by Faith Gibson
Hurry. Something is wrong.
“Dante?”
“Can you return to the morgue? There’s something you need to see.”
“I’m still outside. I’ll be right there.” Deacon pushed off his bike and wasted no time getting back inside. “What is it?” he asked as soon as he strode through the door.
“We stopped by to see Jonathan earlier. I introduced Connor to Sabrina, and when he shook her hand, he had a vision.”
“What did he see?”
Dante held out a piece of paper. When Deacon grasped what he was seeing, he had to steady himself. Connor’s visions were legendary among the Clan, and he’d never known the child to be wrong. He’d also never seen one incomplete. Before he could comment on the man’s lack of clear facial features, Dante explained, “He can’t see the man’s face.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m not sure, but regardless, we need to keep an eye on your mate.”
“I need to warn her.”
“And tell her what?” Dante glanced at Connor and sighed. “Until you claim Sabrina and she knows about us, we will keep an eye on her. Talk to Frey and explain what’s going on, and he’ll set up round-the-clock protection.”
“I can watch her.” Not that Deacon didn’t trust the others of their Clan, but Sabrina was his responsibility.
“I understand you want to be the one protecting her, but you have a job. We’ll talk to Frey and see who we can put on rotation. We can also let Jonas know what’s going on. He will want to help as well, I’m sure.”
“Gregor’s spending more time at the Pen, and he’s got Remy there shadowing, so if I asked, he’d probably be okay with me taking time off.” Deacon’s phone rang, but he didn’t recognize the number. He almost let it go to voicemail, but his shifter nudged him to answer anyway. “Hello?”
“Deacon, it’s Brynna. I hijacked Travis’s phone and got your number.”
“Oh, hello, Brynna. I’m going to have to cancel our shopping trip. Something has come up that needs my attention.”
“Now you’re just hurting my feelings. I’m all ready to hit the mall. Why don’t you text me your sizes, and I’ll grab some things for you?”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind. I need a little retail therapy anyway, so if you trust me, I’ll pick out several outfits. If there’s something you don’t like, I’ll return it for you later.”
Deacon hated shopping, so Brynna’s offer was a godsend. “That would be much appreciated.”
“It really is my pleasure. Text me those sizes, and I’ll get back to you. We’ll meet up sometime tomorrow.” The female said goodbye and disconnected.
“I need to get Connor over to the gym. Abbi is taking him and Amelia to the aquarium. Why don’t you follow me, and we will talk to Frey together? You call Gregor, and I’ll call Jonas on the way. He and Paxton can keep an eye on Sabrina in the meantime.”
Deacon agreed and followed Dante and his son outside. Once they arrived at Hartley’s, Deacon parked next to Frey’s Jeep and slid off his Harley. When they entered the gym, the whirlwind that was Amelia saw him and took off running. “Uncle Deke!”
“Hey, munchkin.” Deacon bent down and scooped the girl up, tossing her into the air before catching her and settling her on his hip. She placed a kiss against his cheek, and Deacon absorbed her happiness.
“Momma’s taking me and Connor to see the sharks. You should come with us.”
Deacon fake shuddered. “Sharks? No, thank you.”
“You’re so silly. They can’t hurt you, ’cause they’re in a big tank.”
“I’m not as brave as you and Connor. Maybe I’ll go next time.” He kissed her on the forehead before placing the child on her feet. Amelia ran to where Connor was silently watching. When Amelia got close, the boy’s mouth curled in the smallest hint of a smile. Deacon didn’t know how Dante dealt with having a son who was special. Or one who saw the horrible things he did in his mind. Deacon didn’t think he’d be able to stand it, with or without his enhanced empathic abilities. He’d never had to worry about having a child of his own, but now that Sabrina was in the picture, he wondered if she wanted kids. Gods, he hoped not.
Before he could think on it more, Matthew brushed past him without speaking. Several emotions flushed over Deacon, and none of them were good. If Slade didn’t claim the teen soon, it might be too late when he did.
AN HOUR LATER, Sabrina was still shaken from Connor’s behavior. Dante’s explanation of why his child froze didn’t match the look of trepidation on the boy’s face or the way he’d whispered his father’s name. His smaller hand had squeezed hers before he let go. Father and son had stared at one another for a few seconds, and if she didn’t know better, she would have sworn they were communicating silently. Sabrina wondered what that would be like, to be close to your own child. Some questions were better left unanswered, she supposed.
Sabrina’s hand stilled when she put the key in the lock. It turned too easily. When she pushed open the door to her office, she froze. A large vase filled with red roses sat on her desk. She paused, looking back at the door which should have been locked. She could have forgotten, but that wasn’t like her. She approached the flowers and sorted through the stems looking for a card to see who sent them. Her first thought was Deacon. If they were from him, she needed to bring it to his attention how she detested that particular flower. The smell reminded her of a funeral home. When her grandmother passed away, roses of all colors had lined the small parlor where her body was held for viewing.
Garrison had given her a fresh bouquet of roses before every date. Sabrina informed him she would rather have something else, but he’d insisted she only deserved the best. She knew then, before everything else, he wasn’t the man for her. If he couldn’t abide that small request, what else would he ignore? Everything.
“How lovely.”
Sabrina jumped at the voice. Abandoning the search for a card, she turned to find Paul Blankenship, Chief of Pediatrics, standing in her doorway.
“Paul, what brings you by?” The man had to want something, because he never set foot on the fifth floor otherwise.
“Can a colleague not drop by to see how you’re doing?” Paul stepped farther into the room, and Sabrina moved to stand behind her desk, putting as much space between them as possible without running from her office. She hated the effect larger men had on her, but in that moment, there was nothing she could do about it.
“You could if we were friends or even friendly, but we’re not. So, I’ll ask you again, what brings you by?”
“You wound me, Sabrina.” Paul reached out and stroked a rose petal. “I might have heard your name mentioned in regard to the chief of staff position. I just wanted to wish you luck. Possibly convince you to have dinner with me.”
“I don’t need luck. I have the necessary skills required to do the job, and should I decide I even want the position, it will be up to the board to choose the candidate best suited to the job. As for dinner, I’ll have to pass. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
Paul plucked the petal from the flower and let it float to the floor. His skin wasn’t as dark as hers, so she didn’t miss his neck flushing with either anger or embarrassment at having been turned down. He muttered something Sabrina didn’t catch before turning and striding from her office. What if he had brought the flowers?
Sabrina dropped into her chair and gripped the armrests. She knew she was abrasive to certain people. Mostly those men who reminded her of how she didn’t want to be treated. Sabrina had always wondered why someone as egotistical and rude worked with children every day. The few times she’d visited the third floor to see a new patient, he’d not been around, so she didn’t know how his bedside manner was. He might be a teddy bear around the kids, and it could be Sabrina he had a problem with. Then why did he suggest dinner? Regardless, she put it out of her mind by returning her attention to the roses. There wasn’t a
card included, so she had no way of knowing who sent them. Usually, she was better about remembering to lock her door. If it had been locked, someone who had a key had entered her private area.
When a possum walked over her grave – what her grandmother called it when the hair on her nape stood on end – a shiver ran through Sabrina’s body. She glanced out the door to see if someone was there. She thought briefly Paul could be hanging around watching her, but she’d heard his heavy footsteps when he retreated. Sabrina eased across the floor so she could look out into the hallway. No one was there.
The feeling of being watched had happened more than once, and it was really beginning to freak her out. She didn’t understand why she attracted the same type of man she wanted to avoid. Where were the skinny, short men? Sabrina wasn’t a large woman, but she guessed her position in the hospital could be intimidating to some. She never ventured outside home and work other than to get her hair done. She never went anywhere to attract a suitor, so what did she expect?
Trying to put the uneasiness out of her mind, Sabrina sat down and unlocked her computer. The scent of the roses were a distraction she didn’t need, so after she’d tried and failed to keep busy for a good twenty minutes, she stood from her desk and carried the flowers down to the nurses’ station where someone could enjoy them, making sure her door was locked on the way out. When she was almost back to her office, she caught sight of a large man hurrying around the corner, away from where her office was situated.
Sabrina took off at a sprint, but by the time she reached the hallway, the stranger was pushing open the door to the stairs. He glanced back at her. His face was mostly hidden by his hooded sweatshirt, but there was something familiar about him. Before she could figure out what it was, he slammed the door open and took off.
When his hood had slipped back, Sabrina thought... No, that was impossible. This man was tall, broad, with cropped hair, and dark skin. That could have been Garrison if he wasn’t wearing his uniform. Or, it could be Deacon.
Someone grabbed her arm, and Sabrina jumped, a small shriek escaping her throat.
“Sabrina, are you okay, dear?” Dr. Mooneyham released his grip, but his face was still etched in concern.
“I don’t... Yes, I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem fine. Did something happen?”
Sabrina didn’t want to come across as some helpless female, especially not when Dr. Mooneyham was considering her to be responsible for the hospital.
“Sabrina, you can talk to me. If something has happened, please tell me. It’s my responsibility to assure all my employees are safe.”
“Someone let themselves into my office and left...” No, she would sound crazy if she told him she was upset over a bouquet of roses. “It’s nothing really. Just my overtasked imagination.”
“No.” Her boss’s voice was stern, and she took a step back. When he spoke again, it was softer. “No, Sabrina. Do not ever downplay something if it causes you even the slightest bit of alarm. Someone let themselves into your office. Let’s start there. Are you certain your door was locked?”
“I could have forgotten, but...”
“But that’s not like you. So, let’s assume someone has a key. Did they take anything?”
“No, they left something. A vase of roses. There was no note, so I have no idea who they were from.”
“And where are the flowers now?”
“I took them to the nurses’ station. I hate roses, so either someone was trying to impress me and had no idea, or they were looking to intimidate me, and it worked.”
“Is there someone aware of your dislike of roses?”
Sabrina didn’t want to delve into her personal life. Not like this, but her boss was asking all the right questions. “Yes, but I haven’t seen him in quite a while. There’s no reason for him to be anywhere near my office.”
“I see. What else?”
“What do you mean?”
“When I startled you, you were staring around the corner. Did you see someone?”
“Yes, but I didn’t get a good look at his face. I’m probably being paranoid for no good reason. Really, like I said, I’m fine. There’s no need for you to worry.”
Joseph scowled. “I happen to think of you as more than an employee, Sabrina. I consider you a friend, and if I want to worry, I will. Tell me, how many more patients do you have today?”
“Four. But—”
Joseph held up a hand to silence Sabrina. He retrieved his phone from the holder on his hip and frowned before putting it to his ear. “Dr. Mooneyham.” Joseph listened for a bit before his gaze turned to Sabrina. “I see... Yes, absolutely. As a matter of fact, we may need to accelerate the schedule. I need to call Julian. I... Can I call you back? There’s something I need to do. Excellent. I’ll talk to you soon.” When Joseph disconnected, he took a deep inhale. When he let it out, he was still staring at Sabrina.
“Joseph, what is it?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but for now, I want you to come with me to my office. I need to make a call, and then I’m going to accompany you on your rounds.”
“What? Why? Joseph—”
“I don’t like the fact that someone was in your office without your permission, or that some stranger was lurking around. Please, dear, for my peace of mind, allow me to shadow you for the rest of the day.”
“Okay, but I really don’t think it’s necessary.”
“I insist. Now, gather what you need, and we’ll get started.”
Sabrina couldn’t help but feel like her boss was keeping something from her, but she did as he asked.
Chapter Seven
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, HE disappeared? Where the fuck did he go?” Drago had to rein in his anger lest he threw his phone against the wall.
“I’m sorry, Sir. No one noticed until we were already at the warehouse. I went back out and searched the area myself for over three hours, but there’s no trace of him.”
“Godsdamnit. Put Trexon on the phone.” A Reborn wandering around the city with the ability to understand what the fuck was going on around him could ruin everything. The last thing he needed was for the male to be captured. Fucking Stone Society. Drago bet his left nut the male had been caught.
“Sir?” Trexon answered.
“I want you to keep all the Unholy separated from the Reborn. And those who have half a brain now? You need to instill the fear of the gods in them. Make sure they understand what will happen if they jump ship.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Also, I’m sending a new guy in. His name’s Hagen Rossum, and he’s a computer specialist.”
“I remember him. He’s the kid Kallisto hired to hack for Alistair.”
“That’s the one. Set him up in my apartment for the time being. If everything goes as planned here, I’ll be back within a week. Hagen knows what is required of him, so once he’s settled, you shouldn’t have to watch over him. Maybe have Renneck stay with him the first night, but after that, he can come back to the compound.”
“We’ll handle it.”
Drago disconnected. Trexon had better handle it. Losing one of the Reborn could be detrimental in the hands of the Stones. If the male talked, Rafael had the resources to find Dr. Craven. Drago pulled up the scientist’s number and called the man. Of course, it went to voicemail. “Call me as soon as you get this message. And Craven? You better not sell me out.”
Arden entered the room without knocking. “The truck is loaded with the next shipment.”
“Good. I’m needed back in New Atlanta, so I’m leaving you in charge of this part of our operation.”
“What’s going on?” Arden poured himself a tall glass of whiskey before leaning against the bar.
“One of the Reborn went walkabout, and the one in charge of overseeing that particular project failed to notice until it was too late.”
“Could he have gone back to his family?”
“It’s possible but not probable. The ones who’ve been turned
the longest were promised money when Alistair was funding the project for Gordon Flanagan. The ones who joined the ranks later did so because they had nothing left. They’re soldiers coming home from the military who have no family, or they have PTSD so severe they can’t figure out how to become part of a society which no longer wants them. I have a feeling the American Clan took him. I need to get back to ensure Dr. Craven keeps his end of the bargain.”
“I’ll take care of things here. Like I said, we have a shipment ready, and there’s plenty more where they came from.”
“Very good. I’m going to call a meeting and announce to everyone you are in charge. If anyone steps out of line, take their head. We don’t have time to babysit our own males.”
Drago lit the cigar he’d been chewing on, mesmerized by the smoke as it drifted up before dissipating into nothing. His plan had to work, or the Greeks as well as the Unholy would disappear like the smoke.
“COME WITH ME,” Frey said. Deacon knew Frey wasn’t mad at his son; he was worried. When they found Matthew, Frey said, “Matthew, would you like to apologize to Deacon?” Frey’s voice was calm, but Deacon knew he was reining it in.
Matthew sighed and turned around. His shoulders dropped when he realized Deacon was standing next to Frey. “I’m sorry, Deacon. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. Can we chalk it all up to teenage hormones?”
Deacon and Frey looked at one another. They didn’t have to speak out loud to know what the other was thinking. They’d had this conversation a couple times while out patrolling for Unholy. If Slade didn’t claim Matthew soon, the teen was only going to get worse.
Before either one spoke, Matthew continued, “Do you think it’s too late to enroll in summer classes at UGA?”