by I. T. Lucas
“Starving. The sandwiches they had for sale on the plane were disgusting. All I ate was a bag of pretzels.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I figured you’d be hungry and brought Chinese takeout. Pop the trunk, and I’ll get your bags.”
Eva stretched up and kissed him. “You’re the best.”
And wasn’t that music to his ears.
Leaving her suitcase by the door, Bhathian clasped Eva’s hand and pulled her toward the kitchen. Nick was there, eating at the table with Sharon.
Bhathian waited patiently as hugs and greetings were exchanged, then pulled out a chair for Eva. “Take a seat, love. I’ll warm a plate up for you.”
A few minutes later Sharon and Nick exchanged knowing looks and excused themselves from the table.
Eva patted her belly and sighed. “That was so good. Thank you. It’s nice to come home and have food ready for me.”
“Can’t your guys do that?”
“Tessa does. Sharon and Nick don’t have the presence of mind.”
“Well, you’ve got me now.”
She smiled. “I do. By the way, where is Tessa?”
“Sharon said she is with Jackson.”
“Good. He’ll keep her safe.”
Bhathian frowned. “From what?”
Eva folded a paper napkin over her plate. “While I was listening to the tab I put on my target, I overheard a conversation between two other guys in that office. I wasn’t sure in which room the meeting was going to be held, so I put bugs in several places. Long story short, this one guy was talking about finding the bitch who’d killed his brother five years ago. He also said, or was it the other guy, I’m not sure, that she was so young then and probably looks much different now. The timing fit Tessa’s story. I’m not aware of any other murder committed by a teenage girl five years ago. It might be a coincidence, but I’m worried.”
“Did the murder Tessa was involved in make it to the news?”
“Only that a businessman was found dead in his apartment, and the police were investigating. They ruled out burglary because nothing had been taken. They said it was probably revenge on a deal gone wrong.”
“You have your answer. No teenager was mentioned in this case, because no one knew she existed. He was holding her captive, and her cloths were the only clue that he had a woman living with him. The same can hold true for other cases you’ve never heard about. Besides, not everything gets the news attention. The guy could’ve been talking about a hit-and-run accident that had killed his brother, the driver of which had been a girl Tessa’s age.”
“Maybe. But I can’t help feeling anxious. The guy said he has people looking for her. I’m going to take Tessa to the hairdresser’s to change her hair color and buy her contact lenses. I hope that will be enough to change her appearance.”
Bhathian got up and pulled two beers from the fridge. “Taking a precaution is always a good idea. But I really don’t think you should lose any sleep over it. For five years you guys lived in the same city the guy had died in, and no one came looking for Tessa.”
He handed Eva a bottle and a glass.
“Thank you. I need that.” She emptied the bottle into the tall glass. “Your turn. What new and exciting things can you tell me about?”
“I have a good lead on your mystery guy.”
“Oh, really?” Eva leaned forward.
“I talked with Dalhu and then with Robert. Apparently a whole platoon of Doomers disappeared during the Second World War. They were in Hiroshima at the time of the nuclear bombing. When they failed to come back, they were presumed dead. The clincher is that they were led by Navuh’s youngest son.” Bhathian crossed his arms over his chest. “I think the guy took the opportunity to slip his father’s clutches, and he and his warriors traveled to the States after the war. Back then, there were no Doomers here. A perfect place for them to hide.”
Eva leaned back with her glass in hand. “An interesting assumption but there is no way to verify it.”
“There is. Robert can describe the guy, and I can have the same forensic artist that drew your portrait from my memory, draw that guy from Robert’s. You said you’d recognize him if you saw him.”
She nodded. “It’s a long shot, you know that, right?”
“I do. But I have a gut feeling about this.”
“Then let’s do it. What’s the worst that can happen? We just find out that it wasn’t him.”
Chapter 29: Robert
In his office, Robert leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. There was nowhere for him to go. He was sleeping in the blasted office, taking his meals in there, and showering in the gym. Basically, he was spending most of his days in almost complete isolation.
It was starting to get to him.
Combined with the seething rage Carol’s decision had brought about, Robert was a walking time bomb waiting to explode. If he could spar with the Guardians, he could’ve taken some of his aggression out on the wrestling mat, but he was loath to ask. If even Dalhu shunned him, a fellow ex-Doomer, what were the chances that one of them would agree to train with him? And the civilians were just that—civilians. None of them posed a challenge.
He needed to talk to Kian. The guy had said to come to him if he needed anything. And besides, he had no one else to talk to.
His only companion wanted him out of her life.
She was right, though. It was time to move on. Banging his head against the wall and hoping for a miracle was a loser attitude.
There was a reason he’d risen in the Doomer organization despite his limitations. Hard work and determination compensated for average intelligence and less than average social skills. Robert made himself useful and readily bowed to authority—two qualities highly valued by his commanding officers.
Kian’s office was on the same level of the underground as Robert’s, and given the guy’s work habits, he wasn’t surprised to find the clan’s regent still there despite the late hour.
Robert knocked on the glass panel of his door.
Kian lifted his head, then waved him in. “What’s up?”
“I need to talk to you. Do you have a minute?”
“Of course. Please, take a seat.” The regent motioned to one of the chairs on the other side of his desk.
There was no point in talking in circles, not that Robert knew how to do it if he wanted to, so he got straight to it. “Carol and I broke up. I’ve been sleeping in my office for the past four days, but it’s not a good solution. Is there an apartment you can assign to me? Or a room? I don’t mind flat-mates or even roommates.” On the contrary, that was how he’d lived most of his life. The Doomer compound was sprawling, but that didn’t mean that warriors had their own quarters. As an officer, Robert had shared lodgings with fewer men than the rank and file, but it was still two men in a room. That was what he’d been used to. He preferred cohabiting with others. Even a silent roommate was better than none.
“Why haven’t you come to me sooner? You must’ve been going crazy cooped up in that small room twenty-four-seven.”
“I didn’t want to impose.”
Kian shook his head. “Let me check with Ingrid.” He pulled out his phone and typed a quick text. A few moments later it pinged with a response.
“She has a room available in an apartment with two other guys. It’s one of the larger three-bedroom ones.”
“That would be great. Thank you.” Two roommates were better than one.
“Her office is on the third floor. Suite 304. She’ll meet you there in ten minutes to give you a key.”
“Thank you.” Robert debated whether he should ask Kian again about what was in store for him. The guy had gotten pissed the last time Robert had voiced his concerns. But he had to make sure that he knew where he stood. “I’m still okay? Right? Nothing changes because I’m no longer with Carol?”
“Nope. Nothing changes. You still got your job and a place to stay. In time, after you have proven trustworthy beyond a shado
w of a doubt, you’ll become a full-fledged clan member.”
“How can I help hasten the process?”
Kian drummed his fingers on the glossy surface of his desk. “I don’t really know what to tell you. It’s not easy for us to trust an ex-Doomer. Dalhu has a true-love mate, and that in itself guarantees his loyalty. He will always choose Amanda above anyone and anything else, and that extends to her family. He also went through a trial few could’ve survived, let alone done so with such honor and dignity. Not only that, but he'd also proven himself in battle. And still, even after all that, not everyone is happy about him being here, and some still eye him suspiciously.”
Robert sighed. “I appreciate the frank response, but it’s far from encouraging.”
“That is true. But on the other hand, time will do its thing even if you do nothing to hasten the results. People will get used to your presence, and after years of your loyal service their suspicions will shrink and eventually evaporate. Lucky for you, time is not an issue.”
Robert nodded. He would’ve liked to find a quicker route, but then nothing he’d ever achieved came fast or easy. Slow and steady was his way. He pushed to his feet and offered his hand for a handshake. “Thank you. For everything.”
Kian shook it. “You’re welcome.”
When he got to Ingrid’s office on the third floor, she was already waiting for him with a key, a note, and a big smile. “Here you go, Robert. I wrote down the apartment number and the names of your roommates. Charles is a civilian plane pilot, and Edgar flies a helicopter. Both are young immortals I’m sure you’ll get along splendidly with. They know you’re coming and are waiting for you.”
“Thank you.” He stuffed the note and the key in his back pocket.
Ingrid leaned over her desk, giving him a view of her rounded backside, and scribbled another note. “Here is my number. In case you need anything for your room.” She handed it to him. “If you don’t like the pictures or the bedding, anything at all, I can order you something else.”
Robert glanced around her office. “You’re the interior decorator, right?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then I’m sure I’m going to love everything in that room. You have great taste.”
Her smile was wide, and she put a hand on her hip, striking a pose. “Flattery is always appreciated. Thank you.”
“It’s not flattery when it’s the truth.”
“Even better.”
“Well, I’ll better go and say hello to my new roommates. I already took too much of your time.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “My pleasure. And please, call me. I’m at your service.” She winked.
Robert felt the tips of his ears heating up. “I will. Good night.” He rushed to the door.
Dear Mortdh, he was indeed dense. It’d taken him a while to realize that Ingrid was coming on to him. Kian had been right. The moment his relationship with Carol had officially ended, the females, or at least this one, got much bolder in their pursuit of him.
Maybe that was the answer to his loneliness?
The men didn’t trust him, maybe the women didn’t either, but they wanted him. Even if they were only interested in sex, he should take whatever he was offered.
It beat being alone.
Chapter 30: Syssi
Kian hung up the house phone. “The security guy says there is a package for you downstairs.”
Syssi put down the book she’d been reading and pushed to her feet. “I’ll go get it.”
Kian pulled her into his arms. “I hope it’s sexy lingerie.”
“Why would I order sexy things? You like me best in the nude.”
“True. So what is it?”
“A surprise.” And not one Kian was going to be happy about. She still hadn’t told him about her plans to try shrooms.
Ugh, he was going to hit the roof. But keeping it a secret from him wasn’t an option. As much as Syssi hated confrontations, there was no avoiding it this time.
After all was said and done, it was her decision, and Kian could do nothing to prevent her from carrying it out… Except locking her down in the dungeon, or taking the shrooms and flushing them down the toilet.
She was fully prepared for their first colossal fight.
Was it worth it?
Time would tell. If the hallucinogenic achieved what she hoped they would and kick-started her foresight, then the answer was yes.
When she came back up, Kian eyed the small brown envelope she was holding. “Now I’m really curious. It’s not clothes or shoes. Is it makeup?”
Most of her shopping was done online, and Kian was used to her getting packages in the mail and showing him what she’d gotten.
“No, it’s not. Come sit with me on the couch and I’ll show you.”
His eyes smiling, he sat next to her and cocked a brow.
Damn it. Kian was expecting something fun.
With a sigh, Syssi tore the top of the envelope. “Promise you’ll let me explain before you start yelling.”
Kian frowned. “Yelling? Since when do I yell at you?”
“You don’t. But I have a feeling this time you will.” She pulled out a small plastic bag with a few dried mushrooms at the bottom. “These are shrooms.” She lifted the bag and gave it a little shake.
“Mushrooms?” He wrinkled his nose. “Why would I be angry about some stinky mushrooms? Unless you want to feed them to me, in which case I’ll politely decline. No yelling.”
There was no way Kian didn’t know what shrooms were. People had been using them to enhance visions since time immemorial.
“The shrooms are for me.”
“What are you going to do with them?”
“You really don’t know what these are, do you?”
For a moment he looked puzzled, but then realization dawned. “Don’t tell me those are the kind that cause hallucinations?”
She nodded. “I want to try them. Maybe they will help my foretelling. I’m sick and tired of being at the mercy of my visions. I want to control them.”
“You mean you want to force them to come?”
“Yes.”
“Is it dangerous?”
He was taking it surprisingly well, and he wasn’t faking the calm either. His scent betrayed worry but not anger. “No. Most people report very mild effects, and they are not harmful or addictive in any way.”
“But you are not most people, Syssi. You are a seer, and a hallucinogenic can bring about visions too powerful for you to handle. The foretelling hits you hard enough when it comes without any prompting.”
“I know. And I won’t lie to you and tell you that I’m not scared. But I have to try. I feel like I’m sitting on a goldmine of information that I have no access to.”
Kian wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. “I don’t like it.”
She leaned against him, thankful for his warmth and strength and his unwavering support of her. “I know. I’m going to start with a tiny amount, and have you and Amanda watch over me.”
“Before you do, I want to read about it.”
“I already did. Don’t you trust me?”
“Of course I do. But reading about it myself will help assuage my concerns.”
Syssi grabbed a throw pillow and twisted the fringe between her fingers. There was one more tiny secret she’d kept from him from the beginning. “I dreamt about you. Before we met, that is. Night after night for weeks. It didn’t feel like a premonition, but in retrospect, I realized it was.”
He smirked. “Oh, yeah? What were the dreams about?”
That was one of the reasons she’d never told him. Kian’s ego was overinflated as it was. “It was a nightmare.”
His smile wilted. “That’s why you never told me?”
She chuckled. “No. Your part in it wasn’t nightmarish at all; you were the hero who came to my rescue. In the dream, I was alone, running in the dark from a pack of wolves. I saw you, or rather your shadow, in the distance and ran
toward you, but I always woke up before reaching you.”
“So how do you know it was me?”
“Because shortly before I met you, I did. And it was one hell of an erotic dream.”
The smirk was back. “Tell me.”
“Later. I know you. If I tell you now, you’ll want to recreate it right away.”
“And that’s a problem because?”
She punched his bicep. “Because I want to try the shrooms first.”
“Why haven’t you told me about the dreams?”
She shrugged. “It seemed silly. At first, I was embarrassed to admit it, and later it felt weird to mention something I’ve kept from you for so long. But lately I’ve been thinking a lot about them. It’s another manifestation of my paranormal ability, and it isn’t as traumatic as the visions. I wish I could do something to encourage the dreams.
“And you hope to do it with the shrooms?”
Syssi lifted her hands. “I welcome anything. Visions or dreams. I just hate to feel useless.”
He mussed her hair. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the furthest from useless a person can get.”
“Thank you. I meant my talent. It’s wasted. There must be a way to harness it.”
Kian smoothed the hair he’d mussed. “I get it. Being at the mercy of those visions must be frustrating. I’ll look into it while I’m reading up on the shrooms. Maybe I can find legitimate psychics who can give you guidance.”
“Most are charlatans.”
“I agree. But we know that some are not. You’re the proof of it.”
“Okay. You go and conduct your search, and I’ll tell Amanda to come over in half an hour. Is it enough time for you?”
“It will do.”
As Kian ducked into his office, Syssi texted her sister-in-law.
A moment later her phone rang. “How did Kian take it?”
“Surprisingly well. He is in his office researching the topic. I told him he has until you come.”
“Girl, I’m so proud of you. You’ve changed that man. I was sure he was going to go ballistic on us.”