Relaxing onto his back again, he let out a humorless chuckle. “Damnedest thing, though. I hated him for leaving us and swore I’d never abandon my family like he did.” He shook his head. “Then I walk into my mom’s kitchen and see my sister standing up.” He raked his fingers back through his hair. “I realized I did the same fucking thing.”
Callie propped her head on her elbow, staring down at him. “Not even close.”
He met her eyes. “How do you figure? I missed her college graduation and her first time out of that wheelchair. You heard her—Curtis helped her because I wasn’t there.”
“You were away so that you could send them money to put her through college.” She paused. “This is why you’re so determined to get back to the desert for your friend, isn’t it?”
He hadn’t thought of it that way before. He’d been frantic to get out of the rendezvous chopper. If the rest of his team hadn’t held him back, he never would have left. In the end, his team had made the right call. They didn’t have the supplies or the intel to find Briggs right then.
But once they did, if he was alive, Hunter would lead the cavalry to bring him home. “Briggs has a wife. He wanted to start a family. And when I get the call, I’m going after him.” Hunter took her hand. “I’m going because it’s the right thing to do, not because I want to prove I’m better than my father.”
She didn’t look convinced, but she let it go. “I hope they find him soon.” Her gaze fell to his dog tags. “What happens next?”
He lifted her chin to meet his eyes. “Once Briggs is home, then…” His pulse kicked up a notch. “I think I’m ready to retire and put down some roots.” A smile tugged at his lips. “Maybe help rebuild a theater or something.”
She leaned in to kiss him, tender and slow. “You’re a good man, Hunter.”
He rolled her underneath him, his body already aching for the sanctuary of hers. “You make me want to be.”
CHAPTER 14
Ted parked at the curb of the airport, scanning the travelers for his father’s imposing figure. An older gentleman raised his hand, tugging a black roller bag behind him. Ted almost didn’t recognize him. He put the Caddy in park and got out to open the trunk as his father pulled his suitcase over.
He took his father’s bag and stowed it in the back while his father got in the passenger side. Ted came around and slid behind the wheel, gripping it tightly as he merged into traffic.
“How did it go with the Oceanus?” Ted asked. Their off-shore drilling rig had been top secret until now. The fire changed everything. It had been a public relations nightmare with the media hungry to get a new angle on the story.
“Get me back to the office.”
Ted glanced at his father’s profile. His skin looked sallow, his eyes were puffy and red from lack of sleep, and he seemed…frail. He’d only been gone a few days, but somehow he’d aged a couple of decades.
The silence stretched out until they drove through the electric gate at Belkin Oil. His father finally let out a sigh. “We’re so close to claiming the prize our family has struggled to achieve for centuries. Right on the cusp.” He shook his head. “We’ll talk in my office.”
Ted got out and retrieved his father’s bag from the trunk. They rode the elevator to the top of the building. His father staggered as the doors opened.
Ted grabbed his elbow. “Are you all right?”
His father brushed him off. “I’m fine. Just tired.”
The lights came to life automatically as they passed through the doorway. Ted Belkin, Sr. settled into the executive chair behind his desk, some of his characteristic swagger returning. Ted took the seat across from him.
“I need to bring you up to speed on a new wrinkle within the Order,” Ted said.
His father’s silver brow shot up. “What wrinkle?”
“Curtis Christos.” Ted sighed. “Apparently his girlfriend’s brother is the soldier we’ve seen with Callie O’Connor. He’s a Navy SEAL.”
His father settled back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “So we’ll have a man on the inside. This could work to our advantage.”
“Not exactly.” Ted chose his words carefully. “The Navy SEAL brought Detective Malone to see Curtis at the university. They showed him crime scene photos of Ben’s body in the Kronos mask.”
His father nodded, still unfazed.
“I’m not sure what Curtis told them, but the police have been watching him.”
His father scoffed. “They’ve got nothing linking us.”
“Not yet, but somehow Curtis got our new enforcer’s cell phone number. He’s been texting and encouraging Bryce to wait on taking out our target.”
His father leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk. Color flushed his haggard face. “You are the only member of the Order authorized to communicate directly with the enforcer. How did the history professor manage to get Bryce’s identity? We all wore the masks at the meeting.”
“I’m aware of that. We’re still trying to figure out how he made the connection.” Ted forced himself to stay calm. Fighting with his father was a losing battle. “In spite of the distraction, Bryce fired shots at Callie O’Connor’s place tonight.”
A vein pulsed in the middle of his father’s forehead. “Please tell me she’s dead.”
Ted swallowed. “I wish I could.”
“Shit.” His father shot up from his seat, quickly bracing himself on the desk. “Dammit, you had one job. One. If Malone finds a shred of evidence he can tie to us, he’ll have our asses in a sling.”
“Do you think I don’t know this?” Ted shook his head. “Bryce swept the house before he left. They won’t find anything.”
His father settled back into his chair. “She installed cameras.” His tired eyes locked on Ted’s. “The mask of Kronos will be on the security footage.”
“Malone is marrying Melanie Jacoby,” Ted pointed out. “He has to know about the muses. He won’t risk exposing them.”
“That’s a pretty big assumption on your part. He could lose his badge for withholding evidence from his department.”
“Why don’t you just say it?” Ted got to his feet, raising his voice. “I fucked up. And Curtis overstepped his bounds.”
“Everything is not about you.” His father’s voice dropped to a bone-chilling growl. “We have bigger problems brewing.” He rocked back in his chair. “We didn’t build Oceanus with our own money, and now our investors are asking questions. Why have we drilled way below the oil beds? Why do we need new equipment that can stand the heat as we near the Earth’s core? And the few investors who share our interests of freeing the old gods are worried the government will shut us down.”
“We’re so close to busting through the Titans’ prison.” Belkin Sr. shook his head. “I have spent the last few days and nights blowing sunshine up rich jerks’ assholes, and now I come home to this clusterfuck.”
His father narrowed his eyes. “Bring Curtis in. Determine what he’s told the police, and if he’s too much of a liability, we’ll have Bryce finish him. We can’t afford any more mistakes.”
Ted nodded. “I’ll handle it.”
“Good.” His father withdrew his keys from his pocket and unlocked the bottom drawer of his desk. He laid a folder on top and pushed it toward Ted. “This is a list of our overseas investors. Familiarize yourself with their names. The ones in red support our true cause…”
His father’s eyes went distant. Ted went to his side, gently tapping his face. “Dad?”
Ted Belkin, Sr. jolted, his attention snapping back to Ted’s face. “Take the list, and clean up your mess with Curtis.”
Ted hesitated for a second, watching his father’s chest rise and fall. Maybe he was just tired.
Ted scooped up the folder. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
His father shook his head. “I’ll call my driver later. I need to take care of things here first.”
Ted nodded, but he turned back at the door. His father seeme
d fine reading over documents.
He lifted his head. “Waiting for something?”
“No.” Ted turned to go. “I’ll handle everything.”
“See that you do.”
Ted walked back toward the elevator, checking the time on his phone. While Bryce tailed Curtis, Ted was going to make a little side trip.
With any luck, both of them would succeed.
Hunter did his best to hang back and give the women their space in the party limo to Disneyland. He’d briefly thought about riding up separately with Nate and Maggie, but Nate had asked him to stay with the muses. Since the Order murdered Mel’s roommate, the Muse of Astronomy, a couple months ago, Nate didn’t like the women being together unguarded. Hunter didn’t blame him.
After being introduced to all of them at once, he tried to come up with mental tricks to keep them straight. Mel was easy—she was the one with the Minnie Mouse bride veil on. He’d also met her before, so he had a leg up with her.
On the other side of Callie was Erica. She had dark red hair and bright green eyes. Physically, she was the opposite of Callie. Where Callie was short and slender, Erica was taller and curvy—voluptuous maybe? Not his type, but there was something about her. She didn’t talk as much as the others, choosing to observe. Callie told him she was the Muse of Lyrics, and Trinity, the Muse of Music, was her roommate.
But what stuck in his mind was the moment Erica leaned close to add that since Callie enacted the no-dating pact, she’d seemed to have forgotten Erica was also the Muse of Erotic Poetry. “Erato was my muse’s name. She inspired lyrics and passion.”
Yeah, he wouldn’t forget Erica.
Beside Erica was Clio. She was the Muse of History. She was the only one of the sisters who wore glasses. The black frames brought out the bright hazel of her eyes. When she shook his hand, her cheeks had flushed with color, and she managed to tell him it was exciting to meet another Guardian. Her shyness was cute and refreshing.
Trinity played her guitar on the drive, leading the others in a song. Her voice was hypnotic, and he caught himself being sucked in more than once. Easy to remember that she was the Muse of Music.
Beside Trinity were Polly and Tera. Callie told him Polly was the Muse of Hymns and had a healthy trust fund. She was their financial backer for the theater project and was also the only blonde in the group. He hoped her golden hair would remind him of the gold in her bank account.
Tera was more of an enigma. She had long brown hair, and during the drive, the others had braided it for her. She pinned it up into a bun. Her long neck and slender frame made her seem fragile, like a porcelain doll. She was a ballerina and the Muse of Dance. As long as her hair stayed piled on top of her head, he figured he’d remember.
Laughter bubbled up, filling the limo, and it was impossible not to smile. Thalia was the only sister, the only muse this generation, who was actually of Greek descent. Her infectious giggles made it easy to remember she was the Muse of Comedy.
Hunter chuckled and watched the freeway signs pass by. Mel had no idea Nate and Maggie would be joining them. This would be a fun trip if he could shake the shadow of dread.
At least the drive had been good practice to learn to shield the thoughts encroaching in his mind. The second he’d gotten in the limo, every one of Callie’s sisters’ thoughts had pummeled him. Too many voices in his mind all at once had made his head throb, as if his skull was suddenly a couple of sizes too small. Some were thinking he was hot, others thought Callie had been in a much better mood recently, and wondered if he’d helped her break the no-dating pact.
Only Erica had thought he must be epic in bed to keep Callie smiling, then she raised a brow with a cat-who-ate-the-canary grin and said out loud, “Callie told me you can hear thoughts.”
After that, he’d tried to figure out ways to silence the onslaught. So far, he’d found that boot camp songs seemed to help. He could keep them going in the back of his mind and, eventually, he realized the thoughts had become background noise. Then he concentrated on Clio.
Callie is so adorable with her hand on Hunter’s leg. I hope I find my Guardian, too.
He stared out the window, focusing until the thoughts faded again.
Maybe he’d get through Disneyland without a massive headache after all. The trick would be staying alert and keeping Callie close at all times.
Callie came back from the sales window with all the Park Hopper passes and distributed them. Keeping a group this size together was going to be difficult. “Once we get inside, let’s head for Sleeping Beauty’s castle. I want pictures before we all have wild ride hair.”
Mel led the way as they crossed under the archway. The plaque read: Here you leave the world of today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.
Callie had never been more ready. She glanced up at Hunter. “Surviving the trip so far?”
He chuckled and nodded. “Your sisters are a kick.”
They brought up the rear of the group, so she slid her hand inside of his, marveling at the awareness that shot through her entire body from the simple touch. “They like you.”
“I could hear their thoughts.”
“Yikes.” Callie laughed. “That might’ve been scary.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” He squeezed her hand. “I think I’m getting better at controlling it. Plenty of practice on the ride.”
As they approached the castle, Callie scanned the area for Nate. He told her he’d put Maggie on his shoulders and photobomb their pic so Mel wouldn’t know they were with us until she saw the image on her phone. But it wouldn’t work if Mel saw them first.
Hunter tipped his head toward the wishing well on the side of the castle. “See him?”
Callie turned just as Maggie waved both hands from atop Nate’s shoulders. Callie grinned and waved back. Nate was on the move.
She smiled up at Hunter. “It’s going to work.”
“Of course it will.” He winked. “You planned it.”
Hunter collected the cell phones to take pictures while Callie corralled her sisters at the drawbridge to the castle. She forced herself not to turn around, not to peek at Nate. Hunter knew the plan. He wouldn’t take the pictures until Nate and Maggie were in them.
Hunter finally held up a phone. “Ready? Say Mickey Mouse.”
He took pictures on Mel’s, Callie’s, and Clio’s phones. He handed Mel hers first. She narrowed her eyes and made the photo larger, then laughed and spun around. “What are you guys doing here?”
Maggie squealed. “We’re surprising you!”
“Well it worked!” She hugged Nate and then nudged Callie. “This was all your idea, wasn’t it?”
She shrugged with a grin. “Nate and Maggie helped.”
Nate took Maggie off his shoulders, and he and Mel took Maggie’s hands. Walking behind their new little family made Callie’s chest tighten. She missed hers…
Hunter’s arm encircled her waist. “Mel looks really happy.”
Callie nodded. “She deserves it.”
He leaned in closer to her ear. “Mel’s pregnant, right? She’s not going to be able to go on the wild rides.”
Callie’s heart pounded, but she tried to ignore it. Her muse craved wild rides, but she’d forgo them for Mel. “That’s okay. I’m fine with the rides in Fantasyland.”
He laughed, the sound warming her all over. “You are such a liar.” He tugged her hand. “Come on. Splash Mountain. Let’s do this.”
Ahead of them, Maggie was tugging Mel and Nate toward the Peter Pan ride, and the rest of the sisters were buzzing about the Jungle Cruise. Callie tightened her grip on Hunter’s hand, dragging him behind her as she wove through the group to catch up with Mel.
Mel turned her way, her face bright with joy. “Thanks for inviting Nate and Maggie. This is her first Disney trip.”
Callie knelt down to Maggie’s height. She didn’t have to go too far. “Want to meet us for dinner inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride?”
She bounced up and down excitedly and nodded. “Yes!”
Callie straightened up. “I have a reservation for dinner at eight o’clock at the Blue Bayou. Should we tell everyone to rendezvous there?”
Mel ran her fingers through Maggie’s curly ponytail. “Sounds great.”
“I’ll spread the word.” Callie turned to tell the others their meet-up location and time, freeing them to go off as they pleased.
Hunter hung back with Nate, and when Callie returned, Hunter caught her hand. “Splash Mountain?”
“Definitely.”
He held her hand, his fingers twined with hers, and Callie marveled at the way the crowd kept opening for them to pass. At five foot nothing, most people never saw her, but with Hunter’s big frame, the seas parted. Once they were in line, she didn’t let go of his hand.
They hadn’t set boundaries for their relationship. In fact, she still hadn’t admitted out loud that they even had one, but she was way past distancing herself anymore. She cared about him, enjoyed his company, and craved his touch.
He leaned against the railing and squeezed her hand. “Lots of thoughts floating around, but yours are the only ones I want to hear.”
She pulled his shoulder down to her level. Her lips brushed his ear. “Thanks for coming with us…with me.”
He turned his head, stealing a quick kiss. “Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
When they finally reached the front of the line, he climbed into the log first, straddling the padded bench inside. He took her hand, steadying her as she got in. Callie settled between his legs, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close.
Her heart thudded as his deep voice rumbled through his chest. “The wait in line was worth every second.”
She laughed, tipping her head back to look up at him. “You say that now. Wait until we’re walking around the park soaking wet.”
His teeth teased her ear. “You look good wet.”
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