Candy made herself comfortable on the bunk again, back against the cold wall. She let the breath leave her body and purposefully relaxed every tense muscle. When she was certain she’d attained the proper state of mind, she let her brain conjure a picture of Enlil.
Her body loosened even more. Taking a few more deep breaths, she let her head drift into that funny place where the gods did mind-speak. She’d never been really good at it, had never―one hundred percent―gotten the knack, but if she needed to perfect it, now was the time.
Enlil, she called out in her head. She’d gotten a look at Stave’s watch, and it was just after ten at night, that meant it was just after one in the morning on the East Coast. If she got lucky, Enlil would still be awake. Enlil, she called again. She got nothing in return.
Undeterred, she pictured his bedroom back in the Blue Hills. She pictured all gorgeous six foot three of him spread out on top of his comforter. She tried again. Enlil, I need you.
Sleeping. The reply came back to her head.
Oh my God! Success.
No, Enlil, not sleeping. Rescuing.
Rescuing, he agreed sleepily, and she could hear him snore. This would not do.
Enlil, it’s Candy. I need you. Please wake up.
Need you too, sweetheart, he mumbled, clearly in the deep arms of sleep. See you tomorrow.
Her head went blank. He’d severed the frigging connection. She tried a dozen more times to reach him, but got nothing. She nibbled one cuticle enough to draw blood. Well, she had her knife and some hope. If she could trust Enlil’s sleepy-talk, he’d said he would see her tomorrow.
She had to hope his words weren’t part of a dream.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“They’re code names, right?” Charlie asked. Absu sat across from her at the cozy kitchen table in the witches’ cottage. The clock read two o’clock, and they were the only ones up that early. He’d stayed on at the guest house throughout her nap, and been there when she woke up, unable to sleep any longer. “Like Ken’s coworkers have funny names. Flick, Cub, JP,” Charlie paused expectantly.
Absu pondered his answer. “We have been blessed with the names of ancient Mesopotamian gods.” He answered in truth. He just wouldn’t inform her that they were the original owners of those names. “No other monikers have ever been employed.” That was also the truth. If she attempted to pry a modern name from him, she could delve to eternity without satisfaction.
Absu could see his answer did not satisfy, for she pursed her soft, pink lips.
The moment suddenly gained clarity. This woman was most likely his Chosen. His whole body felt off kilter, and he had to tread very carefully not to scare her away.
“Then tell me about the setup here?” she continued, not sensing his distress. “Isn’t it unusual for agents to have their families living with them?” Charlie hadn’t been satisfied with his explanation of their names. He tried to make this answer more believable.
“The job we do,” Absu chose his words carefully, “requires our complete commitment, twenty-four hours out of every day. If loved ones did not live with us, they would see us rarely. Here, we are able to care for everyone, be together, and know that everyone is always safe.”
“I didn’t see anything special for security coming in.”
“Believe me, your presence became known the instant you stepped onto the property, and only Ishkur’s elevated clearance allowed safe passage over borders not visible to your eye. If you attempt to leave, you must also be given proper dispensation or be accompanied by one of us. The credentials to come and go have been bestowed upon your brother.” Absu didn’t want to make her feel as if she were about to become a prisoner.
“I was just curious.” She shrugged. “I won’t be here long enough for it to matter.”
Absu bit back the denial that sprang to his lips. He had to move carefully. He didn’t want to scare Charlie. He could see how it was unfolding with Enlil, who seemed to be having enormous difficulty getting Candy to submit to him. Then again, the DEA agent was a much different creature than the young, demure girl who sat in front of him.
Absu could tell that Charlie remained sweet and innocent, despite having a marriage behind her.
They were interrupted by a buzzing in Charlie’s pocket. She gave him an apologetic look before glancing at the phone. Her mouth tightened. She closed her eyes briefly. “This is my ex-husband calling.”
“Place your device on speaker, if you will.” Absu wanted to hear what the degenerate had to say.
Charlie hit two buttons and placed the phone between them. “What do you want, Hal?” she asked with a wary voice.
“That prick burned down my house, Charlie. He almost killed those two guys. Now, I’m in bigger fucking trouble than ever. If I don’t hand you and your asshole friend over, I’m dead. Do you hear me? You’ve got to help. You owe me. You’re my wife for God’s sake.”
“Hal, are you out of your mind? I’m not your wife anymore.” Charlie’s face suddenly flamed red. “There is no way I would ever help you after…” She looked up at Absu, sitting across from her. He could feel his face go rigid.
“…after you tricked me into coming to the house, using Maity as an excuse. I…”
Absu leaned over and squeezed her shaking hand.
“I have this,” he mouthed, then addressed the phone. “Your ex-wife is safe within our protective boundaries now, you miscreant. Don’t think you’ll find means to locate or intimidate her again. Her safety now rests squarely in my hands, and if you imagine your colleagues will violently end your miserable life, take my word that you will enjoy their punishment far better than what you will suffer at my hands should you raise my ire.”
“What the fuck? Is this some kind of joke, Charlie?” The crass voice came again over the phone. “Charlie. Charlie? Answer me, damn you. Who’s the pansy-mouthed asshole? That’s not the same guy who fried my house. Did you—”
“Do not speak to her again.” Absu seethed. He grew agitated, but it wouldn’t be a good idea to lose his grip now.
He took a deep breath in and out, filtering the man’s voice, but oddly it became overlaid with another.
What female invaded his brain? And was that a plea? Damn. It sounded like Candy, and she said something about needing help. The word “rescue” popped in.
He contemplated responding when he picked up Enlil’s voice, sleepy but assured. Okay. Whatever Candy wanted, it would be taken care of tomorrow. Good. Absu remained too overwhelmed at the moment with shit of his own.
He breathed tranquility back into his core.
Charlie still argued with her ex.
“Enough,” he declared. Then picked up the phone, talking at it. “She is no longer yours to command,” he spoke harshly, angrily. “You have relinquished control through your ignominious actions. Therefore, do not think to call again.” Red meant stop, and he stabbed at the button of that color. Silence descended. Charlie sat regarding him with a slightly open mouth.
“If he attempts contact with you again, do not answer.” Absu’s voice left no room for argument, and Charlie somewhat meekly agreed. Had he been too high-handed, taking charge like that? He could do no differently. Her well-being called to him.
A plethora of emotions played across her face. She looked flushed, disturbed, and perhaps even a little breathless. What kind of a monster could her ex-husband be to send this sweet girl into such a spiral?
Absu had to make sure the occasion never arose for her to see the bastard again. He stood and worked his way around the table to take Charlie’s chin into his hands. He tipped her face up, and his sea-green eyes bored into hers.
“You are under my protection now.” Absu’s voice came out gruff, though his fingers remained gentle. “Do as I say, and you will never lay eyes on him again.” He wanted to make sure she understood the enormity of her situation. Her ex didn’t play a fair game, and it sounded like he meant to harm her. “Disobey me and the consequences could be punishing
.” Absu hoped he could make her understand.
To his utter astonishment, Charlie slipped from her chair and slowly sank to her knees before him on the floor. Her eyes skittered up then lowered to his feet. Her words were softly spoken and he had to strain to hear them.
“I will behave,” she whispered, then lowered her head even farther and mumbled a single word.
Absu stood stock-still. She did not just say what he thought she said? It couldn’t be. His tired brain had to be playing tricks. Charlie had not just called him “master.”
He put out a hand and drew Charlie up from the floor. Sometime later, he vaguely remembered telling her to go to bed. Which she did with a shy smile and without argument.
Damn. He needed his own rest. His brain didn’t seem to be operating correctly. Charlie had knelt before him, as if he were still a god to be worshiped.
Absu made his way to his chamber in the main house and shed his clothing. The unaccustomed feeling of silky sheets, and the soft mattress under his naked ass made his torso go limp. He’d slept on this bed for many years, but never once had the coolness of the bedding caressed his skin nor had he experienced the luxurious give of its cushiony embrace.
The last sleeping place his body recalled had been a rough, straw-filled pallet thrown over two boards that had been mounted to the side of a wall in the longhouse he and the other gods shared back in Merrymount.
It was nothing like the heaven he lay upon now, and he wondered why sleep would not come. Even the supple arms of this fine resting place could not quiet his mind or send him off into slumber. Charlie. Her face would not disappear from behind his eyelids. He wondered what it would be like to kiss her.
Absu ran a tongue around his mouth. Huh. He needed to clean his teeth before he contemplated such, but he lacked the desire to emerge from his warm cocoon. He’d remember in the morning.
Absu finally drifted off during the small hours after dawn.
****
Enlil joined Absu in the kitchen at the ungodly hour of nine thirty. Oddly, he’d slept in, when his plan had been to wake at dawn and be on his way westward. A quick cup of coffee and phhtt. Gone.
It didn’t help that an uncustomarily cheerful Absu sang and assembled ingredients to put into a heating waffle iron.
The wind god groped for the pot of coffee while running a hand through his braids. “Morning,” he grumbled, wondering if he should bother eating.
“Good morning to you, dear friend. Would you care to break your fast with me and enjoy a stack of steaming waffles?”
Enlil finally decided what the heck. A few extra minutes couldn’t hurt. He grunted an affirmative, took a big swig of coffee, and grabbed a seat at the table. Absu eyed him with speculation, and Enlil held back a groan. The guy would talk now, as if they were besties.
“I did not mean to eavesdrop, but it seems you were up rather late last eve, conversing with your lady love.”
Enlil cocked an eye and popped a quickly peeled orange slice into his mouth. He looked at Absu, puzzled. “Nope. Not that I know of.” Enlil frowned.
Absu shook his head. “That is odd. I would swear your mate implored you for some form of assistance in the wee hours. I vaguely recall the word ‘rescue’ being tossed about, followed by your assurance to the lady that she could count on your presence today.”
Enlil put his mug down slowly from his mouth as his stomach curdled. “That was a dream. How could you—” He sprang to his feet and grabbed Absu by the front of his shirt. “You’re shitting me. You heard that? What exactly did she say? What time was it?” He grew frantic. Galvanized.
Absu didn’t move away. He clearly recognized the panic in Enlil’s voice. “Her tone bespoke misadventure,” Absu imparted. “It was just after two, and she talked of needing you. She specifically used the term rescue.”
Enlil grew ill all of a sudden. Candy. She’d called to him for help, and he had slept through it? He couldn’t get his tongue or his feet to move. Absu punched him in the chest.
“Go to her. Now. If you put on speed, you are but half an hour away. Go.”
Enlil tore Absu’s hands from his clothing and strode coatless and barefoot through the kitchen door and out into the snow.
One hundred yards away, he disappeared.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Candy barely slept. She second-guessed herself and spent the first half of the night moving the knife from her arm, to the inside of her bra, and finally to her boot, where it eventually found a comfortable hiding place. She dropped off just before dawn.
When the door swung open at first light, she didn’t know where she was, then it came crashing back. Sal would arrive this morning. And Enlil? Well, when he woke up, he’d either figure things out or he wouldn’t. She hoped for the latter, and that his ass flew west at hyperspeed.
She hadn’t heard anything more from him, even when she’d tried into the very wee hours of the morning.
Candy suddenly sat up, spitting mad. If Enlil didn’t show up before Sal took a piece of her, it was his own fucking fault. He’d told her he’d protect her to the death, and then he’d ignored her when she’d expended a fuckload of effort to ask him for help. Well, screw him. She’d find a way to take care of herself.
She looked up at Stave’s stoic face in the doorway and deflated. Okay, it wasn’t Enlil’s fault…it was her own.
First, she should have done the deed with the wind god the minute they’d gotten naked. If she’d shut her fucking smart mouth, her pussy would be membrane free at this point, and she could have mentally handled whatever Sal had in store for her until her team came to the rescue.
Second, she should have her badge pulled for incompetence and stupidity. Who didn’t keep an eye on their own back late at night on a deserted street? It was the number one rule with agents, even if it had been fucking Christmas Eve. Getting jacked that easily was pitiful. A disgrace. She deserved what she got.
Stave interrupted her self-recrimination. “It’s seven o’clock. Sal just called in from the chopper and he’ll be here in five minutes. I’ll give you a few seconds to clean up.” Stave ducked back out the door. Candy reluctantly swung her legs over the side of the bunk. She had forty-five seconds of teeth brushing and peeing before she went to get screwed…literally.
****
It was just after seven in the morning and Enlil stood in front of a still sleeping Jake. He was fucking frantic. Candy wasn’t at her house. She hadn’t slept there nor was she at her mother’s. His only feasible goal had been to get to Jake’s apartment and wake the agent up. They needed to beat it to the DEA office and get Candy’s coordinates from her built in tracker.
He felt every kind of fool. In his invisible state, there was no way, even if he acquired and dumped a bucket of water on Jake’s head, that the agent would know what he wanted. He sent to Absu in his head. Absu, buddy, are you there?
Awaiting your needs, Enlil. I have awakened the household and we are at the ready.
Enlil opened the channel to everyone. Candy’s not at her house. I know she’s in trouble and I need to get Jake with the program. I can’t talk to him because I’m fucking invisible. Can you ring his phone and fill him in?
I’ve got this. Marduk’s voice came steady and reassuring in Enlil’s head.
The wind god waited only seconds before the agent’s phone came alive. A cartoon music theme emitted from beneath a pile of clothing on the floor, and what the fuck? Jake didn’t stir. Oh, yeah? This Enlil could deal with.
Using his wind power, he blew the clothing up into a minicyclone and acquired the phone midair as it fell from a pocket. He tossed and unacquired it right onto Jake’s chest.
The agent sat up like a shot, fumbling with the vibrating thing, and grabbed for the small firearm he kept stashed under his pillow. His fast, panicked eye took in the whole room before his shoulders relaxed. “Shit,” he barked, dropping the gun and running a hand through his hair. “One of you freaking gods is playing games with me, right?”
he grumbled.
Come on, asshole. Pick up the phone. Enlil grew beyond impatient. Jake finally stabbed at his android without even looking at the number.
“Yeah?” His voice filled with annoyance.
“Jake, it’s Marduk.” Enlil could hear the thunder god’s voice as clear as day. “Enlil is standing in the room with you, and he says Candy’s missing. He needs you and your guys at your office stat. You have to track her implanted GPS.”
Thank the gods. Jake immediately leaped to his feet and tugged on boxers. “What the hell?” He looked around as if he should be able to tell where Enlil stood. “Tell him to ride with me.”
“Tell him yourself,” Marduk responded. “He can hear you. You just can’t hear him…oh, and Jake? We’ll be there in thirty minutes, the whole god pack of us for backup. Keep us informed.”
“Will do, Marduk. Gotta go. I need to call my guys.” Jake didn’t wait for a goodbye. He speed-dialed every one of his men, and God bless him, as hungover as he looked, he whipped each of their sorry asses into immediate gear.
Jake splashed water on his face while making the last call to Z. He grabbed his holster, gun, and jacket off his bureau, then passed into the kitchen where he nicked his keys from the counter. Out the door in ten. Enlil silently applauded. That was good.
Fifteen minutes to the office from Jake’s apartment. That was bad. A bomb ticked, and Enlil had a feeling Jake knew who lit the fuse. The agent filled him in as they drove.
“The only drug lord we’ve busted lately who has the manpower to get to Candy would be Sallust Demetria. He likes to work offshore. With Candy’s help undercover, we scored big. Busted him and a slew of his guys.
“He’s out on bail with a monitor cuff, but his favorite ship was impounded and we cost him a lot of smack. If he’s the one behind this, Candy is not safe. I’ve never seen a guy take a bust that personally before. He was really pissed off at her.”
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