My phone buzzes. It’s a message from the woman herself. I smile as I read it.
Don’t do that again!
I fire one off to her. You need to eat.
Her: I was fine!
Me: One banana all day??? You need to take better care of yourself.
Her: How do you know I haven’t eaten? You were in surgery for hours this morning.
Me: I just do
Her: How?
Me: We’ve been doing this for a good couple of days. I know how you operate. You need to eat. At least three meals a day
I’ve known this woman long enough to know that she takes this very seriously. There is no way she left the entrance to the operating room, unless it was to go to the toilet, and even then, she hardly goes. I’m glad I’m not the harpy. I’d be afraid.
Her: Okay, doctor
Me: I mean it
Her: You don’t have to worry, I have a slow metabolism
Yeah right! With an ass like that, her metabolism is not slow.
Me: You’re eating dinner with me tonight
Her: I’m sorry, but we can’t date each other, even though I know you want me
I have to hold back a laugh.
Me: Very fucking funny. You’re eating dinner with me tonight. Not a date!
Her: Mr. Pushy! Someone has to watch your ass and that someone is me. No dinner!
Me: Oh, so you are watching me. Perv!
Her: Am. Not! I’m watching out for you. I can’t do that from inside your house
Me: Stop being so stubborn!
She doesn’t reply. I figure she’s probably eating. I glance back and see her chewing. Morgan narrows her eyes.
I chuckle as I reach the maternity ward. I sign in. Morgan will have to wait outside. I’ve been here quite a few times in the last two days, so she knows the drill. The harpy won’t get inside here. It’s secured tighter than Fort Knox. Besides, this is the only entrance. I see Morgan sit in the waiting area. She’s already finished most of the sandwich. Not hungry, my ass. I know that she has her own reasons for being here. That they essentially have nothing to do with helping me, but it still makes me feel bad. Morgan sits outside my house until long after I go to bed, and she’s back before I wake up. She grabs a few hours of sleep a night. Otherwise, she watches and tails me all day every day. I can’t imagine how tough it must be, day in and day out. I offered to pay her, but she wouldn’t hear of it.
Personally, I think the harpy is long gone. I think we had our shot, and we blew it. I’m going to allow this for a few more days, and then I think we have to go to plan B. I’m not one for being passive.
I reach Shannon’s room and knock on the door.
“Come in,” I hear Night say.
I smile when I see Bolt holding the baby. “What did I miss?” I ask as I push my hands into my coat pockets.
“We were just telling Bolt here how much a baby suits him,” Night replies; he’s smirking.
Bolt scowls, and we laugh. The baby does suit him, actually. More than I would have thought. He’s holding the little one against his chest. She’s tiny in his big hands. I’m still thinking about Morgan. I told her she was a badass and she is, but she’s also a hardass. One of the most stubborn women I have ever met. I think about how she practically inhaled that sandwich. She really does need to take better care of herself, and she can’t keep watching me like this. Not indefinitely.
“What’s up?” Night asks; he’s looking at me strangely.
I need to let them know about what’s happened. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need to call a meeting. There’s been a development. I might have a lead on our mystery woman.”
“You found Gabby?” Bolt asks.
“Not exactly found, but I did meet someone who can help us find her.” I don’t know much about Morgan, but I do know she’s our best bet at catching this thing.
“Who?” Night asks. “Can you trust this person?”
I shrug. I think I can, but how can I be sure? The answer is that I can’t. Not really. “I’m not sure…probably not. I’m not sure I have much of a choice in the matter.”
“Oh! Who is it?”
“Her name is Morgan.” I pull in a breath. “I don’t know her last name.” I don’t tell them that Morgan is tailing me. I’m a little worried that either Bolt or Night will want to meet with her today. I’m not ready for that. I don’t think they’ll approve. I briefly fill them in on some of what has happened, including the neck squeeze thing both Morgan and the harpy did on me. The events of the last few weeks, particularly the last few days, and on what I know about Morgan.
“Centaurs and harpies.” Bolt’s eyes are wide. “That sounds far-fetched.”
“Why?” I throw back. “There is an Underworld. We know that minotaurs, demons, Cerberus, and various other creatures exist.”
“In the Underworld.” Night also looks unsure. “It’s a different realm to this one.”
“We exist,” I say. “Dragon shifters are real, then there are the gods. Why not other creatures?”
“Again, our fathers are not in this realm, but I suppose you have a point.” Night looks like he’s thinking it through. “This Morgan person belongs to a group who…kills otherworldly creatures?”
“It seems that way. We’re both playing our cards close to our chest at this stage. I haven’t told her about you guys. Morgan won’t say much about who she is or what she does. What I do know is that Gabby put her partner in hospital, and Morgan wants revenge.”
“So, you both have a good reason to capture this…harpy.”
“That’s right, hence working together. We’re staying in touch.”
“You said that Gabby went to your house?” Shannon asks. I see her visibly shudder. “What did she want?”
“I don’t know. Those centaurs got Morgan and her partner in exchange for information. They told her where to find ‘food’. A few days later, she turns up as Gabriella and seduces me, took my power. You guys know the rest.” I still feel like a fool. “I’m not sure why she came back, since she already took my power.”
“Are you saying the centaurs told her where to find you?” Night is frowning.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “It seems like too much of a coincidence, don’t you think?”
“I don’t believe in coincidences.” Bolt walks over to Shannon. “She’s sleeping soundly.” He smiles down at the baby. His whole stance softens when he does.
“You’d make a great father,” I say.
Bolt looks at me like I just grew a penis out of my left ear. “I don’t think so, but she is a cutie pie, aren’t you, Harley?” He hands the little one to Shannon.
She squirms for a few seconds, and then she settles back down in her mother’s arms. “We all need to meet here,” I say. “Tomorrow.”
“Why here?” Night growls, his eyes are blazing.
“I’m worried the harpy might come back. I’m worried Morgan might spy on me if we do it anywhere else. I don’t want Morgan or the harpy to see you guys. The less they know, the better. If you come to my place…or I go to one of your places…” I shake my head. I can’t trust Morgan one hundred percent yet, and Gabby might just turn up. Stranger things have happened. “No, I can’t risk it. I could end up leading them straight to you.”
“If we meet here, you could lead them straight to us anyway. I won’t risk my wife and child.” Night’s voice is deep; he puts a hand on his daughter’s back. “This is not the place to meet.” He shakes his head vigorously.
I never thought of that. “Shit! You’re right.” I push out a breath. “The last thing I would want would be to endanger your family.”
“The harpy might already know about you.” I look at each of them in turn. “But she also might not, so we need to be really careful.”
“I’ll call a meeting,” Bolt says. “You can all come to me.” He looks at Night. “You can video call or something,” he says to me. “I agree, you need to stay far away, particularly from the women and ch
ildren.”
I nod. “Fill the others in on these new developments,” I say to Bolt. “Remind Trident to keep his zip up. No fucking around.”
“I will,” he responds. “I only hope he listens.”
“A harpy and a vigilante human with a beef against non-humans.” Night is scowling. “This is a mess.”
“Yep,” I agree.
“You’re like the biggest nerd of the bunch.” Bolt laughs. “I can’t believe all this is happening to you.”
“Me neither.” My phone vibrates. I grab it and check. Half of me is expecting it to be Morgan. I’m almost disappointed when I see it’s my PA. My two o’clock has arrived.
I’ll be there in five. I text back.
“I need to run,” I say.
“Me too,” Bolt says. “I’ll walk out with you.”
“Sure,” I say. Shit! I didn’t want Morgan to see Bolt leaving with me. Maybe she’ll think he’s a colleague or something. Bolt is all suited up. He’s arrogant. He could pass as a surgeon.
We say our goodbyes and head out. I notice Morgan doing a double-take as we walk out. She’s noticed Bolt. I see her give him the once-over. I don’t like it one bit. I’m not sure why I don’t like it. Is it because she’s wondering about whether he’s a human? Like maybe she knows he might be the same as me. He’s just as big and built. Women eat out of his hands. Thing is, it could also be that she’s checking him out. I find I don’t like either option. Morgan is not my type, not at all, and yet, if I’m honest with myself, I’m very attracted to her. It might be the situation. It more than likely is the situation. It’s not real, and it can’t be acted on but, there it is.
Bolt and I talk about nothing. When we reach the turnoff to my office, we say our goodbyes. I head over there without turning around to see what Morgan is doing. My phone vibrates a few minutes later, and I ignore it. I don’t want to hear what Morgan has to say. She’s probably asking me who Bolt is. Another message comes through. Yep, I think I might be right on the money. I look at my phone, and both messages are from Morgan. I don’t open them. I know she probably wants to know if he’s human. I think back on her double-take. On the look she gave Bolt. I’m jealous. Fuck! Where did this emotion come from? I don’t like it. I shove my feelings aside and focus on my next patient.
Morgan
Not human.
No damned way.
He’s too good-looking. Too full of himself. Too…I don’t know…call it a feeling. My spidey senses are tingling. The senses that tell me when I’m dealing with a non-human. They’re firing on all cylinders. Lyre’s friend is something else. A dragon demigod? Other? There are more of them. I knew it!
They talk a little as they walk, and then Mr. Suit and Tie is headed in the opposite direction. I reach the hallway that leads to Lyre’s office. I watch him walk down it. If I turn to the left, I can see out of a window that leads to the parking lot. This is one of the spots I’ve been hanging out.
Minutes later, I spot Suit and Tie in the parking lot. He’s walking quickly. I don’t know why my eyes drift across the cars, but they do. That’s when I see her.
Holy fuck!
She’s here! I text to Lyre.
I watch her watch Suit and Tie. If I made him, I think she might have too. If she was watching through this window. If she knew where Lyre’s office was, she would have seen them together. Put two and two together, just like I did. Lyre mentioned binoculars. Her view would have been perfect.
Damn!
I have no doubt she’s made him because she still has her eyes on Suit and Tie.
I run for the stairs. I hate that I can’t see what’s happening. I slow down through the information area and entrance. I see Suit and Tie pulling out in a car that would cost me ten years of income – maybe more – to buy. The harpy is pulling out as well. There is one bullet hole in the back of her car, but the back window and taillight have been replaced. I sprint to my car and get into it. I pull out. I have my phone in my hand.
Harpy following your friend
I type the message to Lyre using one hand. I notice that Lyre hasn’t read my first message.
“Come on. Come on,” I say. I will Lyre to read my messages.
He doesn’t.
I curse, hitting my steering wheel. Suit and Tie is a confident driver. He’s the kind of guy who drives through a yellow without blinking, and I end up having to run a red to stay on them.
I call him. “Pick up,” I say. “Pick up. Pick up!”
“Morgan,” Lyre answers, sounding worried.
“The harpy is following your friend.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I’m following her. She’s following him. I might not be able to stick to them. You need to call your friend. Let him know. Hopefully, he can lose her, and I can stay with her.”
“Fuck!” Then I hear him apologize to a patient for cursing. Despite everything, I smile. He disconnects the phone.
I stay on her ass, leaving one or two cars between us. I’ve got this. I won’t lose her this time. My car is old, and it’s overdue for a service. You hunt evil creatures to make the world a safer place, not for financial gains. That much I have learned. My car has seen better days. I’m still holding my own, though. Ten seconds later and Suit and Tie suddenly picks up speed. Looks like Lyre got through to him. He suddenly makes a turn. And another. And another. Oh yeah, he knows, alright. He’s trying to lose her.
I have to use all of my experience to keep up. I forget about leaving cars between us. I have to hope that the harpy bitch is too busy keeping up to pay attention to me. My engine whines as I accelerate. “Come on, baby,” I say to my car.
Lyre calls. I answer, putting him on speaker. “Can you still see them?” he asks.
“Yes.” I make a turn, punching the gas. “Your friend can drive,” I yell.
“Don’t lose her!” he shouts.
“I won’t! I do this for a living, remember?”
He chuckles. “Actually, you never told me what you do for a living.”
That’s true! It was a slip of the tongue. I don’t say anything back. I concentrate on keeping up. I note that Suit and Tie is speeding ahead. He can drive, and he has a muscle car, so I’m not surprised.
“I’m going to assume your friend isn’t human,” I say. Lyre doesn’t answer me, which is all the answer I need. “Would he be willing to help capture her?” I ask.
“How?” he says.
“He can brake. Get her to stop. I’ll come in behind her. We can— Wait!” I yell.
I curse. She just turned right instead of following Suit and Tie. I have to hit the brakes hard to make the turn. It takes me a few seconds to accelerate. I watch her get ahead.
“What happened?” Lyre yells.
The harpy gains some more distance. “She’s not chasing him anymore!” I yell. “She went in the opposite direction. I’m still on her.” I have to push my accelerator as hard as I can. My engine protests, but I’ll lose her if I don’t push it.
I hear Lyre curse. “I’m going to call you back.”
“Okay.”
I hear him disconnect and I concentrate on keeping up. I’m going to get her. I will. There is no other way. I keep my foot flat until I need to make a corner, and then I brake hard. I make the turn and punch the gas. The harpy almost hits someone. People blow their horns at us as we blast through red lights and stop signs. She makes a hard right, almost plowing into a wall.
I take the turn and punch on the gas. My engine whines. Then there’s a bang, and smoke billows from under my hood. The engine dies.
“No!” I shout, watching the harpy speed away. I see her make a left.
My phone rings. It’s Lyre. “I lost her.” I hit my steering wheel feeling more frustrated than I have ever felt in my life.
Lyre curses.
Twice now. Twice I had her right there, and twice I watched her slip through my fingers. At least I have a good idea of what she wants. It’s all making more sense now.
/> 12
Lyre
I’m in my car. My phone goes over to Bluetooth. “I’m going to get off the phone now. Send me a location pin when I do,” I tell Morgan.
“Fine.” I can hear how pissed she is.
I’m feeling a little despondent myself. That and frustrated. What the fuck! I call Bolt and then send him Morgan’s location.
“Who is she?” he asks.
“It’s the woman I told you about. Morgan.”
He doesn’t sound happy, but he agrees to go there. I’m ten minutes away. He’s less than five. I don’t want her stranded alone. The harpy knows her location. She’s sold Morgan out before. She could do it again. I don’t care if Morgan thinks she can take care of herself. She’s still human. She can break. I want her safe. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her.
I push the speed limit. It takes me eight minutes to get there. Bolt is pushing Morgan’s car when I get there. I watch as she steers onto the side of the road. I park as she gets out. Morgan is frowning. Her eyes are blazing to the point where she looks like she might hit something or burst into tears.
“I can’t believe this happened,” she says as I jog up to them. “She had pulled a little ahead, but I was gaining. I was going to cut her off. I had her.”
“It’s not your fault,” I say. “These things happen. Have the two of you met?”
Lord of Life (The Dragon Demigods Book 4) Page 11
