Touching Silver

by Jamie Craig

Olivia actually went several shades whiter at the suggestion. “I’ll go get the coin while you guys work on real estate. It couldn’t hurt to have more details.”

  “No.” Forgetting about the others, Isaac grasped her other shoulder, forcing her to look at him. “You’re already not feeling well, and the past two times you’ve had visions, you’ve either passed out or almost passed out. I need you alert if we’re going to stop Gabriel. We don’t need to take the chance with the coin.”

  “What if I see something that saves her? Isaac, it was my job to protect her. Not yours, not the department’s. Mine. And now she’s gone, and if she’s half as scared as she was in my earlier vision…If I can do something that’ll help you find her and save her, then I don’t have a choice.”

  Short of tying her to a chair, he wasn’t going to be able to stop her or change her mind. But the idea of her handling the coin when he wasn’t around terrified him. Nobody could deny the physical effect it had on her. Anything could happen.

  “Take Remy with you then.” Now it was Nathan’s turn to look alarmed. “And neither one of you touches that coin with your bare skin. Get it back here, and then and only then are we going to try this.”

  “I won’t touch it,” Olivia promised. She rested her hand on Isaac’s arm and squeezed it gently. “Just worry about finding that address. We’ll be back before you even miss us.”

  Without thought, he cupped the back of her head and drew her into a kiss. He kept it short, almost chaste, but he needed her to know how much she meant to him. He had nothing else to give to help her get through the next few hours.

  That, and pulling as many strings as possible at the station to get Gabriel de los Rios cornered once and for all.

  Olivia smiled at him, but it just served to highlight the obvious pain in her eyes. She left without speaking, Remy hurrying after her. Isaac resisted the urge to follow her down to the parking lot, just to keep his eye on her for as long as possible.

  “I don’t think it would have hurt to tell her you love her, Isaac,” Nathan observed, once the door closed behind them.

  His head whipped around. “What? You’re crazy. I don’t love Olivia.”

  Nathan snorted. “Right, and I’m only mildly attracted to Remy. It’s all over your face.”

  “That’s worry you’re seeing.”

  “No, it’s not. There’s worry on your face, but that’s not all I’m seeing. Do you realize you never once looked away from her, except when you were yelling at Remy?”

  He frowned. No, he hadn’t realized. “She’s been through a lot of crap the past few days,” he said, trying to justify. “Some of which is my fault. Remember? According to you, I’m a prick.”

  “And she obviously forgave you for it. Are you living in denial land because you’re worried she won’t return your feelings?”

  “She already—”

  Isaac stopped before he said too much. What happened in the bedroom stayed in the bedroom as far as he was concerned. Olivia hadn’t repeated her declaration since he’d tried to talk her out of it, but it wasn’t because she’d changed her mind. She hadn’t wanted things to change.

  Except hadn’t they already? Nathan had already pointed out the obvious. Isaac didn’t pay attention to much else when Olivia was in the room. And he had wished Olivia was there as soon as he got the news about Marisol, because he wanted to tell her right away. Hell, he’d sought her out before even calling Nathan. That said something. It said a lot.

  “You don’t think it’s too soon?” he asked instead. “Forget you and Remy, because you two are just freaks of nature. This is me we’re talking about. Since when do you know me to fall for someone as fast as this?”

  “Since never. But if it’s right, it’s right, whether it’s a week or a year. I’ve decided, when it comes to this sort of thing, saying can’t doesn’t make a lot of sense. Lots of things can’t happen, but they do.” Nathan leaned against the arm of the couch, pulling his cell out of his pocket. “All I know is, we’re going to face Gabriel tonight. The last time we did, we had something he wanted, and he was willing to make a deal. This time, we have nothing to offer except the coin we don’t want him to know we have, and we’re definitely going to be outnumbered. There’s a greater than zero chance that not all of us will walk away from this confrontation. You shouldn’t have unfinished business between you two.”

  In the old days, before Susanna, Nathan had had volumes to say on Isaac’s love life, or lack thereof. He hadn’t been this forthright in years, and the fact he chose to do it now, over Olivia, made Isaac take it seriously. He didn’t want to consider something going wrong with busting Gabriel. He didn’t want to consider anything bad happening to Olivia at all. But it was a distinct possibility. And Olivia probably believed she cared more about him than he did her. She didn’t know he had been so struck by her confession the night before that his first instinct had been to shower her in kisses and never let her go.

  Never let her go.

  As Nathan made the call for the property records, Isaac glanced at the door.

  Maybe it wasn’t just worry Nathan had seen.

  Olivia assiduously avoided touching the coin with her bare skin. She wore a thick pair of leather gloves, used a rag to grip the coin, and then wrapped it in a thick sweater to transport it. Remy watched with sharp eyes as she went through her careful ritual, but she didn’t speak. Her reserve surprised Olivia. The other woman had been chatty every other time they had a few moments together, but now she didn’t seem to have anything to say.

  Olivia didn’t blame her. She had obviously been angry with Isaac, but everybody in Nathan’s apartment knew it wasn’t Isaac who had the responsibility to keep Stacy safe. Remy might have been addressing Isaac, but each barb found its home in Olivia’s chest.

  The whole trip took almost forty-five minutes. Olivia cursed the traffic trapping them on the freeway, but not with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. She wasn’t eager to get back to Nathan’s. She wasn’t eager to hold the coin again. She knew it was cowardly, and she knew she’d hold the damned coin for the rest of the night if that’s what it took, but she didn’t want to.

  Isaac and Nathan were hunched over the table when they returned, papers spread out between the two of them.

  “Did we miss anything good?” Olivia said.

  Isaac was the first to rise. “We’ve got a few more on the list to go through. So far, nothing Gabriel has held onto comes close to being a house in the hills.” He stopped in front of her, but when he went to touch her arm, he checked the motion at the last moment so that his fingertips only grazed her. “Are you okay?”

  No, I’m scared. And my eyes are throbbing. And I’m not sure how I’m going to live with myself if anything happens to her.

  “I’m good.” Olivia held up her folded sweater. “I wanted something thicker than a plastic bag between me and it.” She looked around, her gaze landing on the couch. “Maybe I should start by laying down this time.”

  He didn’t move from where he blocked her path. His eyes probed hers, warmth and concern radiating from the dark depths. “Do you want to do this privately?” he murmured. “I’m sure Nathan wouldn’t mind if we went in the other room and you laid down in there.”

  “That would probably improve my chances of not hitting the floor,” Olivia said.

  “Please.” Nathan gestured at the hallway. “If it’s more comfortable for you.”

  Isaac took her by the hand and led her to the bedroom. It was warm and welcoming, which didn’t surprise Olivia in the least. She had a feeling Nathan and Remy spent a lot of time there.

  “You can still back out of this. There’s still a chance we’ll find this the old-fashioned way. You know, the one rooted in this world, not the Marty McFly one.”

  Olivia forced a wan smile. “I know there’s still a chance. But we’ve already lost too much time. Even if I only save us five minutes, that’s five minutes that could make a huge difference for Stacy.”

&nbs
p; She sat on the edge of the large bed and began to unfold her sweater. The coin was impossibly bright against the dark material. The first time she saw it, buried in the ashes, she’d wondered if anybody else would notice it glowing. Now she looked up to Isaac. “I think it’s ready to tell me something.”

  His frown deepened. “Why do you say that? It still just looks like an old coin to me.”

  He clearly didn’t see it glowing. Any other time, she might have wondered if she was seeing things, but now nothing about the coin fazed her. She pulled her gloves off and sat back on the bed, propping herself against the pillows.

  “You won’t let me fall off the bed this time?” she asked before reaching for the coin.

  “Never.” Isaac slipped his hand up her leg. “Maybe I should hold you for this.”

  Olivia nodded, the closest she would come to admitting her fear. She moved over, making room for him to sit beside her and fold his arms around her. She fit against his body easily, and couldn’t resist burying her face in his neck for a moment. “I am never going to touch that damned thing again when we’re done.”

  His mouth brushed across the top of her head. “Think Nathan would let us melt it down? I’ll even bring the marshmallows.”

  Olivia lifted her head. “Nathan might not like it, but Remy would probably be the first in line with one of those marshmallows.”

  Before Isaac responded and she lost her nerve, Olivia reached for the coin, her fingers closing tightly, almost painfully, around it. At first, nothing happened. Isaac tensed against her, and she felt his curious eyes on her, rather than the coin. Had she been mistaken about the glowing? Was she wrong to think this would work a third time? She didn’t have the first idea about how all this worked. The chances were good they were all completely wrong.

  She almost said as much when that cloying green smell overwhelmed her again. It crawled through her nostrils, stung her eyes and settled in the back of her throat, like it was a living thing intent on cutting off her air. It filled her mouth, like a musky rag.

  Not a rag. A gag. I open my mouth to push it out, but it doesn’t fall. A band holds the gag in place, others around my wrists and ankles, holds me in place.

  Laughter. Not mine. Pure delight.

  Relief.

  I stumble out of the car, unable to catch myself, and fall flat to the ground.

  Remain there, on my knees, but the girl who exited with me stands and walks away. Watch the girl, limping, stumbling, falling only to be caught again. White numbers shine, lit somehow. Four. Nine. Eight.

  Three forms join the girl. I shout, but nobody responds. So I crawl, unable to stand, my fingers brushing against the ankle.

  The green. Green falling on my head. Green covering my clothes. Green dripping in my hair, and nose, into my eyes. Green tendrils tying me to the ground.

  I shout around the gag.

  Olivia dry-heaved and slumped forward, her stomach recoiling in horror against the smell. She choked out Isaac’s name.

  His strong hands stroked up and down her back, trying to calm the seizing muscles. When that didn’t give him the immediate response he was obviously hoping for, Isaac scooped her into his arms, pulling her onto his lap to nestle her as close to him as physically possible.

  “No more. Everything’ll be okay, but no more. I can’t stand seeing you like this. Just breathe, Olivia. You’re here. You’re safe. No more of that damn coin. I’m not losing the woman I love over something as stupid as that.”

  The back of her eyes pricked, and her lungs burned as she took a deep breath. She had to still be hearing things. “You’re going to say that again when I’m thinking straight.”

  His hands gentled along her body. “I can say it again now. Or whenever. I can even buy one of those annoying picture frames and record it so you can hear it whenever you want.” She felt his smile more than saw it. “It’ll give me a good reason to insist on those naked pictures you won’t pose for.”

  “Well, if I get a talking frame out of the deal, I’ll get you that picture by tomorrow.” She lifted her head to kiss his jaw, simply seeking out the closest patch of his warm skin. “Tell me one more time.”

  His hand cupped her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. What she saw there took her breath away.

  “I love you, Olivia. And regardless of what I said last night, everything changed for me the second you walked into my life.”

  Olivia glanced away. “You’re going to make me cry. And then you’re going to think there’s something wrong with me, and then we’re going to waste time fighting about whether or not I’m healthy enough to go after Gabriel.”

  He shook his head. “If you tell me you’re up to going, I’m going to trust you not to lie to me about that. I know this bust is too important to you to not let you have it now.”

  Let you. If Olivia had felt a little less raw and defenseless, she might have challenged him on that. But it would be important to pick her battles with Isaac. She cupped the back of his head and drew him into a soft kiss. She felt more grounded the moment their mouths touched. When she pulled away, the fog had cleared from her mind.

  “I saw an address. And Stacy is still alive. But I don’t know how much time we’ve got.”

  “Then that means we continue the initiations into our mutual admiration club after we’re done.” He let her go, sliding off the bed and then watching as she wobbled to her feet. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

  They had an address, they knew Stacy was still alive, and Isaac loved her. Everything would be okay soon enough.

  Gabriel stalked through the room, sticking close to the edges, out of Marisol’s way. The purification ritual would move faster with the two of them working, but Marisol wouldn’t let him touch the girls. He never minded the restriction before—and he wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with the ritual itself, or just Marisol’s jealousy—but now it seemed ridiculous.

  Gabriel inhaled deeply, the rich, earthly smell of the oils surrounding him. It reminded him of the jungle, of home. It wouldn’t be long until they were all at the Silver Maiden’s temple again. The thought made him shiver, and his groin tightened. Maybe Marisol was right to be jealous, but it wasn’t the young priestesses she should be worried about.

  Marisol stepped away from the stone circle, standing proudly at its edge. “Look at her,” Gabriel came to her side and looked down on Stacy, the final piece, the girl who had caused him so much trouble. In that moment, the rather plain girl was transformed into something beautiful…something divine. Her long hair hung down her back, damp with thick oil, and her skin glistened with lotion. Marisol had dressed her in a long, thin robe. The robe wasn’t necessary, but his cousin had a flair for the dramatic.

  The fear in her eyes only heightened her fragile beauty.

  “She’s perfect,” Gabriel said.

  Marisol wrapped her arms around his neck. “The moon won’t be right for another thirty minutes. Why don’t we take care of my purification?”

  “Do you want to leave me tonight, then?”

  “I need to be with the girls.”

  He frowned. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “You knew this was going to happen sooner or later.” She pulled him closer. “Leave Parker here to watch the girl and you can give me a proper goodbye.”

  Gabriel looked over Marisol’s shoulder to Parker. “I don’t want her to even move an inch. Do you understand me?”

  Parker’s teeth flashed. “Perfectly, sir.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Nathan didn’t take his eyes, or his hands, away from Remy on the drive out of Los Angeles to the Inland Empire. He told himself he was just trying to calm her down, because he hadn’t seen her this high-strung in a long time. Her lean muscles were tense, her fists clenched, and her eyes darted around like she didn’t want to miss a single detail. She had taken the time before they left to change into close-fitting leather pants and matching jacket, and he couldn’t see her weapons, but he knew she h
ad two knives—one in her boot, one in her belt—and also wore a shoulder holster he had found for her.

  Nathan was nervous too. But not in the same way. Remy was worried and thoughtful. He was excited, his nerves born of anticipation. He had meant every word he said to Isaac. There was a very real chance one or more or all of them would not walk away from this confrontation. But man, he loved a good fight.

  Isaac kept glancing at them in the rearview mirror, exasperation clear in his eyes. Nathan ignored him. If he and Olivia were sitting in the backseat, they’d probably paw at each other too. Remy had told him she really liked Olivia. Nathan hadn’t said anything at the time, but her admission surprised him. Olivia was a cop. The enemy in Remy’s eyes. It wasn’t logical, but that was how Remy lived her life. Everything wasn’t going to turn around after a mere six months. But apparently, Olivia had done or said something to make it clear she could be trusted.

  Isaac parked a quarter of a mile away from Gabriel’s house in the hills above San Dimas. Nathan leaned over before they got out of the car, his lips close to Remy’s ear. Her hair tickled his nose, and he couldn’t help but note how good the leather smelled against her skin.

  “Are you ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  Her head turned swiftly, her full mouth capturing his in a long, lingering kiss. It was as natural as breathing for them, as necessary, but somehow she still managed to take him by surprise each and every time.

  Isaac slammed the driver’s door hard, startling them out of the kiss. “Love you,” Nathan said before they left the car.

  They hurried up the hill to the house, walking two abreast, Olivia and Isaac in the lead. Nathan watched her, noting the way she refused to take Isaac’s hand, refused to acknowledge the way her muscles trembled. Nathan didn’t think she was afraid, but the vision that led them to the house had taken a lot out of her. He was surprised Isaac hadn’t insisted she stay home, but neither of them had said a word about it.

  Olivia did stop short once they reached the mansion’s long driveway. Isaac put his hand in the small of her back, gently encouraging her to move again. The excitement settled in Nathan’s gut. His skin felt too tight. He took Remy’s hand, and they silently ducked off the driveway to the hedges leading to the house.