The Moon Rises (Gigi Monroe)

by Angela Horn

  Once in the apartment, Sara frowned at Michael’s lack of furnishings. He glared at her, waiting for the comment.

  Sara noticed his eyes on her and shrugged. “For a guy’s apartment, I’ve seen worse.”

  Michael nodded. “I really hate humans.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, at our last human meeting, we voted and it turns out we hate you too.”

  Smiling, Michael looked in his refrigerator. “I have eggs or we can order pizza.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” Sara laughed. “Eggs definitely.”

  Michael lifted his head out of the frig and eyed Sara. “You’ll do.”

  Sara rolled her eyes and smiled at Gigi who wanted to enjoy the bitchy banter. Her mind though was on Finn and whether he would play cards shirtless. When he appeared with his shirt on, Gigi’s disappointment must have been obvious on her face because Sara snorted.

  Maybe it was just lust, but Gigi really wanted to know Finn and not just during poker games while Michael grew angrier as his losses increased. She wanted to see Finn in the morning and in the afternoon and at night. She wanted to cook for him and even had an urge to brush his hair.

  She mostly wanted to feel his lips on her skin again. Unfortunately no matter how much drooling they did, the answer to another date remained no.

  Chapter Twenty

  Finn rushed to Michael’s apartment once he received the call. He expected to find Gigi in tears, but he was still shocked by her frantic expression. Michael didn’t wait for Finn to get up to speed. The enforcer just pulled off his shirt and headed out the door to look for Sara.

  Finn thought to stay at the apartment with Gigi, but the place wasn’t comfortable and Gigi looked exhausted. He helped her to his truck, trying to calm her. Gigi though just kept saying Sara’s name.

  Her friend hadn’t come home the night before. Somewhere between when Gigi dropped her off and the walk into the apartment building, Sara disappeared. Finn might have asked about boyfriends, but he knew Sara was only focused on finishing school.

  “Please come inside with me,” Gigi whimpered when they arrived at her apartment. “I don’t know how to live now that Sara’s dead.”

  “She could be okay.”

  The look in her dark eyes told him that she was already mourning her friend.

  “Do you not want to come upstairs?” Gigi asked.

  Finn opened the car door and walked around to help her out. “You shouldn’t be alone. Do you want me to call someone to stay with you?”

  “No. I want you to stay.”

  Finn was uncertain about being at Gigi’s apartment and having someone snitch to his mother, but he couldn’t leave her alone. As they reached her door, Finn felt an exhaustion rushing off Gigi. She looked wiped out and it was only six in the evening. Once they were inside her apartment, she flopped onto the couch and stared blankly at the wall. Finn joined her and took her hand which caused her to focus.

  “Sara taught me how to do everything. She was my big sister. She helped me so much, but I didn’t help her. I didn’t do anything to be a good friend to her. I just let her die.”

  Finn wasn’t sure if what he was about to say would make Gigi feel any better, but he had to say it anyway.

  “Maybe the monster doesn’t kill the girls he takes? Maybe he wants them for something else?”

  “Like sex or experiments?”

  “Maybe. They could still be alive.”

  A hint of hope awakened in Gigi’s dark eyes. “And we could still save them.”

  Finn figured it was more than an even bet the humans were targeted solely because they were female. Gigi was certain the monster would eat the girls because in her human mind the creatures of the Circle were predators.

  Even if the girls were alive, Finn didn’t think they would be saved. He wasn’t sharing this last part with Gigi whose tears had stopped.

  Gigi stared exhausted at him. “I just asked Sara to move in because I was lonely and it would have saved her money. I should have moved her in faster.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “People say those things on TV even when it is the person’s fault. They say it to be nice, but it’s not true.”

  “I’m not lying to you. The Circle is a dangerous place and it could have easily been you who disappeared. You shouldn’t feel guilty.”

  “But I do.”

  “It’s normal to want to do more than is possible.”

  Gigi looked at him and yawned widely, so exhausted her eyes were barely open.

  “When I get really upset, I get tired. It’s the rules in my head or something. I’m not supposed to get angry and maybe I’m not supposed to get sad either.”

  “Maybe you should lie down?”

  “I don’t want to go to sleep until we find Sara.”

  Sighing, Finn scooted closer. “Michael won’t call us until he finds something and it could take all night. You should rest.”

  “Because you want to leave?”

  “If it were up to me, I would never leave you. You do need to rest though.”

  Gigi took his hand and Finn felt heat rush over his skin. Standing, she pulled him towards her room. Her eyelids were heavy as she kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the bed.

  “Please stay with me,” Gigi sighed as her eyes finally closed.

  Finn slid next to her and pulled a comforter over her bare legs and up to her shoulder. Her fingers curled around his hand as if she was still awake, but her eyes never opened. He heard Gigi whisper his name then her breathing shifted into a deep and steady rhythm.

  The night lingered with Finn unable to sleep. He held Gigi’s hand and caressed her face, even slid his fingers through her soft blonde hair.

  Restless, his thoughts lingered on Sara. The girl was strong, kind, and funny. She growled at Michael when he growled at her and flipped him off when she occasionally beat him at poker. She was tough and she protected Gigi who was easy to manipulate. Sara deserved to be a teacher and live a long life, but somehow Finn didn’t think she would. Even if the monster only wanted to play with her or twist her with magic, she wouldn’t make it out alive. Humans in the grasp of evil rarely survived.

  Before Gigi and Sara were expected at work, Finn called Silas to let him know what was happening. Silas didn’t shift, yet sounded more wolf than man when he responded with his litany of growling profanity. After Silas hung up on him, Finn dialed Michael and left a message about where he and Gigi were. It was all busy work, but Finn felt on edge.

  Gigi whimpered in her sleep, calling for Sara and Mamma Celeste. Her hands would reach out and touch Finn’s face or chest, as if she could see with her eyes closed. When her fingers touched his skin, she sighed and quieted down.

  Just after midnight, Finn felt a chill and wondered if Gigi’s ghost was nearby. The chill lingered and Finn couldn’t shake a growing fear in his chest. Something ugly in the Circle was hunting girls from the club. Somehow without any hint of irrational panic, Finn knew the evil would find Gigi next.

  Chapter Twenty One

  Anton was starving after his brunch with Mira and her clan. Those tiny sandwiches weren’t very filling and he was dying to get a real meal, something hearty with lots of meat. He first needed to stop by his office to change.

  Mira wanted something from Anton. Yet even after two hours of small talk, he wasn’t sure what it was. She mentioned Estelle a lot which made him think there was trouble brewing between the two witch clans. Estelle possibly thought Mira tipped the balance of power by having an alliance with his pack. Whatever it was, Mira talked around the subject and Anton missed her point.

  The only car in the parking lot belonged to Melanie, but Anton doubted she was doing much work. Assuming she would be sitting with her feet up while watching television, he wasn’t disappointed. On the other hand, Melanie needn’t worry about getting her work done when she had Gigi around.

  “You have some messages on your desk,” Melanie said, chewing on licorice. �
�The guys are dealing with those squatters on 8th Street. Oh and Gigi is helping out again.”

  Melanie glanced back at Gigi who was focused on filing. When his assistant’s gaze returned to Anton, she mouthed “you’re welcome” before returning her attention to the television. Gigi smiled at Anton and her eyes studied his attire. Feeling awkward like a boy caught in his Sunday best, he grinned tightly and headed to his office.

  Anton switched into jeans and a blue tee. He felt silly trying to impress Gigi who seemed to like everyone. Her ability to endure those creepy ghoul kids meant it took a lot to put her off. Anton still replaced the blue tee when he noticed a stain. Settling on the cleanest shirt of the bunch, he emerged in a brown tee to find Melanie gone.

  “She went to pick you up some food,” Gigi said while filing.

  “You really shouldn’t do her work.”

  Gigi swallowed and looked around nervously. “Should I go?”

  “No,” Anton said too quickly then added a bit calmer, “Melanie takes advantage of you, but you’re always welcome to hang out here.”

  Nodding, Gigi looked unhappy even as she returned to filing. Feeling guilty for upsetting her, Anton leaned against a desk.

  “I’m sorry about Sara,” he said quietly.

  Anton had to say the words, but once they left his mouth, Gigi began to cry. Unsure if hugging her was appropriate, he eased into an embrace and let her see an exit if she wasn’t interested. Gigi instead grabbed hold of him and buried her face against his chest.

  On a date several years earlier, when Anton said good night to the woman, she had hugged him. It was a really good hug and he returned it in kind. She had looked up at him with a smile and said, “No one gives good hugs anymore.”

  Anton hadn’t seen the woman again, but he often thought to her comment. He didn’t remember receiving a good hug before hers and until that moment with Gigi, he hadn’t enjoyed one since.

  Gigi didn’t cry long, but even after the tears ended, she didn’t let go of him. By the time they separated, he could barely keep himself from kissing her. Her lips were right there and the look in her eyes was as much of a green light as any female had ever given him. Instead he only ran his thumb over her cheek and wiped away a tear.

  “Sara was my friend and she’s gone. I feel like people want to forget her already.”

  “Death makes people uncomfortable. Even though it’s possible Sara is alive, no one knows how to find her. I heard Estelle tried to do a locator spell for Monica because the witches liked her, but it didn’t work. Since everyone feels like they can’t do anything and the possibility of the girls being dead is upsetting, they choose to ignore the problem. Just because they act like that doesn’t mean you have to.”

  Gigi stared at him with her wet eyes and Anton almost stepped back under her gaze, feeling unworthy somehow.

  “I want to help Melanie because it gives me something to do instead of sitting alone in my apartment and thinking about Sara. If I just came in here and did nothing, I would get bored.”

  Anton nodded with a slight smile. “You are always welcome here.”

  “Why?”

  Smile gone, Anton again felt uneasy under her gaze. “Because we enjoy having you around.”

  Gigi nodded then reached for the files. “Melanie says when she has her baby she’ll let me hold it. I’ve never held a baby before.”

  “Better watch out, Gigi. It’ll start with you holding the baby. Next thing you know she’ll start dropping the baby off at your apartment for long periods of time. Pretty soon you’ll be her free babysitter. Melanie’s sneaky that way.”

  Gigi grinned. “I’ll be careful.”

  Anton started to step aside and return to his office, just needing a moment to shake off his desire for Gigi.

  “You looked handsome in your suit,” she said, filing again.

  “I don’t really like wearing a tie.”

  “Because it’s like a leash?”

  Anton laughed when he remembered how Gigi thought shifters were dogs. “Yes, something like that.”

  Gigi was smiling brightly as she worked and he was glad her mood had improved. Back in his office, Anton thought about how the added patrols hadn’t kept Sara safe. He suspected they weren’t enough to keep Gigi safe either.

  Calling Silas, Anton offered his pack to act as escorts for the girls to and from their shifts. Silas grumbled something about Declan already offering the same thing, implying Anton was a day late and a dollar short. The older Were knew his girls were being hunted though. No matter his grumpy response, Silas was grateful for whatever help the Circle offered. Three girls in as many weeks wasn’t a trend anyone wanted to continue.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Ella was humming behind Gigi as they walked up the stairs to Michael’s apartment. The Were didn’t think Michael would let her join the poker game, but Gigi knew Ella wanted to play. She seemed irritated by how Sara was allowed to come, but she wasn’t. Sara was missing though and Gigi needed people around to keep her from crying so much she fell asleep all the time.

  Michael didn’t answer his door, just grunted as he watched a game. Even before Ella entered, he growled and pointed for the door.

  “Please?” Gigi said. “I get lonely since Sara disappeared.”

  Michael’s expression shifted and he rolled his eyes. He didn’t feel sorry for Gigi as much as guilty for not finding Sara. Finn said Michael returned to Sara’s apartment to look for clues, but he kept coming up empty.

  “Fine, but she keeps her mouth shut all night.”

  “Fuck that,” Ella snapped as she joined him on the couch. “Watcha watching, ding dong?”

  “Get out.”

  Ella leaned her head on his shoulder. “Gigi’s sad. She’ll cry, Mikey. Cry all over you. Snot and tears and probably a little bit of slobber too.”

  Michael stared hard at the television and his silence was all the answer they received. Gigi felt awkward with Michael ignoring them and Ella talking about how she didn’t know anything about sports except that guys who watched them were usually sexually repressed. By the time Finn arrived, Gigi was happy to see him for a reason besides always being happy to see him.

  Gigi leaned against Finn, enjoying his scent, and whispered. “I think it was a mistake to bring Ella.”

  “Hey, I heard that.”

  While Gigi frowned at Ella, Finn took her hand and led her into the kitchen. “Weres have good hearing.”

  “Oh,” Gigi said as she watched Finn get a drink for them both. “Thank you for helping me the night Sara disappeared.”

  Finn smiled softly, but he looked unhappy at the mention of Sara’s name. Gigi thought about how safe she had felt with Finn that night and how she hadn’t changed her sheets because his scent was still on them. She needed him to be close with her again.

  When they all sat down for a game, Gigi tried to stay focused, but her mind was on males - Finn and Anton to be specific. Anton was so gentle with her when she cried over Sara and his hug felt really good. She even thought he might kiss her, but he didn’t. Finn was gentle too and always looked ready to kiss her, but didn’t. Both males were beautiful and gentle and seemed to like her, yet she was still alone. After losing Sara, the loneliness hurt more.

  “So, Michael, since Finn’s not gay, which is a huge surprise by the way,” Ella said to Finn who rolled his eyes, “I’m thinking maybe you’re the gay one in this relationship.”

  “I do chicks.”

  “Oh, really? Cause I never heard of you having any girlfriends. Well except for Finn, of course.”

  Finn laughed, but Michael just snorted. “I don’t do girlfriends. There’s no one good enough for me.”

  Ella balked. “You’re fucking kidding, right?”

  Finn continued to laugh and Gigi covered her mouth to hide her smile. Michael seemed irritated to be the center of attention.

  “Tell her,” Michael said to Finn.

  When the younger Were stopped laughing, he sighed.
“Michael’s mother was a saint.”

  “Perfection she was,” Michael added.

  “So no one can live up to her,” Finn said. “There was one female who he thought was his mom’s clone, but she turned out to be less than perfection.”

  “Nagging, cheating whore who cooked for shit, ate all my Twinkies, and probably crapped on my floor. She blamed her dog, but I’m not buying that little fluffball took such a huge dump.”

  Finn laughed then nudged Ella. “Aren’t you glad you asked?”

  Ella nodded with a grin. “Yeah, oddly I am. I had only suspected Mikey was nuts, but now it’s been confirmed.”

  While Gigi laughed with the others, she was a bit surprised by how Michael didn’t seem the slightest bit lonely. Finn was his only friend. He tolerated Gigi and clearly disliked Ella. While he had been fond of Sara, she was gone. Yet with so few friends in his life, Michael was content. Gigi wished she might ask him how he could endure hours, even days alone, but she knew he wouldn’t answer her.

  Michael kept secrets, not because he was scared to share them, but because his secrets were his fucking business. Gigi knew his views on the subject because Michael once screamed this information at the pizza delivery kid who promptly ran away and almost fell down the stairs. No, Michael wasn’t going to share his secrets to a content life alone.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Gigi knew Dave had a wife, but he was a Were. Whenever he looked at her, his eyes tended to miss her face and focus solely on her boobs. This fact didn’t bother Gigi since on the pack floor, few males ever made eye contact. The Alphas were good about never getting caught looking from the neck down and a few of the other “whipped” married males behaved.

  Gigi spent a lot of time being leered at, but Dave was Declan’s right hand guy and he wasn’t supposed to leer at the boss’s object of lust. Instead of just not leering, Dave acted like Gigi was always doing something stupid.

  “Stand outside and wait for me. Don’t try walking off,” Dave growled after announcing he had to pee.