Tegan's Return (The Ultimate Power Series #2)

by L.H. Cosway

  “Miss me already?” He answers smugly, although he sounds a little out of breath.

  I completely ignore his smart-arse comment. “Finn, what about the cameras in the building, they’ll have recorded our faces. Why didn’t we wear masks or something?”

  He laughs. “What do you take me for? I’m hacking the security system as we speak.” I can hear the clicking of laptop keys in the background as he goes quiet, mumbling code or something under his breath. “Yes, yes come on you beauty,” he says quietly to himself. I sit back against the leather taxi seat and listen, I can’t help the small smile that touches my lips. Finn just never struck me as the kind of man to be into computers. I guess people will surprise you every day.

  “Did you get the van?” I ask, as he continues tapping away at his keyboard.

  “Yeah I just pulled off into a car park down the road so that I could get this done,” he answers, but I can tell that he’s still focused on what he’s doing. Then he continues, “I think the police are searching the building right now, it doesn’t look like they’ve tried to view the security footage just yet. But the bastards won’t know what hit them, once I’m done with this the whole system will be scrambled.”

  I breathe a sigh of relief. I feel bad for the police who are going to be searching for us, but it’s not like we stole anything, we just commandeered the roof for a while.

  All of a sudden Finn lets out a whoop of triumph, so I take it he’s successfully fucked up their footage. I say goodbye, laughing at his lone celebration, then hang up.

  The taxi pulls up outside of Crimson and I pay the driver. There’s only about five or six people waiting to get in. Dru nods to me as she sees me approach, she’s by herself on the door tonight.

  “Hey,” she says as I step in front of her.

  “So you’re working for Ethan now?” I ask her with a grin.

  “Yeah,” she pauses to look me up and down. “You look like you just ran a marathon, hun, what’s up?”

  I dab my sweaty brow and shrug, going for nonchalance. “It’s been a rough night,” I answer, looking away from her and out at the street. I’m still jumpy that a police car is going to come speeding down the road at any minute.

  “You want to talk about it?” she asks, a concerned look on her face.

  “Not really.”

  “Okay, well Ethan’s in his office if that’s who you’re looking for. Oh and I’ll warn you that the she-bitch is around, so watch your back. She’s got a hard on for you.”

  I visibly deflate at the news that Eliza’s in Crimson tonight. Does that woman ever leave the place?

  I look back at Dru. “Thanks for the heads up,” then I move past her into the darkness of the club. Taking a peek at the VIP section, I notice that there aren’t very many vamps here tonight, which is always a good thing. For me anyway. Thankfully I don’t see Eliza anywhere, maybe she left already. Here’s to wishful thinking.

  I slip off my coat and drape it over my arm because it’s way too warm in here, especially after all the running I’ve just done, even if I did get to sit down in the taxi for a few minutes. Sneaking past the staff door, I head straight for Ethan’s office, but as I near it I hear voices arguing. I stop a foot away from the slightly open door and listen.

  “I can smell her all over you Ethan,” a high pitched voice grits out. Eliza. Oh shit, is she talking about me? I look behind me, back down the corridor, and consider leaving. But my curiosity gets the better of me. I stay still and listen.

  “This really is none of your business, Eliza dear,” says Ethan, he sounds smug or self-satisfied in some way. Perhaps he enjoys making Eliza mad.

  “None of my business? Are fucking serious? Ever since that piece of human garbage walked into the club the other night it’s like I don’t even exist to you any more. Do you expect me to just take this, I’m the daughter of the Governor for crying out loud!”

  “There was never anything between us,” Ethan says then, his voice low and exasperated. “I’ve told you this time and again, just because I might have flirted with you, it doesn’t mean I want a relationship.”

  “You’re a two-faced bastard, you use people. You made me believe you liked me so that you could get in good with my father. You’re a snake.”

  “Myself and Jeremy have been friends for a very long time, I do not need to pretend to be interested his daughter to get into his good graces. And I have never been the kind of man to sleep with a woman in order to further my professional status, if that’s what you are implying. Don’t get me wrong, you are a very attractive woman, I’m just not interested.”

  Eliza’s voice drips with hatred when she responds, “You’re just like your father, going around sleeping with human whores, diluting the bloodlines of our species, birthing more of those vile half-breeds.”

  Ethan seems angered now. “My sister is one of those vile half-breeds Eliza, so don’t ever refer to the dhamphirs in that way in my presence. I will not tolerate it.”

  “Oh, and what if I do?” Eliza snaps.

  “I will inform Jeremy of how you have been trying to lure me into your bed for months. You know he frowns upon you having relations with those who work with him. You need to go and find yourself a nice blue blooded young gentleman, that’s what would make your father happy.”

  “You think that just because you run your own business that you aren’t just as highly born as I? You can slum it all you want Ethan Cristescu, but you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth just like me.”

  “That is of little consequence. I have always made my own way in the world, I have never relied upon my father’s wealth or influence.” He seems like he’s being slyly critical of Eliza now. She makes a very unattractive snort, through her nose I imagine.

  Then there is silence, and I think it might be a good time for me to leave before I get caught eavesdropping. Just as I’m about to turn on my heel, Ethan zooms out of his office and is standing before me. I jerk back in fright.

  “I thought I could smell you,” he says tenderly, dipping his head to press his lips softly to my cheek. He pulls back to gaze at me, and something touches lightly on my mental shields.

  Suddenly, I’m transported back to last night, where Ethan had held me in his arms, looking deeply into my eyes the whole time he’d touched me and made me feel like the most beautiful thing in the world. Another image comes into view, of Ethan kissing his way down the side of my ribs, nuzzling my hip, and then pulling me into him. Yeah, I don’t need a visual reminder of how good that felt. The next image almost knocks me to my knees, it’s of me, lying beneath Ethan as he thrusts into me. I can actually feel how it felt last night. Fuck. Tingles radiate through me.

  He’s using his special talent for planting images in people’s minds to remind me of all the things we did together. I have never been more embarrassed in my life, because he’s taking in my reaction and he’s grinning because he knows how he’s affecting me. My cheeks are blazing red.

  “You weren’t so shy when you were in my bed,” Ethan whispers, trailing a finger down my neck.

  With mental force I push him out, and it shocks me because I hadn’t known I was capable of such a thing. Ethan’s eyes widen ever so slightly, and a small smile lifts up the corners of his mouth.

  “You continue to surprise me, fata frumoasa,” he chuckles.

  I hear the click of an expensive high heel as Eliza steps out of Ethan’s office and looks at me with absolute disgust and hatred.

  “You have such tender words for her Ethan, it makes me wonder if perhaps your little pet means more to you than simply a bed warmer and a food source.” Eliza’s voice cuts into me, encouraging the grimace that settles itself on my lips.

  Ethan’s hand takes hold of my wrist, and his thumb makes calming circles in the centre of my palm. “Our relationship is none of your concern,” he replies, in a frightening monotone.

  Eliza glances down and makes a show of admiring her long, red painted fingernails. “Perhaps n
ot, but I’m sure my father would be interested to know why you are so strangely attached to her.”

  My anxious heart leaps into action at the thoughts of Whitfield discovering what I truly am. More sweat slithers across my forehead, I’m seriously going to die of some kind of fear overdose before this night is through.

  Ethan steps in front of me now, holding my wrist firmly in his hand. His words are still laced with calm, but there’s no mistaking the threat when he says, “Bringing your father into this would be a very bad idea Eliza, remember that and remember who you are dealing with. I am not the kind of enemy you want to gain. Now, I believe you have just about over stayed your welcome on my premises.”

  Eliza visibly blanches at what Ethan has said to her. I wonder exactly what could make Ethan such a fearful enemy to have. With a hate-filled flick of her honey coloured hair over her shoulder, she strides down the corridor and out into the main area of the club.

  “You don’t need to fight with her on my behalf,” I whisper.

  Ethan turns to me. “She is trying to interfere in our relationship Tegan, of course I will fight with her if she is going to attack you. But don’t worry, Eliza likes to spout threats, in essence she is a coward who has spent her life hiding behind her father. So forget about her, she is of little consequence to us.” He pulls me into his office and shuts the door, before pushing me up against his orderly black desk.

  My coat falls from my arm and onto the floor. Ethan uses his knee to push apart my legs before placing himself between them and taking hold of my hips.

  “You’re all sweaty,” he breathes. “Do you know how good you smell when you sweat? I got a good show of it last night, I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than you in my bed in my entire life, all tangled up in my sheets. But you left this morning, that displeased me, you should have stayed. I wanted to wake up with you in my arms.”

  His hand slips under my t-shirt to grip onto my bare skin. I try to form a coherent thought, but all I can focus on is his well-practiced hand as it touches me.

  “You forget that we operate on different clocks, Ethan,” I finally manage to get out. “Unlike you, I don’t sleep all day long.”

  “I might not have slept all day, if you had stayed. I might have woken and given you a repeat performance of last night.” His hands wander to my jeans where he releases the top button and pulls down the fly. “Perhaps I’ll do that now. I don’t think I’ve ever had a woman on this desk before.”

  His words remind me of the fact that he normally takes his one night stands on the leather couch over in the corner. I glare at the offending item of furniture and place my hands on Ethan’s arms to push him back. “I’m not going to be one of your office jump offs, sorry.” I mutter.

  Ethan releases his hold on me, his dark blue eyes study me intensely. “I would never consider you in that way, I apologise if that is how it came across.”

  “It’s all right. I’m just a bit touchy at the moment.”

  “You don’t regret having spent the night with me do you?” Ethan asks, his face showing some level of hurt.

  I blush. “Of course not, last night was…well let’s just say it’s been replaying itself in my head all day. It’s just that I’ve got other worries on my mind right now.”

  Ethan steps close to me, positioning himself again between my legs. He runs his hand over the outside of my thigh. “Would you like me to help you to relieve the worry somewhat?” he breathes, his hand tracing dangerous circles between my legs. I let out a heavy breath and try to gain some composure.

  Sputtering a nervous cough, I reply, “Um, yes, but not in the way you have in mind.”

  Ethan’s exploring hand pauses. “Oh. In what way then?”

  I bring my eyes to meet his. “I had an um, friend of mine do a little digging around, she found out that my dad is being kept somewhere in Freemont Park. I was wondering if you would like to help me search for him.”

  Ethan’s eyes consume me. “A friend Tegan? Who is this friend and how could she have discovered where your father is when I have been unable to do so even with the best contacts in the city?”

  His suspicion makes my heart thump. “She might have used magic to do it,” I reply in the smallest voice imaginable.

  Ethan’s hand grips tightly onto my leg now, pulling me forward just a little. “You have been associating with the North siders?” He questions forcefully. Gulp. If only he knew the extent to which I have been associating with them. Oh God. Why didn’t I keep my stupid mouth shut?

  “Not exactly. I have a witch friend, but she’s an outcast, she doesn’t live or communicate with the magical families. In fact, she’s sort of their enemy, so you’ve got a lot more in common with her than you think.” In my head I’m praying that he’ll accept this explanation.

  Ethan visibly relaxes. “Was she rejected by her family for some reason? Which one does she belong to?”

  “Um, I don’t know. She was sort of the result of a one night stand, so she doesn’t know who her father was.” Of course, I’m lying now, but no way am I going to tell Ethan that Theodore fathered a daughter whose magical talents might just surpass those of the magical families.

  “Interesting. This wouldn’t happen to be the witch whose name I believe is Rita who banished Theodore into a hell dimension would it?” Ethan asks shrewdly. Damn, I’d forgotten that Ethan and Rita had met. All of the recent drama is turning my brain into mush.

  “It might be.”

  “And is this the unnamed friend you have been staying with? I had assumed it was the blond woman who you first came to the club with.”

  “No, that’s Nicky, she’s living with her new girlfriend and I didn’t want to impose myself on them. So yeah, I’ve been staying with Rita.” Finn, Gabriel, Alvie and Noreen too.

  “She is a very powerful witch. But you say she is an outcast, why is that?”

  “As I said, she’s not an official member of the magical families. I don’t think they know just how powerful she is.”

  “Do you think she would consider coming and working for me? I would pay her handsomely, and it would be a huge advantage to have a witch on my staff.”

  I shift away from Ethan a little, not liking how he always seems to be plotting in his head. Figuring out ways to make himself more powerful in the politics of this city.

  “I don’t think she would agree to that Ethan. Rita likes being her own woman.”

  “Even so, mention it to her the next time you see her.”

  “I’m not your messenger, and there’s no point because I know she wouldn’t agree. Besides, I thought you’d just about subdued the North side and that Pamphrock was going to accede defeat any day now?”

  “That is true, but it would always be useful to have an ally with magical skills should the North try to take back what it has lost.” Ethan stops talking and gazes at me indulgently. “Wars are not as clean cut as you would like to think Tegan,” he traces a finger along my jaw. “Sometimes I forget just how young you are, and how little you know about our world. Yes there are winners and losers in wars, but there are always loose ends, and even when the victors emerge they cannot relax, they must continue to fight to keep what they have won.”

  I shake off the tremble that his touch provokes. “I guess. Look I’ll mention it to Rita, but only if you help me look for my dad tonight, deal?”

  Ethan grins victoriously. “Deal.”

  We drive around the area of Freemont park in Ethan’s Cadillac, it’s mostly residential houses around here, very scenic and leafy, lots of tall trees line the long avenues. I have no clue how I’m going to figure out where exactly my dad is, as there are hundreds of similar houses. Perhaps I should be looking for a whited-out window with bars on the inside. But that window had been tiny, it would be far too difficult to spot. Furthermore, I have no idea where on the building the window is located. It could be in the basement or even in the attic, there’s just no telling.

  Ethan reaches over and takes m
y hand into his, stroking my inner wrist with his thumb. I lean into him, resting my head on his solid shoulder. Some low, relaxing song is streaming from the radio.

  “We can continue driving, if you’d like,” Ethan says soothingly, “but I’m afraid we won’t find many clues that way. Do you want to get out and walk around? Perhaps we might see someone or find something that will lead us to your father.”

  I nod and straighten up, Ethan’s calming touch had almost sent me off to sleep. I need to focus on the mission at hand. Ethan parks the car and we get out, but he comes around to my side and takes my hand into his again. It’s quiet out, and dark. The soft yellow light of lamp shades glow from behind the curtains of the various living rooms we pass by.

  Everything seems so normal. You would never guess that a man was being kept a prisoner against his will in one of these oh so pleasant homes. We continue our walk in silence, Ethan stops to glance about every couple of minutes, as though trying to sense what we’re looking for.

  “I forgot to mention,” says Ethan, breaking the silence. “Jeremy has organised for his party to take place tomorrow night. I would come and pick you up myself, but since you are staying on the North side, perhaps you would like to come to my home and we can leave together from there.”

  I’d been so consumed with thinking about my dad that I almost forgot about Whitfield’s party. I don’t have a clue what’s going to happen, especially since Pamphrock and his slayers are apparently planning a rescue mission as we speak. So maybe the party won’t happen at all. Or maybe I’ll get caught up in some fiasco should they happen to try and make their move while I’m there. I swallow painfully.

  “Sure, I can do that. What’s the dress code?”

  Ethan grins. “Formal, of course. I know you prefer to dress casually, but I can organise something for you if you don’t own anything suitable.”

  “No that’s fine, I’m sure I have something decent.”

  “Good,” he glances down at me then, “I can’t wait to dance with you. Would you like to stay in my house after the party?”