That he didn’t slam the door in my face was a small miracle.
“I know you’re angry that I told my mother what was going on, but in my defense, not that I need a defense, I told her I didn’t have enough evidence to go to the council.”
He ignored me and paced back and forth as his wings disappeared into his back. It was a fascinating and slightly repulsive sight as giant slits opened up to accommodate the flying appendages and then the skin covered over it, as if nothing had ever been there.
“That’s not why I’m here. By the way”—I shut the door behind me; since he didn’t seem in the mood to talk, I continued—“there’s something happening on Earth, and I need to ask you a few questions.”
He sat down on the leather sofa without acknowledging my presence. The fact that he wasn’t bellowing about me bugging him said volumes.
“In the past two hours several people who work for my company have been attacked.”
He rolled his eyes up to me as if to say, So?
“By dragons.”
Sighing, he crossed his arms against his chest.
“They hit two clubs—one in London, the other in Madrid—about the same time. All three victims are in bad shape. The one in Spain is pregnant.” I made my voice go quiet. “We don’t know if she or the baby will make it.”
His eyes flashed from red back to silver, and he shoved a hand through his long silver hair. “What do you need from me?”
“I want you to come with me to the crime scenes. The scent is strong. It’s almost as if they wanted me to know. I think you might be able to distinguish specifically who it is, whereas all dragons pretty much smell the same to me.”
“One moment.” He left the room and came back wearing a pair of True Religion jeans and a dark gray button-down shirt. He looked like he belonged in one of my London clubs. I didn’t even want to know how he knew what to wear. Ginjin was an enigma that way. “I am ready.”
By the door was the device he used to open portals. It was small and fit in his pocket. He slipped it in.
Guess we’re using me to travel. I pushed the button on my watch, and we stepped into the bluish haze. We landed back in my office at the Madrid club. No one was there so we had no trouble opening the back door out to the parking lot. The police were gone, and the place was empty.
“Her car is gone. The police probably took it as evidence.”
Ginjin didn’t say anything, but he cocked his head as if listening for something. Then he sniffed the air. He moved to the area where Lourdes’s car had been. His eyes flashed red. “Take me to the other one.”
I assumed he meant the London crime scene. Again, I didn’t want to risk being seen, so I transported us into the office of the London club. This time Ginjin led me to the door. He knew. He’d already picked up on the scent.
When he opened the side door into the alley, he said something in dragon. From the tone, it was easy to tell it was some kind of curse.
“So you know who it is.”
He shut the door and turned to me. “No, but I have a general idea of the clan.” His voice was quiet but menacing.
“Then let’s go get ’em.”
Ginjin frowned. “That is not a good idea.”
“Why? Because your lovely bride to be is involved?”
I expected him to growl, maybe throw a punch.
“No. She’s not involved with this.” He paused. “She wasn’t here. But these were Kevans and from the Lincsire clan.”
“So that’s her people. She is involved. You know she is. I saw how you looked at her that day when I confronted her.” I couldn’t keep my hands from going to my hips. I couldn’t believe he was being so stubborn, especially now that we had some hard evidence that the Kevans were involved.
“Guardian, you assume too much. What you saw was a power play. The dragons she had in the circle were not her friends. They were sworn enemies, but she had convinced them to fight together for a common cause to save Xerxes. She’d called me there to meet with them, but I’d been delayed.”
News to me. I thought he’d shown up to get my back that day. “So you’re saying the whole thing with Jene is a power play?”
He was silent for a moment. “What you saw that day was exactly that.”
“I don’t get it, but it doesn’t matter. Her people are involved; let’s get this done.” We had moved back into my private office at the club. It was seldom used and needed a good dusting. He sat down behind the desk.
“I think we’ve lost sight of this situation. Kevans were here. You know which ones. We need to go kill them.”
“You thoroughly enjoy murdering my people, don’t you?” The words were said quietly, but he was angry.
“Only when they mess with my people. Quit stalling. Let’s go find these guys.”
“Think, Guardian.” It was the second time someone had said the same words to me that night. I was kind of tired of it.
“I’m not big on the thinking when it comes to dragons, especially ones who are hurting people I care about.”
“Your actions could get you killed, as well as those around you. If you rush into whatever trap they’ve set, that’s exactly what will happen. The Kevans are not stupid. They wanted you to catch this scent and charge in, killing whatever was in your path.”
“I’m not seeing the problem here.” I put my hands on my hips.
“It’s a trap, Alex.” He almost never used my name, which meant he wanted my undivided attention. “They want to kill us both.”
“Well, I know why they’d want to kill me—I’m not exactly a friend. But why you? They finally have peace again on Xerxes.”
“The Kevans don’t want peace. They are warriors and weapons makers. Wars bring them wealth. They were some of the first touched by the darkness when it invaded. Jene did me no favors by bringing the heads of the clans together. They have joined together against me and everything I’ve worked toward. That I can promise you. They know if you go charging in that I will be right behind you. Many of my own people see my alliance with the council and the Guardians as a crime. We have always policed our own. We don’t like outsiders involved. You know this.”
I sat down on the couch, suddenly deflated. “So, what are we going to do? Let them get away with it?”
His eyes bored down on me. “No.”
I counted to ten. “Really, you’re going to have to be more specific.”
“I want you to trust that I will take care of it.”
I threw my hands up in frustration. “You’ve got to be kidding me. No, no, no.”
“There is much more at stake than a few of your humans being injured.” He held up a hand. “I understand why you are upset. I will bring those responsible for the crime to justice, but I must do it my way. If you rush in and kill them, they will retaliate tenfold here on Earth. If you wait, they won’t understand. It will confuse them.”
God, they weren’t the only ones who would be confused. “Ginjin, I believe that you think you are doing the right thing, but it’s my job to protect the people here. I can’t just let those dragons go free.”
He growled. “I told you I would take care of it. You must trust me.”
I shook my head. “Less than two months ago you tried to kill me. Do you remember that?” The battle that had ensued left us both bloody and half-dead. “How am I supposed to believe you’ll do the right thing?”
“You insulted the intelligence of the king.”
I started to speak, but he stood.
“He was not our most intelligent leader, but it was my job to stand in his stead. If you think to all the times we bat tled, it was after a similar instance. For a liaison, you are sadly lacking in the talents of diplomacy.”
I wanted to argue, but he had a point. I had a habit of shooting off my mouth and charging in without thinking. I did think back to each time we’d fought, and he was right. I’d insulted the king, prime minister, or someone else in power. I never did have much respect for authority, e
specially when they were a bunch of idiot dragons. “Point taken.”
We stared at each other in silence.
Finally, I caved. “I want proof—and I want it fast—when you take care of this situation. I want the message sent in your world that I will not allow them to hurt anyone else. And I know you think your precious Jene is on your side, but you need to open those silver eyes of yours a little wider. If she’s not involved, she at least knows about the kidnappings. I saw the look she gave you when she noticed the dead green dragon in your house. She was upset.”
“I can assure you, I am aware.” He pulled the portal device out of his pocket. “I’ll send a message when I have your proof.” He disappeared into the portal.
Gee, that was fun.
I looked at the clock on my desk. It was almost seven in the morning. I stared at the couch longingly. A couple of hours wouldn’t hurt. Then I could check on the dancers at the hospital without anyone wondering how I made it to London so fast.
After making sure the door was locked, I stripped down to my panties and pulled out a blanket from the side table next to the sofa. Wrapping it around me, I passed out before my head ever hit the pillow.
CHAPTER 15
After checking on the two dancers, Kat and Marissa, at the hospital, I called Angel from the back of a taxi to see how Lourdes was doing.
“They moved her into ICU late last night,” Angel told me. “The baby is doing okay, but Lourdes lost a lot of blood, so they’re keeping a close eye on her. She’s still unconscious, but the doctors are saying that’s not unusual. They also said considering her injuries, she and the baby are lucky to be alive.”
As he spoke, the anger I felt last night returned. It was my job to protect humanity. What kind of Guardian was I if I couldn’t even care for those who worked for me? Ginjin didn’t know it, but I’d decided to give him a time limit. If he didn’t deliver me some dragon head on a platter, I was going to take matters into my own hands.
“Keep me posted, and let me know as soon as she wakes up.”
My phone clicked, and the caller ID said security was calling. “I’ve gotta run.” I clicked over.
“Ms. Caruthers?” It was Jake.
“Hey, Jake, I think since we’re fake dating, you should probably call me Alex.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that was still on.” He sounded like it was a great imposition.
“Uh, well, if you don’t mind. Just until I know I’m in the clear.”
“Happy to help.” It didn’t sound like it.
“So what’s going on?”
“Have you misplaced your comm?”
I felt for the small chip in my ear. It was gone. That’s probably why he was mad. I’d gone off the grid again.
“It must have fallen off sometime during the night when I was sleeping. I’m surprised you didn’t call me before this.”
“We knew where you were until you left this morning. We have full access to the security cameras at your businesses. One of our staff members saw you leave and then reenter your London club.” There was a long pause. “The tape showed you with the dragon warrior, but he never left the building again. So we knew you were there through the night.”
I wasn’t sure, but it sounded like Jake might be jealous. He thought I spent the night with Ginjin. I hated that I kind of liked the fact he cared.
“The GPS signal shows it’s still at the club, perhaps in your office.” He must have checked himself, because now he sounded nothing but professional.
“It’s probably stuck in the couch.”
Another long pause.
“Right. Well, if you don’t find it, we need you to come back to the office and get a new one.”
“Not a problem. And, Jake?”
“Yes.”
“I slept alone on the couch in my office. Ginjin left through a portal a few minutes after we arrived at the club.”
“Oh.” He sounded relieved. I couldn’t keep from smiling.
“Looks like the attacks last night were dragon-related, so he’s helping me. For the record, I’m not the kind of girl who would date someone and sleep with someone else. Even if it is fake dating.”
He coughed. “Good to know.”
“I’m not sure which I’m more insulted about, that you’d think I’d do that or that I’d do it with Ginjin.”
He chuckled. “Won’t happen again.”
“Glad to hear it. I’ll be back at the house in an hour or so, but could you do me a favor and tell Master K I need to talk with her? I think we need to bring Kyle Martinez in, too.”
Kyle was a private investigator who worked for my family. He handled everything from corporate espionage to murder cases. It was a sad fact, but people around the Caruthers family tended to get dead at an alarming rate. Sometimes it didn’t pay to be friends with or employed by us. Scary, but true.
“I’ll call them both.”
“Great. Well.” Now it felt awkward. “Bye, Jake.” The image of him wrapped in the towel flashed through my brain. I pushed the Off button on the phone to keep from making an idiot of myself.
I stared at the wall for a minute. What the hell is happening to me? Jake had me turned inside out. It’s all pretend. Or was it? He’d seemed a bit proprietary and maybe a touch perturbed at the idea of me spending the night with Ginjin.
A vision came into my head, and I realized it was from my dream earlier in the week. Jake had been the star of that show. I hadn’t thought much of it at the time, except that it left me hot. But it had been Jake’s hands I’d imagined roaming my body and his soft lips on mine.
“Okay, chica. Get a grip.”
The cabbie looked back in the mirror at me and winked.
I touched my cheeks and realized I was flushed.
Damn, Jake.
The taxi dropped me off in front of the club, and I went in search of my comm. It took a few minutes, but I found it buried in the carpet in front of the sofa. The adhesive wasn’t any good anymore, so I stuck it in my pocket.
I knew I was in trouble when just before I touched the tattoos together, my stomach felt a little fluttery with excitement about seeing Jake.
There should have been some kind of warning, but there wasn’t. One minute I was walking through the hallway to meet with Master K, the next I was attacked—by Aspen.
“It’s about time,” she screeched. “I’ve been waiting all day for you.”
Her four-inch heels made clicking sounds on the marble of the large, formal living area.
“Aspen? What are you doing here?” And why the hell didn’t someone warn me?
“Well, I kept calling and texting you, but you never answer. I decided I’d camp out here. You said there was always an open invitation, so I’ve been staying in one of the guest wings waiting for you to come home,” she chastised. “Penny told me you were busy with business things, but really, you’re my best friend. You’re planning my wedding. Surely you can take a little time to get some of the details together. I mean, it’s less than two weeks away. What could possibly be more important?”
So many things. I could put her off. Tell her that there had been big problems with the computer systems at the clubs, but she was right. She deserved more from me. Well, not really, but I still felt guilty.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been on the road, and I tend to get tied up in business these days. With every club I open, the responsibilities increase, and I guess I’m not balancing things so well.”
She gave me the once-over, taking in my hoodie and jeans. I looked like someone trying to bring back grunge. Then she took my hands in hers. “It does look like you’re running yourself ragged. I know I’m asking a lot, but besides Huff, you’re the person I’m closest to. I know how successful you are, and to be honest, I really admire what you’ve done with your life.”
I wanted to put my hand on her forehead to feel for fever. This was not the Aspen I knew. Maybe she’s possessed.
“Are you feeling okay?”
She s
miled, but it wasn’t the fake one she gave the paparazzi cameras. “I know I can be a bit much. Huff has sort of made me realize that it’s not always all about me. Except, this is my wedding, and it kind of is. I just have all these expectations, and I want everything to be perfect. And I feel like”—she bit her lip—“I feel like you don’t really care.”
I’m such a jerk. I actually felt bad. “I promise I do; all this came about at a really tough time for me.” I did a mental check of my schedule and glanced at my watch. “I have a meeting I have to go to right now. Give me an hour, and I’ll be yours for the rest of the day. With the two of us together, we can knock out myriad details. We’ll get everything set. I promise.”
She screeched and then hugged me. “You are the best. I have several chefs on standby. They can be here in an hour to present the food choices, and we have companies with linens, china, and flowers.” She lifted her arms. “Well, everyone has just been waiting on you to get here, basically.”
Oh my God. “That’s great. So we can knock it all out this afternoon. I’m starving, so let’s begin with the food.” I winked at her.
“You’ve got it, girlfriend. Oh, and Huff will be here, too. Are you dating anyone? We could taste the food and make it a little lunch party.”
I thought about it for a second. I wasn’t sure the ruse with Jake was necessary anymore, since Ginjin hadn’t bothered me again with the matrimony thing, but I kind of liked the idea of spending time with Jake.
Manipulative much? He was a good guy. If he could handle Aspen and Huff, he might just be the perfect guy.
“Uh, I am. I’ll check with him and see if he’s free this afternoon. He’s a very busy guy.”
“Do I know him?”
“No, we’ve sort of been keeping things quiet. He’s really private.” My guess was that would change when the tabloids hit the stands later in the week. The guy at the 7-Eleven had taken more than enough photos. Jake’s picture would most likely be displayed all over the world, if it wasn’t already.
“Oh. Well, I can’t wait to meet him. Please, see if he can make it.”
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