The Quest (21 page)

Clenching my teeth, I placed my feet flat on the floor and stood up. Every bone protested my movement, especially my ankle. At least they weren’t broken.

“Are you hurt, miss?” The uniformed man holstered his weapon as he stopped to the side of us. He had short, curly hair and a clean-shaven face. Red rings circled his brown eyes.

“Sore,” I replied, rubbing my hipbone. I’d hit it hard on one of the steps.

“I don’t see any trace of him, but that doesn’t mean he’s gone,” the curly-haired cop said. He had a soft, yet strong voice.

I gripped Jonas’s arm. “It was Billy.”

“Yeah, I saw him,” he replied in a deep tone, edged with irritation. “Where’s Tabby?”

“She left shortly before Billy arrived.” And thank God she had. If Billy had brought his goons with him, they probably would’ve killed us both.

The cop standing mid stairwell spoke in a low voice. I peered around Jonas and found the man talking into the device on his shoulder.

“Are you the only one in the house, miss?” the officer standing next to us asked.

“Yeah, and you can call me Shelley.”

“The house is clear,” said the uniformed man on the stairs. “No signs of activity outside either. I suggest we keep a patrol unit here.”

Considering how easily Billy slipped into the house, I decided not to argue. Extra security would come in handy since Boss was gone. After what happened today, maybe Boss wouldn’t argue anymore.

“Would you mind waiting in your cars? Jonas and I have a few matters to discuss.”

“Sure. We can do that, but I recommend one of us stay in the house in case he reappears,” the cop next to us said.

Seconds mattered with demons, and I realized that more now than ever. The ability to mist and move unnoticed was a benefit I missed because of Galluzzi’s charmed bracelet on my ankle. If I didn’t have the damn thing on me, I could’ve slipped from Billy’s grasp as easily as he disappeared from the cops. Moreover, he wouldn’t have found me by the tracking device. Now, he knew where I lived. I would never feel safe here again, at least, not without my dagger within reach at all times.

“I’ll be fine. I have a weapon I’ll keep with me,” I said to the nice demon cop.

“Very well. Let us know if you suspect anything unusual,” he said as he passed by. He headed up the stairs. “Have everyone report to their vehicle for the time being.”

Jonas and I locked gazes while the cops ascended the staircase. He gave a slight shake of his head.
Don’t trust them, any of them.

I don’t.

Why are they even here?

I made a deal with Sal.

He clenched his jaw, then jogged up the steps. Before heading up, I snatched my dagger from the dresser and slid it into my back pocket. I no longer cared if I busted a hole in my jeans. Until I found a way to strap it to me, I would carry it with me everywhere.

I reached the kitchen and found it empty. For a moment, I simply stared at the table, recalling the pleasant conversation Tabby and I had shared a short time ago. I missed her greatly, but something else plagued me. What if Billy had shown while she was in the house? What if he had shown while she was alone? Her safety mattered, and now that she had left with her sister, I felt somewhat at ease. I worried now for Jonas.

“They’re gone,” Jonas said, strolling into the kitchen.

“Gone?”

“Well, in their cars.” He stopped at the table and slid a chair out. As he lowered himself onto the seat, he winced slightly.

“I thought you said you were healed.” I strode toward him and sat in the chair next to him.

He rubbed his lower abdomen. “Healed for the most part, but still sore. Now tell me about this deal.”

I inhaled a deep breath, then began. “He wants me to be the one to convict Galluzzi in public.”

“What?”

“He hates Galluzzi so much that he thinks justice will be served best if I’m the one to present evidence to convict her. So, he offered to help look for documents.”

“I’m confused.” Elbow on the table, he leaned sideways and threaded his fingers in his hair. “What is he getting out of this deal?”

“The same thing I am, a conviction and Galluzzi out of public office forever.”

Jonas straightened. “Sal just shows up out of the blue and offers to help with the investigation? That seems strange to me.”

“He showed up to tell me she’s issued a bounty for my death.”

“What? Why didn’t someone call and tell me?” he asked, gruff.

“For one thing, we found out early this morning. You were in the hospital,
recovering from a stab wound
.” I emphasized the last part, and he pressed his lips together. “There wasn’t any time to update you.”

“You could’ve sent a text.”

I frowned at him as I realized no matter what I’d say, he’d argue his point. Of course, it didn’t stop me from emphasizing mine. “I didn’t want to worry you. Besides, you needed to heal.”

He reached over and put his hand on top of mine. “I appreciate your concern, but I prefer to make my own choices. If I want to fight to my death for you, I will, and you can’t stop me.”

Men and their egos. When would they learn fighting to death was never a win-win situation for anyone?

I lowered my gaze, trying to hide my displeasure. Losing Jonas, or even Boss, would rip my heart to shreds. They were the noblest of men and deserved to live in peace.

“I know you want to help, but it’s not safe for you here, or anywhere near me.” I lifted my eyes to meet his.

“I’m not going anywhere, so don’t bother asking.”

“Jonas–”

“No. Forget it.” His stern gaze and tone spoke volumes. “I’ve been an investigator with Boss for a long time. I know what danger is, and I know what’s worth fighting for and what isn’t. You, my dear…” He reached over the table and glided the back of his fingers down the side of my face. “Are worth every breath and drop of blood in my body.”

Gazing into his eyes, I saw his steadfast loyalty. It warmed my heart, yet installed a touch of fear. He reminded me of Boss.

I inched away from his hand. “It seems you and Boss share a lot in common.”

He released a big sigh. “Some things, yes. He cares about you as much as I do, but he’s interested in you for something else. It’s in his nature to want…”

Angel blood. He didn’t need to say the word. Half-breed angels were nearly extinct for two reasons. One, vampires craved their pure blood. Two, everyone, human and non, enjoyed using the talents of half-breed angels for personal gain, which in turn drained the half-breed. When the person had nothing further to gain, he or she killed the half-breed. Boss wasn’t the type to use me for personal gain, but he did have a thirst for my blood.

“Boss wouldn’t hurt me,” I said.

“Not intentionally, but keep in mind you have something he greatly desires. Ask him if he thinks about tasting it and how often. I guarantee you, it is a constant thought in his head.”

Jonas’s words stung worse than a bee sting. Boss craved my blood, no question about it. Was he willing to fight for me because he wanted my blood to himself? If I didn’t have angel blood, would he care for me the same way?

I faced the window. “I’ll have a talk with Boss. I don’t want my blood to be a problem between us.” Yet, I knew it would, always.

The chair creaked as Jonas moved. “He’s a great friend, the best I’ve ever had. I owe him a lot, but if he ever–”

“I think you’ve already shown what you’d do if he tried draining me.” The image of him aiming his gun at Boss’s head was one I’d never forget. Not long after they’d found me six weeks ago Boss and I had returned from fighting gargumen and we’d ended up releasing some of our tension through sex. Jonas had walked in as Boss and I lay tangled together, and Boss’s fangs buried in my neck. Sometimes I wondered if Boss would’ve drained me accidently if Jonas hadn’t shown up threatening to blow Boss’s head off.

Jonas’s chest heaved as he inhaled a deep breath. “He’s a good person, but the vampire sometimes takes control.”

A feeling I related to when the hunger for blood consumed me. Only one thought persisted and that was to end the pain.

He rested his hand over mine again. “Don’t worry, everything will work out.”

We sat silently for a moment, both of us facing the patio window. A biplane flew in the clear blue sky. White contrails remained behind from jet aircraft long gone.

“Are you hung–”

A buzzing noise cut Jonas’s words short. Our gazes shot to the jacket on the sofa where the sound originated.

“My phone,” he said, jolting from his chair. The hum similar to a swarm of bees continued.

I followed him to the sofa. “Does Boss know you checked out of the hospital?”

“Yeah, I sent him a text.” Jonas dug into the coat pocket and withdrew his cell phone. “But I have no way of knowing if he got it.”

He held up the phone and tapped the screen. A message appeared from Boss. Guess he’d received Jonas’s text.

Come to the warlock clan leader’s house at 5512 Gemstone Way. Bring Shelley.

“Well, this is interesting,” Jonas said, staring at the phone.

I rubbed my temple as confusion sparked a headache. Why would Boss be at the warlock clan leader’s house? Why did he want me to go? I had to leave for work in an hour and a half.

Jonas looked into my eyes. “Ready?”

Chapter 15

Jonas exited from the interstate, following the GPS directions on his phone. Dark clouds had rolled in and shadowed the city. I sat in the passenger seat with the window half down. Wind blew in, tossing my hair in front of my eyes. The breeze felt cool and carried the scent of rain. I hoped the approaching storm would hold off until later.

“So, Galluzzi met Billy in college?” Jonas asked as he stopped the vehicle at the red light.

For the last twenty minutes, I updated Jonas on my conversation with Jackson and Tom. He asked a few questions, which I answered, then when I informed him about the potential relationship between Billy and Galluzzi, he gripped the wheel tighter and said a few curse words.

“Tom has a picture of them together at a rally. He’s going to have someone look for more information, but so far, it looks like they met at IU.” I tucked the flying strands of hair behind my ear.

Jonas rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not surprised the demon would stay connected to Galluzzi, even though she’s only a half-breed. He’s low life scum and needs high-ranking connections.”

“And she’s a politician needing someone to do her dirty work.”

“The perfect couple.”

“I do believe they are lovers, based on the few words Billy’s spoken to me.” During my struggle with Billy, he’d said he wasn’t interested in money or power. When I asked if his effort was for Galluzzi, he gave a response indicating his irritation with the fact I’d made her withdraw from the presidential campaign. The two weren’t concrete evidence, but enough to fuel my suspicion.

Thinking about the struggle again, he’d also said he would refuse a job from my father. Who was my father and what kind of position did he have? Moreover, how did Billy obtain my father’s watch?

“I think they might be connected to my father too.”

Jonas glanced at me before flipping on his turn signal and steering the car into the next lane. “Why do you suspect they are linked to your father?”

“Billy has the watch. Galluzzi knew I sold the watch. And when we were fighting at the house, he told me would prefer to kill me instead of taking a job with my father,” I said, using my fingers to point out each detail.

“He actually said that?” Jonas asked, his brows arched.

“Yep.”

“Damn.”

“What?”

“He must really hate you to want you dead.”

“I thought the same thing. “

Something else bothered me too. When I met Galluzzi my first day on the job, she threatened to call my father. I retorted with a threat of telling my father the truth about the dump. For some reason, my threat caused her to throw me out of her office.

“Galluzzi knows my father. I don’t know how, but she does.”

Jonas took his eyes from the road. “How do you know?”

“On my first day at work, she mentioned him. When we weren’t getting along, I threatened to tell him about the incident at the dump. Her anger flared.”

“We need to figure out who your father is.” Jonas switched on his turn signal and slowed the vehicle.

While curiosity drove me to discover the identity of my father, I suspected I wouldn’t like the truth. After all, he was a powerful demon. “Finding him has benefits and drawbacks.”

Jonas steered the car into a subdivision. A variety of single and multileveled homes lined both sides of the street.

“What?” His eyes tightened. “He won’t hurt you. Family is family to any breed.”

“Okay, but I’m sure he’ll be royally pissed about his watch.”

“Maybe.”

Jonas slowed the car as he drove on the side of the road. We were in the 5400 block of Gemstone Way, according to the numbers on the mailboxes we passed. Many yards had overgrown grass and a large tree standing in the center. The small ranch homes all looked similar with the difference being in the color of the vinyl and trim. Several houses appeared in bad need of repairs.

“I’m a little surprised a warlock lives in a home like this.”

Jonas half snorted and chuckled. “You would be surprised at some of the homes I’ve been in for clan leaders.”

“Really?” Surprise elevated my voice. “I would’ve thought all leaders had fancy homes with guards.”

After Jonas parked the car on the side of the street behind Boss’s SUV, he turned to face me. “A warlock doesn’t need guards.”

Oh. Good point.

I hid my purse under the seat, stepped out of the car, then waited on the sidewalk for Jonas. The wind picked up, throwing my hair over my eyes. Fortunately, my skirt fit just right around me and didn’t move, but a draft managed to squeeze in through the v-neck opening of my shirt, and the darn thing fluttered. As I looked up at the dark clouds and in the direction of the wind, my hair fell back into place. Pink and white flashes of lightning brightened the sky for mere seconds.