by Lisa Kessler
“What do you mean, ‘others’? Like werewolves and vampires?”
“No,” Lia said, shaking her head. “I mean… Never mind. The wound probably wasn’t as bad as it looked, that’s all.” She took a bite of her donut and washed it down with some coffee. “Did you meet Reed’s family?”
“Briefly. His mom and sister came in, but they wanted to be alone with him. When I came back, they were gone. His sister sent me a text saying that she’s bringing his niece to visit once he’s got some energy back,” Erica said. “Can you tell Callie I can’t make the meeting? I’m not ready to leave Reed’s side yet.”
“We all figured.” Lia’s tone softened. “You’re going to the…”
“Yeah.” Erica interrupted before Lia could say the word. “I’ll be there for Polly.”
Lia cleared her throat. “Good.” She stood up. “I’m going to check in with Cooper on my way out. Call me if you need anything.”
Erica nodded. “Thanks, Lia.”
When the door closed, Reed’s eyes fluttered open. Erica got up and moved to his bedside. He gave her a drowsy smile. “How long have I been out?”
“A few hours. How are you feeling?”
“Alive.” His gaze wandered over her face. “My mom came by. Did you get to meet her?”
She nodded. “I met them earlier. They seemed nice.”
“My mom and sister had lots of questions about you. They’re a little leery after Lila, but they’ll come around.”
“We have plenty of time for them to learn that I’m not like Lila.” She kissed his forehead.
He grinned. “I like the sound of that.” His eyelids drooped, but he blinked them back open. “Did we get everyone out? Everyone’s all right?”
Erica pressed her lips together. She’d been dreading this question. She wasn’t sure she could say the words out loud. Her voice became a scratchy whisper. “Polly never woke up.” He squeezed her hand, and she forced herself to go on. “They got her breathing again, but she had bleeding in her brain from the head trauma.” Her voice broke. “We lost her.”
His thumb caressed her knuckles. “I’m sorry.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Me too.”
With his free hand, he pressed the button on the side of the bed, bringing it up to a sitting position. “How did the fire start?”
“Just like the others.”
Reed’s brow furrowed. “But that doesn’t make sense. Jack’s still in jail, right?”
She nodded. “But the Order didn’t know that.” She glanced at their joined hands. “There were two guys in Kronos masks on the security footage. They were chaining the doors and disabling the cameras. Nate thinks they wanted my ex to take the fall for the fire.”
“Did they find any evidence at the theater yet?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Not any that we can give to the police. Callie has the security camera feeds going to her computer at home. She hasn’t turned it over.”
“Callie doesn’t want Nate to give it to the police?”
“If the police start widening their investigation, the Order of the Titans could lead them right to…”
“The Theater of the Muses. Callie’s afraid it’ll come out that she’s a living, breathing Greek muse.”
“Right.” She squeezed his hand. “You’re pretty sharp for a guy with a new hole in his lung.”
He chuckled and winced. “I’m a fast healer.”
“You are.” Erica glanced at the computer screen by his head. “No one can figure out how your artery fused itself shut.”
He frowned. “That’s impossible.”
“Right?” She shook her head. “The shrapnel that pierced your lung also severed an artery, but by the time they got you to the hospital, you only needed to be treated for a punctured lung.”
He lifted her hand to his lips. “How soon can I go home?”
“Couple more days.”
He smiled. “Will you be there?”
“Do you want me there?”
He laid her hand over his heart. “When I told you I loved you and you give my life meaning, I meant it. I want my home to be where you are.”
“Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“I think so.”
She grinned. “I won’t be able to keep my hands to myself.”
“Thank god.”
She laughed, bending to kiss his lips. “I love you.”
Ted closed the news feed on his computer. Shit. The arsonist had been charged today, but according to the report, he had been in custody since Monday. He couldn’t have started the blaze at the theater like Ted had told Mikolas he had.
Ted rubbed his forehead. It didn’t matter. He and Bryce had been careful. They had worn gloves and masks, and once the blaze was in full force, they’d left the scene before the fire department had arrived.
There was no trail leading to him, Belkin Oil, or the Order.
The phone on his desk rang. He gasped, startled. God, he needed to calm down.
“Yeah, Marion.”
“Sir, Mr. Leandros wants to see you in his office. He said it’s urgent.”
Fuck.
“Be right there.”
He hung up and stared at his desk, collecting himself. There was no evidence that he was involved in the fire. Nothing the Greek could tie to him. Ted could lie his way through this.
Taking a deep breath, he got up and walked out of his office, toward the elevator. When he stepped out, the entire floor was empty. Every desk and cubicle. He frowned, heading for his father’s old office.
Mikolas’s secretary was gone, too. Ted’s heart stuttered. This couldn’t be good. He knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Ted entered the room and froze. Bryce was tied to a chair, with duct tape covering his mouth and blood trickling from his nose.
Mikolas approached him, stalking silently like a jungle cat. “I thought I made myself clear about not killing any more women.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
The Greek rushed him like a bull and pinned him against the wall. “Bullshit.” He pressed his forearm against Ted’s windpipe. “You trapped them all in a building and set it on fire.”
“No,” Ted squeaked.
Mikolas threw him across the room. Ted hit the desk, pain igniting through his hip before he fell to the ground, coughing and gasping for air. Mikolas came at him again as Ted crawled away, searching for any way out.
The Greek knelt down. “Imagine my surprise tonight when I saw the news about the arsonist being charged with three fires, not four. And then the realization that he couldn’t have set fire to the theater because he was already behind bars.” He pointed to Bryce. “Your ‘enforcer’ here told me you wanted to make this look like the arsonist did it. You wanted me to believe the muses were wiped out by another man.”
Ted shook his head, clinging to the lie. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Your plan could lead the police right to us. One of them died in that fire. That’s murder, Ted. The doors were chained. They know it wasn’t an accident. The police aren’t going to let this go.”
He shoved Ted and finally backed off. “Idiot! This is why I told you to keep me in the loop. You and your sidekick have lost sight of the mission. Avenging your father’s death isn’t going to bring him back.”
Mikolas stood up and walked away.
Ted narrowed his eyes. “Fuck you.”
Mikolas pivoted, facing him. “Really?” He shook his head and scoffed. “You’ve just fucked our entire operation because you won’t face the fact that your father is only dead because he never should have tried to kill the muses in the first place.”
“You smug, entitled prick.” Ted scrambled to his feet. “My father has gotten the Order closer than they’ve ever been to freeing the Titans.”
“Close won’t get it done, Ted.” He stalked forward, and Ted backed up until the desk hit him in the ass. Mikolas ja
bbed his finger in Ted’s face, forcing him to lean back even farther. “The only reason you’re breathing right now is because I can’t risk the stocks plummeting with the death of another Belkin. But let me make one thing painfully clear. You’re out of the Order. Done.”
Ted’s eyes widened. “You can’t—”
“It’s already done. The Order has been informed and your masks and robes have been collected. They will be incinerated at the next meeting.”
Ted shook his head. “I’m the reason we even know who the muses are. I dated one of them, and she told me everything. You need me.”
“I don’t need anyone.” A muscle jumped in the Greek’s cheek. “Now get the hell out of my office.”
Ted glanced at Bryce. “What about him?”
“Get out!” Mikolas shouted.
Ted stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Mikolas Leandros was going to regret this.
CHAPTER 19
Reed was coming home tomorrow. Erica tried to hang on to that happy thought as she and Trin parked at the cemetery. They got out and made their way toward the others in the distance.
Polly was the only child of the Clearwaters. When her parents were killed in a plane crash, she became the last in a long line of old money. As such, they found out Polly had made Callie the executor of her will and their LLC was the sole beneficiary of her trust fund. Erica and her sisters were humbled by Polly’s commitment to the project and to them.
When Erica first ran in to Polly, they were both on the street corner, staring at the For Sale sign in front of the dilapidated theater. Polly had been the first person to mention the Greek muses to Erica and hint that they might be real inside her. She gave Erica hope that she wasn’t losing her mind.
And now, every step hammered the reality home. Polly was gone. Forever. Erica’s heart hurt.
If she had caught Polly’s hand a half minute earlier, maybe the beam from the falling roof would’ve missed her. Reed warned her against the what-ifs, but she couldn’t help it. Polly was gone.
A big part of her still couldn’t reconcile it, but the coffin in front of her made it impossible to deny.
It was covered in forget-me-nots, Polly’s favorite flower. No distant relatives or childhood friends made an appearance. Maybe she didn’t have any. But Erica and her muse sisters stood for her. They’d already started making plans to make certain Polly and Nia weren’t forgotten.
Outside of the Clearwater mausoleum, they circled Polly’s casket and held hands. Trinity fought back tears as she sang “Amazing Grace” to their fallen Muse of Hymns. When her voice was strangled by a sob, Erica joined in, then Lia, and by the last verse, they were all singing:
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,
Than when we first begun.
When they finished, Erica wiped the tears from her cheeks and looked around the circle. “I was with Polly at the end, and her devotion to our calling and to each of us never wavered. When the fire started, she didn’t worry about her own safety. She wanted me to help Clio.”
She reached out and placed her hand on the cold wood of the casket. “I’m better for knowing you, Polly. Thank you for everything. We’re going to see this through, and we’re going to inspire new generations. We all agreed, too, that we’re going to cover the ceiling of the theater in the lyrics of the hymns you loved. So when people come in and look up, they’ll have songs to send to the heavens.”
Erica stepped back as silence settled over the group.
Tera laid her hands on the casket next. Her timid words wobbled with emotion. “I was terrified when I moved here, and you were the first person who took me in and made me feel like my voice mattered. I’m heartsick, and I miss you already. I hope you’re up there singing your hymns.” She wiped her eyes. “Sing loud enough for me to hear your voice in my dreams.”
The cemetery director said a few words of comfort after that, but Erica barely registered them. Losing Polly, seeing the pain on the faces of her sisters, set something off inside her. Erica’s sobs gave way to anger. Rage smoldered in her gut and her hands balled into tight fists at her sides.
Even if she had gotten there soon enough to save Polly, the fire never should have happened. The Order of the Titans had chained the doors, lit Molotov cocktails, and run away, leaving them trapped to die painful deaths.
Fuck that.
As they walked back to their cars after the service, she pulled Callie aside. “I need to talk to you and Mel. Alone.”
Back at Callie’s house, Mel bounced baby Noah on her knee, a deep frown creasing her cheeks. Melanie was the Muse of Tragic Poetry, and while finding her Guardian had given her a new family, it hadn’t changed her penchant toward gloom and doom.
Erica knew better than most that Mel couldn’t help it. Each of their muses inspired parts of them that they couldn’t shut off.
“This is dangerous, Erica.” Mel glanced at Callie and back to Erica. “Nate and Hunter can handle the Order. And now we’ve got Reed, too.”
Erica shook her head. “It’s not enough.” She got up. “Polly and Nia are dead. Those bastards locked us in that building and set it on fire. I’m through waiting to see what they’ll come up with next. If we get the police involved, they’ll have to lie low.”
Callie propped her head on her elbow. “How do we explain why they’re targeting us?”
“We paint the Order as a cult,” Erica said as she paced. “They wear robes and masks. We’re just a group of women trying to build a theater. We have jobs, and we don’t hide. If someone calls us muses, we can laugh it off.” She turned toward them. “At least think about it? Even if we just give the police the picture of the man in the Kronos mask from your security camera the night of the fire, it’ll be enough. For once, we can drive this train and the Order can be forced to react. Maybe they’ll crawl back under whatever rock they’ve been hiding under.”
Callie looked at Mel. “She has a point.”
Mel put little Noah in his car seat and straightened up. “I’ll talk to Nate, and we can see what he thinks. But this is bigger than just us now. I have to think about Maggie and Noah, too. I won’t put them in danger.”
“Just talk to him. If Nate says it’s a bad idea, we’ll come up with something else. But I’ll be damned if these Titan-worshipping assholes are ever going to hurt anyone I care about again. I’m through playing defense.”
There was a spark in Callie’s gaze as she stood up. The Muse of Epic Poetry wouldn’t back down from a fight. Mel looked less than convinced, but with any luck, Nate would be on board.
It was worth a shot.
By the time Erica got back to Reed’s apartment, exhaustion had taken its hold. She was wasted emotionally, and all the weeping at the cemetery made her want to curl up in a ball and sleep forever. At least Reed would be home tomorrow. She ached to be back in his arms.
Her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and read the text from Reed.
Are you home?
She smiled and fired off a reply.
Yes. Can’t wait until you’re here, too.
Another buzz.
Then open the door.
She hurried to the door. When she opened it, tears welled in her eyes. Reed and Hunter were standing there, grinning at her.
“You got out of the hospital early!” She started to rush toward him but then stopped herself. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Reed held out his arms. “I’m not fragile. Just don’t squeeze too tight.”
She grinned, sliding her hands around his waist. She nuzzled into his neck, taking in his scent. “Best surprise ever.” She stepped back. “I guess I should let you in.”
Hunter stayed by the door as Reed came inside.
“I’m going to head home.” Hunter straightened up. “I hear there’s talk of a revolution coming.”
Reed sat on the couch and
grinned at his best friend. “I thought you retired from war.”
“This is different. It’s personal.” Hunter looked at Erica. “And for what it’s worth, I’m a fan of your plan.” He winked. “See you two later.”
Once the door was closed, she caressed Reed’s rough cheek. He smiled. “Sorry about the sandpaper. Didn’t shave at the hospital.”
She shook her head. “You’re alive and you’re home. That’s all I care about.”
He leaned in and kissed her so tenderly her heart nearly exploded. Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered, “So what’s this I hear about my muse inspiring a war?”
She grinned. “Someone tries to steal my Guardian from me and they’re going to pay. I’m not going to sit around waiting to be a victim anymore.”
“Damn you’re sexy when you’re pissed.” His lips caressed hers.
She hummed against his mouth. “I’ll remind you of that when we have our first fight.”
“First fight? Will that be followed by make-up sex?” he asked with a smirk.
She ran her fingers back through his hair. “Oh, there’s all kinds of sex to come for us…”
His teeth grazed her lower lip. “True. Maybe if we’re careful, we could try home-from-the-hospital sex.”
“You sure you’re up for that?” He caught her wrist and pressed her hand to the crotch of his suddenly very tight jeans. She eyed the bulge, laughing as she kissed him again. “I can be gentle.”
He stood up and offered her his hand. She took it and squeaked when he pulled her up into his arms.
His dark eyes sparkled. “Come on, you didn’t fall for that frail, just-got-home-from-the-hospital bit, did you?”
She searched his eyes. “You’re full of surprises.”
He kissed her and whispered, “Told you I’m a fast healer.”
She led him to the bedroom and carefully lifted his shirt over his head. His torso was still bruised, but she needed to see the wound that had nearly stolen him from her. As she moved, he took her hand. “Don’t ruin the moment with worry. I’m all right. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her pulse raced. She stared up into his eyes. “I’ve never been so scared. I thought I lost you.”
