by R L Medina
“I’m sorry, Javi—” I reached for him.
He backed away. “A food soldier?” His chin lifted, eyes burning with anger and hurt. “I’m going to be much more than that, Rose.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I—”
“It’s fine. I get it. You think you’re better than us. Than me.”
“No. I never said that.”
He shrugged off my hand and turned away from me. I tried to step toward him, but Shiloh was there, blocking me. “That’s enough, Rose.” Her voice was steel.
“Javi.” My eyes flicked to his back.
“If it’s so horrible for you then why don’t you just leave?” His words were soft, but they cut me like a knife.
Leave.
My jaw clenched as I blinked back the tears. “Maybe I will.”
“I won’t come after you this time. You leave, you’re on your own. Just like you want.”
His words were like a fist to my heart.
A knock sounded on the door, startling me. Shiloh glanced between us and the door, uncertainty written in her eyes.
I turned away from them and sucked in a breath. “Come in.”
The door opened and Tío stormed in. “What is taking you so long? We are all waiting for you.”
His eyes darted across the room, landing on Javi, who had straightened to full height and was doing a good job of masking his anger and hurt. My ears were still ringing with the words we had launched at each other.
My stomach churned with regret.
“Dad, take me with you. I’ve worked with Los Reyes before. I can help.”
Tío stared hard at him. “Fine. Gear up. Let’s go.”
I reeled in surprise. He was letting Javi come just like that? My eyes met Shiloh’s.
She lifted her chin and addressed my tío. “I’d like to come too and help. I’m the top caster in our grade and will be—”
Tío waved his hand in dismissal. “Fine. Fine. Anyone who is coming needs to be downstairs in the car in ten.”
With that, he turned and walked out, leaving us standing in awkward silence. Javi ran off to get his things, ignoring me as he left. The tension from the fight hung heavy in the air as Shiloh and I packed up.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean those things.” I broke the silence.
She glanced at me and sighed. “I know, but he’s never going to be able to forget what you’ve said.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt him like that.”
Her face softened. “He shouldn’t have said some of the things he did either. Just give him a little time. I’m sure you guys can repair the damage.”
She shook her head as she took off her sandals and grabbed her boots. “He’s right you know. The GRIMM aren’t the enemy here, Rose. I know some agents have done shady things, but overall, we help people. Protect them. Why wouldn’t you want to be a part of that?”
“Haven’t you ever thought of leaving the GRIMM? Do something else with your life?”
She cocked her head at me. “But what would I do? Where would I go?”
“You could go anywhere. Do anything.”
“But I can do the most good, here.”
Not wanting to start another fight, I held my tongue. It wasn’t worth arguing about. There were more important things to worry about. Like finding Grayson and Brady. Stopping Luna Negra. A shudder ran through me. What news did the wolves have for us? Hopefully, something good because I’d had enough bad news to last me a lifetime.
10
The car ride to Rafael’s mansion was silent and filled with tension. If Tío suspected anything, he didn’t show it. Instead, he interrupted the quiet every now and then to lecture me about my ‘attitude’ and how I needed to show respect and cooperate when we arrived.
What I was supposed to be cooperating with, he didn’t say, but knowing I rarely agreed with what he wanted, I didn’t make him any promises. I didn’t care what the GRIMM wanted of me either. My only concern was finding Grayson and Brady and getting the witches off my back. Though if I was being honest, I had been repeatedly pushing the Luna Negra problem into the category of things to avoid dealing with until much later.
My cousin’s harsh words replayed in my mind. Was I still living in a fantasy—pretending this war wasn’t affecting me?
I glanced over at him. He refused to even look at me, much less speak to me. I deserved it, but it still hurt to be on the outs with him.
He was the only real family I had left.
I held my backpack in my lap, filled with everything I thought I’d need. This time, I hadn’t left my sword behind. Would I have to use it soon? If the witches came again?
No, not if. When.
Though I’d been preparing to face them again, I was overwhelmed by the fact that I was sorely lacking in the magic and fighting department. The movies and books were so dead wrong—depicting teens as heroes as if you could learn your superpowers in a day.
What did I have except the random ability to heal myself? And plants too, apparently. I failed to see how that skill would help me against Luna Negra.
Pushing away the dark thoughts, I looked out the window and stared at the gray sky. A snort escaped me. Even the weather was gloomy like my mood. I glanced over and Shiloh and Javi who were lost in their own conversation, speaking in hushed tones.
An ache filled me at the sight. Javi’s words replayed in my mind. You’re on your own. Just like you want.
“Let’s go.” Tío’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to find we’d made it to the mansion. Two other cars I didn’t recognize were parked in front of us.
Wasting no time, I opened the door and hopped out. The woman, Miss Weatherstone, got out of her car too and followed me up. One of the men from the school who I didn’t know was waiting outside the front door along with another guy I didn’t recognize. The investigator? He was tall and slim with dark skin and wide rimmed glasses. He didn’t look anything like the hardened cop I’d pictured. He looked more fit to run a bookstore or teach classes.
His dark eyes met mine briefly before he bent to scribble something in his notepad. I frowned. Was he making notes about me? We hadn’t even met yet, what could he possibly be writing?
“Agent Young.” Tío’s voice boomed behind me.
I turned to see him walking up with Shiloh an Javi. Shiloh gave me an encouraging smile, but my cousin continued to ignore me.
“Agent Vasquez.” The investigator’s deep voice made me do a double take.
It was definite case of the voice not matching the appearance. If it weren’t for the fact that my senses or ‘sight’ hadn’t been triggered, I would have suspected him of using glamour. But he was plainly GRIMM—completely human.
His eyes met mine again before sweeping the driveway.
“Are we waiting for someone else?” the woman asked, staring at the front door.
I was curious too. They hadn’t spoken over the intercom when we passed through. They’d just opened the gate for us. A thought startled me.
What if it was a trap? What if Luna Negra was there already?
As if sensing my fear, the others spread out, the GRIMMs summoning their weapons. Even Javi had his sword out. His eyes flicked to me before dancing away.
“Did you try knocking?” Miss Weatherstone asked.
The investigator gave her a flat look. “Of course. Multiple times. No answer but be my guest.”
She lifted her little chin and stepped forward, her heels clacking against the concrete. Before she could even knock, the front door swung open.
Out stepped, Lucian, looking as surly as ever. His big black sunglasses hid his gaze, but judging by the frown on his lips, he wasn’t exactly thrilled to see us. I had the impression he was glaring at all of us.
The woman stumbled back. “Oh. You scared me. Is Rafael Peña home?”
He turned to her and grunted, giant arms folding across his massive chest. I’d forgotten how beefy and intimidating h
e was. He widened his stance, blocking the front door.
I waved to him. “Hey, Luc. Miss me?” I moved toward the door.
He grunted in response and held up a hand to my tío and the others as they tried to follow. “Just her.”
The look of outrage that passed on Tío’s face filled me with glee.
Javi stepped up to my side. “We’re not letting her go in there by herself.”
My heart twisted at his words. Even after the fight, he still cared about me. Guilt needled me.
Lucian turned to him. “Alpha’s orders.” His voice was like steel.
“Well, I’m here under GRIMM orders to investigate your pack.” Agent Young drew himself to full height, which was almost as impressive as Lucian’s.
The wolf’s lips spread into a cold smile. “Where’s the warrant?”
Matching his predatory smile with one of his own, the agent produced a slip of paper out of thin air. My mouth dropped as it floated and flickered in front of Lucian’s face.
He snatched it so quickly, I jumped. The paper crumpled in his giant fist.
“I don’t see any warrant. Come back when you have one.”
The agent snorted. “This isn’t my first day on the job, wolf.”
Another paper appeared in the air, followed by another and another. They wavered and spun around Lucian’s wrinkled forehead.
He growled, smacking them away. Tío, Javi, and the other council member were pacing the front of the house, weapons out. Did they think they could get past Lucian and break in? As if Rafael would be any more amenable to them forcing their way in. Though it was amusing to see so many male egos battling for dominance, we didn’t have all day to waste. Grayson and Brady still needed us.
I moved to step forward, but the red-haired woman beat me to it.
“Agent Young. If you could kindly put those away.” She shot him a dark look.
She turned to Lucian. “We’re here because your alpha requested,” she glanced at me, “I’m sorry. Is it Rosita?”
“Rose,” I corrected her.
“Sorry. Rose. He asked for her and we just want to offer our help—”
Lucian leaned forward, face inches from hers. “We. Don’t. Need. Your. Help.”
She flinched, face reddening. I felt a twinge of sympathy for her. It wasn’t anyone who could stand up to Lucian, the jerk hole, that he was.
“Now, now, Lucian. Is that any way to greet our guests.” Leo appeared behind him.
His eyes raked over us, lighting up when he saw me.
Lucian visibly stiffened but didn’t turn to face his pack brother. “Raf didn’t say anything about GRIMM coming in.”
“I’m not GRIMM. I’m here on behalf of the Council of Extraordinaire Rights,” Miss Weatherstone interjected.
Leo smiled and gave her an appraising look, eyebrows waggling.
Lucian grunted. “Even worse.”
Her cheeks reddened, but she met his stare with a firm look of her own.
“Let them in, Lucian,” Rafael drawled from inside.
The giant beta’s lip curled at us, but he moved away from the door in obedience. Leo waved us in with a big grin and wink at the red head.
I walked in, flanked by the others. Rafael stood in the foyer.
He locked gazes with me. Though he was smiling his usual, ‘welcome to my giant ass mansion, I’m a big deal,’ smile, I could read the hostility in his dark eyes.
We shared blood—but we were not family.
His eyes flicked across the others, landing on the woman from the Council of Extraordinaire Rights.
He frowned. “I don’t remember inviting you here.”
Her cheeks reddened before she recovered quickly. “The council sent me. To discuss your help with—”
“I don’t remember agreeing to help the GRIMM with anything.”
She met his glare with a wide smile. “Not yet you haven’t. That’s why I’m here.” Though her dress slacks and jacket suit screamed desk job, there was a fire in her eyes that told me she was not a pushover. Maybe she was just as stubborn as the alpha.
Well, good for her. Rafael could use someone to knock him down a peg or two. Or three.
He chuckled darkly. “I was wondering when I’d see you again, Miss Weatherstone. Couldn’t stay away, could you?”
“I’m here on business. Same as before.” Her voice turned steely.
His smile turned vicious. “Business. Right.”
I gaped at the pair, wondering when and how they’d met. The others stood around, some of them looking just as curious while Tío and the detective were scanning the house. Looking for more wolves? Witches?
“Why am I here, Rafael?” I broke the awkward tension.
Everyone turned to me.
Rafael’s head swiveled toward me. I made a face at him, but he didn’t so much as blink in response.
Creeper.
It was hard to tell what was going on in his mind. Though he’d made his feelings about being related to me clear enough. I shuddered at the memory of his rage. What had changed his mind about me coming back?
“You’ll have to wait for Michael. He’s the one with the information.” Rafael shrugged.
Agent Young frowned. “I’m not here to play games. You said you wanted the girl. She’s here. Now tell me what you know.”
The room grew quiet. Rafael strode toward him, the calm look on his face hiding what I was sure was years of pent-up rage and alpha-holeness.
“I asked for Rose to come. Not you. I told you before, Agent Young, if I knew any information about the witches, I would tell you. It’s not my job to find them. That’s yours. And it’s not my fault if you’re doing a piss job at it.”
His voice was cool and collected, but there was a fire gleaming in his eyes.
The agent scowled back at him, the other GRIMM standing behind him as back up. Miss Weatherstone was rubbing her forehead and muttering under her breath. I shared her frustration. I was there in hopes the wolves had news about Grayson or Brady. Or even Luna Negra. The hostility between them and the GRIMM was getting annoying.
There were real problems and us going back and forth wasn’t helping anyone.
Rafael turned to me. “Michael is the one you want to talk to. However, I do have something interesting you all might want to see.”
He motioned for Lucian to leave. I watched the exchange, warily. What were they up to now?
“Leo, get a hold of Michael,” Rafael instructed.
Leo nodded in response and disappeared down the hall with his phone in hand. The rest of us continued standing, still unsure of what was going on.
Lucian returned with someone else. Someone we recognized right away. I gasped.
“Brady?”
Shiloh ran to him, throwing her arms around him. I stood, reeling with shock. How had he ended up with the wolves?
“Brady? Have you been here the whole time?” Shiloh asked.
I shook my head in disbelief. “Why did your dad tell us you were in rehab?”
He smirked at me. “Because that’s where I told him I’d be. I even conjured a nice little movie for him should he try to find me.”
The orb. It had been false—a projection Brady had set up himself.
“If you weren’t there, where have you been? Here with the wolves all this time?” Javi interrupted.
Brady exchanged a look with Lucian and turned back to us. “No. Not the whole time.”
“Your father doesn’t know where you are?” The member from council frowned. He shot Rafael a suspicious look.
Even Tío’s brow furrowed in concern. Brady shrugged off the man’s question. “I’m sure you’re going to tell him, so he’ll know soon enough.”
“Brady, we were worried sick about you. You couldn’t text back or call? Not even once?” Shiloh’s voice rose with emotion.
Guilt flashed on his face as he turned to her. “Sorry, Shiloh. I didn’t have service. I wanted to tell you guys. I’ll tell you everything, I
swear.”
“Well, someone had better start telling us something.” The GRIMM huffed.
“Since you’re already here, you might as well make yourselves comfortable. Follow me,” Rafael interrupted.
He motioned for us to follow him all the way in. I exchanged looks with Shiloh and Javi before giving Brady an awkward side hug as we walked together.
“Did you ever get my message then, Brady? About Grayson?” I whispered.
His eyes met mine. “Grayson?”
“He’s alive. Trapped somewhere by well, we don’t know who yet, but he’s alive.”
He paused, surprise and relief flashing across his features. “Are you sure?”
I nodded, feeling a slight twinge of disappointment. I’d hoped Brady had information about Grayson. But we still had nothing to go on.
“We gotta ditch these assholes,” Brady muttered, gaze flickering to the GRIMM agents including Tío.
Javi’s eyebrow arched at him. “Why? What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you once we lose the suits.” Brady gave him a pointed look.
Shiloh and I glanced at each other, as if either of us knew what he was talking about. Did this still have to do with Luna Negra?
Rafael waved his arm across the sitting area, inviting us all to sit. Leo returned and stood by Lucian.
No one made any moves toward the couches and chairs.
Rafael sniffed in derision. “Really, too busy learning how to wave your swords around that you’ve failed to learn any manners or etiquette?”
Agent Young gave a disgusted scoff in response.
Rafael smiled. “Or is that you’re all so frightened, you’ve forgotten how to sit,” his eyes lit up, “I guess some of the tales are true enough.”
“What are you yapping about?” the council man snapped.
Rafael’s eyes slid to him. “You know, the big, bad wolf and the scared little pigs?”
The man’s face reddened at the insult.
Leo smirked beside his alpha and Lucian remained unfazed as ever, though he stood blocking us from the front door.
Miss Weatherstone’s snort broke the silence. Everyone looked to her and she flushed.
“Leo, go get our guests some water. Miss Weatherstone’s face is turning nearly as red as her hair,” Rafael ordered the wolf, his eyes never leaving the flustered woman.