust her explicitly. You should too.”

  “I don’t trust anyone, just so you know.” Gabriella affirmed. “But back to the question at hand. If Domenic is unbeatable...” She spread her hands helplessly. “What on earth makes you think I can stop him?”

  “Because there is something extraordinary about you, Gabriella. Even your father knew it. You can’t outrun this, no matter how far you go. Perhaps it’s time to face who you were meant to be.”

  “Bullshit,” she spat. “That is just a bunch of bullshit.”

  “Not bullshit, though I wish it was. I tried to kill him and failed, as you so eloquently pointed out. Now it’s your turn. I don’t know how, or when, but there will come a day when you will get your chance. And you have to be ready when that chance presents itself.” He sounded so damn sure of himself, she hesitated.

  Because she couldn’t deny there was a sense of fatalism to her journey. “Fine.” She prevaricated. “Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  “And if it does?” Odin pressed, apparently not knowing when to give up.

  “Then I’ll do what I have to do,” she snapped. “For now, we keep this conversation between you and me because I don’t want Balder hurt. If he ever found out what I am?” Gabriella shook her head. It was the whole reason for the space she’d maintained between them, this intimacy barrier that could never, ever be breached.

  “He’s a good man, with a good heart. He believes in honor, integrity, decency—all the shit’s that’s good and right in the world.” Gazing out the front window, she watched the snow fly, an endless fall of emptiness. “What Balder is and what I am are incompatible. He’d never understand.” Her stomach dropped. “If he ever discovers the truth about me, I want him to be hurt to be as little as possible, do you understand?”

  Odin nodded, one liar to another. “I understand completely. It’s why I kept Ava with me for so long. I knew once she returned to Chicago… I’d seen the cost. That was what I was unwilling to make.”

  “And now that Ava has gone over to him?”

  Odin stayed silent for so long, Gabriella thought she’d never get an answer. “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I’ve said those words before, but now… I truly don’t know what comes next. I never thought past the next sunrise, truthfully. When we were granted another day together… It was always a gift, that extra time. And a curse. Because I knew what was inside of her would eventually destroy her.”

  “It would have been wiser, perhaps, to kill her,” Gabriella observed. “Instead of falling in love with her.”

  “But one happened, and the other didn’t, and now here we are.”

  “How far ahead can you see?” Gabriella knew he could. She saw it in the set of his face, in the anguish of his eyes. “You see all the way to the very end, don’t you?”

  When he sliced his head, just once, she felt a rush of relief. “Thank God. How we survive?”

  Odin’s eyes flashed, a silvery-white flicker of something that she thought might be anger.

  “We don’t.”

  17

  Two days later, the old buzzard looked slightly better. He’d picked up some weight, Gabriella noted, hadn’t missed a meal, and, as promised, was keeping his mouth shut. Celine, however, looked like hell.

  “I feel like hell,” she muttered, plopping down next to Gabriella, so hard the couch shifted a bit. “I’m so ready for this to be over. My feet hurt. My back hurts. Everything hurts.” She moaned, miserable. “Why can’t it just be over?”

  “Because the baby will come when it’s ready, and it’s not ready yet.” Gabriella smiled gently. “Just like I told you an hour ago, Celine. I know this sucks, but you’re only having a bad day.” Out of habit more than anything, she reached up and laid a hand over her forehead. Hot. Really, really hot. “Come on, sit with me out on the sun porch, it’s cooler out there.” She tugged her up by both hands, lifting her to her feet, as Fen hovered behind them. “I’m taking her out to the porch, Fenrir, just for a few minutes. The cool will do her good. It’s too warm in here, don’t you think, with the fire?” Eyes flashing, he didn’t agree, but he didn’t disagree, so she took that as a yes.

  “Gawd, my back is killing me, Gabriella. I mean, it really hurts.”

  Gabriella rubbed in slow circles as they walked. “I know, Celine. I know it does. Just keep moving. Slow and steady. Out here, where it’s cooler, that’s right, now sit, right here.” The snow was deep, so deep it covered the bottoms of the windows, frost creeping halfway up them, jagged-edged fingers of cold making patterns across the glass. Once she sat down, Gabriella gave Celine a once-over. Then a twice-over. “I don’t think you’re in labor, Celine. But I do think you’re close. You’re a bit early.” She dropped her eyes, hiding the worry. God, she was so tiny. And the baby was half-god, so what did that even mean?

  “I want you to stay out here for another fifteen minutes or so, okay? Work on that breathing of yours while I go and find Fen.” She laid her hand across Celine’s forehead again. Cooler. Slightly. The flush in her cheeks had faded to a faint, healthy pink. “I don’t want to put you on bedrest because I know how much you’ll hate it. And me.” She studied her carefully. “But I will if it’ll keep the baby inside of you for an extra week or two. Compromise is usually the best thing, right? I want you to keep your feet up and let Fen wait on you, understand? You don’t walk unless you have to pee, you don’t lift anything. Nothing, do you hear me?” Celine nodded meekly.

  Fen, as she suspected, was lurking just outside and heard everything. Gabriella pulled him aside. “I don’t need to repeat myself, right?” Without breaking Gabriella’s stare, he gave a curt, worried nod. “All right. Just like we discussed. You know what to do. Any sign of bleeding, the back pain gets any worse, anything feels off to you, you come and find me right away.” He growled slightly and left her standing alone and silent in the hall.

  She’d never lost anyone in chi
ldbirth. She kept telling herself that. Over and over and over again. And yet… She was so tiny. Every time she looked at Celine, a jolt of fear went through her. Fear that made her feel deeply fallible.

  Fear that made her pray that at least this once, let her gut feeling be wrong.

  18

  The city reeked of death. His legs hanging off the edge of a ruined building, once the tallest in the world, Balder surveyed downtown. They’d just finished their designated task, and all that was left was to test it out. “What’re the chances he uses the portals tonight?” Behind him, Freyr sheathed his dagger, the slithery sound of metal against leather rasping over broken concrete and steel.

  “Slim to none, if you ask me. No sign of Domenic, although his soldiers are spread out all over the city, with a large concentration north of the city, just past Division. Some converted warehouse, if you can rely on Mir’s intel.”

  “Which you can,” Freyr reminded him drily.

  “Yes, we can,” Balder agreed, peering off into the darkening distance. “It seems to me that Domenic…the Orobus, that is…would be smart enough to pull his operation in tight. Limit his exposure.”

  “Could be hedging his bets. He has a big contingent guarding the stones. It looks like, from our most recent recon, he tried to blow them to kingdom come.”

  “Yup, and he failed.” A smile tugged on Balder’s mouth. How he would have liked to have seen that particular failure up close and personal. Which is why they’d spent the night setting up surveillance so they could monitor the area on an ongoing basis. “I’ll bet it wasn’t his first try, which means they can’t be destroyed.”