Stifled (Summoned Book 2)

by Rainy Kaye

  “You and Fahim. How did he get two?”

  “Lyle has all the books. He knows everything about jinn. More than we even know.”

  The books in the alcove in his library. Figures he wasn't just a collector.

  I say, “Look, you're bonded to the rings on his fingers. If you—”

  “No!” Kalila shields her face with her arms. “I don't want to hear about it.”

  My mouth drops. “Why the hell not? It would give you some leverage. Maybe you could use it, at least to make him listen to you. Somehow.”

  She lowers her arms. “Shadi says we should not know.”

  “Well, Shadi is scared of Fiona.”

  Kalila's shoulders stoop.

  “It's not Shadi's fault,” I add, putting away the fact I dislike the guy, even if he is a jinn. “We're all scared.”

  She peers up at me. “You fear Syd?”

  “Oh, yeah,” I say with a laugh, but it's surprisingly honest. “Not like you're thinking, though. Syd doesn't like the whole jinn thing.”

  Kalila's eyes widen. “She thinks we're demons too?”

  “No, no, not like that. She loves genies, just not that they. . .Wait, did you say demons?”

  Kalila nods.

  My thoughts drift back to the horror in the basement. The crosses on the wall. Protection from evil. Protection from demons.

  My throat goes dry. “Kalila, is this. . .Ian's house?”

  “Yes,” she whispers.

  “How is Ian connected to JiNet? There's more to it than him being just a member, right?”

  Kalila shifts uncomfortably. “He was a member.”

  She's dancing around everything Lyle has wished against her. I have to ask the right questions and she has to give me answers that won't trigger the genie bond.

  I had my own list of commandments to follow. I couldn't kill myself or my master. I couldn't tell anyone who I worked for or what I did. The commandments locked me into helplessness, wishes that never could be fulfilled, only broken. One slip up, and a lifetime of torment awaited.

  “Kalila, are you being sent after Ian because of what he did to Hasiba?”

  Her face falls. “No.”

  I halt, trying to put together what she is telling me. “Okay, does Lyle know what happened to Hasiba?”

  “Yes.” Her answer is sharp. “He always knew.”

  I swallow back the burning in my throat. “You mean JiNet knew what Ian was doing to her, and no one stopped him?”

  She nods once. Before I can reply, she turns back the way we came and exits outside. I have so many more questions for her, but she's already down the stairs and across the yard.

  “Kalila, come on,” I grumble as I hurry to catch up with her. I grab her arm. “You're always too fast.”

  She turns to face me.

  “I have to go.” She taps the center of her forehead with her finger and gives me a knowing look. Then she shrugs away and takes off into the woods.

  She's still under a wish. Still hunting Ian. I hope she catches the bastard. He should hope she does too, because if I find him first, he's going to regret everything he did to Hasiba. I don't know what happened in that basement, but my imagination and Kalila's tears are all the details I need.

  I tremble on the drive back to the hotel. Kalila wanted me to know about Hasiba, but I don't think she expects me to seek her revenge. She already has no choice but to kill him anyway since Lyle wished it. But why does Lyle want Ian dead? JiNet didn't care about Hasiba, so Lyle is pissed at him for another reason than the death of a jinn.

  Regardless of where Kalila stands on the issue, she wouldn't want me to interfere with Ian. Not while she's fulfilling a wish.

  She brought me to the basement for something else. I just don't understand why. Her answers had been so vague, yet somehow pointed. She knew if anyone could figure it out, it would be another genie. Lyle had silenced her, but she was still trying to be heard.

  She had paid attention to me in the forest.

  Did she just want me to know how JiNet really operates? That they turn a blind eye to the atrocities of their members? That Lyle is as much scum as I had deemed him to be?

  Shadi said Lyle's son is taking Kalila's bond soon, and he's even worse.

  A tide of nausea rolls over me.

  Lyle and Ian are two of a kind.

  Kalila isn't concerned about revenge. She is asking for me to help her before she winds up like Hasiba.

  ***

  As soon as I let myself into the hotel room, I grab our luggage off the floor and bed. “We gotta get back to Phoenix. All hell is breaking loose.”

  Syd takes one of the bags. Her eyes dart toward the open door then back at me. “What's going on?”

  “I'll tell you in the car.”

  We gather the rest of our things and head out to the parking lot. I open the trunk, toss in our bags, and go around to the driver seat. When Syd settles into the passenger seat, I pull out onto the street.

  “Lyle is letting masters get away with mistreating their jinn,” I say. “With killing them.”

  Syd covers her mouth. “Why would he do that?”

  “Probably because he doesn't want retaliation. Did you notice Kalila wasn't at any of the JiNet events? He probably tries not to draw attention to her. She's being abused.”

  “Aren't all genies?”

  “Worse,” I say. “Sicker.”

  Syd turns such an odd color I consider pulling over so she doesn't mess up the interior. Her hand goes to the door, and she rolls down the window. Night air sweeps in, cool and refreshing, but it doesn't do much for my queasiness either.

  She rests her head back on the seat and closes her eyes. “I have to tell Fiona. See if she can help us.”

  “Yeah, about that. Kalila and Shadi are star-crossed lovers.”

  Syd opens her eyes.

  “I'm wagering if they are around each other enough to be intimate, Lyle and Fiona are in cahoots.” I rub a hand over my face. “I guess all of JiNet is in on this.”

  Silence fills the car, almost as tangible as the wind swooping in through the window.

  The Walkers had established a powerful estate for themselves using only my family line. Lyle has at least two jinn of his own, and connections to several dozen others. Standing up to his little mafia is more than I bargained for. If I were smart, I would book two one-way tickets to Italy and never look back.

  Instead, I say, “You're gonna have to brush up on your acting skills, Syd.”

  She looks dumbfounded. “What are you talking about?”

  “I need you to call Fiona and tell her you want her advice. Ask to meet with her when she—”

  “But they caught you sneaking around. Fiona will know.”

  “Yes, exactly.” I put my hand on hers on top of the center console. “You didn't order it. I'm a naughty jinn.”

  Syd looks me up and down then says, “So, you want me to call Fiona and request to meet her back in Phoenix, then ask for her help because I can't control my jinn. I'm supposed to tell her you're wild and out of control.”

  “Yes.”

  “Where's the acting in that, Dim?”

  I grin. “Funny, Syd. But keep in mind they're really pissed, so you're going to have to sell it.”

  “What, exactly, are you planning to do?” She squints at me.

  I place my hand back on the steering wheel. “We're going to help Kalila.”

  ***

  More than eighteen hours later, we're back in Phoenix. Night has set, so we find a hotel and unload our luggage. It's a strange thought that the house in Naples is the closest home we have anymore. At least, one we dare to sleep in again. Syd doesn't seem interested in reclaiming her house, and I can't really blame her.

  So a hotel it is. I've caught and used my second wind, exhausted my supply of adrenaline, and now I'm pretty sure I'm pissing straight coffee. All that's left to do is sleep.

  Syd and I shower together, but we're too tired for it to be anything els
e. Just neither of us wanted to wait to clean up. Afterward, we stagger to the bed and don't even bother turning off the light. I'm asleep as soon as my eyes close.

  A while later, I return to consciousness. The main lights are off, but the bathroom light is on with the door ajar. Syd has settled herself against me, her head on my shoulder.

  In a pleasant daze, I turn to my side and wrap my arm around her. We're both naked. Her hand starts exploring the part of me that is alert.

  I pull her leg up over my hip, her pelvis tight against me, and find her lips with mine. But my head is groggy, and we both seem to resign to the fact we have a long day ahead of us.

  ***

  First thing in the morning, Syd calls Fiona and puts on a show of a distraught master. Apparently, it was convincing enough, because she hangs up the phone with a satisfied look.

  “She told me to meet her in an hour,” Syd says. “Now explain to me what you plan to do.”

  “Just keep Fiona busy and away from Shadi.” I grab my jacket and head for the door.

  Syd follows right after me me. The entire trip, her jaw is firm as she stares straight ahead. I suspect she's working out her lines, so I don't say anything.

  When we reach Fiona's, Syd hurries up the walk to the patio. I'm still lagging behind. Between the swollen ankle and bruised everything, I'm lucky I managed to dress myself.

  Fiona opens the door.

  She throws me a distasteful look, then turns back to Syd. “I really shouldn't have agreed to talk to you.”

  “I know, and I appreciate it.” Syd clamps her hands together, pleading. “I didn't know what else to do.”

  Fiona sighs, then steps back to invite us in. She glowers at me as I pass by her. I don't acknowledge her.

  We gather in the living room.

  She addresses Syd. “Lyle is furious about what happened, and so am I.”

  “I know. That's the problem.” Syd appears scared, desperate. So far, so good. She looks around. “Where is Shadi?”

  “In the lounge room,” Fiona says. “I know where my jinn is.”

  “Of course. That's why I came to you,” Syd says with admiration.

  Fiona crosses her arms. “How does one lose control over their, jinn, precisely?”

  “He just doesn't listen.” Syd gives me an exasperated look. It's pretty convincing. Almost like she means it.

  Now wait a second. . .

  I make like an aloof teenager. If I had acted like this around my father, he would have beaten me within an inch of my life.

  “I don't know how to make him behave,” Syd says.

  Fiona's mouth twitches. “Three little words.”

  “Yeah, that's the whole problem. The thing is. . .” Syd chews her lip, shrinking in her spot. “Can we step outside to talk? Please?”

  Fiona's expression falls to disgust. She throws her hands in the air. “Fine!”

  With another stabbing glance at me, she turns on her heels and storms toward the back door. Syd scurries after her.

  As they disappear outside, I catch Fiona saying, “This is the first problem. You should be able to say anything in front of your jinn. They are to respect you. You have to—”

  I roll my eyes and head to the lounge. I find Shadi sprawled out on a chaise, laptop on his stomach while watching TV.

  He jumps so fast the laptop thuds to the floor and the lid closes. “Dimitri, holy shit!”

  “Yeah, hello, pal.” I stalk toward him.

  He looks around, as if expecting someone to follow me in.

  “Fiona is busy for the moment.” I halt a foot from him and straighten to match his height. “I need you to get me into Lyle's house.”

  Shadi meets my gaze. “How the hell would you expect me to do that?”

  “If you know Kalila that well, then you must know Fahim, right?”

  “Yeah, of course, but we can't just let you into Lyle's house. Not worth the consequence.”

  “You sure?”

  Shadi hesitates.

  “Get me into Lyle's house, and I'll find your vase.”

  That grabs his attention. “So you do know where it went?”

  His tone is accusatory.

  “Nope, but I'm willing to give it some effort if you can convince Fahim to be a helpful little Boy Scout. Fiona made the wish yet?”

  Shadi averts his gaze. “Yeah.”

  He twitches his head, a subtle reference to the madness rolling around in his brain.

  “And you're just sitting here catching up on Jersey Shore?”

  “I was browsing eBay and vintage dealer websites, see if I could find it for sale somewhere.” He frowns. “I don't know who would've taken it, Dimitri.”

  “Me either.” I turn for the door. “But call Syd when you can get me into Lyle's house, and I'll figure it out.”

  ***

  Syd groans and leans back the passenger seat as we return to the hotel. “That was the most embarrassing thing I've ever done. Hi, I'm Sydney Ballantyne, and I'm the most incompetent jinn master on the planet.”

  “You did a great job,” I say, and I mean it.

  “Yeah, thanks,” she says without enthusiasm. She tilts the seat upright again. “You know what Fiona suggested? She suggested I should get a dog. A dog, Dim! You know why? So I can take it to obedience class to learn how to be the alpha.”

  I laugh, because the other option is to be horrified. “Hey, you can only be the alpha on Friday nights, and as long as there's a safe word.”

  “Oh, my God! I hate her face so much right now.” Syd groans again. “So how did it go with Shadi?”

  “Told him to get me into Lyle's house,” I say with a shrug. “Guess we just wait and see if he goes through with it. I'll give him a day to decide. Keep your phone handy.”

  “What if he doesn't? Do we just give up?”

  “Oh, come on, Syd, has anything ever let us off that easily?”

  She shakes her head and focuses her gaze out the windshield. “I can't believe how much dirt this trip has turned up.”

  “Yeah, that tends to happen around genies,” I say. “Two thousand year old dirt.”

  Syd starts to reply. Music blares from nowhere.

  She jumps, then pulls her purse from the floorboard and paws around in it. Her phone is ringing. She pulls it out and answers.

  I take a deep breath and tune into the conversation. If that's Shadi, then it's go time. My heartbeat quickens with excited anticipation of taking a crowbar to Lyle's knees.

  “Uh, hold one one second, please,” Syd says, and her voice is. . .unnerved.

  I glance at her. She pulls the phone from her ear and mouths something at me. I scowl because I have no idea what she said.

  She presses the speakerphone button and holds up the phone. “Hi Ian, thanks for waiting.”

  My heart stalls.

  “I'm driving, so I have to use speaker phone.” She makes a shushing motion at me. “How did you get my number?”

  “The jinn world is small, Sydney,” Ian says through the speaker, sounding oddly normal for someone who let a jinn die in his basement. “I have my own connections, and I kinda owe you after your jinn saved me that day. So here's a heads up. Lyle is planning retaliation for that whole divan meeting episode. Bad move, by the way.”

  “Yeah, I've heard all about it,” Syd says, irritated. “What is Lyle planning?”

  Ian is quiet, then he says, “I really don't feel comfortable talking about this on the phone. You wouldn't sleep at night if you knew just how far the JiNet empire stretches. All the way up to the feds.”

  “Yeah, doesn't surprise me,” she says, “I guess you're wanting to meet?”

  I glance at Syd, alarmed. She shrugs and puts up her finger to remind me to be quiet.

  “In person would be for the best,” Ian says. “You're back in Phoenix now, right?”

  The fact he knows where we are does not please me.

  “Yeah, Phoenix for the moment,” Syd says. She plays along so well. Then again, I'
m not sure if we're really playing anymore.

  “I'm in Mexico, about three hours past the border. I'll text you the address, then you let me know if you're coming, alright?”

  “Yeah, I can probably swing that,” Syd says, then adds with sincerity, “Thanks, Ian.”

  “Just make sure to get back to me soon, either way. I'm getting ready to hit the road again.”

  “Send over the address, and I'll let you know tonight. Bye.” Syd hangs up and lets out a breath. “Dim, we should have known Lyle wasn't going to let it go.”

  “Of course he wouldn't, but I'm a little unhappy Ian is now on our side. I feel dirty.”

  “I don't think there are sides, Dim. I think everyone is just out for their share of the JiNet two thousand year old pie.”

  “That's a pretty weird analogy.”

  Her phone chimes.

  She checks the messages. “Are we going to Mexico? Or should I use the family-in-Europe-needs-me excuse?”

  “As much as I hate Ian, we probably should find out what he knows about Lyle's plans,” I say. “Besides, I wouldn't mind gift wrapping Ian and delivering him to Kalila.”

  Syd smirks. “I'll get a big red bow, then.”

  ***

  Ian Cook is hiding out near Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. We swing by the store to pick up a few things for the road and fill up the gas tank, switch places, and head for the border. Following the GPS, the trip takes over two and half hours cruising down I-10 and then connecting with the 19, scrub brush desert on either side.

  Syd's hand slides across my thigh and homes in on the gems. I glance at her, fighting back a grin, and try to focus on the road. Her fingers crawl up to the button on my jeans and start finagling with it. I probably should brush her away—I'm cruising at 75 mph down the highway—but the house is divided and logic is losing its standing.

  She manages to undo the button. I check the rear view mirror to verify the road is empty, then pull over to the shoulder. I grab Syd's head with both hands and kiss her deep, my body straining against the seat belt and other parts straining against other constraints. One of my hands unbuckles the seat belt then goes to her shoulder as I push her against her seat. I'm practically crawling over the center console, and two seconds from pulling her into the backseat.

  Her hands are all over my back, my hair. When she starts making little half-gasp, half-moaning noises, it's on.