by Faith Gibson
“We have to tell Ryker about his. We need more information on both your situation at work as well as the Gargoyle. He’ll put a detail on you, and then—”
“No,” Lucy interjected, cutting Hayden off. “You know what my job entails. There’s no way I can have bikers following me around the globe without it setting off alarms. I don’t need muscle. I need someone who can hack into the system without being traced.”
“But you’re our resident computer specialist. We don’t know anyone with those capabilities other than you.”
“Exactly. While I appreciate your concern, I’ll have to figure this one out on my own. I’ll keep my head down but my eyes open. If I feel like it’s getting out of my control, I’ll let you know.”
Both her uncles glared at her while Rory took Lucy’s hand. “I’d feel better if you let at least one of the Hounds stay here with you.” She didn’t elaborate in front of Ian and Denny, but Lucy knew Rory wanted someone there in case Tamian showed back up. Lucy had mixed feelings. On one hand, she wanted Tamian to show up so she could confront him. Find out what he wanted with her. Then again, she was no match for a full-blooded Gargoyle. If he was up to no good, it would be better to have one of the Hounds around as backup.
“Okay. But only one. I don’t want my house turned into party central.”
Kyllian feigned innocence. “Who, us?” Hayden reached out, and they bumped knuckles. The two of them might be older in Gryphon years, but in human years, they acted like a couple of college frat boys, partying their way through life. The only time they were serious was when they were carrying out Hound duties. They might be low on the MC totem pole, but being in a family of bikers was an honor to them. Most of them anyway. Her father was the only Lazlo brother who’d refused to wear the club name on his back.
“I choose Monk.”
“Ooh, Little Lucy likes the tall, silent ones, huh?” Hayden teased.
Lucy rolled her eyes at her uncle. “Yes, silent being the operative word here.” In all the years she’d been around the Hounds, she’d never heard Liam “Monk” Nagano utter a word. She’d seen him use sign language, but she’d never asked if he’d been born mute, or if something else happened. He was a mixture of South Korean and Eastern European, but it was his Asian features that stood out amid the muscles and ink. Lucy didn’t care about any of that. What she liked was the fact that Monk was fierce, quiet, and yeah, easy on the eyes.
Kyllian pulled out his phone and left the room. Lucy might be getting a Hound as a bodyguard, but rarely did her family speak about club business in front of her. With nothing to do but wait, Lucy rose from the table and cleaned up the breakfast dishes. When Rory offered to help, Lucy shooed her away. “You cooked. I’ll clean.” This was an argument they had often, but Rory always let Lucy have her way and went with Hayden out onto the patio.
Lucy used the time to enjoy the silence. She loved her family, but she still wasn’t used to so much noise when they were around. Growing up with Lucius and Vera, Lucy had become accustomed to a quiet house. When she was at school, she surrounded herself with likeminded people. Lucy didn’t hang out with the partiers. She didn’t frequent dance clubs or hang out at bars where you had to yell to be heard. The Hounds were larger than life. If she had been raised with four male siblings, she might be as boisterous as they all were. She had no doubt with the five brothers being close in age, they all vied for attention while growing up. If she were a betting person, Lucy would wager Monk was an only child like she was.
When Kyllian returned to the kitchen, he said, “Sutton wants to talk to you.”
Lucy, with her hands buried in the soapy water, looked over her shoulder. “Is he on the phone?”
“No. He wants you at the compound.” Her uncle’s face didn’t betray any emotion, so Lucy didn’t know if that was good or bad.
“Why can’t I talk to him on the phone?”
“He misses you. And with the breach in security here, he would prefer all future conversations be held elsewhere. I’ll finish the dishes while you go get changed.”
When the Hounds wanted something, they got it. Sutton might not be the president of the club any longer, but he was the patriarch of the family, and therefore, still in charge. He didn’t micromanage the MC, but when something involved his wife or granddaughter, he was all up in that business. Lucy dried her hands, knowing arguing would be futile. She’d never given her grandparents a reason to be upset with her, and she wasn’t going to start now. Lucy was a Gryphon. She was tough, smart, resourceful, but she was still their “little girl”. Maybe one day her father would feel as deeply protective as the rest of them. With her being the spitting image of her mother, she doubted it.
“Does he think my house is bugged?” Lucy knew how small listening devices were and where they would be hidden. Still, she looked around her kitchen before heading to her bedroom.
“No. The alarms haven’t been triggered, but we didn’t catch whoever added extra cameras to the property, so anything is possible. Once he gets here, Monk will sweep the house.”
When Lucy first met her family, she’d hesitated in giving them access to her home. It took a while for her to trust them implicitly, but after being around her grandmother for a few months, Lucy agreed to having a family who could show up at any time, day or night. Four years later, they had yet to show up without an invitation or calling to give her a heads-up they were on their way. Since she had called Rory and asked her to come over, that still applied.
After throwing on some jeans and a T-shirt, Lucy grabbed her purse and followed the others out to the truck. It was odd she hadn’t been called into work. Rarely did she get more than a night to recharge before she was off on her next assignment. She’d take the reprieve as long as it lasted.
The Hounds’ compound wasn’t a typical MC compound. Sutton didn’t do anything half-assed. Lucy had investigated biker clubs while doing a little digging on her family. Their world was so different from the one she grew up in, and she wanted to know as much about them as possible before she even met them. After her initial meeting with her father, she could understand why her birth mother didn’t want her raised by the Lazlos. But the more she was around them, the more her ideas of who they were and what they stood for changed.
Instead of having a clubhouse amid a garage or porn studio, as was depicted on television shows, the compound wasn’t a bunkhouse where drinking and debauchery took place twenty-four seven. This was a place where family came together to discuss business. Yes, there was a huge oak table in the meeting room, but the place was neat while homey. Drinking was allowed, but Lucy had never seen the Hounds partying like it was their last night on earth. Denny and Ian were loud and rambunctious, but never were they disrespectful.
Unlike other clubs, the Hounds were all about family. Sure, the members were typical males in that they loved females, but they didn’t allow random women to walk around half naked just in case someone wanted a blow job. It was rare when one of the Hounds brought a female there. Only the ones who were in serious relationships allowed someone to see into that part of their life. A few of the members were married, and some even had children.
When Lucy finally met her family, Maveryck had been dating someone, and by the way they acted around each other, it was serious. Then one day, the girl walked out of Mav’s life without so much as a goodbye. He’d been devastated, but life went on. He hadn’t dated since as far as Lucy knew. Ryker being Ryker never mentioned a woman. If he dated, it was away from the family. Lucy had a feeling something happened in his past as well, because he was the most stoic man she’d ever met. Never in the four years she’d known her uncle had she seen him smile.
“Lucy, get your ass over here,” Sutton called out, holding his arms open. At least she knew her grandfather wasn’t pissed at her.
“Hey, Pops,” she said, allowing him to envelope her in his strong arms. The Lazlos, for the most part, were a touchy-feely kind of family. Growing up with Lucius and Vera, Lucy fe
lt loved, but it wasn’t demonstrated as openly as with her grandparents and uncles. Only Ryker held her at arm’s length, but he often squeezed her hand briefly to let her know how he felt. The other uncles felt more like older brothers the way they cut up with her while portraying the protective males.
When Sutton turned her loose, he took the seat at the head of the table, indicating this was a family meeting and not club business. He pointed to the chair to his left where Mav normally sat. Rory went to the seat opposite Lucy, next to her husband. All the brothers were there – all but her father – as well as a few other Hounds she now thought of as family. When everyone was around the table, Sutton said, “Tell us everything, and that includes the Gargoyle who’s been following you.”
Well, shit.
Chapter Six
“What took you so long?” Tessa asked when Tamian returned to the living room.
“Jonas was busy. They had to take Jonathan to the hospital.”
“What? I just saw him. Is he...?” Tessa bit her bottom lip, and her emerald eyes glistened with unshed tears. Tamian crossed the room and pulled her to him. Jonathan wasn’t just Rafael’s right-hand man. The human was like a father to most of the Clan, and Tamian wasn’t immune to the man’s love. Jonathan doted on all the Gargoyles, mates, and kids just as much as Priscilla did, but in his own way. It was only a matter of time before he succumbed to the cancer destroying his body, and that would be a sad day for the Stone Society.
“He was trying to get out of bed when he collapsed. Rafael called Jonas, asking him to meet them at the hospital. For now, he’s stable, but they’re going to keep him there where he can be monitored. Why don’t you go home? Gregor probably needs you.”
“Gregor has his family. I’ll call him later, but I’m not going anywhere. You need me here.”
Tamian squeezed his sister a little tighter, placing a kiss on her temple. “Thank you.”
“Until Gregor came along, you had my back my whole life. It’s about time I did something for you.”
Tamian shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way. It’s not about paybacks or keeping score. I had your back because I love you.”
“And I love you.” Tessa kissed him on the cheek before sitting down on the sofa. Tamian took a seat next to his sister, and she said, “Harlow left with all three of her visitors. They arrived at a brick building with no discernable sign or markings indicating whether or not it’s a business, and if so, what type. I’ve sent the address to Jules.” Tessa rewound the feed to when they arrived and pointed to the monitor. “Take a look at the others entering the building. They’re dressed like bikers, too. If I didn’t know better, I would think they were walking into an MC meeting, but clubhouses aren’t usually so modern.”
Tamian was thankful he had the foresight to request an additional disguise from Jonas. He would need to go shopping for the appropriate clothing, but if he was going to approach Harlow, he didn’t want to use the same prosthetic he did when he had to encounter the bikers, because he was confident he would encounter them.
“Are you hungry?” Tessa asked after an hour of no motion on the screen and silence in their room.
Tamian scrubbed his hands down his face and blew out a breath. He was surprised it took his sister that long to bounce up from the sofa. Neither one of them was the sitting-still type, but she was so much antsier than he was. “Yeah. You feel like sushi?” Tamian wasn’t a picky eater, and there were several restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, including a small Japanese place. This would allow Tessa to get out and stretch her legs.
“Sure. Do you want the usual?” He and Tessa had shared enough meals over the years she knew what he liked.
“That or you can surprise me. Grab my wallet off the dresser.”
“Nah, I got it.” Tessa waved him off and grabbed cash out of her purse along with the key card. “I’ll be back in a few.” Neither one of them hurt for money, so he didn’t argue about who paid.
Tamian stood and stretched his arms over his head. Looking around to make sure he had enough room, he unfurled his wings and let his fangs and claws extend. Swimming in the lake and pool had done little to release the tension within. Ever since he ran into Harlow in Norway, Tamian’s beast had been getting more and more restless. For over twenty years, the two halves had lived in harmony. The shifter only came to the forefront when Tamian called on it, but it was clear that wouldn’t be the case much longer. It had been too long since he’d been able to really stretch out and fly. Maybe it was time for another trip to the chalet, but that would only soothe the beast for so long. Not unlike Tamian, it was eager to get closer to Harlow and make her theirs.
After phasing back, Tamian glanced at the computer monitor just in time to see Harlow leaving the building with a different man than she’d entered with. As the man escorted Harlow, he walked a step behind with his hand on the small of her back. When they reached the edge of the parking lot, he handed her a helmet before angling himself onto a sleek black and chrome motorcycle. Harlow didn’t hesitate to put the helmet on and swing herself up and onto the bike, wrapping her arms around his waist. No words were spoken as the bike pulled out of the parking lot and took off.
“Fuck!” Tamian didn’t want to believe his mate was involved with someone else, but then why wouldn’t she be? She was young and beautiful. Smart and wealthy. Most likely a shifter given the fact that some of her family was. If the man on the motorcycle was her boyfriend, Tamian wouldn’t hesitate to remedy that. He wasn’t well versed in the ways of courting females. He’d spent most of his life shadowing his sister to make sure she was safe. He’d been around other shifters and their mates, but when the mate bond took over, there wasn’t a lot of “wooing” needed. The attraction between two fated mates was instantaneous and powerful. All he had to do was get Harlow alone, and that should be enough to have her falling for him.
By the time Tessa returned, arms loaded with food, Harlow still hadn’t returned home via the biker. Tessa spread their lunch out over the dining table, and while they divvied up the various types of rolls, Tamian told her about the guy Harlow was with.
“You need to go see her. The more time she spends with someone who isn’t you is a bad thing.”
“I’m going to, but not without a plan. After we eat, I’m going shopping. I need new clothes for the mask Jonas is sending. Maybe while I’m out, the perfect scenario will come to me.”
Tamian needed a reason to approach Harlow’s home. It was well hidden behind a gate, so it wasn’t like he could walk up and knock on the door.
“What we need is to get ears inside her home. If we only had a way of getting a small transmitter to her. What if we sent her a package with a gift in it?”
“And if you received something through the mail you didn’t order, wouldn’t you be suspicious?”
“Yeah... What about flowers? I wouldn’t be suspicious of flowers... Yeah, I would. Shit.”
Using chopsticks, Tamian deftly dipped a spicy tuna roll in peanut sauce. “I think showing up in person is the better option, but I’m going to need a good excuse. When we thought I could approach her alone, that was one thing, but now that she has company, talking to her with the male around offers a new set of obstacles. If the two of them are involved... Anyway. I’ll figure something out. I have almost twenty-four hours before my package from Jonas arrives.”
Tamian ate his lunch, vaguely aware of his motions, while keeping his eyes glued to the monitors. If Harlow and the male were involved romantically, they would at some point tip their hand. He didn’t want to watch if or when it happened, so as soon as he finished eating, he helped Tessa clean up the mess before saying, “I’m going to get out of here for a while.” Tessa handed him the keys to the rental. “Do you need anything while I’m out?”
“If you want to grab something to cook for supper on your way back, I’m good with that, unless you want to go out.”
“I’ll see what I’m in the mood for later, and I’ll c
all and let you know. If anything happens there,” Tamian pointed at the monitor, “call me.”
“I will. Have fun shopping.”
Tamian would never equate shopping with fun. What he bought for himself he usually purchased online. That kept him from being around all the crowds. He wasn’t an introvert, but he definitely wasn’t one who reveled in the company of loud groups. It was one reason he’d never stepped foot in a night club on his own. The few times he’d shadowed Tessa when she’d opted to dance the night away had been painful. His sister was more of the pool hall type of woman, but when she’d been a watcher for the family, sometimes she’d had to do things outside her own comfort zone to blend in. Dancing in a crowded club had been one of them. Therefore, Tamian had stepped out of his own comfort zone to watch after her. He sincerely hoped that type of activity wasn’t something Harlow was interested in.
Playing off one of Harlow’s aliases, it didn’t take Tamian long to find the right set of clothes for the disguise he’d chosen. He purchased several other outfits and items he might use if he found himself having to blend in with the bikers. Once he was satisfied he had what he needed, Tamian turned the rental toward a park he’d seen on his way to the mall. Tessa had texted a couple times stating everything was status quo, so he took time to get outside and breathe in the fresh air if only for a little while.
After walking around the park, Tamian rested on a bench, arms spread across the back. The sun shined down on his face, taking some of the chill away. He liked cold weather, and when at the chalet, he loved being surrounded by snow-covered mountains. But he relished the sun as well. It was like a warm hug from the gods.
“Stormy! Stormy come back!” Tamian opened his eyes to the distressed shouts of a little girl. His shifter hearing heard her franticness almost thirty seconds before she came into view. A grey puppy with bright blue eyes was running as fast as its short legs would go, leash trailing behind.
