by LJ Vickery
Gramps was busy stabbing buttons. “Dulles Airport,” Gramps informed him. “Fourteen-point-three miles, twenty-two minutes.”
“We’ll make it in fifteen. What’s the situation?” They could hear a clerk as Jake paid for something, and then the rapid patter of running feet.
“Tickets for you and Anna will be waiting at the gate. Direct flight to Boston, leaving at eight fifty-nine.” The computer whiz had been busy with his fingers while talking. Enlil took over and answered Jake’s question.
“Charlie’s been kidnapped by Beletseri and Matthew. They boarded a flight out of LAX that lands in Boston at ten forty-five. Your flight gets in at ten twenty-two. You’ll have twenty-three minutes to find their terminal and stop them from taking her any further.”
“Already in the car and headed onto Route 50. We’ll be going in blind. My weapons and our luggage are back in Manassas. Is there anyone to back me up?” he asked.
Absu had been relaying everything back to the Blue Hills, and Enlil, listening in, gave Jake one piece of good news.
“There’s a warlock who’s willing to help,” he informed. “His name is Dorian Penmarch, and he’ll meet you at your gate.”
“Won’t the goddess feel him?” Jake asked, while at the same time informing them of his progress. “Two miles from the turn onto Route 28.”
“Different energy signature, and he can cloak it,” Enlil assured. “She won’t even suspect he’s there. Better yet, neither of our bad guys have met you or Dorian. You should be able to get really close and tail them to a safe place where you can free Charlie and Maity.”
Absu and Enlil listened to Marduk for details, which the wind god relayed to Jake. “All the gods, plus a couple of new, blue friends, will be waiting at the water taxi dock. Far enough away that Bel won’t feel them, but close enough for a quick pickup. Marduk will be compelling one of the boat operators to stay late.”
****
Had Enlil just said “new, blue friends?”
Jake let that one pass. He looked at his shitty GPS. “ETA seven minutes.” He allowed his shoulders to relax as he drove like a bat out of hell. “You hear that?” He attempted to lighten things up with the gods and agents on the other end of the line. “Time to spare.”
He’d have to dump the rental in front of the terminal, but Gramps would make sure it was taken care of. “Gotta go, guys. I’ll keep you in the loop as much as possible.”
“Stay safe,” Enlil signed off.
Jake hung up, turning to look at Anna, pale and chewing on that damned nail. “You okay?” he asked.
“Uh. Yeah. We’re headed to the airport.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yup. Back to Boston tonight. How much did you catch?”
“Pretty much all of it.” She tapped her ear. “Super hearing comes with the special immortal package,” she drawled sarcastically, then became serious. “Charlie’s the woman that the god Absu is pursuing?”
“That’s her. You do have a good memory,” Jake acknowledged.
“Yes, but I’m a little ticked off at you, Agent Marsthall. You failed to mention that bad guys are involved in the situation I’m being brought into.” Luckily, she didn’t sound tremendously disturbed, which didn’t surprise Jake. He’d figured out that Anna had faced so much adversity in her life, there was very little that could shake her.
He spent the next ten minutes, while boarding the plane, explaining the whole Beletseri situation, and Anna’s facial expressions changed intriguingly with every revelation. She looked worried, contemplative, and resolute.
“If this rogue woman, uh, goddess, isn’t stopped, and the rest of the gods don’t mate with their Chosen in time, my children pretty much lose everything?”
“Yeah. They lose their spouses, and their will to live. So you might say everything, yes.”
“Okay.” She crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. “You should have told me this before, and we could have been on the first flight out instead of wasting all day shopping. I finally have a way to help my kids, and I’m not about to turn away from that.” Anna looked at him as they took their seats on the plane. There was fire in her eyes. “Count me in on the fight.”
“Whoa. Slow down.” Jake shook his head vehemently. “There’s no way I’m getting you involved in this. The goddess we’re after? She’s very bad news.” He scowled. “When we get to Boston, you’re going to park that pretty little ass of yours someplace safe and far away from the action.”
When Anna didn’t answer, Jake figured he’d won the argument.
He pulled a deck of cards from his pocket. “I can play solitaire,” he told her while raising an eyebrow. “Unless you know how to play poker?”
“Five card draw? Seven card stud?” Anna grinned evilly.
“Oh. A cardsharp, eh?” Jake couldn’t keep a straight face. “How about blackjack?” he baited. Jake knew Anna wasn’t about to remind him of her infallible memory, but he hadn’t forgotten. She’d start out slowly, but as the deck wore down, she’d be able to figure cards and odds with no problem. He just wanted to see how far she’d take him before sympathizing with his human fallibility.
“Blackjack it is,” she agreed far too readily. “Who’s the house and what are the stakes?”
“We’ll cut for house, and I know you don’t have any money. So what about items of clothing?” He was teasing, but Anna didn’t know it. Still, she only gave it a second’s consideration. Was she interested in seeing him naked? Never one to be shy, Jake would oblige.
“Sounds like a plan.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Keep track of losses, and the clothes come off when we’re back at your Blue Hills and away from prying eyes,” Anna agreed.
“Okay. You’re on. High card deals.” He cut a king, and couldn’t help a smug look, but fifteen minutes later, his arrogance was gone. He’d figured she’d be good, but not that good. Anna had lost only two games, and he’d bombed on seven…the total number of clothing articles he wore. He’d dug his own grave. He would have to strip naked in front of Anna, while she’d lose only two shoes. He’d been counting on at least her T-shirt going south.
She had the gall to pat his hand in a comforting way before settling back in her seat, eyes closed to relax into sleep, missing the flush that worked up the back of his neck. His mind was in overdrive, skimming right past the probable skirmish at the airport, and skipping ahead to his semi-darkened room at the compound.
He envisioned her sitting on his bed, watching with those mesmerizing gray eyes, as he worked his shirt over his head. Would her tongue poke out and lick those delectable lips as he undid his belt and lowered the zipper? In this fantasy, Jake dropped his pants. He wasn’t ashamed of his body. Hell, women were constantly complimenting him on how ripped he was. But the thought of standing naked in front of Anna, who’d be fully clothed except for two missing shoes, made his dick so hard and his balls so tight, he was awfully glad the seatback tray covered the bulging evidence of his desire.
Jake closed his eyes and changed the picture to Anna naked and spread across his bed, cupping and offering her breasts in eager hands. That was more like it. His cock flexed into known territory. With her naked, he’d have the control he totally needed. He’d have to see if he could change things up to include her shedding her clothing.
Jake drifted toward sleep, and without his permission, his visions went back to scenario number one with Anna clothed and himself fully naked, his erect penis bobbing over taut balls as he stood with legs spread and hands clasped behind his back, watching her eyes take him in. Ah, hell. There was no way he was getting one ounce of shut-eye on this flight.
Upon descent, Jake allowed his lids to open, his whole demeanor cranky. It was entirely Anna’s fault, but she couldn’t know that. No doubt, she would be confused that he’d gone from easygoing, shopping guy to hardened agent. Chalk it up to the forthcoming confrontation with a badass goddess. He noted that Anna was awake.
“Remember what I said,” he ordered.
“You’re to take a seat and stay put until I come back to get you.”
Anna didn’t respond.
“Tell me you understand,” he said, more firmly this time.
“I understand.” Anna may have spoken the words, but it sounded less than sincere.
“Spit it out,” Jake huffed. He needed to know exactly where her mind was. This was a serious situation.
She chewed her nail again. “I understand what you want from me,” she told him, “but this is the way I see it.” Her gray eyes bored into his. “This Beletseri can sense full-blooded gods, but since I’ve been on Earth for a really long time and no gods have ever found me, I’m pretty certain that means I’m invisible to detection.” She allowed him about two seconds to rebut, but he kept his mouth shut.
“I’ll grant you that one human and a warlock might be enough to combat the evil bitch and her companion, but who’s going to keep Charlie and her little daughter safe while you battle?”
She had a point, but Jake still maintained silence.
“Have I failed to mention that, along with my extraordinary hearing and above average speed, I have super strength? If things go badly, I can be on hand to enter the fray.”
They were all good arguments, and some of the best agents he knew―Candy for one―were women. But the thought of Anna anywhere near an evil goddess? Not happening.
“No,” he barked, as they exited the skyway, and before she could argue, a dangerous-looking dark-haired man approached. Jake tensed, but when the individual stuck out a hand and declared, “Dorian Penmarch,” he knew he was meeting a warlock for the first time.
“Jake Marsthall.” He grasped the hand and tipped his head. “And this is Anna. She’s going to sit things out here, while you and I take care of business.” Dorian took Anna’s hand and gave it a squeeze, even as she sent daggers toward Jake.
“Pleased to meet you,” she said silkily, giving Jake one last sneer before turning to Dorian with a huge, warm smile. The warlock, in return, got an appreciative look in his eye that Jake didn’t care for at all. He’d have to set the guy straight after the rescue. He wasn’t to mess with Anna.
What? Jake did a fast two-step in his brain, dancing back to that thought. Shit. He didn’t have time to analyze the mind fuck of his possessiveness. He needed to stay cool and on task. He tamped his thoughts down and tucked them into the back of his head for later.
He addressed Dorian again. “I know what Charlie looks like, but in case the two perps split up, can you give me descriptions?”
“I can go one better,” the warlock answered, and patted around his waist, eventually taking a piece of paper from his jacket. “Forgive me,” he intoned disgruntledly. “The women at the compound nixed my normal two-tiered black cape as being too witchy.” He sighed. “I’m not used to these borrowed pockets.” He got back on track. “The Lady Glory is quite a talented artist, and gave me a rendering of the man who calls himself Vaughn.” It took him a few seconds to sort papers. “And here’s a photograph of Beletseri that I received from the queen.”
Jake perused both and whistled appreciatively.
“Man. She’s quite a looker.”
Anna peeked over Jake’s arm while he studied the pictures.
The goddess was dark and seductive in appearance. Her large black eyes dominated a pale white face, and her lush red lips stood out in stark contrast. The picture was from the waist up, and Beletseri was more than amply endowed.
Anna backed off. “A breast man, huh?” she scoffed at Jake, sounding defensive.
Oh no, she wasn’t going to put words in his mouth. He lowered his eyes to her chest. “She’s actually got too much to handle,” he smirked. “I’m more of a B-cup kind of guy.” He winked, and was gratified to see a blush work across her cheeks.
Dorian coughed pointedly and shuffled papers. “And this is Matthew.” He brought forth the second drawing.
Anna recovered and took another glance. “Huh. Definitely good looking.”
That got Jake’s ire up.
“But there has to be a problem with the drawing,” she continued. “Nobody’s eyes are that close together.”
Jake mood lightened. “Not such a good-looking dude after all.” He nodded in satisfaction.
Dorian put the pictures away, and with silent agreement, they all walked in the direction of the adjacent domestic terminal. Approaching the gate, Jake snapped back into boss-agent mode.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He pointed first to Anna and then to a bank of chairs at the far end of the terminal. “Sit.”
She caught Dorian’s eye before complying with an extra swing in her hips. Jake had seen the amused smirk that passed between them. Jake bristled. Had he just been wordlessly dubbed a clueless human?
“And stay there,” he growled. He’d paddle her fine ass if she moved it from those chairs.
Jake checked his watch as they walked closer to the gate. Ten minutes ‘til touchdown. He looked over at Dorian. “Any ideas as to how we should accomplish this?” He’d cede authority to a being with supernatural powers. Jake was arrogant, not stupid.
“I’ve thoroughly vetted the area. The egress is the same whether passengers have baggage claim or not. I’ve assumed they have a car they left here when they traveled west, so they’ll be headed, most likely, into the parking garage. It’s a good location for a private confrontation this time of night.” He shrugged. “And I can place a distraction spell on anyone who sees us. That won’t be difficult.”
“Okay.” Jake swallowed that one. “I have no weapons, so I’ll have to handle the human male. Will your magic stand up to the goddess?”
“Time will tell.” Dorian’s harsh faced was consumed by a dangerous, heady grin that almost had Jake taking a step back. “I’ve never gone up against one before.”
Clearly, the warlock was looking forward to the encounter.
Jake and Dorian stood at the gate for the flight as it disembarked. They witnessed several loving reunions, twenty-somethings oblivious under headphones, and the occasional briefcase and laptop-toting business person. Jake’s posture turned rigid. He spotted Matthew. He tapped Dorian’s arm discreetly and got a nod.
Following close behind was Beletseri, more beautiful than her picture, but oozing a malevolence that was unmistakable. Even the passengers around her gave her a wide berth. But―Jake craned his neck, his eyes darting forward and back―where the hell were Charlie and Maitlynn?
“Charlie’s not with them,” Jake whispered, keeping his voice low so that Beletseri didn’t hear. The pair had to have stashed mother and daughter somewhere, because according to Marduk, the goddess couldn’t outright kill a prospective Chosen or order it done. It went against a decree that had been signed in the Underworld. But maybe leaving Charlie somewhere to die of exposure or starvation didn’t count as a direct killing. They had to grab these two and find out. “Same plan, only this time we don’t kill them. We need to find out where they put Charlie and Maity.”
“Noted,” Dorian readily agreed.
They discreetly followed the pair toward the luggage carousels. They got close enough to listen in, while the goddess and her consort kept looking around, as if expecting someone to emerge from the meager crowd. They engaged in an argument.
“We should have forcibly brought her here,” Matthew bit out. “You were so sure of yourself.”
“And have her make a fuss on the plane? That would have gone over well. Luckily, her brother remains clueless. He arrived just as I became invisible, and he was panicked that Charlie and the brat were gone. He called the Blue Hills and affirmed she was not with one of the gods. So they’ll be looking for her.”
Jake saw that she kept glancing around, pointedly, while dialing her phone. He assumed she continually reached out with her god-detecting feelings to make sure she was not being followed.
She grunted, stabbed at a button, and continued her conversation with Matthew. “Well, she’s not answering her phone.” Beletser
i looked furious. “Leaving California without her was a mistake. I could be back there in half an hour and perhaps force her, tie her up, and drive her back.”
Jake saw her eyes sharpen on Matthew. “But splitting up seems like a poor decision now that the gods are probably on alert. At least I left our two nearly useless demons on guard duty at Charlie’s house.”
She pulled out her phone and punched a number again, listened, then hit disconnect. “Still nothing,” she huffed and looked around. “And since the gods aren’t hounding us, they might have found her.” Beletseri looked ready to snap. “We need to make new plans.”
They grabbed their bags and headed out into the garage.
Jake quirked his head toward the couple, indicating that Dorian should follow. “I’m calling Marduk and filling him in. Do not engage until I join you.”
Dorian sent him an arched brow and stalked off.
Damned arrogant immortals, Jake huffed to himself while dialing the thunder god, who answered right away.
“Marduk here.”
“We have a problem.” Jake didn’t prevaricate. “Matthew and Bel have gotten off the plane, but there’s no sign of Charlie. The pair acted odd over her absence. I can’t tell if they’ve stashed her somewhere, or if Charlie figured things out and got away from them.”
Marduk grunted. “I’m going to try head-connecting with Maity. Hold on.”
There was a very long minute of silence while Jake paced the concourse.
“Jake?”
“Yeah, Marduk.”
“Maity just keeps repeating ‘car.’ So I’m pretty sure she and Charlie are headed somewhere in her vehicle. Whether it’s under duress or not, I can’t tell. We’ll call your guys to put out an APB, but there’s no telling where she is.”
“They’ll find her, Marduk. Don’t worry. Now I’m going to catch up with Dorian, and take care of the two assholes who’ve landed.”
“Be careful, Jake,” Marduk warned.
“Will do.” Jake hung up and skulked after his targets.
Chapter Twenty-Two