by Lisa Kessler
Lia nodded. “Yeah.”
He came over and sat beside her. “You miss your family.”
“Until I moved here, I could walk to my parents’, my sisters’, and my aunts’ houses. I took it for granted.”
“Maybe when things settle with the theater, we can save up some vacation time.”
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. “We?”
His smile faltered. “Probably a dumb idea.”
“No, they’d love to meet you.” She grinned. “But they’d eat you alive.”
He adjusted his towel. “I held my own at pinball.”
“True.” She patted his leg. “I need to get back to my place and get ready for work. Hair isn’t going to cut itself. I have rehearsal at the improv club tonight, too.”
“Today’s my last day off before I go back on shift, so I guess I’ll run over and lend Mason a hand.”
Lia smiled. “Thanks for all your help. With everything. This has got to be weird for you.”
“Not as weird as worrying I’m going to touch someone and have a seizure. It’s a lot easier to process now that I know what’s going on, though, even if what’s happening is pretty out there.”
She leaned over for a kiss. “I better get dressed.”
He grinned, running his hand up her leg. “Maybe not just yet.”
She hummed against his lips as he laid her back on the sofa. “You’re a bad influence.”
He pulled his towel free and dropped it on the floor. “You complaining?”
She shook her head as he settled over her. “Not even a little.”
Ted’s entire back was discolored, bruised, and sore, but he didn’t think any bones were broken. It was a small miracle. Still he struggled to keep from limping out of the elevator.
He ground his teeth as he approached Marion’s desk. “Please call Mikolas. Tell him I need to see him right away.”
“Yes, Mr. Belkin.” She frowned. “Are you all right?”
“Bike accident. I’ll be okay.”
“Okay.” She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press the issue.
Ted carefully sat behind his desk, wincing as his back came in contact with the chair. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. If he didn’t give Pamela what she wanted, she’d already proven she could hurt him. Killing him wouldn’t be much of a stretch. And if he didn’t get on board with Mikolas, the police would be calling when they got the DNA test results from the car.
He was screwed either way.
But he had a plan. He had Bryce.
Bryce could finish things with the Muse of Comedy. Ted could pass him off as a loose cannon to Mikolas and, at the same time, tell Pamela that the enforcer was working under Mikolas’s orders.
Everyone wins.
Except the muse.
Trinity’s eyes filled his head. The muses were her friends. What would he do when Pamela demanded Trinity’s life?
He rested his elbows on his desk, head in his hands. How had everything spun so far out of control?
Marion’s voice came from the speakerphone on his desk. “Mr. Leandros is here for you.”
“Send him in.”
Mikolas came inside, closing the door behind him. “You look like hell.”
Ted didn’t bother to respond. He tossed Pamela’s pictures on his desk. “You were right. She’s not human.”
Mikolas sat down. “She did this to you?”
“Yeah.” Ted straightened up, or at least tried to. “She barely touched me, but I flew across the room so fast, I wasn’t sure what happened. Then I was paralyzed. Just like the men on the Oceanus. She mentioned something about a venom that causes paralysis.”
Mikolas leaned forward in his chair. “Are you ready to take an oath of loyalty now?”
“First, I want to know how you plan on handling Pamela. She wants the muses dead. If they’re not, we could be.”
Mikolas crossed his arms. “I keep my enemies close.”
“So she’s an enemy?”
Mikolas raised a brow. “She attacked you.”
“But she still shares our mission to free Kronos.”
Mikolas nodded slowly. “That doesn’t make her an ally.”
“She clearly has powers we don’t possess.”
“And an agenda we don’t understand.”
Ted sighed. “So what are you suggesting?”
“I’m saying we stay the course for now.” Mikolas steepled his fingers. “We keep Belkin Oil financially sound so we have the capital to continue to replace the drilling equipment as we get closer to our goal. Meanwhile, I will see if I can figure out Pamela’s true identity. Once we know who she really is, we should be able to find a weakness. All the gods had them.”
Ted glanced out the window. “She won’t be satisfied with your ban on killing the muses.”
“Then I’d better discover who and what she is so we know what we’re up against.” Mikolas stood. “I need your answer. Are you ready to pledge your loyalty?”
“You’ll make the police investigation go away?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll reinstate me into the Order?”
“Yes.” His gaze locked on Ted’s. “And you’ll help me control Pamela.”
The sensation of flying across the room rushed through Ted’s head. Was “control” even possible with an immortal? He didn’t know, but it didn’t matter. Pledging his loyalty to Mikolas meant he’d be back inside the Order. He’d be able to finish his father’s mission. And if he made it out alive, he’d be remembered for bringing back the Golden Age of Man.
His father would finally be proud of him.
He cleared his throat. “You have my loyalty.”
Mikolas smirked. “It’s not so simple. Be in my office at five o’clock, and we’ll make the oath.”
Ted nodded. “I’ll be there.”
Once Mikolas had left and the door closed behind him, Ted reached for his cell, wincing. He sent Bryce a single text.
Thalia must die.
Or Pamela would be sure he did.
Sacrifices, he reminded himself. Sacrifices.
CHAPTER 17
Lia finished her last appointment at the salon, cleaned up her station, and headed for the improv theater. The drive over was a blur. Between dreaming up new improvisation games to share with the audience over the weekend, she also couldn’t stop pondering her conversation with Cooper.
Was he serious about going to Chicago to meet her family?
He must miss his own. It hadn’t occurred to her at the time, but when she visited him in the hospital after the fire, she never ran into any other visitors. Agnes didn’t have a car. And now that Lia understood the family dynamics, his parents may not have even known he’d been admitted.
If the Hanovers weren’t ready to heal old wounds, she had more than enough family to go around. With the theater opening delayed indefinitely while Mason and the guys were rebuilding from the ground up, they wouldn’t miss her for a few days. She could reschedule her clients, and Rafe and Selena could run the improv for a week.
A visit back home was becoming a reality in her head.
Her family would be a lot for Cooper to handle, especially since his seemed so different from hers. He’d said his parents sold their house, but he hadn’t mentioned where they had moved. Maybe they weren’t even in Crystal City anymore. She’d have to ask Agnes.
She parked behind the improv theater and headed for the back entrance doing her best to ignore the stain of Cooper’s blood on the blacktop of the parking lot. Too late. She glanced around, suddenly wary, but the only other car was Rafe’s VW Bus.
Her tight grip on her nerves loosened as she opened the back door and went inside.
Time to get to work.
Cooper’s shoulders ached as he finished driving another nail into the two-by-four framing. He had to give Mason credit, this was hard work. He wiped his brow and checked his phone. Lia was probably already at the theater for rehearsal. He’d be ab
le to pick her up in a couple more hours.
Mason turned on the floodlights as the sun started setting, and Cooper frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. His birthmark throbbed and burned. Nate and Reed were at their day jobs today, but Hunter was over by the electrical, running the table saw.
Maybe Hunter would be able to tell him if it was a Guardian thing.
As he slid the handle of the hammer into his tool belt, Mason came over, inspecting the frame. “Lookin’ good, Coop. You ever want to change careers, you’d make a great carpenter.”
“Thanks, man.” Cooper straightened up. “But I like saving lives.”
Mason grinned. “Suit yourself.”
He started measuring lumber, and Cooper wandered over to Hunter. The retired Navy SEAL surfed every day, so he stayed in shape and still looked ready to defend the country at a moment’s notice.
Hunter lifted his head and popped out an earplug. “Hey, dude. What’s up?”
Cooper kept his voice hushed. “Does your birthmark ever burn? Mine feels like it’s on fire.”
Hunter’s smile vanished as he scanned the area. “It usually means your muse is in danger. Where’s Lia?”
Cooper’s adrenaline went into overdrive. “Fuck. She’s at the improv club.”
“That’s on the other side of town.” Hunter took off his gloves. “I’m going with you.”
Cooper was already jogging toward his car. “Gotta run, Mason. I’ll call you later.”
Mason nodded. “Thanks for the help.”
Cooper had his phone to his ear and the engine running when Hunter opened the passenger door. “You calling Lia?”
“Yeah. She’s not answering her cell.”
“Shit. Drive. I’ll find Nate.”
Cooper hit the accelerator, the tires screeching as they headed for the street. He was trained to keep a clear head and remain calm in the worst of emergencies, but his cool was long gone.
This was personal.
And if anything happened to Lia… Damn, he couldn’t even think about it.
Marion was packing up when Ted exited his office. “Have a nice evening, Mr. Belkin.”
“Thanks, Marion.” He paused and added, “Why don’t you call me Ted?”
She smiled, her cheeks encroaching on her blue eyes. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Ted.”
She went to the elevator, leaving him wondering where that had come from. But after working together for five years, it had seemed like the right thing to do.
Or he was just desperate for a good deed.
He glanced at the clock. Something far from good was happening right now.
Pushing the thought away, he grabbed the next elevator up to the top floor. When he reached the door to his father’s office, Mikolas called, “Come in and close the door.”
Ted did as Mikolas instructed, surprised to find him in his robe but no sign of the mask of Kronos. Mikolas gestured to his feet. “Kneel.”
Ted ached just looking at the floor. “I might not be able to get back up.”
“I’ll help you up if you need it.”
Ted sighed, groaning as he lowered his battered body to the carpet. He got to his knees, stars dancing at the edge of his vision.
Mikolas reached for something behind him and then was brandishing a dagger with a jeweled handle.
Ted frowned. “What the hell is that?”
“This is a charmed dagger, blessed by the gods. When it brings our blood together, an oath is forged. And if the oath is broken, a price is paid.”
“Wouldn’t a contract be more binding?”
Mikolas chuckled. “Your father instilled a passion for the Order’s mission without any tradition or foundation.” He lifted the dagger. “This blade is from my Order back home. It has been passed down through the Order to help us find those loyal to our cause.” He closed his free hand around the blade, wincing as he yanked it free.
Ted’s eyes widened, but he was too sore to jump to his feet. “Fuck. This is insane.”
“I told you I required a blood oath.”
“Yeah, but I thought it was a flowery, European way of saying a contract.”
Mikolas’s blood dripped on the floor in front of Ted. “Give me your hand.”
“I can’t do this.”
“You can, or you will go to jail. Your choice.”
Ted took a couple of deep breaths and offered up his hand. “This is nuts.”
Mikolas drew the blade across Ted’s palm so fast, he didn’t feel the cut right away. Then the Greek clasped his hand. A shockwave ran through their hands, making Ted wobble on the ground. “Shit. What was that?”
“The dagger has accepted our oath. It has united us together in this purpose.” Mikolas set the knife back on the desk and came around to pull Ted back up to his feet.
Ted’s pulse raced as he stared at the dagger. “When will it wear off?”
“Only the one who calls for a blood oath can end it. When we find out how to control Pamela, I’ll end our arrangement.”
Ted glanced at the clock. Bryce was probably already finished doing Pamela’s will. Would that break the pact? Technically, Ted didn’t do it.
But Bryce had gone on Ted’s command.
Shit.
Lia walked through the back office and set her purse on the chair. “Selena?”
Nothing. Weird.
She entered the black box theater, and the spotlight came on, blinding her. “Rafe? Can you turn down the lights?”
Again, nothing.
A chill ran down her spine. Something was wrong. She bit back the urge to ask who was there, just as every person in a horror flick did before they died.
She spun around to run, when an unfamiliar voice called out, “Leave this room and your pregnant friend dies while her husband watches.”
Selena.
Lia faced the light again. “I’m not going anywhere. Let them go.”
“Not yet.”
Selena let out a muffled scream, and Lia’s stomach tied in a knot. She’d led the danger right to her troupe. This was her fault. She had to get them out. Judging by Selena’s voice, she was in the lighting room. And from the sound of it, Rafe was with her.
“What do you want?” Lia asked. “We don’t have much money, but it’s yours if you take it and walk away.”
The man’s chuckle echoed through the live acoustics. “If I wanted money, I would have robbed a bank.”
Her heart pounded in her ears. “Why are you here?”
“I came for you, but you already know that, don’t you?”
She racked her brain for some kick-ass escape plan that included saving her friends. But standing smack-dab in the middle of a spotlight made it tough to surprise anyone, and calling 9-1-1 would be pretty obvious. Besides, either option would cost Selena her life. Lia couldn’t risk it.
The beam of light started to slide up toward the house seats. “Stay in the center of the light, or she and her baby die,” the stranger warned.
Lia could hear Selena sobbing. At least she was still alive.
Lia walked forward, following it until the spotlight couldn’t move any higher. “Come into the booth.”
“Let them go first,” Lia called out.
“You’re in no position to make deals, muse.” He chuckled and rose to his full height in the lighting booth window. The gold Kronos mask had her heart racing. That mask now symbolized death. The same mask had been behind the wheel of the Mercedes that had hit Cooper. Her stomach retched being this close, adrenaline shooting through her bloodstream.
“Killing me isn’t going to stop the Les Neufs Soeurs from opening,” she said.
“Maybe not, but then I’ll only have six to go.” He turned side to side. “I thought the paramedic was your Guardian. Guess I was wrong.”
The Order did know about the Guardians. Now she just needed to live long enough to warn everyone.
The man came out of the booth and reached for her.
Something inside of her snapped. She was
n’t going to follow along like a lamb to slaughter. Her improv skits usually made people laugh, but tonight, she’d have to improvise in order to survive. She ducked under his outreached arm and slammed her fist into his groin with all the power she could muster.
He wheezed, stumbling backward, and Lia raced into the booth, slamming the door shut behind her and locking it. Selena and Rafe were lying on the floor with duct tape over their mouths and around their wrists and ankles.
Lia ripped the tape from their mouths. “He’ll break the glass and be in here any second.”
Rafe rolled on his side. “Pocketknife. Front pocket.”
She slid her hand inside and pulled out the knife. She popped the blade out and quickly sawed through the tape at Rafe’s wrists before handing him the knife. “I’m going to lure him away from here. Get Selena out and call 9-1-1.”
“No,” Selena whispered. “It’s too dangerous.”
Lia squeezed her hand. “There’s no other choice. If I go with you, he’ll come after me. Get away and call for back up. I’ll buy time until they get here.”
Her friend finally nodded. “Be careful.”
“I will.” Lia gripped the doorknob.
“Wait.”
She turned to find Selena rubbing her freed wrists and Rafe offering her his knife. “Take it.”
Lia grabbed the knife, imagining she must look like Peter Pan ready to battle Captain Hook’s sword with a tiny dagger. Part of her was tempted to laugh.
What the hell was wrong with her?
Her muse didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of their situation.
Lia opened the door, ready to attack, but the robed man was gone. She frowned, taking another step out with the knife clenched in her fist. Nothing.
She whispered to Rafe, “All clear. Get Selena out of here.”
He hustled his pregnant wife down toward the stage and the back door while Lia crept forward. Maybe when he’d realized she wasn’t going to go quietly into that good night, he had taken off.
A girl could hope.
Cooper ran two traffic lights, and he lost count of how many stop signs. Hunter had gotten in touch with Nate, and the police were on their way to the improv club. Maybe they were already there. When the sign came into focus, Cooper gave the car a little more gas.