An Angel All His Own (The Gifted Realm Book 5)

by Jillian Neal

  She emerged several minutes later. Her face was pale and drawn in the moonlight. Dan moved to her. “What’s wrong, honey?”

  She shook her head, and began digging through her bags feebly while grasping her abdomen.

  “Hey, go lay down. Just tell me what you need.”

  She eased back to the bed and looked like she had barely enough energy to hold herself upright.

  “There are some pain killers in that bag. Will you get me some water?”

  “Yeah, of course.” Dan moved the duffel bag to the bathroom and searched in the light. After locating the pain medication, he raced to the kitchen to get her a glass of water. He handed her the pill bottle and the water, before he seated himself beside her. He caressed her body and lovingly tried to soothe any pain.

  “I told you I wasn’t much fun for a few days,” she pouted pitifully.

  “And I told you I wasn’t going anywhere.”

  Fionna was up several times throughout the night, writhing in pain. Dan was a wreck. He’d asked numerous times if she wanted to go to the hospital, but she insisted that this was normal.

  Amelia would get extremely moody for a few days each month. She would eat exorbitant amounts of chocolate, and other fatty foods that she normally steered clear of, but she was the only other girl Dan had ever been close enough with to have any experience with this kind of thing. She’d certainly never woken up in the night writhing in pain. He didn’t feel like he had enough information from other women to know if this was normal or not. He’d seriously considered phoning Rainer and demanding to know if Emily ever had anything like this, but it was three in the morning. That seemed like it might be over the top.

  “Honey, are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I told you to just to leave me at my house.” She was worried that she was keeping him up. Not really getting any answers from Fionna, Dan had laid back and pulled her onto his chest. He’d pumped heat out every pore of his body as she relaxed against him.

  The medicine seemed to kick in around four, and she slept curled up on his chest until six, when the alarm went off. She whimpered as Dan slammed his hand down on top of it.

  “Baby,” he kissed the top of her head and tucked it under his chin. “If you’ll let me use your phone, I’ll call Chloe and tell her you’re not coming to practice. You can go back to sleep. I’ll come home at lunch and check on you. I was going to take your car to Rainer’s mechanic, but I can do that tomorrow.” He felt her smile against him.

  “I have to go to practice.” She drew a deep breath and then timidly traced her fingers down his chiseled abs. Dan was momentarily unable to think. His brain scrambled from the caress. His cock was already on high alert. He prayed she’d continue her trek downwards, but she explained instead, “It costs too much to miss. I’m not really allowed to be sick.”

  Willing the blood to return to the head above his waist, Dan recalled the Angel contract and the copious amounts of money their paychecks were docked for missing practices. How could I have agreed that something like that was legal? She could feel his worry.

  “I’ll be okay. The first night is always the worst. By this afternoon, I’ll be almost back to normal, just completely exhausted from not sleeping.”

  After spending several long minutes trying to coax her into staying in his bed where she was finally warm and comfortable, Dan gave up.

  She showered, and he tried to find something for her to eat, besides cold pizza. That turned out to be a fruitless endeavor. He debated the best way to get her some food.

  He moved to the desk in the dining room and dug until he located a blank restraining order form. Coffee was next on the list of things he wanted to make certain she had. He marched to the Mr. Coffee situated on his counter, but then remembered that he had no cream. Dan always drank his coffee black. Of the many things he’d memorized about Fionna Styler in the past week, one was that she loved coffee and preferred it sweet, with lots of cream. Dan smirked as he let the image of devouring her own sweet creamy mixture, with his head between her gorgeous legs, form in his mind.

  “What’s that look for?” She giggled as she wrapped her arms around his chest. He hadn’t heard her come into the kitchen. Her sudden appearance disturbed him. His senses were sharpened from necessity. Iodex officers heard every movement. It was how they remained alive.

  He cradled her to him but didn’t comment on her question. “I’m gonna go pick us something up for breakfast. I wanted to make sure you were okay for me to leave.”

  “Oh, well, Garrett texted and said he’d pick me up and take me to the arena since I don’t have a car. We can just get something on the way.”

  Dan tried to modulate his anger and resentment, but she was far too strong a Receiver to have missed the changing flow of his rhythms. She stretched up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips along his jawline.

  “But I would really rather have coffee with you.” Certain that she was lying to soothe his ego, Dan shook his head.

  “Just give me ten minutes, okay?”

  She giggled as she watched him throw on his worn riding jacket, locate his keys and phone, and race out to his most prized possession.

  Dan kicked his custom-MV Agusta F4 to life. The powerful bike gave its metallic rumble between his legs, and a broad grin spread across his features.

  Three minutes behind his estimated time, Dan raced back inside his kitchen. The line at Starbucks had held him up, but the delight in her eyes when he handed over the latte was worth it.

  This time they sat at his kitchen table and sipped coffee and tasted the bacon and Gouda sandwiches he’d procured. The food wasn’t nearly as enthralling as the company, but Dan reveled in the fact that they were having breakfast together. It was almost as if he could have a normal life. He could have a girlfriend. He could spend time with her outside of one of their houses. He could wrap his arms around her and kiss her in public. The longing sat with a harsh pain in his chest.

  Garrett’s knock on the front door pounded against the scars his life had left inside him.

  Dan spent several long minutes making Garret watch a passionate good-bye between him and Fionna.

  Still not certain what to make of Garrett, Dan had to admit he really didn’t seem to have minded the long-drawn kiss. He’d laughed, and told Fionna he’d meet her in his Highlander whenever she was finished.

  Brain, Not Brawn

  When he finally raced into his office, he found the Crown Governor waiting, along with the rest of the Elite team.

  “Sorry,” he offered. He was twenty minutes late for his first day back after suspension. Regret weighed on him.

  “No, no,” Governor Haydenshire laughed. “You being late might be the best thing that’s happened since I became Crown. Never thought I’d see the day.” He slapped Dan on the back. “I just came to say welcome back.”

  “Yeah, welcome back,” Rainer Lawson joined in the greeting with a wry grin.

  “Thanks,” Dan chuckled as he took a moment to revel in sitting in his desk again.

  “Good to see that you’re still smiling. Guess Sydney didn’t wear off?” Logan Haydenshire goaded.

  Aware that he was being studied, Dan fought not to roll his eyes. He had no intention of swapping locker room banter with any of his officers. He wasn’t seventeen, and he would guard what he shared with Fionna with his very life.

  “All right, I want to hear about Pendergrath, since he was allowed back in the country, but then I want you to pull some information for me.”

  Everyone nodded, as Portwood read off of Pendergrath’s current file. Dan clenched his jaw when he got to the fact that an elderly couple in the area was found dead and their children stunned to learn that their fortune had been donated to an unregistered charity.

  Logan went over the calls they’d been on during the first week of Dan’s absence, and Ramier gave the Internet reports of the accounts they followed and social media accounts they’d hacked of criminals around the globe.

&nbs
p; “We’re way backed up on paperwork, and we still need to get everything together for Adeline’s trial next month,” Logan lamented just as Garrett sauntered in, almost an hour late. As he’d been taking care of Fionna, Dan said nothing.

  “Oh, and Adderand and Pravus just made a trip to Brussels; probably visiting family for Christmas.” Portwood rolled his eyes at the very idea. Adderand was now Wretchkinside’s top hit-man since Dan had taken out Cascavel. Pravus was devil number three in line for the Interfeci throne.

  “Did they?” Dan’s mind raced with what could be going on in Belgium since Pendergrath’s release from prison that would require two of the top dogs to be flown out to Europe.

  He began handing out assignments and informing everyone that they would be training and working out after lunch.

  “Lawson and Haydenshire,” he called as everyone else exited his office. “Since you haven’t been here for a week to have any paperwork to catch up on, would you do me a favor?” With the ready compliancy he expected, Rainer and Logan agreed. “I want any information you can find on Eric Kent, medium height and build, around thirty years old, black hair, brown eyes. He’s trying to run for one of the Governor seats. And send this restraining order out with Mercer.”

  “No problem,” Logan agreed, as they took the restraining order and left.

  An hour later, they returned to Dan’s office.

  “We didn’t find much.” Rainer handed Dan a folder of what they’d located. “He’s an Adminis Predilect, went to Hans Bethe, even though his parents live here. There were a few complaints from some girls he dated, stating that he badgered them when they broke it off with him, but there were no arrests made. The headmaster gave him a formal reprimand. His old man got him out of trouble, by promising he’d leave the girls alone. Two years ago, he was brought in on suspicion of voyeurism, peeping-Tom style.” Logan scowled as he read the report. Dan felt his blood begin to boil. “There were no official charges filed there, either. It wouldn’t look good if that made it to the political arena; though, I suppose. His dad stepped in again, money changed hands, and that was the end of it.”

  Dan ground his teeth, willing himself to stay at his desk, as opposed to driving out to Eric’s apartment and beating him to within an inch of his life.

  “Add this to the file.” Dan handed over the yellow and pink carbon copies of the restraining order Fionna had signed that morning at his house.

  “He bothering, Fi?” Thirst for justice tensed in both Rainer and Logan’s shields.

  “Yeah,” Dan huffed, “but I’ll take care of it. You mind taking me out to Sam’s at lunch? I want to get her Solstice checked out. I don’t like the fact that it’s suddenly not working when it was sitting in the Iodex parking deck.”

  “Sure, no problem. I’ll call and tell him we’re coming,” Rainer promised.

  “Thanks.”

  A minute later, Dan’s cell phone rang. He smiled when he saw who was calling.

  “Hey, honey, you feeling any better?”

  “No…not really,” Fionna hesitated. She’d been crying. Her voice was haggard and frightened. Dan panicked. He stood and threw his holster on.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Well, they told me to call Iodex, but I decided to just go ahead and call you. Was that okay?”

  “Of course. Tell me what’s happened, baby.”

  “Eric’s here and he won’t leave.”

  Wrath-fueled fury scorched through Dan like a flame through gasoline.

  “Security won’t let him into the stadium. He keeps insisting that he’s my boyfriend, and that I told him he could come watch me practice.” He heard her breath shudder as she tried hard not to cry again. “I went out to tell him to leave. He just keeps telling me that he’s announcing his candidacy tonight, and that I need to be there. It’s like he can’t even hear me talk.”

  “Is he still there?” Dan was impressed at how calm he sounded, though he was enraged.

  “Yes, he’s refusing to leave until I leave with him.”

  “It’s all right, sweetheart. I’m on my way. Listen to me; I want you to stay inside the arena. Do not go back and talk to him. Stay as close to Emily as you can. Where’s Emily’s security team?”

  “They’re here. They’re who he’s arguing with now. Thank you for coming.”

  “I told you, Fi, if you need me, I’m there. I’m bringing a team with me. Just stay inside. I’ll be right there. Stay with Emily, okay?”

  Emily was the ideal choice, due to the ring she was wearing. Dan tried to console himself with the knowledge that the engagement ring Rainer Lawson had given his lifetime love was the Lawson family ring. Imbibed with promethium, the wearer could access the endless supply of nuclear energy whenever it was needed. Emily Haydenshire, a Receiver with virtually no shielding energies at all, could throw a shield more fierce than Dan’s as long as she was wearing that ring.

  “Okay…” Fionna sounded timid and weak again. “But I thought I wasn’t supposed to call you because no one can know.”

  The fact that Fionna was exhausted and feeling awful only added fuel to the ferocious fire burning in Dan’s gut. “Baby, I will be there. I will take care of Eric. No one who doesn’t need to know about us will know about us. I will make this work. I will always take care of you.”

  Dan ended the call with Rainer and Logan staring at him, both extremely concerned.

  “You wanna go see Emily for a few minutes?” Dan reseated himself and pulled up the information he wanted from his computer.

  “Always, but is Fionna okay?” Rainer quizzed.

  “Seems Eric is at the arena and won’t leave.” Dan copied down the numbers he needed. “Go tell Garrett he’s coming along. I want a full team.”

  Rainer and Logan raced out of the office and returned with Garrett. They all slung on their holsters and pulled on Iodex jackets.

  “I knew he was going to be trouble. He just wouldn’t quit.” Garrett shook his head, as Dan grabbed his own Iodex jacket and rushed everyone out to the Expeditions.

  “You drive,” Dan threw the keys to Rainer, as he climbed in the passenger seat. Rainer cranked the SUV and flew out of the parking deck. Dan dialed his phone.

  “This is Thomas Kane,” the man answered on the second ring.

  “Mr. Kane, this is Dan Vindico, Elite Iodex chief. Sir, I just wanted to call and tell you that we’ve had several complaints from the Angels challengers practicing at the arena this morning. It seems your son is there and is refusing to leave.” Dan tried to sound as professional and aloof as he could manage.

  “What?”

  “Yes, sir, and I have to tell you some of the players are quite agitated. I’ve got a team headed that way right now. As he has been asked to leave numerous times by the arena security teams, I’m afraid I’m going to have to arrest him.”

  “No, don’t do that. I’m sure he’s just visiting Fionna Styler.”

  Dan felt every ounce of chiseled muscle in his body seize as his stomach churned.

  “I’m not certain what Eric has told you Mr. Kane, but Ms. Styler has filed one of the many complaints this morning. She also filed a restraining order over the weekend against Eric. He’s in violation of that already.”

  “What? I thought they were dating!” Kane demanded hotly.

  “Not according to Ms. Styler. She’s assured me repeatedly that she agreed to go out with Eric once and then never again. She will be pressing charges if I arrest him today. I have to tell you, sir, an arrest for harassment and trespassing, along with the charges for not obeying the restraining order, on top of his previous suspicion of voyeurism, are not going to bode well in the political arena,” Dan stated the key to entire conversation.

  Mr. Kane began mumbling furiously.

  “Who else has filed a complaint?”

  Dan fought back a chuckle.

  “I’m not at liberty to name names, Mr. Kane. I’m certain you understand that. Several other players have phoned Iodex. I’m going to
have to call Medio Sawyer and the other majority owners. After I make the arrest, it seems there is a conflict of interest with your having a partial share in the team your son is harassing.”

  “Okay, okay,” Mr. Kane panicked, “I’m on my way. I’ll get him to leave. Just don’t arrest him!”

  “Well that depends on whether or not he’s there when we arrive. I’ll reassess the situation then.”

  “I’m leaving now. I’m in my car.”

  “I suppose I’ll see you soon then.” Dan hung up the phone.

  “Very, very well played,” Garrett complimented. “I am impressed. She is good for you.”

  Dan couldn’t quite hide his grin as he instructed Rainer to speed it up.

  “Yeah, and just in case it gets brought up again, I feel certain that Emily called to complain,” Rainer chuckled as he flipped on the internal blue lights and floored the Expedition. Dan nodded his appreciation.

  “Yeah, Chloe as well,” Garrett corroborated.

  “I figured they did,” Dan said as he called the next number on his list.

  “Georgetown Hospital,” the chipper assistant announced.

  “This is Dan Vindico, Chief of Gifted Iodex. I need to speak to Medio Sawyer, please. It’s very important.”

  “Uh,” the woman stammered. “Doctor Sawyer,” she corrected to let Dan know that she was not Gifted but, just like all hospital personnel, she was aware of the Realm, “is making rounds.”

  “Please let him know that we have police heading to the Alexandria Arena and that his daughter may be in danger.”

  “Yes, sir. Chloe has phoned already, but I hadn’t given Dr. Sawyer his messages yet.”

  “Well, I need you to do that for me… now.”

  “Yes, sir.” The woman put him on hold, and Dan waited as Rainer slowed up at a red light.

  “This is Dr. Sawyer,” huffed a man’s voice.

  “Medio Sawyer, this is Dan Vindico.”

  “Hey, Dan. Haven’t heard from you in years, son. Something wrong?”

  “Yes, sir, seems Eric Kane, Thomas Kane’s son, is at the arena and won’t leave. He’s threatened Fionna Styler, and I know Chloe’s already phoned, but several of the girls are quite concerned. I’m heading out now with an Elite team. We should be arriving in the next few minutes, but I have to tell you, as the majority owner, in the contract that the players sign every year, you guarantee their safety while on Angels’ property. With Thomas being an owner, you may have to do something about him and his son.”