***
Nathanael watched as Gabriel swooped down from the sky to land before him on the second floor walkway, and shook his hand. “Hey, Brother, thanks for coming. How are ya?”
“I’m good, I’m good.” He retracted his wings and dug into the back pocket of his leather pants. “Mission accomplished. Ariana Kupi is the daughter of the slain Joseph and Celeste Kupi. She went dark twenty years ago, and for all intents and purposes, died, too. Trail ends. Her father was partners with one Edward Murati of Las Vegas, Nevada. They owned Kupi and Murati’s Curiosity Shop. I found some scary tidbits on the now sole owner of the store.”
“Do tell.”
“Well, first of all, his shop was a suspected front for drug dealing.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. I checked his financials. He should barely be making ends meet, given profit/loss statements. But when I dug deeper, I found out he lives in a multimillion-dollar mansion, and he’s got a personal jet to his name, as well, that takes him to Tahiti several times a year. I’m still trying to locate precisely where he goes. I’ll get back to you on that.”
“So he’s rich. Where’s the hard evidence about drugs? They were real close. She called him uncle, you know. I gotta tread carefully and have undisputable proof that he’s into illegal stuff before I go telling her anything.”
“Is this file hard enough evidence for ya?” Gabriel passed a manila folder to him. “Don’t ask me where I got it. I’d have to kill ya.” He chuckled.
“Give me your short version. It’ll be just as thorough, I’m sure.”
“He’s been investigated in the past, charged numerous times for dealing cocaine and ecstasy, but none of the charges stuck. They were all mysteriously dropped each time.”
“Interesting. He’s got someone high up in his pocket. Wonder if he involved her father as well before he and his wife were murdered?”
“The first charge goes back a long ways, about twenty years ago.”
“Hmmm. Her parents were murdered twenty years ago.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes briefly. “All right, so we got a no-good uncle running her father’s old shop as a front for drugs. Lovely. Hey, would you take a look at this while you’re here? It’s a key I found looking through the burnt remains of her apartment. What’s it go to? Do you know?”
Nathanael handed over the key he’d been fumbling with since they’d begun talking, and waited patiently while watching Gabriel turn it over and over in his hands.
“Hmm. It looks to me to be a key to a locker in a bus station. See how it says B54 on this side?” Gabriel pointed to the engraving. “That tells you that it’s in Section B, locker number 54. But to what specific station, I haven’t a clue. Instincts tell me, though, if it’s hers, and you find the locker to that key, you’ll find yourself with a whole bunch of answers. How is she?”
“Messed up, man. Still very guarded. PTSD has a strong hold on her, but I’m wearing her down.” He smirked. “I thought I’d be able to get my hands on that Elixxir, no problem, but she has no idea where it is.”
“Do what you can with her until Raphael and Emma are available to help. I gotta go, but if you need anything else, I’m free and so are Michael, Urie, and Kemuel.”
“Uh yeah, well, Kemuel’s gonna have to stay far away from this mission. Suffice it to say, he and Callie should not be in the same with room with each other for a good long while.”
“Okay, not gonna ask. Don’t want to know. Oh, hey! I almost forgot. E.L. says he’s got an upgrade for you Warriors to check out and use from here on out. He’s ramped up your shielding capabilities to transparent. Now you can shield your threaded signature and your appearance. There’s nothing better than hearing the word ‘upgrade’ in my world, so you’re freakin’ lucky. Call me, bro.” Gabriel stood, released his wings, and flew off into the purple sky. Dawn was coming, and with it a whole host of questions for one complicated woman.
Nathanael trudged back into the room, tossing the key about in his hand. His senses revealed no more about it. Not the slightest thread of intent or emotion remained. He’d have to rely on Callie to offer up any additional information. The rhythmic rise and fall of her body told him the enigmatic woman still lay sleeping. He’d have to wake her up soon if they were going to make decisions on what to do next. Sitting on a chair, he stared at her back, trying to wrap his head around a plan percolating in his mind.
“Stop staring. You’re creeping me out.”
He laughed. “I didn’t think you were awake. How do you know I’m looking at you? You’re not even facing my direction.”
“I don’t. You just confirmed my suspicions. Kemuel always watched me sleep.” She turned over and glared at him. “I don’t know what it is about you guys. You seem to have an aversion to sleeping or something.”
“We need to talk about what we’re doing today,” he said, diverting her attention to a more suitable topic.
She leaned up on her elbow and sighed. “I think all signs lead to Vegas.” He raised a brow in surprise. “I think we need to go there. I can’t let these killers get their hands on what’s mine. And what’s mine has to be there somewhere. Maybe you, being all Brethren Security, black ops, and bounty hunter-ish, can do what the cops haven’t been able to do in twenty years. Catch the assholes who killed my parents. I’m not sure, though, where to start once we’re there.”
“Why don’t you start with this?” He took the locker key from his pocket and poured the chain into her palm.
“What?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?” He sat back and folded his hands on his lap.
“Well, it’s a key, of course.” She put it around her neck and tucked it under her tank top.
He leaned in. “Apparently it’s yours.”
“Yes, it’s mine. Where did you find it?”
“Back at your apartment, or what used to be your apartment. What does it open?”
“I don’t know, actually. My father gave it to me when I was a little girl and told me it was the key to his heart. I used to wear it all the time. I wasn’t supposed to keep anything from my former life, but I couldn’t help it. I had to have something tangible from my parents, so I hid it no matter where I lived. I should thank you for finding it.” She smiled.
“You’re welcome. I think it’s an important piece to all of this. Try to remember. Did your dad ever take you to a bus station when you were a little girl and use the key?”
She closed her eyes and her brow furrowed. After a few moments, she opened them. “I can’t remember. I don’t know.” Bristling, she pushed the sheets to the side, crawled over to her backpack, and then sifted through a mound of clothes, ultimately pulling out a fresh pair of shorts and a T-shirt. “I’ll only be a couple minutes, and then we can go.”
Yeah, and then I can knock the wall down you built up.
***
Callie’s skin sizzled like potato chips in a convection oven. Swirling waves of heat punished every pore, wrung out precious drops of moisture from her body, and quickly whisked it away. They’d been riding on his Harley, beating up the road, for a couple of hours now. Surely she’d lost a good twenty pounds in water weight, and her butt needed a break desperately. She tapped him on the shoulder and shouted in his ear.
“Can we stop? Butt’s killing me!”
He nodded and pointed to an approaching sign that said, “Rest Stop—10 miles.”
Oh, thank the dear Lord! She gingerly stood, using the foot pegs to stretch a little bit, and repositioned herself on the joke of a passenger seat. It would be ten more miles of nothing better to do than beat herself up for her predicament.
“If only” kept cropping up in her brain. If only she hadn’t pushed the damned computer key, she wouldn’t be in this mess. If only she hadn’t had that infernal nightmare in front of Nathanael, he wouldn’t be acting all nice and behaving like a man who cared. If only she wasn’t starting to have feelings for the jerk, this ride w
ould be so much easier! Four more hours she had left to endure his masculine scent assaulting her hormones, his power undulating beneath her hands, and his body speaking naughty things to hers. I am such a loser! I decide to swear off men and what do I do with the first one who shows the least bit of kindness? I get all hot and bothered by him! I need off this bike!
Before she realized it, he had slowed down and veered off the road to the rest stop. “Why don’t you take a walk around for a few minutes? I’ll go and get us something to eat and drink.”
She grunted as she lifted her weary body off the motorcycle. “Sounds like a plan. I’m gonna go to the restroom. Would ya get me the largest bag of Corn Nuts you can find, and a bottle of water, please?”
“Sure thing.” He got off his bike, showing no signs of fatigue whatsoever. Too tired to be pissed, she shuffled over to the bathrooms at the side of the Quickmart.
“Ten dollars regular on number eleven.” Nathanael loaded up the counter with Callie’s requests and his own Coke and slice of pizza. The woman gave him the once-over multiple times, and he considered asking her for payment for services rendered.
“That’ll be eighteen dollars, seventy-five cents.”
He fished a fifty-dollar bill out of his wallet and handed it to her. Funny how she didn’t scrutinize that as well as she did him. He chuckled to himself. After receiving his change and another flagrant bit of ogling, he made his way out the door, only to be slammed in the face with the sexiest view to hit his eyes in a long time. Callie stalked over to the bike, hips swishing side to side and hair dripping wet, leaving rivulets running down her arms and back. He had the sudden urge to follow those lines with his tongue.
As the door swung closed, it hit him in the ass, jarring him from his less-than-angelic thoughts. Something else did as well. The sense of fear and annoyance. It emanated from the sexy redhead, and he immediately saw why. A huge, grimy man had shuffled over to her and was making lewd comments and propositions. And I’m different from him, how? Oh right, at least I keep my depraved thoughts to myself! He sighed and shook his head, carefully putting the food and drink on the narrow sidewalk. Cracking his knuckles and angling his neck from side to side, he lumbered over to the escalating scene.
Callie’s fear had manifested itself into a flurry of colorful curses and a string of suggestions as to what would happen should the man even attempt to touch her, but he knew it was a cover. He sensed the terror she kept in check, and gave her bonus points for bravado. The derelict simply laughed and took a menacing step toward her. Nathanael’s shadow loomed large over the smelly, disheveled pig as he closed in as well. Showtime….
“All right, buddy, why don’t you move on now? The lady’s not interested.”
“I’m just showing her my appreciation for her lusty appearance, is all. Can’t a man compliment a lady anymore these days? Jeee-zus! And who the hell are you to butt into our business anyways? She’s warming up to me, and you have to put your nose in it.”
“I’m her guardian angel, shit-for-brains. So move on or I’m gonna have to get ugly on your ass.”
“Ha! Right! Not likely when I have this.” Quick as a blink, he pulled out a Glock from his waistband and pointed it at Callie. “Now, you’re gonna leave us alone, boy, to finish our business. Understand?”
She’d moved closer to him throughout the exchange, but not close enough to be shielded. Now frozen where she stood, her eyes widened and fear bloomed on her face. A thrum of energy coursed through his body as this imbecile ignited his anger, and he smelled the putrescence of evil wafting across the expanse between them. Vibrations of latent power shivered across his skin as the anticipation built.
What a puny attempt at intimidation! The thug would be no match for his angelic speed and skills. Besides, with security cameras watching their every move, he knew he had to dispatch him quickly. Like a rush of wind, Nathanael flew over and knocked the gun clear out of the man’s hand. He figured, from the man’s cries, he’d broken bones in the process. Then he punched him in the gut for good measure. Amidst shrieks, curses, and protests, he proceeded to pick him up, walk over to the Dumpster, and throw him in with a grunt and growl of his own. He collected the piece, winked at Callie, who blinked at him, speechless, and returned to the convenience store. By the time he reached the clerk, the initial adrenaline rush had receded a bit.
“Miss, there’s a man in your Dumpster at the moment. I relieved him of this here weapon he chose to point at my lady friend.” He laid it down on the rubber mat by the cash register. “I suggest you call the police. Have a nice day.” He turned his back on the second woman he’d rendered speechless that day, and walked out. With food and drink back in his hands, he found Callie’d taken up residence on the back of his bike.
“Water and the largest bag of Corn Nuts I could buy.” He extended the offerings to her. She looked at them and took them without comment. “You did real good back there, Red. Said some curses I didn’t even know.” He chuckled.
“Can we go, please?” She frowned and took a long swig from her bottle of water.
He gave her back a pat and she flinched. “Hey, you gotta shake it off, now. Nothing bad happened. I told you I’d protect you.”
“Men are assholes, through and through. Present company not included. But there’s still time for you to fuck that up, too. I’m not hungry anymore. Can we please go?”
“All righty, then. There’s my snarky girl!” He swallowed down the slice of pizza in three easy bites and took a long swig of his Coke.
He got on his bike and started the engine. Not more than five minutes down the road, she tapped him on his shoulder and pointed for him to pull over onto the side of the road. He immediately did so.
“What’s up?” Callie flew off the bike and paced back and forth. “Something wrong with your seat? Got a cramp?”
She stopped in front of him and waved his questions off. “No, my seat is fine, and I don’t have a cramp. I have a question.”
“You had me stop for a question? You couldn’t wait until we arrived in Las Vegas?”
Wagging a finger, she looked him square in the eye. “How did you do it?”
“How did I do what?”
“How did you get to that guy so fast and remove the gun? One minute you’re over here,” she said, gesturing to her left. “And then you’re on top of the guy, batting the gun away. Plus, he’s huge and you picked him up like he was a feather. I want answers, Nate. No normal guy can do what you did today. And your scratches from the blast yesterday, gone. Curiosities are starting to pile up. I don’t like curiosities. I’m not going another mile with you until you give me some answers.” She folded her arms over her chest and planted her feet on the solid ground.
She’s on to me, damn it. I can’t lie, so what on earth am I going to say?
“Well, if you really must know, then I’ll tell you. But it’s gotta be a secret kept between us. No one must know.”
“Oh, great. You know what? I know what you’re gonna say, and damn it. It’s so bad for you. Steroids are not the answer, Nate.”
He thought about correcting her assumption, but stopped himself just in time. Hell, he didn’t say it, and if he didn’t agree with her, he still wasn’t lying. Technically.
“What gave you that impression?” He kicked at some dirt and looked down for an added dramatic effect.
She scoffed and waved her hands madly about as she circled around him. “Let’s see, you’re huge, for one thing. All those muscles are fighting to burst out of your skin! You’re super-fast. I mean, you were on that Neanderthal in a flash, Nate. You’re super strong to lift and carry him the way you did. Unreal! Oh, and let me not forget the crazed look you had in your eyes. They nearly glowed! That was one crazy ’roid look if I ever saw one.” She shook her head.
“Well,” he said, smacking his hands together. “Now that we have that settled, shall we get going so we can make Las Vegas before it gets dark?” He’d been a lucky little shit because that
could have exploded in his face. He smiled, mounted the bike, and motioned for her to get back on.
She did, and poked his shoulder. “Get off the ’roids, Nate. They’re gonna kill ya. Ready when you are.”
Chapter Seven
Callie leaned against the hotel balcony railing, looking out onto the Las Vegas Strip. They’d arrived at the Tropicana a couple of hours ago, and she couldn’t be more melancholy. Bright lights had begun to show their glimmer, but vague childhood memories flitted in and out of her mind, obscuring her view. She imagined herself a wee bit of a thing, holding hands with her father and mother, walking down the sidewalk, and being frightened. She hated the greasy-looking men who got in people’s faces and handed out cards of nearly naked women. And the women, well, some of them were pretty enough, but most of them were scary ugly and wore clothes two sizes too small.
She hadn’t remembered much, but one thing she did recall quite clearly. She hated Las Vegas.
“I just got off the phone with the front desk. A room opened up with two queen beds in it. They’re sending up our keys right now.” Nathanael had come outside, and she hadn’t even noticed. Turning her back on the Strip, she focused on the mammoth individual standing before her. He took up all the available space out on the tiny bit of a landing, and then some.
“Okay, that’s great. Thanks. I didn’t mean to make a stink about it when we arrived, but I thought it would be better to have two beds since I’m such a restless sleeper.”
He laughed. “Well, your stink has sent us to the penthouse level, so I should be thanking you.”
Elixxir (The Brethren Series) Page 6