by Faith Gibson
“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked, knowing the direction he was headed.
“I don’t have a choice,” he admitted.
After slipping on running shoes, Tamian left the hotel and took off toward Lucy’s home. He knew better than to get too close, but he wasn’t able to sit still without knowing if she was okay. Without using his shifter speed, it would take him almost an hour to get to the neighborhood beyond the lake. He’d been running for about thirty minutes when Tessa reached out with her mind.
“They came out of the room, and Lucy isn’t physically harmed.”
“But?”
“She does look rattled. Without audio I have no way of knowing what upset her.”
“Okay, if anything changes let me know.”
“What in the ever-loving hell is going on?” Lucy paced back and forth, unable to wrap her mind around what was downstairs. “What in the hell? I mean, I knew he studied genetics, but that? Uh-uh. Not like that. Fuck!”
Monk didn’t bother to sign or text about the situation , but the expression on his face was enough to project he felt as sick as Lucy. Why in Zeus’s name would Lucius have—? Her cell phone ringing stopped Lucy’s internal rant. The ringtone was the one she used for work, and considering she was supposed to have the next day off, it didn’t bode well they were calling so late in the day. Instead of answering, she let it go to voicemail to allow her time to calm her mind. It wouldn’t do for her boss to hear how rattled she was. No, she wouldn’t give Theodore Franks any ammunition to use against her.
Lucy pressed the arrow to listen to the message. “Agent Ball, I realize this is your weekend, but something has come up, and we need you in the office immediately. The jet is waiting for you.” That was it. No please or thank you or if you’re available. What if she was out of town? What if she’d planned a long weekend to relax? That didn’t matter when you belonged to the GIA, and Lucy was getting tired of it. She had to find a way to get out from under their thumb. Sighing, she tossed her phone down and went to her bedroom to change clothes and pack. “I have to go into work,” she informed Monk as she passed by.
The biker pulled out his phone and sent a text message. She didn’t have to ask to know it was to her family. Monk could shadow her as far as the building, but he couldn’t go inside. Within those four walls, Lucy was on her own. She was tucking her blouse into her pants when Monk knocked on her door. He held her cell phone out to her.
“Hello?”
“Lucia.” Ryker’s deep voice sent a shiver up Lucy’s spine. She wasn’t scared of her uncle, but he was a commanding male. “Monk let us know you were called into work. Kyllian is on his way to you now with a special device that will allow us to monitor you.”
“Like a tracker?”
“Like a tracker. He is also bringing a burner phone you will use to send us coded messages whenever you leave the building. If we see your tracker moving but don’t receive a text stating you’re okay, we’ll move in and follow. Hounds will be in the vicinity at all times.”
“What do you mean in the vicinity? You can’t send Hounds to New DC.”
“We can, and we will. But until they get there, I have reached out to some fellow Hounds to keep eyes on you until our men arrive. Kyllian should be there any minute. He’ll walk you through the tracker.”
Lucy sighed, knowing there was no arguing with the family. “Thanks, Uncle.”
“You’re welcome, Little Dove.” The phone disconnected, and Lucy sucked in a breath when he used the same nickname Rory did.
Blinking back the tears, she straightened her shoulders and turned to leave her bedroom. Monk was standing against the door frame. Instead of his usual solemn scowl, his eyes were soft. These men were going to wreck her. He stepped back, motioning for Lucy to proceed. By the time she got downstairs, Kyllian was walking through the front door.
“I knocked, but you didn’t answer.”
“I was on the phone with Ryker. Show me what you have.”
Kyllian gave Monk a chin lift when he walked up behind Lucy. The biker went outside, probably to check the perimeter. “Here’s your burner phone. All the numbers programmed in it are also burners. They will be in the hands of the Hounds closest to your location. If you leave the building of your own free will, press one and hit send. If you are under duress, press two. If you are unable to send a text before you leave, the Hounds will move in to retrieve you.”
“Got it. Tell me about the tracker.” Lucy dropped the burner phone into her bag while she waited for Kyllian to unwrap the nearly imperceptible device which would allow the family to keep tabs on her.
“This needs to be attached to something you have on you at all times. A ring, a watch, a necklace... something you are never without.”
Lucy pulled off the onyx ring she wore on her right hand. It had been a gift from her parents on her sixteenth birthday, and it still fit. It was the one thing she was never without. After handing it over, Kyllian turned it over and attached the small device to the underside before giving it back. His phone pinged, and he read the message. “Havyk says it’s online and he can see you.”
“Thanks. Now, I guess I better get to the airport before they send someone looking for me.”
“Monk, if you want to head back to the compound, I’ve got Lucy,” Kyllian said, looking over Lucy’s shoulder. She turned around to find the biker propped against a stool, his arms crossed over his chest. Damn, she hadn’t heard him come back in the house. He inclined his head in acknowledgement but didn’t move otherwise.
Lucy made her way out to the SUV. Kyllian placed her bag in the back and slid into the driver’s seat. She watched the landscape go by as they made the trip to the airport in silence. When they arrived, Kyllian drove directly to the private hangar. Lucy wasn’t surprised he knew which one she would be flying out of. Turning in his seat, Kyllian said, “I want you to watch yourself, kiddo. I know you’re trained, but if someone’s out to get you, you might not see them coming.”
“I’ll be careful.” Lucy ignored the urge to lean over and kiss his cheek that was rough with a couple days’ stubble. She retrieved her bag from the back and headed to the jet. As much as she wanted to, Lucy didn’t look back before she boarded the small plane. She had no idea who within the government she could trust, and she didn’t want anyone thinking her “driver” was someone special to her. Then again, all they had to do was have Lucy’s house watched and they’d see the Hounds coming and going.
After stowing her carry-on, Lucy took a seat and buckled up. The flight was a short one, so she didn’t bother finding a book or magazine to occupy her mind. Instead, she closed her eyes and let the image of Tamian St. Claire take center stage.
Tamian continued on, but when he got to the sidewalk outside her gate, he slowed to a walk, pretending to catch his breath. Reaching out with his senses, Tamian tried to get a read on the male inside the home. After several long minutes, he finally detected emotions from the male. Shock and disgust were the strongest reactions. What had he seen in that room to feel disgusted by? Maybe he was projecting feelings regarding Lucy, but Tamian didn’t think so. If Lucy had been rattled, whatever set her off was probably the same thing the male reacted to. Tamian seriously wanted to get inside the house, but that wasn’t going to happen. Not at the present when he wasn’t disguised, nor did he have a good reason to be near her. When a phone rang in the distance, Tamian opened his shifter senses to listen in, just in case.
After a couple minutes, Lucy told the biker, “I have to go into work.” She’d obviously let the call go to voicemail, but regardless, it meant Tamian would have to travel to New DC if he wanted to stay close to his mate. “Tessa, Lucy is headed back to Washington. Pack my bag and come get me. Call Santiago and have him ready my jet.”
“You got it. Where do you want me to pick you up?”
“The intersection of Morrison and Aztec. I’ll be waiting.”
Lucy’s phone rang again, but she didn’t answer it. T
he biker made a gruff sound, and a few seconds later she said, “Hello.” As Tamian listened to the one-sided conversation, he momentarily forgot where he was until the same SUV pulled up to the gate that had been there earlier. Tamian ducked down, pretending to tie his shoe. When he stood, he made sure to keep his back to the vehicle and took off jogging in the opposite direction. He didn’t have to wait long for Tessa to pick him up. Sliding into the passenger seat, he took his phone when she offered it to him.
“Santiago will be waiting, but I figured you’d want to call Jules.”
“You’re right. Since I only caught bits and pieces of the conversation, I don’t know her flight schedule.” After placing a call and asking Julian to find out anything he could, he told Tessa, “I hope Lucy stays in New DC for at least a few days. All this moving around is making it hard to get close to her.”
“What do you need me to do?” Tessa asked as she took the exit leading to the airport. Traffic was at a standstill, so she turned to look at Tamian.
“At this point, nothing. You should fly home and be with Gregor.”
“Or I could go with you.”
Tamian had never known his sister to spend this much time away from her mate. “What’s going on with you? Why don’t you want to go home?”
Keeping her eyes on the road, she shrugged. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the Washington area, and besides, you might need my computer expertise.” Tessa pulled forward another car length. “Holy shit, Batman. Don’t look now, but your girl is right beside us.”
Of course, Tamian turned to look. His mate was staring out the passenger window, looking right toward their vehicle. Before Lucy had time to recognize them, Tessa backed off the accelerator, allowing their SUV to merge in front. Since they were both taking private jets, Tessa followed the vehicle around to where the small hangars were located. She continued to ease off the gas so Lucy and her uncle wouldn’t think they were being followed. The hangar where Tamian’s plane waited came into view, and Tessa veered off as the other car continued on.
Tessa parked the rental just outside the hangar and shut the engine off. “Come on.” When she popped the trunk, Tamian wasn’t surprised to see all their luggage and equipment. When he cocked an eyebrow, she grinned. “I’m bored, so sue me.”
Tamian helped his sister unload their things, and together they made their way to where Santiago was waiting. When the male took Tessa’s bags, she asked, “What’s shaking, San Man?”
One side of Santiago’s lip tilted up just the slightest bit as he shook his head but didn’t respond otherwise. Once he helped them stow their things, he disappeared into the cockpit.
Tamian remained in the cabin with his sister instead of joining Santiago like he usually did. Something was going on with Tessa, and he planned on finding out what it was.
Chapter Nine
Drago followed the family until they parked in the visitors parking lot. Renneck and Trexon hadn’t been in New Atlanta long, so Drago was taking the time to point out people and places of interest, this family in particular. He had special plans for them. Well, one of them, at least. “That one,” he pointed out so the males wouldn’t have any doubt as to who he meant. “You’ll need to wait until the others aren’t around.”
Trexon snapped a photo of the one Drago singled out before they drove off. “You’ll need to follow him closely for the next few days to ascertain his schedule. It’s recently changed, and he usually has someone with him at all times. It will be tricky to catch him unguarded, but I have faith in the two of you.”
Once they had finished that task, Drago drove the two of them back to their headquarters, and then he headed south to a little town in northern Florida. Drago wanted to build their army in more areas of the country, and after some recent recon by Kavin and Burk, they’d found fewer Gargoyles inhabiting the Sunshine State. Without as many of the Stone Society to watch over things, it would be easier to recruit new members for their army. Renneck had reached out to a few Greek Gargoyles who weren’t happy with the new King and invited them to join them in the Americas. Drago was meeting with them in the ocean town, and he was looking forward to seeing the water again, even if it wasn’t the clear blue of the seas near Greece.
Drago knew it would take a while to build their numbers, but he was a Gargoyle who had plenty of time for patience. His former King had ruled for hundreds of years before being overthrown, and that had taken planning on the part of Rafael. Drago would bide his time, continue creating Unholy, and when things were aligned properly, he would make his move.
It was going on nine p.m. by the time Lucy walked into her boss’s office. “Agent Ball, please close the door,” Agent Franks said. Lucy did as she was instructed before standing in front of his desk. “Take a seat.” The man leaned back in his leather chair and steepled his fingers together. “You’ve been a good Agent, Lucia. Against my wishes, you were reassigned as of ten o’clock this morning. Your transfer will take place immediately, and you will now report to Deputy Director Ramey.”
“Ramey, sir? I’m not familiar with that name. What department is he or she in?” Lucy had a bad feeling about her reassignment, especially with a director she’d never heard of.
“The department he oversees is classified, but I’ve heard rumor it has to do with research and development. That’s all the information I’m at liberty to divulge at this time. Once you meet with him, you’ll be given the specifics of your new assignment. You are scheduled to be in his office at seven a.m., so I suggest you go check into your dorm and get a good night’s rest. That is all.”
Lucy hated being dismissed with no further information, but instead of pushing the issue when she knew Franks would say nothing more, she stood and left his office. As she rode the elevator down to the ground floor, she pulled out the burner phone and sent the text letting the Hounds know she was okay. Being a field agent, Lucy didn’t have a home in the New DC area. Whenever she was required to stay overnight, she used one of the “dorm” rooms. It was closer to a hotel suite than a dorm in that it had a small kitchenette, but it was sparse for the most part. The rooms were intended to be used as a place to sleep a couple nights.
After checking in with the agent in the lobby, Lucy made her way to the room she’d use until she found out exactly what her assignment was. If they grounded her, she would need to find an apartment to live in for the duration. When she told the family, it wasn’t going to be pretty, but it wasn’t like she had a choice. Until she found a way out of her commitment to the government, Lucy was at their mercy.
Not knowing whether she’d be staying longer than one night, Lucy didn’t bother unpacking only to have to repack the next day. She placed the garment bag which contained her suits in the small closet and pulled her sleeping clothes from her suitcase. She’d already had a shower, but she wanted the hot water to help soothe her frayed nerves. Her brain was on overload with all she’d encountered that day. She hadn’t been able to forget the nightmare she found in the basement. She didn’t want to dwell on it, but she needed to figure out what Lucius had been up to. Then there was Tamian. Lucy smiled when thinking of the Gargoyle. She wanted to know what his agenda was and why he continued to follow her. As she stepped into the tub, she let the hot water beat against her skin. Closing her eyes, she replayed every moment spent with the male earlier.
His voice hadn’t sounded right. It had been deeper than Lucy imagined Tamian to sound like, but she’d not heard him talk before. The disguise he’d worn had been top notch. If he hadn’t given her the clue on the paper, she probably never would have figured out it was him. The one thing Lucy couldn’t shake was the little girl. If Tamian had a daughter, then there was a mother. Was she still in the picture? Was she also a shifter? The jealousy rising inside was ridiculous. Technically, she and Tamian hadn’t even been introduced. She knew nothing about him other than he was a Gargoyle, and he wanted something from her, otherwise he wouldn’t be stalking her. Jealousy was a useless emotion, espe
cially when you had no claim on the one you were feeling possessive of.
When the water was no longer warm, Lucy stepped from the tub and dried off. She had just pulled on her sleeping clothes when the burner phone she’d used to text the Hounds rang. When she answered, Kyllian asked, “What did you find out?”
“Not much. I’ve been reassigned to a different department. All my old boss would tell me was I’ll be working for Deputy Director Ramey, and it’s possibly something to do with research. Director Franks wouldn’t tell me any more than that. I guess I’ll find out in the morning when I meet my new team.”
“What’s your gut telling you?”
“That I should run like hell, but we both know that isn’t an option. At least not yet.”
“You wanna tell me about the macabre setting in your basement and why you didn’t mention it earlier?”
Lucy should have known Monk wouldn’t keep that bit of information to himself. “Because I don’t know what to tell you. I only found it right before I got the call to come to DC. I’m going to need time to figure it all out, and I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t touch anything.”
“Because you’re going to continue in Lucius’s footsteps?”
“What? No. Because I... Just please don’t touch anything.”
“Okay, but Sutton and Rory aren’t pleased.”
“And you think I am?” Lucy stood from the bed and paced back and forth in the small space. Lucy longed for someone other than her uncles and grandparents to turn to. They were family, but it wasn’t the same as having a partner to confide in. Someone like Tamian.
Kyllian sighed, and Lucy could see him pulling on his beard. “No, I can’t imagine you are. We’ll deal with it together when you return, yeah?”
