A Touch of Crimson (27 page)
He gave a short nod. “I want a fresh start, in a new place, with a new job that keeps me busy at night. If you hire me, I promise you won’t be sorry.”
Lindsay sucked in a deep breath, feeling sympathy for Kent Magus, regardless of whatever kind of being he was. She knew how hard the nights were when dealing with the loss of a loved one. It was easy to stay busy during the day, but nighttime was when one closed ranks with family and settled into private routines—dinner, favorite television shows, before-bed rituals. His confidence and quiet dignity were two traits she very much admired, and his earnestness suggested that he gave a hundred percent to everything he set his mind to. She also acknowledged the possibility that she liked him
because
he was something “other” yet had loved and lost and grieved, just like she did. Just like Adrian did. Her angel had shown her that not every preternatural creature was bad.
because
he was something “other” yet had loved and lost and grieved, just like she did. Just like Adrian did. Her angel had shown her that not every preternatural creature was bad.
“How soon can you start?” she asked.
Kent’s smile returned. “Whenever you say. I’m ready when you are, Ms. Gibson.”
“Call me Lindsay.”
The minute Lindsay spotted Elijah waiting for her in the Belladonna’s expansive lobby, she knew something was wrong. It was visible in the set of his shoulders and the grim line of his mouth. And he was pacing—prowling, actually, like an agitated panther. Scratch that—like a wolf.
Her heart sank into her stomach. “What’s the matter? Is it Adrian?”
He shook his head, his hands going to his hips. A low growl rumbled up from his chest. “Remember that friend I told you about? The one I wanted to have reassigned to partner with me?”
“Yes.”
“He went on a hunt in Louisiana right before we left for Utah. I just found out he was missing until this afternoon.”
“Is he okay?” Lindsay crossed her arms tightly, knowing Adrian was taking hits left and right, and suffering for them.
“He’s half dead, I’m told. And he’s asking for me.” His verdant gaze was sharp as he looked at her. “I need you to stay put. Don’t leave the hotel until I get back or someone else comes to watch you.”
“I want to go with you, El. I don’t want you going alone, and I know you don’t want to leave me here. If you do, you’ll be worried about me and your friend at the same time.”
“I didn’t want to ask you,” he said gruffly. “Micah’s at Angels’ Point.”
Her breathing quickened as she remembered the morning Adrian had taken her flying over the hills around his home. Her body responded to the memories as if she was experiencing them all over again. The wind had been happy that day, whistling with a joy she so rarely felt in it. Or maybe the joy had been hers.
Abruptly, the fragrance of the massive floral arrangements decorating the lobby became cloying. The soaring ceiling seemed to close in on her. Everything about the hotel felt entrapping. She didn’t fit in here. As much as she was trying and giving it her best shot, she was still—and would always be—a misfit in the “normal” world.
“It’s okay,” she assured him, as much for herself as for him. “If you need another reason to take me, I’ll remind you that I need to get my suitcase anyway. It’s a good time for me to get that done.”
Elijah nodded. “Do you want to change or need to grab anything?”
“Yes to both.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were climbing into her powder blue Prius hybrid, which had been delivered by the car transport service just the day before. Elijah sucked up all the space in the vehicle, even with the passenger seat shoved back as far as it could go. She felt bad about cramping him, but she liked her car. She’d told Adrian she had no aspirations of saving the world, but she did try to not pollute it or drain its natural resources.
They hit the road. Elijah was a great side-seat driver, telling her where to turn in time for her to maneuver across lanes.
“You’re twitchy,” he noted when she rubbed her damp palm against her jeans—again.
“I’m worried about all the bad stuff that’s been happening since I met you and Adrian. It’s a lot more than usual, isn’t it?”
“We’re always busy, but it’s definitely getting more intense.”
“God.” She exhaled in a rush. “I’m sick over Adrian. He’s lost too many of his friends lately and he’s not getting a chance to grieve properly with everything falling apart at once.”
“Mortals don’t mate so quickly.”
She shot him an arch glance. “Not sure where that came from, but I have to disagree. Haven’t you ever heard of a one-night stand? Some mortals mate within minutes of meeting each other.”
“Not mate as in fuck,” he corrected drily. “Mate as in take a bullet.”
“I’d take a bullet for you. And while you’re very hot, I don’t want to mate with you.”
“You’re nuts, you know that?”
She shrugged. “And you’re my friend. So what does that make you?”
He stared at her profile for a long time, then finally turned his head to look out the passenger window.
As they climbed the hill toward Angels’ Point, Lindsay’s cell phone rang. She pulled it out of the cup holder where she’d dropped it and answered, fumbling to hit the SPEAKER button. “Dad. How the heck are ya?”
“Missing you. How are you?”
“I’m hanging in there. Hiring staff for the grand opening and trying to stay out of trouble.”
“How’s Adrian?”
Recalling the weariness she’d heard in Adrian’s voice, she sighed and said, “He’s having a rough time.”
“But you’re still sticking with him. That’s hopeful. It must be serious between you two.”
Glancing at Elijah, Lindsay spoke the truth because she knew both men had her best interests at heart. “Actually, I kinda put on the brakes.”
“Why?” Unlike Adrian, Eddie Gibson revealed every emotion in his voice. The undertone of disappointment was unmistakable.
“We’re . . . incompatible.”
“Did he say that?” Now he sounded pissed.
“No,” she said hastily. “He wants to go for it. I just see the trouble ahead, and it’s best to cool things off now, before we’re invested.”
“You’re already invested, baby,” he argued. “Or you wouldn’t be worried about trouble ahead.”
Her lips pursed.
“Hmm . . .”
“Hmm . . .”
“You’ve been keeping guys at arm’s length your whole life. I was happy about that when you were younger, and later on I figured if your dates were worth anything, it wouldn’t be so easy to cut them off. But shutting Adrian out isn’t easy, is it?”
“Dad, can you please not psychoanalyze me? Or at least save it until you’ve tried dating again.”
“That’s why I called. I’m taking someone out to dinner tonight.”
Lindsay’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. For a moment, she couldn’t decide what she was feeling. It wasn’t all good. She was surprised and scared, dismayed and hurt, happy and excited.
“Lindsay?”
“Yeah, Dad.” Her voice was too husky. She cleared her throat. “Who’s the lucky lady?”
“A new customer who came in today. She asked me out after I changed her oil.”
“I like her already. She’s obviously smart and has great taste in men.”
He laughed. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“Totally,” she fibbed. “I’d be mad if you didn’t go. You better have a good time, too. And wear the shirt and slacks I got you for your birthday.”
“Okay, okay. Got it: Go. Have fun. And don’t dress like a bum. But you have to do something for me, too—give Adrian a shot. A real one.”
She groaned. “You don’t understand.”
“Listen,” her dad said in his no-nonsense voice. “Adrian Mitchell is a big boy. He can take care of himself. If he doesn’t see a problem, don’t make one. You deserve to be happy, Linds, and no relationship is risk-free. I’m dipping my toes in the dating waters again. But you—you’ve never jumped in at all. I think it’s time you took the plunge.”
“I love you, Daddy, but the metaphors are killing me.”
“Ha! I love you, too, baby. Be good.”
“I’ll want a rundown tomorrow,” she warned.
“As if I kiss and tell. Talk to you later.”
Hitting the END button, she looked at Elijah, who met her gaze. Her dad was finally putting himself out there. She thought she’d be happy about that. She was—mostly. But there was a part of her—an admittedly childish part of her—that felt as if her dad was leaving her mom behind. Which was something Lindsay still couldn’t do.
“You’re close to your sire,” Elijah noted.
“We’re all the other one has, if that makes sense.”
Nodding, he said, “Explains why Adrian has lycans guarding him.”
Her foot lifted from the gas pedal. “
What?
Why?”
What?
Why?”
“Adrian assigned lycans to watch your father. I didn’t know why. Now I do. He’s doing it for you, because your sire is important to you.”
“When did he set that up?”
“In Vegas.”
Lindsay pushed harder on the gas, thinking it would be better not to be behind the wheel at the moment. “Why would my dad need guards?”
“Anyone important to Adrian is at risk of being used against him.”
Getting to her dad would get to her, which would get to Adrian. “If something ever happened—”
“Don’t worry.” Elijah offered a reassuring smile. “Adrian asked me to pick the team, and I suggested the best of the pack. They’ll keep him safe.”
She might have kissed him, if she hadn’t been driving. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. You should thank Adrian, too.”
“Yes,” she said softly, her heart softening further. Adrian’s fall wasn’t the immediate concern; it was her own fall that was imminent. “I should. I will. Shit, everything’s a mess.”
“Yep.”
Which reminded her why they were driving to the Point to begin with. “Do you know what happened to your friend? Why he was missing?”
“He was ambushed and left for dead. It took him a couple days to make it to the highway, where he was found.”
“Jesus,” she breathed. “Was it vamps?”
Elijah gave a curt nod and gestured for her to turn left up ahead.
“Fuckers. I want to kill them all.” Even as Lindsay said the words, the depth of hatred in them surprised her. Her life had changed so much in the last couple of weeks. Vampires were now hurting her friends, and they were responsible for making it impossible for her to have Adrian. She couldn’t think of one good reason for them to exist. They were like fleas or mosquitoes—disgusting, worthless, bloodsucking parasites that were better off extinct.
She pulled up to the wrought-iron gate and gatehouse that protected the Point. The guard took one look at Elijah and let them in. It was midafternoon. The sun was still high in the sky, affording her the opportunity to check out all she’d missed the first time she’d driven through the elegant gate. The wolves stayed on the other side of a rise in the road, keeping themselves hidden from public view. When she crested the top, she saw them dotting the native landscape. So many of them. So majestic and imminently dangerous.
Pulling around the circular driveway, she parked. She tried to expel some of her tension with a swift, audible exhalation.
Elijah was out of the car in a controlled yet powerful rush of movement, opening her door before she had released her seatbelt. He waited until she climbed out, then pointed to a large hangarlike building set atop a hill about a half mile away. “I’ll be there. You can come up when you’re done grabbing your things, or wait for me here. If I’ll be more than an hour, I’ll send word.”
Lindsay caught his arm before he turned away.
He stared down at her hand, which she pulled back quickly. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to put my scent on you. I just—I’m sorry about your friend, Elijah.”
His gaze lifted to hers and his features softened. “I know you are. Thank you.”
“If you need anything, I’m here for you.” She offered a commiserating smile, then headed toward the double-door entrance. She’d just lifted her hand to knock when the door opened.
“Ms. Gibson.”
A tall, sinewy redhead filled the doorway. His hair was long, hanging past his shoulders, but there was nothing effeminate about him. He brought to mind a Viking warrior of old, grim faced and resolute.
Lindsay hesitated. “Hi. I just need to grab my stuff; then I’ll get out of your way.”
He stared at her for a moment, assessing her in a way that suggested he found her lacking. Then he gestured her in.
She knew he was an angel. All the Sentinels had the same flame blue eyes, although only Adrian’s ever gave off heat. The Sentinels were works of art, really. It was rather intimidating being surrounded by dozens of perfect, gorgeous beings.
Since the redhead declined to say anything further, Lindsay headed straight for the bedroom she’d used when she’d spent the night. Everything looked the way she had left it—the bed was made and her toiletries were neatly arranged on the bathroom counter. When she’d last walked out of the room, almost two weeks earlier, she had expected to be back that night. The loss of what she might have had if she could’ve joined Adrian’s world tightened her throat and made it hard to swallow.
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