by Faith Gibson
“You remembered something, didn’t you?” Nik kissed her nose and pushed her to her feet. He stood and grabbed hold of her biceps. He needed to touch her constantly. That was something he’d have to work on. Or not.
“I did. When I was sixteen, I confronted my mother about moving to New Atlanta with JoJo. She was looking at a map of Egypt. I didn’t think too much about it at the time, but she had certain areas circled.”
“And you think these areas have to do with where your parents are now?”
“I think if they don’t, it’s a pretty big coincidence, and I don’t believe in coincidences.”
“Neither do I. Let’s go look at a map.” He held the door open for his mate and asked Julian to pull up the map that corresponded to the area Xenia had referred to.
Sophia studied the map while Nik explained what was going on.
“Why would Monica have been studying a map of Egypt? Tessa asked.
“Because, before she met Samuel, she was an archaeologist,” Zeke replied.
Sophia stopped looking at the map. “How did I not know that?”
Zeke sighed. “This isn’t my story to tell. When we find your parents, you need to ask them how they met.”
Sophia stared at Zeke, but she was looking through him. Nik had a feeling when she found out what it was her uncle wouldn’t tell her, it wasn’t going to be pretty. “Sophia, the map?” He redirected her thoughts.
“Julian, is there possibly an older map? The one my mother was looking at wasn’t as modernized.”
“Let me see what I can find.” Julian tapped away and within a couple of minutes asked, “You mean like this one?”
Sophia stepped behind his chair and exclaimed, “That’s it! That’s exactly what my mother was looking at. She had this area here, and this one here, circled,” she said pointing at the screen.
Julian circled the areas on the map and saved it. “I’m emailing this to Xenia to see if it matches her father’s documentations.”
Nik didn’t like the sound of the area they were discussing being overrun with rebels. He knew there was no way Sophia would stay behind when it came time to search. “If that is the area we conclude your parents are being kept, I want to do a little recon before we all go traipsing over the sand and get shot at.”
“I totally agree. While you males can fend for yourselves, Tessa and I aren’t equipped with that thick skin. Personally, I don’t want to get shot. Being thrown in prison was bad enough,” Sophia said.
Tessa nodded and said, “I like a good adventure as much as the next girl, but Sophia’s right. We need to know what we’re dealing with. We need to play this one by the book, so to speak. We can’t go in fangs out, claws bared. We need to get our hands on some guns.”
Gregor pulled Tessa to him and wrapped his arms around her. Nik knew what his cousin was feeling. The need to protect his mate was so strong. Gregor said, “I hate to ask this since he’s already in debt to his father, but could Keene get the guns from Brock?”
Julian stood from his chair and stretched. “Instead of Keene owing his father, why don’t we just purchase the weapons? It’s not like we don’t have the money.”
Nik agreed with his baby brother. “If it comes down to needing guns. The rebels might have moved on. We won’t know until we scout the area.”
“Zeke, what do you say about a little recon mission?” Julian asked. “I don’t think Gregor and Nik will leave their females in our capable hands.”
Nik laughed at his brother, but he was right. He loved Julian, and Zeke was Sophia’s uncle, but there was no way he would trust her safety to anyone else right now.
“I say let’s get ready.”
While the two males were preparing for their trip, Xenia called and confirmed the circled areas on the map were indeed notated in her father’s documents. “There’s something else. I didn’t think about it until now, but when my parents were killed, I was given access to a safety deposit box. The only item in the box was a slip of paper. On the paper were all sorts of numbers. Some looked like coordinates, but others were only random numbers.”
“Did you ever look up the coordinates?” Nik asked.
“I did. They led to a location in the States. I was so distraught when I lost my father, I didn’t pursue the information.”
“Do you think those numbers are somehow connected to the location on the map?” Sophia asked.
“No, I don’t think so, but I thought I’d mention them anyway.”
“Why don’t you send us the numbers, and we’ll see what we come up with on our end,” Tessa suggested. “We have some pretty powerful computer programs at our disposal.”
“Is there any way to encrypt a photo? I don’t want this getting into the wrong hands if it turns out to be something major.”
Julian walked into the room and took over. “Xenia, this is Julian. I am going to email a program to you. Open it and install it on your laptop. When it’s loaded, you will be able to send the photo to us.”
Nik was the keeper of the archives for the Clan. It didn’t take a genius to add names to a list. Julian was a different story. Nik was continually amazed at how intelligent his brother was. He had seen firsthand some of the things Julian had created, but to see him in action outside of the lab was always a joy to watch.
Julian and Zeke were ready to go. The Stone Society jet was fueled and waiting for them at the airport. The flight to Luxor would get them close to where they needed to start. Julian and Zeke would scout the area and return as soon as possible. When Julian suggested he go ahead and search for Sam and Monica, Sophia emphatically said no. She needed to help search. Nik agreed, however reluctantly.
After the two men were on their way to the airport, the others opened up the email Xenia sent and studied the coordinates. There were several sets of numbers included. Sophia plugged the coordinates in the system while the others began deciphering the random digits.
“Holy shit. Holy fricking shit!” Sophia exclaimed.
Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and came to her computer. “These coordinates? They’re to my parents’ place in New York. Why would Xenia’s father have those in a safety deposit box?”
“Maybe he wanted her to find her biological family in the event something happened to him,” Gregor offered.
“But why Dad? Why not JoJo or Caroline?”
“Well, your grandparents did give her up for adoption. And besides, Jonas is a little far out there sometimes,” Tessa added.
“I thought the purpose of separating the siblings was for safety. Only Dad and Zeke knew about the others until you and I came along. I think there’s more to it than that.”
Nik kissed his mate on top of the head. “Don’t worry about that now. Let’s concentrate on these other numbers.”
By the time Julian and Zeke had landed and checked into a hotel, Nik and the others were no closer to deciphering the numbers. They were tired of staring at a computer screen, so they decided to break for supper. “Do you think it’s safe to go to a restaurant? I need to get out of here for a while.” Sophia asked.
Nik couldn’t imagine being stuck in a hole for weeks on end. Even though the villa was large, she still had to feel a little claustrophobic. “I think we can manage that. Between Gregor and I, nothing will happen to you.”
The two couples showered and changed into more appropriate attire and headed downtown. They found a rooftop bistro where they could take in the crisp, fresh air while they ate. Nik kept an eye on Sophia’s mood and heart rate. She was relaxed as she and Tessa swapped stories of being trained by Jonas. He and Gregor remained alert to their surroundings so the women could enjoy their evening out.
Once they finished their dessert, Nik stood and held his hand out to his mate. “May I have this dance?” Soft music floated across the air. Sophia grinned and placed her hand in his. He pulled her close and nuzzled her ear. “How many kids do you want?” he whispered.
“Fifteen,” she replied witho
ut hesitation.
Nik pulled back and studied her face. When she laughed, he relaxed and pulled her close again. “I already owe you one spanking, woman. I do believe that calls for another.”
Sophia continued to giggle. It was a sound he would never tire of hearing. “What is the first one for?”
“For running off to Egypt without me. For not telling me we’re mates. For making me wait so long to sink my cock into your sweet…”
“Ahem,” Tessa cleared her throat, smiling. “We can hear you.”
Nik grinned and spun Sophia around, causing her to laugh louder. Gregor and Tessa joined them, and the two couples danced until the moon called to his spirit. He knew Gregor also felt it when his cousin closed his eyes and raised his face to the sky. Nikolas could not wait to get back to the States where he could spread his wings and soar.
Once back at the villa, the women went inside while Nik and Gregor lingered on the porch. Gregor clapped him on the shoulder and asked, “How is she?”
“Surprisingly, she’s good. We talked at length about her ordeal last night, and she seems to be handling it really well. She’s a tough one.”
“It must run in their blood. Tessa’s the same way. She almost died, and now she doesn’t even mention it. The only thing that bothers her is she misses Tamian. She thought she saw him in Greece, and I almost wish she had. She pretends she’s okay, but I can see the longing in her face when she glances at their picture.”
“I can understand that. When we first came to the States and Jules and I lived apart, it was like part of my soul was missing.”
Gregor nodded. “Same with me and Dante. Even though we’ve found our mates, we still talk to each other every day. I can’t imagine if he up and moved with no contact whatsoever. Hopefully, Tamian will come back around. Tessa needs her brother.”
Nik was ready to get inside to his mate, but first he placed his hands on Gregor’s shoulders. “I wanted to thank you for being here. It means a lot to me.”
Gregor placed his hand on one of Nik’s and bowed his head, “Always, Brother.”
Once inside, they went to their separate ends of the house. The women had already turned out the lights and gone to bed. Nik was ready to give his mate that spanking.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nik hung up from speaking with Julian. He and Zeke found the area Xenia sent them to. Rebels were still in the area, but it wasn’t as heavily inhabited as it had been in times past. He suggested they contact Brock Tyson and purchase weapons. The Stone Society wasn’t in the habit of doing business with arms dealers, but this was for their protection as well as keeping their true nature under wraps. It wouldn’t do for the world to find out about the Gargoyles. Having Unholy running around was bad enough.
He returned to the bedroom where his beautiful bunny was sprawled out over the king-size bed, taking her half in the middle. The shredded bedding was a glorious reminder of the way his mate reacted to him the night before. She admitted she had occasionally watched porn to learn what to do once they were finally together. To have been a virgin, Sophia was a quick learner. Nik was normally the aggressor in the bedroom, but with Sophia, he was enjoying lying back and watching his mate work him over. She had enjoyed receiving her spanking, but she hadn’t hesitated in giving Nik a taste of his own medicine. At one point, his wings came out because she had him turned on so much. If they continued ruining the linens, he probably wouldn’t get his security deposit back. Then again, he would buy stock in cotton if it meant they always had such an exciting sex life.
He hated to wake her up, but they had a rescue to plan. Julian wasn’t able to get close enough to the hidden entrance to do any real recon, but the rebels were guarding something. The bed dipped down as he sat next to Sophia. He ran his hand along her spine until it reached her panties. One more day, she assured him. Her periods only lasted three days at the most since she became a half-blood. He was ready for it to be over. As much as making love to her soothed his soul and fucking like rabbits soothed his beast, he couldn’t wait to feast on her beautiful pussy. Speaking of rabbits, he remembered the gift he bought his first day there. He rose from the bed and opened the top dresser drawer.
“Soph, Baby, wake up.” She rolled over onto her back, exposing her smooth, pale skin and her perky breasts. Nik adjusted his inflating cock and moved his eyes to her face. “I got you something.”
She pushed her crazy bed hair out of her face and propped up on her elbows. “When did you go shopping?”
“When I first arrived, before I ran into Beatrice. I saw this in a shop, and it reminded me of you.”
He placed the trinket in her hand. “It’s not as cute as a bunny, but I thought it was pretty. Like you. Happy birthday, Baby.”
Sophia’s eyes misted as she stared at the figurine in her hand. “How did you know?”
“I have my ways,” he said with a grin.
“Julian,” Sophia said before she sat up and scooted into Nik’s lap. “I don’t care how you did it, I’ll treasure it forever.” Nik leaned in for a kiss, and she turned her cheek to him. “Ugh, let me brush my teeth.”
“Nope. You’re my woman, my mate. I don’t care if you have morning breath, coffee breath, or cum breath. I’ll always want to kiss you.” He pushed her backwards onto the bed, took her gift from her hand, and placed it on the nightstand. He slid his tongue into her mouth and gave her a proper good morning-birthday kiss.
“We’ll celebrate your birthday the right way when we get home. For now, we have work to do.”
After kissing her again, Nik left his mate to shower and dress while he whipped up a quick breakfast for everyone. When he heard the shower turn off, he waited four minutes before pouring a cup of coffee precisely the way Sophia liked it. As he was putting the milk back in the fridge, she padded into the kitchen. “Here you go,” he said as he handed her coffee to her. Sophia’s eyes lit up like he’d given her another present.
“Happy birthday, Sophia,” Tessa said as she and Gregor entered the room.
“Yes, happy birthday. Hopefully, we can give you a good present and get your parents back soon,” Gregor added.
“Thank you. That would be a great present. When are Julian and Zeke getting back?”
Nik put everyone’s plates on the table and said, “In a couple of hours. They were getting ready to board the jet when I talked to him.” Nik relayed Julian’s phone call, and he and Gregor talked about contacting Keene. The Gargoyles were used to their own appendages keeping them safe. In the past, they used swords against other Gargoyles, and in light of Alistair causing trouble for the Clan, they had recently taken up training again. Nik hadn’t wielded a sword in a very long time, but he preferred it to an automatic weapon. He was old fashioned that way.
By the time Julian and Zeke returned, Nik had reached out to Keene who in turn contacted his father. Nik made it clear there was to be no favor owed by Keene, this was all on him. For the right amount of money, Brock agreed. He didn’t ask questions about why they needed the weapons. Nik wouldn’t have told him anyway. The fewer people who knew what they were up to, the better.
They spent the rest of the day going over maps and gathering supplies they would need for the trip. Each one would take a backpack with a flashlight, flares, a change of clothing, food, water, medical supplies, and a bedroll in case they needed to sleep. While the men were gathering supplies and retrieving the weapons, Sophia and Tessa put the food items together before cooking supper.
While they ate, Julian explained about the small town right outside Luxor where they would begin their journey. He had already rented a small house so they would have somewhere to convene should they get separated. They debated whether to go in during the daylight hours or wait until the cover of night. All of them had advanced eyesight, and night time would give them the element of surprise. The only drawback was the noise the vehicles would make. Tessa argued the vehicles would be heard during the day as well. Either way, they were going to have to park a
nd walk approximately a mile. They finally compromised and agreed on going in right before the sun came up. They would fly into Luxor during the early morning hours and begin before first light.
They called it an early night so they could attempt to get some rest. Nikolas, however, got little sleep. He spent most of the night holding Sophia, watching her. Having his mate in his arms was a dream come true. The Gargoyles had all but given up hope on finding the one they would spend their lives with, but now that the fates had smiled on them, hope was restored. He thought back to all the women he’d bedded over his five hundred years, and he could no longer see any of their faces. They didn’t matter. The only female who mattered was lying next to him.
What also mattered was how she was holding up mentally. Over the years, Nik had killed. Most of his victims were the Unholy who threatened the lives of humans. Unfortunately, he’d also had to take out humans who were just as bad as the Unholy. Humans without souls who were hell bent on killing as many innocents as they could. He knew what it felt like to watch as the life bled out of someone, knowing he’d been the one to do it. Was Sophia really okay with the fact that she was responsible for ending someone’s existence even if they’d tried to end hers? Or was she keeping it all bottled up inside, and one day it would come hurtling out when something triggered the memory? He would monitor her behavior without hovering. She probably wouldn’t appreciate that.
He kissed Sophia on the cheek and rolled out of bed. Nik took his shower and headed to the kitchen to make coffee. Julian was standing at the counter, already sipping a cup. Nik said, “Good morning, Brother. I take it you couldn’t sleep either?”
Julian shook his head. “No. I’ve been going over different scenarios and outcomes. The probabilities of this being the actual location where Sophia’s parents are being kept are high. The likelihood of us getting them out with no casualties is low. My only concern is the women. Both of them have already been through a traumatic ordeal. I do not wish for this one to turn out the same, or worse.”
