by Erin R Flynn
“Yeah, that shouldn’t be what I handle,” he confessed, waving off what I was going to say next, as it wasn’t going to be nice. “I heard you, and maybe someone can come up with an idea, but let’s handle the piles of problems in front of us first.”
I wanted to tell him that progress would never happen if we only handled the piles in front of us, always playing defense instead of doing a bit of offense to change people’s minds. But yeah, fixing what we could was at least a good start. A big start even for all the paranormals of Vegas.
I still wanted to roll my eyes, though, wondering if I’d have to visit each city and have this kind of situation with the paranormals to handle it all. If that was true, I was going to be a very, very busy FBI division chief, and I so missed my bed already.
After the wolves, I had a talk with the cheetahs, then the vampires, the hawks, and on, and on. Dear lord, it was exhausting. By the time all of it was done, I was late for my goodbye brunch with Alena, Laila, and Diandra, no longer staying an extra day as Alena was to handle things.
No, I wasn’t in the best of moods.
“Have you slept?” Alena asked quietly.
“No, there was another pile of shit to handle or three,” I bitched, practically downing my coffee before asking for a refill. “People have gotten so excited that there’s someone to finally go to for help, some of the reports were getting a bit ridiculous like someone harassed them three years ago on the Strip. No names. No anything, just someone bullied them.”
“They’ve gotten that petty?” Laila asked, raising a perfectly mannered eyebrow. She didn’t say it, but she meant shifters.
It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. “The fairy wasn’t being petty, more letting it all out as it compiles and snowballs when there’s no one for so long.”
“There was someone,” she argued.
“Not like there is for humans, and as citizens of this country, it grinds on most that they can’t get the same help. I’m not knocking any paranormal group. It’s a lot. And there’s a lot more than anyone thought. It’s why I’m leaving people to keep working, as it could take weeks to handle it all.”
“Well, it will be better the next time you visit,” she offered. I gave her a look she deserved, and she set down her coffee with a sigh. “Are you saying you’ll never visit again?”
“Let’s just say it’s gone on the list of places I’ve burnt my hand on, and I don’t volunteer to touch the stoves again,” I explained, shrugging when all three gave me disbelieving looks. “I almost died. I’m going to have so much flack for what was done in the regular office they might burn images of me. My team and I have over a hundred reports to now go through from the line of people wanting to report crimes and problems.”
“I don’t believe I’d hurry back, either,” Alena conceded.
Yeah, I wasn’t hurrying back to Vegas like ever.
I finished my breakfast and then met Hagan and Reagan in the lobby since they’d packed for me. Tristan, Noah, Simone, and some of my team were there as well, looking just as ready to get the hell out of Dodge as well.
“Milady, we will make arrangements and meet you in Chicago as soon as possible,” Dain said, coming to see us off.
I actually blinked at him a moment, and then it sunk in. “Right, you’re mine now. Okay, well, start looking for a place too.”
Shock flashed in his eyes. “We won’t be living with you?”
“I’d prefer you don’t. I don’t know you guys, and everyone else I’ve added got their own places. So, yeah, I’m gonna say you’re not. If you need help with something—”
“Not at all. We can handle finding a residence, thank you.” I flinched, and he sighed. “I mean it. Thank you. Most would not give us that freedom. I apologize. The lack of sleep has melted my brain.”
“Mine too. See you soon then.” I turned to leave, shocking all of them. We had a flight scheduled, and while it was easier to be late for a private flight, I really wanted to get the fuck out of Vegas and home to bed.
That sounded a bit like heaven.
23
Major shit went down in the Vegas FBI office once Monroe had a talk with Deputy Director Galvin. Internal Affairs was all over them, outside IA because DC was pissed the IA of that office hadn’t gotten a handle on things faster.
Great, more people to hate me, always what someone wants.
The boys stayed with Alena a few more days, more than protected with her even in the crazy of Vegas. They sent all kinds of text pictures, and I honestly couldn’t get over how much they were all smiling. It was almost worth the headaches I’d experienced there.
But there was also a fair amount of pouting from Alvin, Cory, and Tommy since they didn’t get to go. I told them maybe we could take a weekend trip somewhere soon since I hadn’t gotten an actual vacation like I was supposed to. They’re now looking into great four day weekend kind of spas, which I could be all about.
Simone is all over the club ideas. She has scouted places and yeah, everything I want no part of, but she’s happy, so that’s awesome. She also hired managers for her bistro and deli since they’re going well and it made more sense than trying to kill herself handling them while starting such a massive endeavor.
Vlad’s being a pain in the ass about it all, but we expected that. He’s also being a dick about his ethics tutoring, sending me messages of his tests and bullshit like I’m his damn parent. I really don’t appreciate it, but let him act out as long as he’s obeying the law.
The little old lady who got the eviction notice is now living in a fancy retirement community and out of our hair. Some bigots in the right spots had jumped on her about getting me kicked out, wanting to do whatever damage they could to paranormals and using her, her grief, and her fear about having the scary werewolf from YouTube live down the block from her.
The son is talking about selling the house after some much needed updates are made, and I told him to let me know the price. He gave me a funny look, but honestly, with the way I keep adding people that are “mine” in one way or another, I just might end up with a whole massive block of them soon.
Always adds fun to the crazy.
But Monroe and Havers handled all that corruption with the eviction notice, the Highland Park Police definitely good guys for the way they helped. I kept my end of the deal and brought in burgers. We even had a pool party for the High Park police, EMTs, and firefighters. Not all that many came, but some did, and it was fun.
Noah got the answer on his power. It did kick up a level, and now it’s not only when he focuses to paralyze people, but it lasts for upwards of a half an hour. Goran thinks it’s because of my tie to him but also the power I’ve been sharing, muttering about how Noah could be a Master vamp if I keep going. I know he meant it as a warning, as it would upset the balance of Chicago.
I also want Noah to be more powerful if he wants because he always uses it for good… Okay, besides playing with his new powers a bit and when Hagan ate the last of his cookies or something, he froze Hagan in the kitchen, which the boys found hysterical.
Idiots. Yeah, I did laugh a bit too.
Hagan and Reagan didn’t snap out of whatever was going on with them after we got back from Vegas. I find it worrisome and hurtful. They say they love me, but they’re not acting like it. Well, I don’t feel like they are, and maybe Tristan’s right that I’m letting it happen because of trauma.
But what the fuck do I know? I’m not sure there’s been a moment since I walked into that warehouse for the Dorcus bust that I feel like I know anything as I used to. Hell, most days I feel on anything but solid ground. Maybe that will change.
Probably not.
The End
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