Chasing Silver

by Jamie Craig

  Nathan didn’t know why he had been compelled to defend her, and her ridiculous claims, to Isaac. Except…he believed her and her ridiculous claims.

  “Some would say interesting. I’m sure others would say foolish.” Nathan paused. How could he explain that more than he wanted to trust her, he wanted to trust himself? He wanted to have faith in his own feelings, in what his senses and his gut told him.

  “Well, not me.”

  Her pacing wasn’t even, stopping and starting as she dug her toes into the sand or kicked away a shell from her path. Still, Nathan matched her strides, content at the moment to watch.

  “What did you think of the Silver Maiden story?”

  Nathan shrugged. “It was intriguing. I suppose I expected the punch line to be something about disappearing in a big flashing light, only to show up, I don’t know, a hundred years in the future. What did you think of it?”

  Stopping as a wave rolled onto the sand, Remy curled her feet into the surf as she contemplated his question. “It hit a little too close to home,” she confessed.

  He frowned, comparing the details of the story to what he knew of her life. “The overall theme of the work?”

  Her affirmation would have been lost if it wasn’t for the shallow dip of her head. When she began walking again, Nathan resumed his place at her side.

  “You know the last thing I remember thinking before showing up in the warehouse here?” Her head was high, eyes soft with memory. “That it could be over. All the running. All the hiding. That I could find the one place I could call home. Funny, huh, thinking about what the Silver Maiden wanted?”

  “Not so funny. I mean, isn’t that what everybody wants at some point? I suppose maybe it’s that basic desire that…makes it work, somehow. What’s funny is, why a warehouse in Culver City? Because when I think of home, I tend to think of someplace not quite so disgusting.”

  “I don’t know. I’ve been trying to figure that out ever since I realized what had happened to me.” Her gaze drifted toward the ocean again. “I’ve never even been to California before. How could I wish for someplace I’ve never seen?”

  Nathan bent to pick up a small shell. He rolled it through his fingers, watching the dying light catch the subtle pinks and greens. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Remy studying the seashell with curiosity.

  “I don’t know what it’s like seventy-five years from now, but doesn’t everybody secretly want to live in California?” Nathan asked, pressing the shell into her hand. “What’s not to love? I mean, besides the rampant crime, pollution, earthquakes, mudslides and wildfires?”

  Her mouth curved into a half smile as she traced the shell’s delicate lines. “Don’t forget the shoot-outs and attempted kidnappings. Those make a girl feel welcome.”

  Nathan returned her smile. “At least you missed the grenades.” He nodded toward a distant outcropping of rocks. It was a bit difficult to see against the setting sun, but there were a handful of sea lions catching the last rays of sunshine. “But it’s not all bad, right?”

  He looked down, catching her fingers with his.

  She wasn’t looking at the sea lions in the distance. Instead, her luminous eyes were upturned toward his. The moment their fingers made contact, her grip tightened, her skin sticky from the sweets she’d consumed on the pier. “No. It’s not all bad.”

  They had only walked a few more feet before she tugged him to another halt. Without letting go, she positioned herself to stand directly in front of him, blocking him from going any farther. “Do you think you’re foolish for believing me?”

  “I don’t think I can spend the rest of my life doubting everybody, everything,” Nathan said, unable to meet her eyes. When Isaac had relented, it felt like he had been validated, and with that, came a sense of relief. They couldn’t both be wrong again, could they? “I don’t think I’m foolish, and I hope I’m not making another mistake.”

  “You’re not. I promise you.”

  Gently, Nathan stepped around Remy, tugging at her hand to begin walking again. “Judging from the story and what you told me, I think the Silver Maiden might be a one-way pass.” His feet slipped in the wet sand as the water crept higher up the beach. “Though Kirsten might have the second coin. That’s probably how she followed you. Which means she must think there’s a way to get back.”

  “But I don’t want to go back.”

  “I didn’t mean to suggest you would.”

  “But you said…” Her voice trailed off, and he glanced out of the corner of his eye to see her shaking her head. “Never mind. I’ve been thinking too much today. I guess I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

  “No, I was just thinking about the nature of the coins. She needs the one in your possession to get back. We might be able to use that.” Nathan noted her shoulders were still tense, and despite her dismissive words, he thought she was upset. “Why? What did you think I meant?”

  It took a long time for the answer to come. “That this was the nice-guy way for you to say you were done with me, which, you know, would be understandable.” She turned her head away from him, but what captured her attention, he had no idea. “I mean, no harm, no foul, right?”

  “After I spent the entire morning trying to convince Isaac you weren’t crazy?” When she didn’t respond to his light question, he pulled her around to face him. “What have you been thinking too much about today?”

  The solemnity in her eyes was unsettling. He was accustomed to seeing her playful or aroused or even angry. He wasn’t sure what to make of this.

  “You,” Remy admitted. “Freedom. Why it is a wish for someplace safe, someplace just for me, would land me in a dingy warehouse practically at your feet.” Her lashes lowered. When she spoke again, her voice was so low, her words so rushed, he had to strain to hear her. “And maybe the Silver Maiden knew what she was doing when she brought me here.”

  Nathan thought he knew what she meant, but he couldn’t ask her directly. Couldn’t say the words himself. So, he settled on the simple question. “Why?”

  Her head snapped back up again, and this time, the light in her face burned with unexpected fervor. “Because I don’t do this. I don’t meet strangers and hand my life over to them with a big red bow and say, ‘Here. Do whatever you want. I trust you not to fuck me up.’ And yet, there you are. I look at you, and I think, everything is okay because I’m with you. That the world makes sense. That I make sense. I think there’s no place else I want to be.” She twisted her hand away and took a step back. “Do you know how scary that is?”

  Nathan knew how scared he was at that moment. He could accept her showing up in the middle of the warehouse, injured, with no explanation. He could accept the fact he wanted her from the minute he first touched her. He could accept the fact she was from the year 2084 and grew up in a street gang in Washington fucking D.C. But he didn’t know what to do with this.

  “Me. You think she sent you to me? But, Remy, I’m not those things. I’m not safe. You’ve nearly been kidnapped and murdered because of me, because of my life. I’m not…” She was moving away from him, and he knew she had misunderstood. He wasn’t trying to push her away, but he thought she needed to understand. “I’m not anything.”

  Everything about her blazed. “Guess what, Nate? People were trying to kill or hurt me long before you came into the picture. The only difference now is that I feel like it’s okay if I well and truly fight back. So don’t tell me you’re nothing.” She turned and began marching back up to the pier.

  But why me? he wanted to shout after her. Goddammit, why me? If the Silver Maiden had the power to send her into the past and across the country, it had the power to send her anywhere in the world at any time. There were far, far better men than him. Better women, too. Better choices all around. Hell, why not drop her off at Isaac’s feet? Isaac would have warmed to her eventually, and taken care of her.

  But he wouldn’t have loved her.

  “Remy, wait,” he c
alled, hurrying to catch up, but she didn’t pause or acknowledge him. “Remy.” Nathan caught her elbow and pulled her against him. Her eyes were flashing when she looked up at him, but she didn’t resist when he lowered his mouth to hers.

  Her palms flattened against his chest, ready to push him away at a moment’s notice. But the pressure of his lips to hers, the heat exchanged in spite of the cooling night air, melted Remy’s body to Nathan’s, and he forgot everything but the familiar dance of her kiss, coiling the fingers of his free hand in the thick tresses of her hair.

  “You’re not nothing,” she breathed when he tore away. “Not to me.”

  Nathan pressed his lips against her forehead. “Well, if some mystical coin forged centuries ago with tears and blood says we’re meant to be, who am I to disagree?”

  Her laughter chased off even more of his confusion. “Oh, sure. Make me sound more cracked than I already do.”

  He shared her smile. “That’s an impressive feat.” Nathan kissed her again, playfully biting at her bottom lip. When she pulled her mouth away from his, he nipped his way down her neck, tasting the moisture and salt from the ocean on her skin. She laughingly fought off his attack, twisting out of his arms.

  Nathan caught her again, now sliding his lips along her skin to ease away the light scrapes from his teeth. “But regardless of the crazy reason, I’m happy you’re here.”

  Remy sighed, softening in his embrace. “Me, too.”

  Neither noticed the sun slipping below the horizon as they found each other’s mouth again.

  * * *

  Gabriel gestured for another drink, leaning across the bar to watch the waitress as she sauntered over. She smiled, her eyes twinkling as she set another round in front of them. “Thanks, sweetheart.”

  “No problem.”

  “She sure is easy on the eyes,” Gabriel commented, his gaze still trained on her as she walked away.

  “Yeah, real easy,” Tian murmured.

  Gabriel lifted his beer. “What’s wrong with you? Do you have money on the Angels game or something?”

  “Look, I thought we were here to talk about business,” Tian said, squeezing the lemon into his drink.

  Gabriel rolled his eyes. It had been nothing but business since he arrived in Los Angeles. Sometimes, he just wanted to go to a bar and have a beer. “We have plenty of time to talk about business.”

  “No.” At Gabriel’s raised eyebrow, Tian glanced away. “Look, we don’t have a lot of time. That’s the point.”

  Gabriel took a long swallow, regarding Tian’s pinched face. He was a smart young man, and Gabriel liked doing business with him, but he was so uptight. The men at the end of the bar moaned, a long, tortured sound.

  “Well, I hope you didn’t have money on the Yankees.”

  “No,” Tian said tightly. “I don’t have any money on the goddamned Yankees.”

  Gabriel rolled a pretzel through his fingers. He could string Tian along for hours if he wanted to. Days, even. Tian would hate it, resent Gabriel, and not make a secret of it, but he’d go along with the game. And that was the interesting part. Tian didn’t play well with others. He was accustomed to being the head dog, and that’s how he liked it. So why was he rolling over now? And how could Gabriel stop himself from kicking the other man’s exposed stomach?

  He popped the pretzel in his mouth and chased it with a gulp of beer. “Okay, why don’t you tell me what we’re doing here?”

  Tian straightened, clearly relieved to be getting to business. “There’s this bounty hunter, been on my tail ever since I jumped bail. He’s good. And he’s persistent. When he was just playing with me, you know, I didn’t mind. But the other night, he killed a few of my boys. That shit ain’t right.”

  Gabriel shrugged. “I’m sure they were great guys, but I’m not sure why I should care.”

  Tian’s eyes flashed, a hint of his infamous temper rising to the surface again. Gabriel thought it was rather remarkable he was able to keep his true face so well hidden. Beneath the intelligent mask he wore, a dark asp lurked.

  “Because I’m paying you to care,” Tian answered with measured calmness.

  “My concern comes at a heavy price. What makes you think you can buy it?”

  “You will care,” Tian countered. “You’ll care a lot when Nathan Pierce is coming after you. He’s not just some guy, Gabriel. He’s powerful. He’s got a lot of friends in important places.”

  Gabriel cocked his eyebrow. “He’s a bounty hunter. I don’t have a bounty on my head.”

  “He hasn’t always been a bounty hunter.” Tian leaned forward. “Look, you’ve got big plans here in L.A. I know you’re not just here for the grenades. He’s on the streets. All the time. I might kill him, but if he gets me first, it’ll just be a matter of time before he starts coming after you.”

  “You make him sound like the boogeyman,” Gabriel said with an easy smile.

  “No, he’s a guy who doesn’t give a fuck. About anything.”

  With a shake of his head, Gabriel slid his gaze away from Tian and back to the television in the corner, only to stop midway when he saw Salvador weaving his way through the crowd. He frowned. Sal wasn’t supposed to be here. He had left him back at the house to keep an eye on things there. What was he doing disobeying orders?

  It wasn’t until Sal was almost abreast that Gabriel realized the tall blonde behind him wasn’t just another pretty face in the crowd. She was obviously with Sal, and stood silently off to the side. There was an icy beauty to her fine features, but whatever attraction she might have held for his minion was lost on Gabriel. Too skinny and too cold. He liked women who didn’t require added electric blankets to warm his bed.

  Tian glanced at Sal and the strange woman without interest, turning back to his drink with a sigh. Gabriel ignored him, standing to greet their new guests.

  “Salvador, I don’t remember inviting you to join us.” He pushed the other man aside, extending his hand to Kirsten. “But you’re welcome to join me anytime.”

  The strength in her grip surprised him. “That’s good to hear. Your father said I’d find you more than accommodating.”

  Gabriel offered her his seat, much to Tian’s barely disguised annoyance. “My father? I’m sure old Pedro would have mentioned somebody like you before.”

  “We’ve never met.” A calculated gleam appeared in her pale blue eyes. “But our families have been friends for many years. My name’s Kirsten.”

  Gabriel frowned, feeling very much at a disadvantage. “Kirsten.” He nodded toward the glaring young man. “This is Tian. We were just having a chat.” Tian snorted. “But I’m sure he doesn’t mind taking a break.”

  Her disinterested gaze flickered to Tian, but returned to probe Gabriel’s. “Your father said you could help me. I’m looking for a young woman who’s in town, but I don’t know the city and I can’t go to the police. She’s already gathering supporters, including a cop and his ex-partner, so I have to find her and this Pierce guy she’s hiding with before she’s untouchable.”

  Tian turned, his hand hitting the half-empty glass and sending it flying. Beer splattered across the bar and Kirsten’s face. Gabriel’s eyes widened, but Tian seemed oblivious to the danger he was in.

  “Pierce. This woman you’re looking for is with Nathan Pierce?”

  She took the napkin Gabriel offered and dried off her cheeks. Her earlier aloofness had become brittle, something viperous lurking in her gaze. “You know him?”

  To Tian’s credit, he didn’t wince or look away from the poison in Kirsten’s eyes. “Yeah, I know him. I know the little girl you’re looking for, too. Unless he’s running with more than one these days.”

  She moved like liquid fire, slender fingers wrapping around the back of Tian’s neck to slam his face into the bar. Though Tian squirmed, the wiry tendons in the back of her hand testified to how strong her grip was.

  “I already shot one of his friends for trying to get in my way. I won’t hesitate to
shoot you, too.”

  “Suck my dick,” Tian muttered, his free hand connecting with her stomach. Kirsten looked comically surprised, and she edged back, giving Tian enough room to break free.

  Gabriel moved between them, a soothing smile on his face. “Kirsten, I’m sure Tian will be more than happy to help with whatever you need.” He stepped back, smashing Tian’s foot. “Isn’t that right?”

  Tian grunted.

  Her voice went as cold as her beauty. “I need Remy Capra picked up before it’s too late. She’s dangerous and volatile, and if we’re not careful, we’ll lose the Silver Maiden before we even have a shot at getting it. That’s unacceptable.”

  Gabriel forgot about Tian, his attention focused on Kirsten. “The Silver Maiden? It’s here? How? I would have…” He realized she wasn’t going to answer his questions. Her eyes were flinty. “Who are you?”

  “I told you. A friend of the family. Now are you going to help me or not?”

  Gabriel smiled. “Of course.” It was a truly win-win situation. Tian would be mollified, and the Silver Maiden would be his. He didn’t expect Kirsten to give it up without a fight, but then, he didn’t expect Kirsten to have much fight left in her when he was finished. “But let’s not discuss this here.” He looked around. “It’s getting far too crowded for my taste.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  She kept glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. Though he never said a word, every once in a while a bemused smile would soften Nathan’s face, his hand stealing across the distance between them to stroke the back of hers. Remy refrained from asking what he was thinking. She had enough going through her head not to add the confusion of his to it.

  He held her hand all the way to his apartment, fingers laced as he unlocked the door. It shouldn’t have felt as normal as it did to watch him toss his keys onto a small table, but it did. Like she’d seen it a thousand times before. Maybe that was why Remy pulled away.