“Who’s your assistant?”
Ian wasn’t sure which man asked as he answered, “His name is Rico.”
“Rico-o-o,” they all said.
Ian smiled. There was so much about the North American Hunters he still didn’t know. “I assume you all know Rico?”
All three men nodded. Ian sensed that Elsie wanted to nod too. The logical response would have been “who’s this Rico you guys are talking about?” and even before that, she should have asked where the hell two extra tall guys came from. No, this woman knew something that she wasn’t telling. As soon as he had the thought, her head jerked in his direction. He felt chills run down his arm. She smiled as him in a look he thought she meant to be flirtatious.
“So where did you guys come from?” she asked.
“It just turned out two friends were walking down the street just as I needed them,” Sean lied.
Elsie nodded. “Talk about timing.”
They entered the main part of the restaurant. He spotted Sean’s intended immediately. She was the only woman sitting at a table alone, and she was lovely. Ian didn’t think she could hold a candle to his Nesta, but no woman could.
When they got closer to their table and Ian saw the smile Sean’s fiancée gave him and his two extra friends, he knew that she knew he was a Hunter.
Sean introduced the two extra men, Ian and Douglas, and then explained that they had to get on to their destination.
“That was weird,” Ian said as they walked toward the door.
“You’ve got that right,” Douglas agreed.
“Hey, it was good meeting you, man. I’m telling you now since there’s no telling when Fox will zap us out of here.”
“Call me next time you’re in L.A.”
Ian stepped out the restaurant’s front door and walked into the spare bedroom of Nesta’s house.
Fox was sitting on the bed. “What were you saying before?” He did something Ian had never seen him do before: he mimicked Ian’s voice identically saying, “Nesta, I told you.”
Ian sighed. He sat down next to his boss. “Fox, please don’t ever do that again. The last thing I need to hear is my voice coming out of you!”
Fox laughed. “What did it mean? I have to go. What did you tell her?”
“I don’t know why any of this is your business, but I told her I wouldn’t make love to her in her parents’ house.”
Fox started to say something and then stopped. “Umm, that’s interesting,” he finally said.
“Fox, did you know there was a blog about us on the Internet?”
“Which one?”
“There’s more than one?”
“Yeah, the associates have a really nice one. A few of the Hunters blog on it, there’s a retired Hunters update on blogspot, and they’ve finally talked me into blogging every once in a while. Rico’s blog is by far the best.”
“Wow, how did I miss all of that?”
“I figure you must have worked at not knowing.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because Rico’s blog rules, and he works for you!”
It was just the kind of thing Fox liked to say before he disappeared. Ian wasn’t surprised when he popped out.
* * * *
It was almost ten when Ian opened his eyes the next morning. “Finally,” Nesta said from beside him.
“Good morning.”
She closed the magazine she was reading and put it on his nightstand. Rolling over to her side to give him a hug and a kiss on the neck, she said, “Tell me about your night.”
He rubbed her shoulders. “How did you know there was something to tell?”
“When I was a little girl, my parents told me it was impolite to answer a question with a question. Yet I notice you, my father, and Uncle Ogo do it all the time.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. It is impolite, and it infuriates me when Fox does it. Apparently you talked to him or, according to what I heard last night, you read our blog.”
“There’s a blog? I guess that makes sense. No, I was just getting ready to ask you if you wanted to go out to breakfast, and my cell rang. It was my uncle, and he asked me to let you sleep because you had to work last night. What did you do?”
Ian told her about the strange hour or so he spent in New Orleans. She laughed throughout the whole story. When he finished, he wrapped her in his arms and in a single move, she was under him. “How come none of that was funny while it was happening? How do you manage to make everything wonderful?”
“Let me get up and close the door and I’ll make your morning wonderful.”
“I’m starting to believe you only like me for what I have between my legs.”
She laughed. “Nice try, Hunter, but you’re not going to guilt trip me about enjoying what you’ve worked so hard to make perfect.”
He grinned. “Really, you think it’s perfect?”
“Yes, I do, but that’s not to say there’s no room for improvement, and we’ll have lots of time to work on that.”
He pulled her head to his face and deeply inhaled her scent. “I need to jump in the shower,” he said.
“Do you need somebody to break the fall?”
He felt himself stiffen. “I love you, Nesta.”
“I love you too.”
“I better get up while I can.”
She reached between his legs. “I think you are up.”
“You’re on this morning, aren’t you? Get out, my dear!”
She jumped up. “What do you want to do, when you get out?”
“I wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee, but your father is coming back for me and we’re having lunch in the city.”
“Well, when was I supposed to hear about this?”
“I’m sorry. I forgot about it until just now.”
“Ummm, and he’s picking you up. That leaves me to spend frantic time with my mother.”
“Again, sorry, sweetheart.”
“I’ll get the coffee for you while you shower.”
When she returned she carried a large mug and a box. “The ring came. Do you want to put it on me, or should I just slip it on?”
Ian was still wearing just the towel from his shower. “I would like to put it on your hand. But I thought you wanted to wait until after the party.”
“My mother told me she wanted me to wear it as soon as possible.”
She put the cup on his nightstand and handed him the box.
“How did it come?”
“It was delivered this morning. I’ll go get my phone while you open the box.”
“You can use my phone.”
“Do you have a camera on it?”
“I don’t know, why?”
“Rico wants a picture as soon as possible.”
“When did you talk to him?”
“He called this morning right after Uncle Ogo.”
“Did he say why he wanted a picture?”
“He said inquiring minds wanted to know.”
“Umm. I think it’s time I had a little talk with him, but first I need to read his blog.”
By the time she returned with her phone, he’d ripped the bubble wrap from the mailing box.
He then took the ring out of its box and held it out to admire. “Maybe I should get dressed and get on my knees or something?”
“I hate to objectify a brother, but as far as I’m concerned you don’t ever have to wear clothes.”
“I won’t if you won’t.”
She smiled. “Does that mean. . .”
“No, Nesta, not here, not now. Why don’t we spend the night away this evening?”
She held out her ring finger, and he got down on one knee and slipped the ruby on her finger.
“I’d like that. I’d better leave and let you get dressed. My father is rarely late.”
Kingsley arrived at about ten minutes to twelve. He called Ian before coming inside. “What’s
Dot doing?” he asked. “I’m not coming in there if it means taking
on another one of her party jobs.”
“She and Nesta are having lunch out. It was Nesta’s idea.”
“They’re gone?”
“Not yet. I believe they’re getting dressed.”
“Okay, come on down. I need to get something from my office.”
They met in the kitchen. “I’m free until three. Did you want to eat in the city too?” Kingsley asked.
“Sure, if it’s a not a problem.”
“Let’s go.”
Ian found it interesting the Kingsley didn’t wait to see his wife and daughter. “Are you looking forward to Saturday?” Ian asked as they pulled away.
“I’m looking forward to it being over. It’s strange too, because we try to have at least one big party every year. Usually a Juneteenth, Fourth of July, or Labor Day party. Dot has never gone crazy with the planning before.”
“Thirty years of wedded bliss is something to be proud of.”
“I know, and I wouldn’t take anything away from that, but I’m so tired of hearing about this damn party. Let’s talk about something else. Tell me what you want to achieve by meeting with these brothers?”
“I feel like something big is about to happen. After all these years of hunting Sangsue, the game plan seems to be changing.”
He nodded. “You’re right. Ogo has been saying that too.”
“That whole business about one being in your house earlier clinched it for me. There’s no way that would have happened even five years ago. It’s like they’re baiting us. When has that ever happened? They run from fights.”
“And the fight in Florida. He didn’t look like any Sangsue I’ve ever seen.”
Ian laughed.
“What’s funny?” Kingsley asked.
“Last night Fox came and got me to help some brothers in a fight with some Ursus brothers in New Orleans.”
“And you lived to laugh about it?”
“It never happened. It was all some kind of strange misunderstanding involving. . .”
“A woman,” Kingsley supplied the word. “That figures. Why else would we be fighting bears? Especially from that family.”
“You know them?”
“I know their parents.”
“Two brothers named Wade and Sean both said they would be at the party if not for Sean’s wedding this weekend.”
Kingsley smiled. “I know Wade well, and I like Sean too. Ogo has a plan for one of his high tech hook-ups so brothers can see what’s happening in both places.”
“He’s such a technophile.”
“That reminds me. Do you know anything about the blogs?”
“Which ones?”
“Blogs that have something to do with us?”
“I’ve read them a few times if somebody tells me there’s something online that might interest me. Rico’s blog is pretty humorous.”
“You know Rico?”
“I knew him when he was, as they say, a gleam in his father’s eye. And I knew his father the same way—in his grandfather’s eye.”
“Why wouldn’t Fox have told me that?”
“What do you mean?”
“About a year before I transferred to Sacramento, he sent Rico down to spend a few months with me in Brazil. When I moved into the house in Sacramento, Rico was already living there.”
“Then you passed his approval.”
“His approval? I thought it was about my approval.”
Kingsley cracked up. “Rico is probably as close to Ogo as Nesta is.”
Ian felt his heart jump. He thought about all the times he’d threatened the young man. “I guess I know now why Rico never takes any of my threats seriously.” He’d always known Rico preformed his job duties well, but learning how well he was connected, Ian found new admiration for him.
“You’ve been a Hunter long enough to know that things are never just the way they seem.”
Ian turned toward Kingsley in his enthusiasm. “That is very true here, but it wasn’t like that at all in South America. It was exactly what it appeared to be there—a dangerous, scary, lonely job. This whole community thing is a North American phenomenon.”
“Umm, I didn’t know that.”
“The few friends I had in South America were immortals or humans. I didn’t know too many other Hunters.”
“Not even from the other pantheons?”
“Not many. I probably wouldn’t have been so burned out here. The camaraderie is great here.”
“Are you having second thoughts about retiring?”
“Not at all. If I never have to pick up another sword or dagger that’s fine with me.”
“I didn’t ask you if you were having second thoughts about Nesta.”
Ian nodded. “I know you didn’t, and my answer remains, but I will miss people I’ve met since moving here to the States.”
“That doesn’t have to change. Mostly all the people I work with are retired service folks. Ogo will hook you up with something perfect for you.”
“I hope so.”
They drove a few minutes in silence. Ian wondered what life would be like living in the area.
“She seems to be happy,” Kingsley said quite unexpectedly.
“If I have anything to do with it, she always will be.”
“That’s all I ask.”
The city traffic was picking up. Ian started feeling the claustrophobia that dense traffic tended to bring out in him.
“I can see why Ogo likes you so much. The two of you seem to have a lot in common—he even gets antsy in traffic too,” Kingsley teased.
“Okay, I’m not going to ask what makes you think he likes me, but I do want to know, how did you know the traffic was bothering me?”
“Your pulse is racing. I’m assuming sitting next to me isn’t turning you on, so it must be the traffic.”
“Wow, I’ve never been able to do that unless I’m touching somebody.”
“I’m at least two hundred years older than you. Give it time.”
Ian laughed, thinking about how the conversation would sound to a human. Kingsley listened to his thoughts and joined him.
“It really is weird sometimes, isn’t it? I feel normal around other Hunters, and then I’ll spend some time with immortals or even humans and realize we are a strange fraternity.”
“Do you know a lot of immortals?” Ian asked.
“I wouldn’t say a lot, maybe twenty who live in the Chicago area. There’s still a few Nordic and Slavic gods who live here full time, plus a lot more from other pantheons in the summer and fall months.”
“There’s quite a few in California, but mostly in Southern California.”
“A lot like New Orleans?”
“Oh no, nothing like that! The only place I know of that comes close to that mess down there is Rio.”
“Oh yeah? So that’s why Ogo spend so much time down there.”
“Rio or New Orleans?”
“Both— he always seems to be coming back from one or the other.”
“Until just recently, I thought Rio had the best-looking women in the world,” Ian said.
Kingsley smiled. “Okay, this building coming up is where we’re going. It’s the building where Oprah used to live.”
“What is she?”
“I believe she’s mortal; beyond that I’ve never heard. It’s clear that she’s charmed, but I don’t know by whom and she’s not telling.”
“She looks Yoruba.”
Kingsley nodded in agreement, but he was more focused on finding a parking space.
Ian saw what looked like college students walking around. It made sense— Sangsue are found near young, healthy people, and Hunters are found near Sangsue. “What campus is nearby?”
“Loyola University's downtown campus.”
Kingsley waited for a car that was pulling out of a space. Ian had no idea if they were close to their destination.
“It’s this building right here,” he said, nodding his head. “I’m going to call him down and we can
walk to lunch.”
Ian looked around while Kingsley used the phone. He could see himself living in the area, but he again reminded himself that it was late summer. He was born in Sub-Saharan Africa, and except for a half a year in the early 1800s spent in London, he’d always lived in warm climates.
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