aisling grimlock 03 - grim discovery

by Amanda M. Lee

  I rolled my eyes. “Are you going to get all psychological on me? Are you going to tell me that I’m really upset because Aidan and Braden are still angry with me? I already know that.”

  Griffin’s smile was sympathetic. “Braden will get over this. He is. Aidan is already mostly over it. I do think you two need to talk and hug it out, though.”

  “He’s not ready for that,” I said, resting my hands against the uneven brick of Woody’s Bar. “He will be tomorrow.”

  Griffin smirked. “I like how you can read them all,” he said. “I especially like how they can all read you.”

  “That’s because I think like a man.”

  “Oh, don’t be bitter,” Griffin said, pulling me in for a hug. “The fact that you think like a man seventy-five percent of the time explains a lot about why you’re so fun to be around.”

  “You know that makes you sound gay, right?”

  Instead of answering, Griffin kissed my cheek. If he was bothered by the comparison, he didn’t voice it. That was someone else’s job.

  “That’s a pretty homophobic thing to say.”

  I jerked when I heard the voice, turning to find Bub perched on a nearby parked car. He was watching us, although I was pretty sure he wasn’t there when we walked outside.

  “You don’t look like a hood ornament,” I said. “If someone sees you … .”

  “I’m in a dark parking lot behind a bar,” Bub replied, nonplussed. “If someone sees me they’ll think they had too much to drink. They’d never tell anyone what they saw, because everyone would think they were crazy.”

  “What are you doing here?” Griffin asked. “Aisling, don’t get close to him. He might bite you or something.”

  Bub scowled – at least I think it was a scowl. “I don’t bite. I’m not some common dog that goes around biting people.”

  “You look like a dog-owl,” I reminded him.

  “And now I’m wondering why I even came here to warn you,” Bub muttered.

  Griffin stiffened. “Warn us about what?”

  “Whatever the wraiths and gargoyles have planned, it’s going to happen soon,” Bub said. “I couldn’t get close enough to hear the entire plan, but I do know that they’re desperate to get their hands on you. Something has changed … and if I have to guess, I think you guys are closing in on something.”

  “Andrea,” I said. “They must know we’ve figured out who Andrea is.”

  “I don’t think so,” Griffin countered. “You figured that out only three hours ago. I think it’s more likely your questioning of Everett and Fox Grimpond has gotten their attention.”

  I narrowed my eyes as I studied Bub. “You don’t happen to know why Amber Grimpond changed her name and purposely became Griffin’s partner, do you?”

  “I have no idea who these … Grimponds are,” Bub replied.

  He was lying. I don’t know how I knew, but it was obvious. “Where will they try to grab me?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “What do you know?” I pressed. “Do you know where my mother is? Is she working with the Grimponds?”

  “I’ve already told you I don’t know any Grimponds,” Bub replied. “I just came here to warn you. I don’t know anything other than what I’ve already told you.”

  That was a lie, too. “I don’t think I believe you,” I said. “I think it’s kind of weird that you keep popping up just long enough to drop threats of doom and gloom on us. I think you know a lot more than you’re letting on.”

  “I guess that’s why your brothers are considered the brains of the operation,” Bub shot back. “I’ve told you everything I know. I don’t have any other answers to offer.”

  “Why do they want Aisling?” Griffin asked. “What do they think she’s the key to?”

  “If I knew the answer to that it would fall under the aforementioned ‘other answers,’” Bub said. “I honestly don’t know why she’s important. Believe me. If I could figure that out, I’d be rich.”

  “Why does a gargoyle need money?”

  “I’ve been looking for a castle to call my very own,” Bub said, wrinkling his upper lip. “Don’t worry yourself about things you have no control over. Worry about things you can control.”

  “And those are?”

  “Your life,” Bub said. “A fight is coming, girl. You need to be ready for it.” With those words, Bub expanded his wings and took off into the night. He was gone from view within seconds.

  “What do you think?” I asked.

  “I think it’s time to get back to the house,” Griffin said. “I don’t like being exposed. I want you safe … and in bed.”

  “Don’t say that in front of my father. He really will lock you in the dungeon.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Griffin scoffed. “I’ll make it onto his ‘favorite child’ list one of these days. Just you wait and see.”

  I tilted my head to the side as the familiar strains of “Carry on Wayward Son” started playing inside Woody’s. “Well, Jerry definitely won’t be at the top of that list.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Jerry is singing karaoke, and my father is likely to kill him if we don’t go in and rescue him.”

  “He sounds pretty good,” Griffin said. “Maybe he could’ve been bigger than Justin Timberlake.”

  “Jerry is going to love you even more than he does now,” I said.

  “Don’t worry. You’re still number one on my list.”

  Thirty

  “Wake up.”

  It took me a moment to get my bearings. “What?”

  “Wake up.”

  I shifted my head from Griffin’s chest, opened my eyes and glanced around my childhood bedroom. Something weird was going on here. Griffin was still asleep – or struggling to wake, given the uninvited third voice – and I could barely function because my mind was so foggy. Who else could be in here? I rolled to my side and found Aidan stretched out on the other side of the mattress, his hands clasped behind his head. “What are you doing?”

  “We need to talk,” Aidan said, his hair still sleep tousled. “I can’t take us arguing for one more second.”

  “It looks as though you were right on that front,” Griffin murmured, rubbing his eyes. “What time is it?”

  “It’s almost eight … and Dad wants us all downstairs at eight for breakfast,” Aidan said. “He has big plans for everyone, and since you’re now part of the family, that includes you.”

  “I wonder whether I should call in sick to work,” Griffin mused, running his fingers down his bare chest as he struggled to a sitting position. “Why am I wet?”

  “I think I drooled on you in my sleep,” I admitted. “Sorry. You should take it as a compliment. You’re so hot I drooled on you.”

  Griffin snorted. “Or you were almost drunk last night and you slept like a log,” he corrected. “You know you snored last night, right?”

  “I don’t snore.”

  “You were so loud I considered smothering you with a pillow … or going to find one of the hundred other rooms in this house to sleep in,” Griffin replied.

  “Why didn’t you?” I’m not a morning person. He should know better than accusing me of snoring after I’ve been awake only two minutes.

  “Because I kind of like the snoring,” he said, pinching my chin. “I even like the drool.” He kissed my forehead. “I’m going to hop in the shower while you two talk. Then I’m going downstairs to have a word with your father. I think it would be better if I called in sick to work.”

  “How are we going to watch Amber if you call in sick?” Aidan asked, his eyes roaming Griffin’s chest in a manner that made me a little uncomfortable. “Have you ever considered waxing?”

  “No,” Griffin said, rolling his eyes. “Your sister doesn’t seem to mind.”

  “That’s because she fell for your face first,” Aidan said. “When this is over we’ll talk. Aisling’s drool wouldn’t be so much of a problem if you shaved or waxed your chest.”<
br />
  “That’s never going to happen,” Griffin said. “You two hurry and make up. The faster we’re down to one sibling fight, the better.”

  Aidan stuck out his tongue, causing Griffin to cuff him as he walked by. Their playful banter warmed me.

  Once the bathroom door was shut, Aidan rested his back against the pillows and stared at me. “You know you’re lucky to have him, right? Anyone who would put up with that bedhead is a saint.”

  I instinctively reached for my hair. “You should talk,” I grumbled.

  “Yes, but my hair makes me look cute and cuddly,” Aidan said. “Your hair makes you look like the bride of Frankenstein.”

  “Did you come here to make up or make fun of me?”

  “Both,” Aidan said, cracking his neck as he got comfortable. “I love you, Aisling. I know we fight, but I’ve always loved you. I’m still not okay with the fact that you didn’t tell me what was going on.”

  “I didn’t want to hurt you if it wasn’t necessary,” I said, resting my head against his shoulder as I slouched lower on the bed. “I kept hoping that it was all a mistake. I didn’t want to think that Mom could ever … do that.”

  “I think that she’s probably not our mother anymore,” Aidan said, his voice soft. “I think our mother died in that fire like we always thought. If some part of her did get out, these people managed to eradicate it. If she’s doing these things, she’s not the mother who raised us.”

  “That doesn’t make it hurt any less.”

  “It doesn’t,” Aidan agreed. “I know it’s been harder for you than anyone. Well, you and Braden. He missed Mom as much as you did. That’s why he’s being such a pain now. No matter what happens, Ais, you need to be careful.

  “Odds are that we’ll run into a woman who has our mother’s face pretty soon,” he continued. “You can’t fall for it … you can’t fall for her … when it happens. She’s not our mother.”

  “Why do you think she wants me so badly?”

  “I don’t know,” Aidan replied. “Maybe she wants you because you’re a girl. Maybe she doesn’t really want you. Maybe the Grimponds want something from you. They were old school. They thought reaping families should always mix with other reaping families. Maybe they want you to marry Everett and pop out little hooked-nose weasels.”

  “Nice.”

  Aidan poked my side. “We won’t let them take you from us,” he said. “If they’re responsible for taking our mother, we’ll make them pay. They won’t get you. We know they’re out there.”

  “And we know they’re coming,” I added.

  “I can’t stay angry with you, so I’m letting it go,” Aidan said. “You still could’ve trusted me. You know that, right?”

  “It wasn’t about trust. It was about protecting you.”

  “I know,” Aidan said. “You’re a pain in the ass, but you’ve got a good heart. You would never purposely hurt us. We can’t keep secrets, though. Not now.”

  “I don’t have any secrets left to keep.”

  “Except the baby,” Jerry said, popping into the open doorway. “Oh, yay! You two made up.” He raced into the room and hopped on the bed, settling on my other side. “I’m so glad this ugliness is behind us. It was driving me crazy to be so mean to you, Bug.”

  “When were you mean to her?” Aidan challenged.

  “Well, I didn’t hug her when I wanted to,” Jerry sniffed. “She was clearly upset when you were attacking her. That seems pretty mean to me.”

  “I forgive you,” I said, leaning over so I could kiss Jerry’s cheek. “I knew you had to be loyal to Aidan. I understand. If you don’t stop pretending I’m pregnant, though, I’ll have to beat you.”

  “That definitely won’t be good for the baby,” Aidan said.

  “Don’t you start, too!”

  “I can’t take all of this fighting,” Jerry said. “It’s been hell on my complexion. Do you see the lines I’m getting right here?” He pointed to the corner of his mouth. “Fighting makes me frown. I can’t get frown lines. I’m too handsome for it.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” I said dryly.

  “I like the frown lines,” Aidan said. “They make you look distinguished.”

  “No one asked you,” Jerry shot back. “I don’t have frown lines, do I?”

  “Of course not,” I said. “Aidan is only teasing you.”

  “I told you I don’t have frown lines.” Jerry proceeded to make a series of exaggerated expressions, extending his jaw to almost inhuman proportions.

  “What are you doing?”

  “My facial exercises.”

  “Why?”

  “So I don’t get frown lines,” Jerry said. “Have you even been listening to me?”

  I couldn’t help but giggle. I’d missed our time together. Heck, I’d missed my time with Aidan. The three of us were still happily chatting the morning away when Griffin walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

  “Oh, good grief,” he muttered. “I’ve had nightmares about this exact scenario.”

  “Aidan and Aisling made up,” Jerry said.

  “I’m glad,” Griffin replied. “Now you two need to get out of here so I can get dressed and she can shower.”

  “Now there’s a man who’s going to regret his frown lines one day,” Jerry whispered.

  I pursed my lips to keep from laughing as Aidan and Jerry climbed off the bed.

  “You sure know how to put a damper on a morning,” Jerry chided as he walked past Griffin, pausing when he neared the door. “By the way, have you ever considered waxing?”

  “Out,” Griffin ordered, shoving Jerry out of the room, closing and locking the door behind him.

  When it was just the two of us, I couldn’t contain my smile.

  “Well, I’ve missed seeing that,” Griffin said. “Now you have only one brother left to browbeat into submission.”

  “I’m not sure he’ll ever forgive me.”

  “Oh, you underestimate your powers of persuasion,” Griffin countered. “If you can convince me to stay with you after watching you gossip in bed with two other men, you can do anything.”

  “I missed them.”

  “They missed you, too,” Griffin said. “Now move your cute little bottom into the shower. I have a feeling we have a long day ahead of us and I’m going to need a full breakfast if I have to put up with this family for another twenty-four hours.”

  “I think we’re growing on you.”

  Griffin’s face softened. “I think you’ve already grown on me. As for everyone else, you’re probably right.”

  “I’m always right. You should bow down and tell me I’m the master of your universe.”

  “Get in the shower!”

  “SORRY I’m late for breakfast, but I just got off the phone with Fox Grimpond,” Dad said a half hour later, making his usual grand entrance into the dining room and causing everybody’s heads to jerk in his direction.

  “What did he say?” I asked.

  “We didn’t talk about anything of substance yet,” Dad answered. “I asked him to come here for lunch so we could talk. I told him it was about a scheduling conflict. He sounded nervous.”

  “He agreed to come here? He either thinks he can fool you or he’s going to lie and throw someone else under the bus,” Griffin said.

  “I’m sure I can handle Fox,” Dad said. “I need to look him in the eye when I question him.”

  “Did you call in sick?” I asked Griffin.

  Griffin nodded. “Your dad and I already talked. You, Braden and I are going to follow Andrea today. Our job is to find out what she’s hiding and see whether she’ll lead us to your mother. Because I called in sick and we don’t have anything pressing, I’m hoping that means she’ll leave early, because she assumes she’ll be free to do whatever she wants.”

  “You, Braden and I?” I risked a glance at the opposite end of the table and found Braden’s murderous countenance fixed on me. “Are we sure that�
��s a good idea?”

  “You two are making up today if it kills me,” Dad said. “I heard you and Aidan made up this morning. That leaves Braden as the only holdout.”

  “I’m going to be the only holdout again tomorrow,” Braden snapped.

  “If you want, I can send you and Aisling to do this job alone, Braden,” Dad replied, nonplussed. “I’ll probably only get one child back, but at least the fighting will end.”

  “Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” Griffin interjected. “I need to see what Andrea is up to for myself and … well … I don’t trust Braden not to hurt Aisling.”

  “I would never hit her,” Braden countered. “What kind of sicko do you think I am?”

  “I didn’t mean that you would physically hurt her,” Griffin corrected. “She’s finally smiled twice in two days. She’s even laughed. I’m not going to let you go after her, so you can just push that thought right out of your head.”

  “I don’t want to go after her,” Braden said. “I don’t want to go anywhere with her, either. Why can’t I stay here and help Cillian with his research?”

  “Because I want you and Aisling to make up, and the only way you’re going to do it is if you’re forced to spend time together,” Dad said. “I’m sorry, Braden, but you’ve forced this situation on us. The gargoyle warned us that Aisling is in danger. Are you seriously going to tell me you want that to happen?”

  Braden opened his mouth and shut it, his mind clearly working as he decided what to say.

  Dad lifted a challenging eyebrow in his direction. “I don’t care how angry you are, son. I know darned well you wouldn’t purposely put your sister in danger. You need to suck it up. If you and Aisling can’t make up, then you need to put your differences aside until we figure this out. I’m not going to bend. That is what will happen today.”

  “Fine,” Braden muttered. “I’m not going to be nice to her, though.”

  “We’ll see,” Dad said, reaching for a slice of toast. “Who else wants to bet on whether Aisling and Braden make up today?”

  Five hands shot in the air, including one belonging to Griffin. Braden and I were the only ones not participating.