by Cate Corvin
Gio raised his cup of coffee in a mockery of a salute. “That would be one of the differences we’ve hashed out. Sawyer is part of Team Keep Zara Alive.” Then his black eyes flickered with an unkind emotion. “As long as he’s aware that his loyalty now belongs to us, not to humans.”
I looked at Sawyer, my stoneheart pulsing faster. “Sawyer?”
He looked up, meeting my eyes. “No question, Z. I’m your pardner, remember?”
He had to know it was a major conflict of interest in the precinct. If Captain Raymond found out… “Sawyer, I can’t be responsible for…”
“Let’s have our meeting in two days,” Damien interrupted, flipping through his phone. “Gio will escort you to Viridios Tower. Officer Hawkins is welcome, of course.” He fixed that metallic gaze on Sawyer. “So long as he abides by his word.”
Sawyer nodded, his eyes never leaving my face. He was going a hell of a long way for me.
“We’ll allow you to enjoy your dinner in peace. Gio will be in the vicinity if you need him. He’s taken the liberty of programming his number in your phone as well.” Damien jerked his head, and the Onyx gargoyle rose to set his coffee cup in the sink and followed his employer to the door. “He’ll be back shortly. No matter how much privacy you desire, we can’t risk leaving you alone for long.”
Gio’s dark wings rustled as he slipped through the door, and I paused midway through closing it. His lips were pressed thin, eyes tight. He clearly didn’t want to leave me here without his protective magic at hand. “I’ll be fine, Gio. Nothing will happen in the next half an hour.”
He smiled, but it was strained. “Just doing my job.”
Blocking out the trepidation his obvious worry stirred in my gut, I shut the door.
Chapter Eight
“You like him.”
“What?” As I turned to face Sawyer, I felt my stupid face flushing. Too bad becoming a gargoyle wouldn’t change the fact that my embarrassment would always be obvious. “What are you talking about?”
“Gio. You like him.”
“I never said that, he’s just…”
“It’s fine, Zar, seriously. Just an observation. Come on, let’s reheat this food so we can eat.” He rifled through the haphazard bags until he found the container he was looking for, then popped it into the microwave as I stood there and tried to gather my wits.
Try as I might, I couldn’t deny that I felt a pull toward Gio. It was different than the comfortable camaraderie that I felt with Sawyer and the fiery attraction that both infuriated me and turned me on around Damien. There was something beneath the nudity and flirtation with Gio, and the investigator in me wanted to delve deep and uncover all his secrets.
“Go sit and I’ll bring you your plate when it’s ready.” Sawyer gave me a gentle push at the small of my back, but I stood firm.
“I’m not an invalid, Sawyer, I can reheat my own food.”
“I know you can. You’re a big, strong stone lady now. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to do something nice for you every now and again.” He slid his hand lower and palmed my ass. “Plus, you’re a little too close to me right now, and if we ever want to eat this food, that’s gonna have to change.”
I flushed when he flexed his fingers, the heat of his palm burning through my pants to scorch my flesh. Suddenly, I had no desire to sit on the couch and eating was for the weak. I could do without.
My intention to turn and wrap my arms around his neck was cut short when his stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl. All thoughts of sexy times fled as I laughed at the sheepish grin on his face.
“I’ll leave you to it then, Chef Hawkins.” Crossing the small space to my couch, I flopped down gracelessly and kicked my feet up on the coffee table. I’d bought it secondhand when I’d moved in here right after breaking up with Josh.
Just thinking his name was like dumping a bucket of ice over the lingering traces of my libido. Everything in here was new to me, with the exception of my personal effects like clothing and keepsakes. Several nice pieces of furniture had been my contribution to what was supposed to become our home, but when it had all fallen apart, I’d left them behind with no hesitation. They would have only reminded me of the farce of a relationship every time I used them.
Especially the bed.
The microwave dinged and Sawyer let out a hiss when he reached in to grab the steaming plate of food. It occured to me that I wouldn't have to worry about anything like that ever again. If a bullet couldn’t pierce my skin, I doubted a hot plate would even register to my once sensitive fingertips. There was so much I still needed to adjust to in this new life, but what really scared me about the prospect of gargoyle life was what I was going to have to leave behind. How much of what made me me would I have to give up?
Sawyer mumbled under his breath as the plate clattered where he dropped it to the countertop. He shook his hand like he was trying to extinguish the fires of hell and I smiled to myself. I was so lucky to have him in my life, even if he was ridiculous sometimes.
But would that last? He’d never been the biggest fan of gargoyles either, and even if he accepted me, did that mean that the rest of the precinct would? Even if I got to keep my job, we’d all been taught to be wary of gargoyles because of their enhanced abilities, and I wasn’t the only one who’d developed a strong prejudice against them. It wasn’t right, but unfortunately, it was a fact of life on the force.
“Here you go. Be careful, it’s really hot, don’t—”
I grabbed the proffered plate from Sawyer, clutching the plate with my full palm and feeling the heat with no pain.
“Well. Never mind then. But since you won’t need them, can I have your oven mitts? They’re awesome and would really bring that little something extra to my kitchen.”
The mental image of Sawyer taking cookies out of the oven with my cow print oven mitts on made me smile, but he must have seen the sadness in it.
“Hey, what is it? I won’t take the oven mitts if you really want them. You can hang them on the wall for decoration.”
“Shut up, Hawkins.” There was no heat in the words, but there was definitely a bit of a warble as my throat tightened up.
“Seriously, pardner, talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“What if they really won’t take me back?”
“Who, Gio and Damien? Zar, they’d fight me to the death for you, believe me.”
“No, not them. The precinct. The captain. What if… what if I really lose my badge?” It hurt to even speak the words. Being a cop was so much a part of me, losing it would be like losing an appendage, or even a vital organ. And yet, I had just lost both. My heart and my passion. “What will I be if not a cop?”
“Zara, you’re so much more than the badge.”
“But am I? It’s all I’ve ever wanted to be, and I busted my ass to get there. If they take it from me, I’ll have nothing.”
“There are so many other ways to help people without being a police officer.”
“You act like there aren’t inherent prejudices in every aspect of society. I won’t be a person to everyone anymore, I’ll be a stoneheart. A thing they have to fear and avoid. Hell, I felt the same way about a day ago.”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” He was either purposely ignoring the truth in hopes of sparing my feelings, or he was blind to what had become my reality. “What do they tell us in the academy? Steer clear of the pebbles unless there’s no other choice. They can’t be trusted, they’re dangerous, they don’t give a damn about us. Well, now I’m a they, Sawyer.”
He was quiet for a long moment as our food got cold on the coffee table. How many times could you reheat Chinese before it got dried out and disgusting? I stared at the plate, examining the amount of noodles and chicken he’d piled on it, anything to avoid looking directly at Sawyer. His silence was ratcheting up my worry that he was going to confirm my worst fear. It was one thing to think it to myself, another entirely for him to affirm it aloud.<
br />
A heavy palm landed on my knee, squeezing gently. I still couldn’t meet his eye, so instead I examined the back of his hand. His fingers were long, actually a little more elegant than one would have expected. They flexed as he tightened his hold on me, and I knew he was trying to get me to look up. Instead, I placed my hand atop his and squeezed back.
His indrawn breath made me snatch my hand away in a heartbeat.
“No, it’s okay, you don’t—”
“It’s not okay, Sawyer. I can’t even touch you without hurting you unintentionally! How can they let me come back to work knowing that I might break a perp’s arm while just trying to handcuff him?”
“You’ll learn control, Zar. That’s what your partner is for. I’m here no matter what happens, and I’ll help you however you need.”
“It’s not your responsibility—”
“It’s my fucking privilege, Zara. You know what I feel for you, what I’ve always felt, no matter how I had to hold back. Nothing has changed. Hell, if anything has, it’s that I can let myself want you without fear now.” He shifted so he was completely facing me, one knee bent to the back of the couch as he grabbed my hand interlaced our fingers. “I used to be terrified when we’d go out on a call that I’d make the wrong decision and get you hurt. Or killed.”
“That’s the job, though.”
“That’s the job when you’re not in love with your partner.”
Everything in me froze solid. Did he just say… he did. He abso-fucking-lutely did.
“Sawyer, I… you don’t—”
“Don’t try to tell me what I feel, Sterling. You don’t have to say it back, that’s not why I told you. But I meant what I said: the fear is gone. All of it. I’m not afraid to tell you what I want anymore. And I’m not afraid to go after it. After you.”
Stoneheart or not, the thing in my chest was racing like the frontrunner of the Kentucky Derby. He was damn right I didn’t have to say it back. I couldn’t!
Could I?
In one way, I loved Sawyer to death. He was my partner, family to me, someone I’d die to protect. But in the other way, the one that he meant… was that what I felt for him? It was more than a crush or mere physical attraction, but was it… that?
“I don’t know what to say,” I offered lamely. I wasn’t sure what I felt, much less how to express it to him in that moment. It required a vulnerability that I couldn’t quite achieve. Not when everything in my life was already in such upheaval.
“And that’s okay. You don’t have to know now. I’ve waited this long, I can wait a little more.” He leaned in with a speed that even a Topaz would be jealous of and pressed his soft lips to mine. The kiss was tender yet firm. A promise that I couldn’t decipher but trusted implicitly. He pulled back and tucked a strand of dark hair that had fallen into my face behind my ear. “Go.”
“What? Where?” My voice was breathy, pathetically so after what could only be classified as a peck. But it had left me shaken to my core, deeper than any makeout session I’d ever had. “Where am I going?”
“Go outside. I know you, Zar. I know you always need fresh air when your emotions take hold.” Damn. Did he really know me that well? Obviously, since he was right on the money. The walls were closing in on me and I wouldn’t feel better until I was out of this box of an apartment. “I’ll reheat your food again, or I can put it away if you’re not ready to eat.”
“You can reheat it. I’ll be right back.” I didn’t wait for a response as I hurried out to the balcony. It was the main reason I’d settled on this not-so-great apartment. I’d found several that were nicer, but this was the only one that had an actual balcony that I could put a table and a couple of chairs on without breaking any fire codes.
The moment the slight breeze hit my face, it was like a weight had been removed from my chest. I drew in what felt like the first full breath I’d taken in hours and held it. When I released the air from my lungs, I blew it out slowly, deliberately, counting to ten and trying to calm my frayed nerves.
I was a stoneheart, and I’d had no say in the matter.
There was more than a good chance that the career I’d fought so hard for was about to be ripped away from me, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to prevent it.
Sawyer loved me. No, Sawyer—my “pardner” Sawyer—was in love with me.
I was barely getting a grip on the first of my problems, so how the hell was I going to be able to deal with the rest of it without breaking down completely? How had I become exponentially stronger, only to feel weakened and out of control?
“Hey, Zar?” Sawyer’s voice from inside the apartment pulled me from the quagmire of my spiraling thoughts. “I just got recalled, they need me back at the station. You gonna be okay here until Gio gets back? I texted him, so he should be here any minute.” Well, apparently he’d even had time to give his new “bro” his phone number.
“I’m fine, go ahead.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.” I looked over my shoulder to see him framed in the sliding glass door of the apartment, a vision of sexiness with the way the setting sunlight played over his chiseled face. I could have that. He could be mine, I only had to say the word.
Yeah, it was probably a good thing he was leaving for now. I needed a chance to get my shit together.
“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”
He looked like he wanted to say more, but I pointedly turned back to my view of the city beyond. The tension in my shoulders lessened a tiny bit with each step I heard him take until the door to my apartment closed behind him. I wouldn’t be alone for long, so I should probably head back inside to enjoy the solitude while I could.
I took one last look at my beloved city, the one I put my life on the line every day to protect when I put on my uniform. It likely wouldn’t be my job much longer. About to turn and retreat inside, a glint and some movement caught my eye and I turned my attention to the balcony across the way. There was a man standing outside, and for a second it registered that he must be new, because I spent a lot of time on my own balcony and had never seen him.
I blamed Sawyer. And you know what? Damien and Gio could take some of the blame, too. They all had my head so muddled, which had to be why the grenade launcher in the stranger’s hand was the second thing I noticed.
Staring down the barrel of the launcher, all rational thought temporarily fell out of my head. The man on the balcony wasn't just a man, but a fullblood gargoyle with muddy green horns and dark wings, bent over to focus the launcher directly at me. There was no doubt about it.
He pulled the trigger and the cannon blast echoed between the buildings, rattling the windows in their panes. Acting on pure instinct, I spun and ducked in the open door for cover, but the bomb sailed overhead and exploded.
All I saw was a bright flare of light and my couch exploding. Half the ceiling collapsed, blocking my door. Another resounding boom almost sent me to my knees, and the other half of my living room disappeared in a pile of rubble.
There was no way out but down, and stonehearts didn’t have wings. I had no idea how many grenades I could withstand before the blasts weakened me, and if I fell from this height, I was definitely going to shatter into a thousand pieces.
I knelt, covering my head with my hands as another grenade smashed through one of my windows and detonated. The building’s supports screamed as my apartment blew apart, and the balcony tilted precariously.
One more hit was going to send me to my death. A very slow death, as my consciousness leaked out of the rubble of my body.
Ice filled the pit of my stomach as I waited to die. If Sawyer hadn’t left when he did…
The grenadier methodically fired another bomb right at me. It bounced off the wall and detonated almost right in my face. Shards of shrapnel hit me at high speeds and bounced right off, but the balcony was done for. The last thing I saw before open sky as it tipped over was twisted rebar sticking out of the building, then I was falling through empty
space.
A huge chunk of the concrete smashed into me, sending me flying into another balcony and ripping half the railing away. I bit back a scream as I careened downwards, and a massive bolt of darkness flashed past me.
My headlong momentum stopped in its tracks when powerful hands caught me under my arms, but my stomach kept going for a second, sending a wave of nausea through me. Massive black wings spread around me, beating the air and driving us upwards.
Gio.
Gio had me, and I could’ve cried from relief. I wasn’t going to become rubble.
He moved me around easily, twisting me so I could wrap my arms around his neck and hold on for dear life. I buried my face in his neck as we shot upwards, catching a glimpse of the grenadier on the balcony.
Or what was left. The balcony was empty, the grenade launcher and the gargoyle wielding it nowhere in sight.
“Hold on tight, Zara,” Gio murmured, the wind whipping his voice away. Like hell I wasn’t going to hold on tight; I got a glimpse of the ground far below us, cars creeping around like ants as the world fell away, and I wanted no part of that business.
The corded muscles of Gio’s neck stood out, but he kept his arms wrapped around me as we tore across the city. The river glittered far below, I was shedding dust and small chunks of concrete behind us like pixie dust, but despite my terror, in Gio’s arms I felt like everything was going to be okay.
Until he whipped to the side, and we veered on a collision course towards Viridios Tower.
Chapter Nine
Ground. Sweet solid ground. I’d never take it for granted again. This may have been the top floor of a fucking tower, but I’d take it over the vast emptiness of the sky. The ability to fly was amazing, but it was a hard pass for me, thanks.
Gio held onto me for a long moment after he’d landed on the roof of Viridios Tower, and I pretended not to see the smirk on his face as I tried to regain my equilibrium. Bastard. I had to resist the urge to elbow him in the gut, mostly because it would probably bruise my elbow while leaving him completely unfazed. Stupid gargoyle.