“Make yourselves at home.” My mom made sure everyone was settled before doubling back toward the kitchen. I followed, wanting a moment with her that felt semi-private.
“How are you?” I asked, worry making me anxious.
“I’m fine,” she said, going to the liquor cabinet.
“I’m serious, Mom. Everything’s a mess, and I’ve been running all over the place from crisis to crisis.” I leaned against the counter. “I should have checked on you sooner. And now, Rourke—”
“Relax.” She put down the bottle she’d chosen and wrapped her arms around me. “I’m fine. Today was the first bit of danger, really.” She pulled back, patting my cheek.
“That’s good. I’m glad you haven’t gotten sucked into my problems.”
She shot me a look. “Well, I mean, the SSF did stop by here a few times,” she said. “Some jackwad named Rigo got a piece of my mind, and I don’t think he’ll be back.”
“Rigo was here? Mom, you just said—”
“Calm down. It’s fine. They asked a few questions, wanted to know if I’d seen or heard from you, and then they left. It was nothing.”
“The SSF coming here isn’t nothing.” I softened. “I know how you feel about them.”
“Yes, and now they do too.” She grinned, a flash of evil joy, and then it was gone. “It was cathartic, actually.”
I shook my head. If anyone deserved my mother’s wrath, it was Rigo Garcia.
“Now, what’s this I hear about you being angry at your grandmother?”
I groaned. “I don’t have time for this right now.”
Mom’s glare was quick and fierce. “Gemini Hawkins, you always make time for family, you hear me?”
“Fine. I’ll make time to tell her I don’t appreciate her keeping the truth from me.”
“Yes, she told me about that.”
“Then you understand why I’m upset.”
“Gem, everyone keeps secrets.” She paused, pinning me with a look I’d always hated because it usually ended up being followed by undeniable wisdom. “Some of us keep secrets for fun or out of pain. But some keep them for protection. For love. And that’s all you can ask of anyone, really.”
I scowled, hating that she’d made sense.
“Your Gran loves you. Everything she did was to protect you. And she’s hurting too, you know. She lost her son and her husband, not to mention her physical body.”
“I know,” I said grudgingly.
She approached me, a bottle in hand. “Talk to her,” she said simply then grabbed a stack of glasses and walked out.
Shoving Gran from my mind, I followed and then stopped as I caught sight of the Buffy scene frozen on the television where she’d paused it earlier. I glared at my mother accusingly while she went to work, pouring glasses.
“You were watching without me?” I demanded.
“Gem, you hardly ever come home anymore. What did you expect?”
She shoved a glass with three fingers of Jack into my hand.
“Don’t pout. It gives you wrinkles,” she said and then sat on the couch opposite Jax.
She turned to Fergie and produced a box of Mike & Ikes.
“What are you doing?” I asked when she shook a few candies into her hand and held them out to Fergie.
“I don’t have gummy bears,” she said with a shrug.
I started to warn her about Fergie’s habit of eating flesh as easily as candy, but Fergie darted over before I could get the words out. She leaned over and pressed her mouth to my mother’s palm. I flinched as Fergie sucked the candies right into her mouth. When she sat up, I blew out a breath at the sight of my mother’s hand intact.
“Mom,” I began, but my mother laughed.
“That tickled,” she told Fergie. “Come here, you.” She held her arms open, and Fergie studied her, little bald, demon head cocked as she assessed. Her gaze darted from my mother’s outstretched arms to the box of candy my mother still held.
After a quick moment of indecision, Fergie launched herself at my mother.
My mom grunted at the sudden weight against her chest, but Fergie gurgled happily and licked my mother’s face.
“Stop licking. You’re not a dog,” I fussed, but my mother waved me off, laughing.
“Of course she isn’t. She’s precious. Now, stop hovering like a helicopter parent, and let me be with my grandchild.”
I scowled, and Jax shot me an amused look.
Milo covered his mouth with his hand, and when I shot him a death glare, he worked harder to smooth out his smile. He glanced at the TV. “Is this the episode where she meets Angel?”
“Maybe,” I said.
He shot me a discerning look. “Hmm. I can see why you like this show.”
Behind me, Adrik coughed.
I clenched my teeth and debated whether to murder Milo now or in his sleep.
“Gem, darling, why don’t you tell me what’s going on and why you’re traveling with a small army?” my mother said, cleverly diverting attention away from Milo’s impending dismemberment.
“It’s a long story,” I said.
“I’ve got time.” She gestured to Fergie, who sat in her lap, her tongue inside the box of Mike & Ikes. “She’s entertained, anyway.”
I sighed. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“How about with the burglar you took care of out there. It seemed like you knew him.”
“Rourke,” I grumbled. “He’s not just a burglar.”
Jax growled.
“He’s the nephew of my downstairs neighbor, Patrice. Or former neighbor.”
My mom’s eyes widened. “Patrice is dead? What happened?”
“Some sort of animal got ahold of her,” I said.
“Oh, dear. That’s awful.”
I shot a disapproving look at Fergie. “Yes,” I agreed. “It was.”
Fergie burped and grinned at me. “Rawr.”
Kids.
“Anyway, Rourke seemed nice enough at first,” I went on. Jax rolled his eyes. I ignored him. My story. My way. “But then I found out he was using his magic to open portals and summon high-level demons into the city.”
“Why would he do that?” Mom asked.
“Because Selaphiel asked him to.”
“Selaphiel the Nephilim? Member of the council?” Mom asked.
“The very same. Also, this one’s batshit-crazy sister.” I jerked a thumb at Adrik, who, at my mother’s frown, actually ducked his head in shame.
Boys.
“She’s trying to kill Gem now. And maybe even Adrik,” Milo put in. “But mostly Gem.”
My mom turned to him with concern. “Well, that’s certainly a problem.”
Milo snorted. “Yeah, you could say that.”
Her gaze swung back to me, heavy with concentration now. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Hunt her down. Out-bitch her. Hopefully, kick her ass and make her regret ever meeting me.”
“Gem.” Mom shook her head. “You can’t beat a Nephilim.”
“So they say.” I glanced at Adrik, remembering how Selaphiel had done real damage to him. He met my eyes, and I could practically hear him asking me to keep that detail to myself. “But what do you expect me to do? You raised me to confront my bullies.”
Mom sighed. “Yes, I did.” Her lips curved. “Remember that time Carlos Diablo tried to steal your lunch money?”
I grinned. “That little shit walked with a limp for a month.”
“Wait. Diablo as in the Diablo Brothers Syndicate?” Milo asked. “That family is the biggest organized crime unit in the city.” He stared up at me with something like awe.
“I played flashlight tag with him and his brothers ’til I was thirteen.”
“Right,” Milo snorted. “And I played Barbies with Faith Burkhart.”
I shrugged. “Seriously. They lived in the neighborhood, and Mom made sure I knew how to hold my own.”
Milo looked at my mom approvingly.
>
“Vic was the cop,” my mom explained, “But he was a softie. Someone had to show Gem how to survive.”
She said it like it was nothing. No big deal. But my heart swelled with appreciation and love. Back then, I’d hated the training and all the time she made me spend strategizing how to escape or beat those bigger and stronger than me. Now, I understood. And appreciated.
“Gem is tough,” Jax said. “Sounds like she gets that from you.”
I rolled my eyes. Sucking up would get him nowhere.
But my mom just laughed. “Oh, don’t worry. She gets her stubbornness from me too, so there’s a balance.”
“I thought you said it was tenacity,” I protested.
Adrik’s lips twitched.
“Sure, and when you’re bossy, I tell you you’re a great leader,” my mother said, and Milo snickered.
“How about we just focus on the issues,” I said.
“Right. Rourke, my intruder, works for Selaphiel,” my mother recapped. “So, what did he want with me?”
Guilt pressed against my shoulders now. “To use you,” I said. “To get to me.”
“Oh…Oh.” Recognition washed over her face, and I felt even worse.
“We stopped him,” Milo assured her.
“But once Selaphiel realizes he failed, she’ll send someone else,” I told her. “We need to get you somewhere safe.”
My mom shook her head. “It’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Mom, maybe you don’t understand. Selaphiel will kill you if only to hurt me.”
“I understand,” she said, “but I don’t think I need to leave.”
“Mom.” I bit my lip, debating, but I needed her to get the point. To comprehend the danger she was in. “Selaphiel killed Dad.”
Mom’s eyes widened. “You know this for sure?”
I nodded.
She blinked a few times, staring down at Fergie, who still sat in her lap, munching on candy. When she looked up again, her gaze was surprisingly clear.
“She’s your sister?” my mom asked Adrik.
He straightened, clearly startled by her directness. “Yes.”
“Is it safe to say you’ve chosen to protect my daughter rather than side with your own family?”
“I swore an oath to protect the creatures of this world. You have my word that no harm will come to Gem.”
She nodded and then turned to Jax. “And you?”
“Absolutely,” he said with no hesitation. “Gem is under my protection and has the full strength of my pack behind her.”
“You’re the alpha of the McGuire pack then,” she said.
“I am.”
“They say you’re trustworthy. That you keep your word and protect your own.”
“We do. And in this case, I consider Gem one of my own.”
He glanced at me, but I looked away. His words felt much more significant than the promise of protection he’d just guaranteed over me. I couldn’t afford to think too hard about them. Not when Adrik’s gaze was currently burning a hole in my cheek.
I focused instead on my mother, whose fae senses were undoubtedly missing none of these undercurrents.
But her expression gave nothing away.
She looked at Milo.
“Mama Hawkins, you don’t even have to ask,” he said before she could utter a word. “Gem and I are peas and carrots. We’ve fought together since the academy, and I’ve got her back always.”
My mom blew out a breath. “I am glad to hear it, all of you.” Her glance at me made it clear I owed her an explanation about all these men next time I saw her. “It’s a relief to see you’ve surrounded yourself with those so capable and willing to protect you.”
“And you, Mom. I mean it. You’re in danger here, but if you come with us—”
“I’m not,” she said firmly.
“Mom,” I began, but she waved me off.
“Rourke would have never made it in the house and not because of the booby trap.”
“What? How can you be sure?”
“The house is warded.” She looked at Adrik. “I’m guessing you probably felt that when you passed through the door.”
“I did.” He gave her a look that sent a ripple of unease through me.
“Mom, what did you do? And why would Adrik feel it?”
“Relax.” She leveled a gaze at me that had me bracing myself for what came next. “I had a friend ward the house against intruders. The only people who can enter are those I invite inside. And no one from the SSF can see any of the comings and goings.”
Well, she’d been smart at least.
“What friend?” I asked, trying to think through her list of witchy acquaintances. But her next words stopped me in my tracks.
“Raphziel.”
Chapter Seven
It took me a moment to process the name. Raphziel. A Nephilim, but not just any Neph. The very Neph who’d worked with my father then blocked the investigation into my dad’s murder. Then, Raphziel had attended my father’s funeral so he could flirt with my mother. And now, she’d turned to him for help? Possibly even let him into her home? I pounded my entire glass of whiskey before responding.
“Tell me you’re lying,” I said, throat burning from the drink.
My mother’s expression remained unmoved. “Gem, please be reasonable.”
I looked at Milo. “Is she lying?”
He winced like he didn’t want to give me the answer. “Nope.”
I cast a look toward the ceiling. “Unbelievable.”
“Raphziel is on our side,” my mother said.
I snorted. “Right.”
“He offered protection, and I took it.”
Her voice had an edge now, and I knew she was close to losing her patience. But I couldn’t make myself stop being pissed. Raphziel was an asshole. Once upon a time, I’d even suspected him of being my dad’s killer. Maybe he hadn’t been the one to end his life, but he was using my dad’s death as a way to get close to my mother. And that felt just as wrong.
“I’m sure he’s offering a lot more than protection,” I said.
“Gemini, watch yourself.” My mother’s voice was laced with razors now.
I sucked in a hot breath. Blew it out again.
However angry I was, I didn’t want to fight with her. Not now. And definitely not in front of everyone.
“Fine. It’s your life.” I shook my head, and my mother glared at me.
“Yes,” she said stiffly. “It is.”
“Well, I don’t want to hear anything about the stupid decisions I’ve made.”
No one else spoke.
I ran a hand through my hair, glancing at Fergie just in time to see her realize the candy box was empty and promptly take a bite out of the cardboard instead.
My mother patted her head and beamed at her. “Good girl, cleaning up after yourself.”
Grandparents were weird.
“That’ll give her the runs, you know.”
The disembodied voice—and the habit it had of popping up out of nowhere—was too familiar to startle me. The sound of it here, now, didn’t help my growing temper.
I didn’t look over as Gran buzzed into the room.
“Gran.” Milo held his hand out, palm up, and Gran landed on his middle finger. “Where’ve you been?”
“My friend Betty Jane had a sit-in for her deceased neighbor Margaret.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry about your friend.”
“She wasn’t no friend of mine,” Gran said. “That woman never met a piece of gossip she couldn’t spread—hell, almost as often as she spread her legs, but that ain’t none of my business. Anyway, while Betty Jane held the sit-in for the family, I snuck into her parlor and stole back the gold-threaded table runner Margaret swiped from Betty Jane ten years ago.”
Milo hooted. “Gran, I want to be you when I grow up.”
Gran didn’t answer. I could feel her looking at me. In fact, the entire room was waiting for my reaction.
Thus far, I’d managed to dodge our inevitable confrontation. I hadn’t been ready for it then, and I wasn’t ready for it now.
“Gemini,” Gran said stiffly into the silence.
“Gran.”
“I came to be sure your mama was all right. Heard there was a scuffle.”
“Rourke,” I said simply.
“That little peckerhead showed up here?” she demanded. “Is he that obsessed with getting you to go out with him?”
Milo snorted. Jax glowered.
“No. His priorities are different than we thought. He’s the one summoning portals,” I told her. No matter how angry I still felt, Mom was right. And any secrets I kept now didn’t feel like love or protection. They felt like revenge. Revenge that could very well get Gran killed if she didn’t know who to watch out for. I’d be an idiot to think she’d stay out of this if I asked. She was in it now, and there was no going back.
“Mother Mary and Joseph,” Gran said.
“Judith,” my mom scolded.
“What? That wasn’t even a curse word. Now, if I had said fuckstick, that would have—”
“Not in front of the guests,” my mother snapped.
My lips curved, but I held back the smile that threatened. I wasn’t quite ready to give in to my anger, no matter how much Gran’s cursing stirred my mother up.
“Gran, listen. Rourke came here today to kidnap Mom,” I said.
“What makes that turdburglar think he’d live long enough to get away with something like that?” Gran demanded.
“Because he’s working with Selaphiel,” I told her.
“That Neph Barbie bitch from the Delta building?” Gran asked.
“The very one,” Milo said. “And she’s trying to kill Gem.”
“I knew that tartmuffin couldn’t be trusted.” Gran’s wings buzzed, a sound she only ever made when she was impatient to maim someone.
Not that I’d ever seen her June bug body maim anything. Maybe she could pop a pimple, but that was as far as it went.
Still, there was no point arguing semantics.
“I tried to convince Mom to come with me somewhere safe,” I said, “but she refused because she’s already got protection.” My eyes narrowed, and I pinned her with a look that I hoped resembled the one my mother had given me earlier. “Did you know she’s taking help from Raphziel?”
Death's Door (Supernatural Security Force Book 3) Page 6