Nikolas (21 page)

“That makes sense if Alistair is behind this. We had the pleasure of running into Theron in Greece.” Gregor grinned as he glanced at his mate. “You should have seen the look on his face when Tessa stabbed him with a hypodermic needle. It was priceless.”

“It was great. Only he thought I was Isabelle. I’m telling you, Jonas’ disguises are brilliant,” Tessa added.

Nik smiled when he remembered Beatrice. “I’ve seen them first hand. I’m praying Sophia is wearing one now. When we get her out of that prison, she’ll be able to ditch the Clara disguise, and the media will be none the wiser.”

“I could always ask Jonas to recreate the disguise,” Tessa said aloud, more as a thought to herself.

“What are you thinking, Red? I know that look, and I’m not going to like it, am I?” Gregor frowned at his mate.

“Doubling as Isabelle worked. It could work with Clara, too.”

“We had the element of surprise on our hands, not to mention you had a team of Gargoyles backing you up. I don’t think we can all get thrown into prison at the same time. I know you want to help your cousin, but we’ll figure something out.” Gregor pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.

Nik was happy for his cousin. The Gargoyles had gone too long before finding their mates. Seeing the two of them together had Nik even more anxious to find a way of getting Sophia out of prison so they could begin their life together.

The intercom at the gate buzzed. “That should be Xenia,” Zeke told them.

Nik hit the button and said, “Hello?”

“This is Xenia Carmichael. Ezekiel asked me to come over.” Nik motioned Zeke over to look at the screen. When he nodded, Nik opened the gate.

A few minutes later the doorbell rang. Since she was Zeke’s sister, Nik asked him to see her in. A strange man’s voice was added to Zeke’s and Xenia’s. When they came into the living area, Zeke introduced them. “This is Xenia and her mate, Keene. This is Nikolas, his cousin Gregor, and our cousin Tessa.”

After the men had shaken hands, Xenia spoke to the group. “I hope it’s okay that I brought Keene. I believe he might be able to help us with Sophia.”

“Yeah, how?” Nik asked.

“My father does a lot of business in Cairo. He has influential acquaintances who would hate to lose him in their circles.”

“Who exactly is your father?” Zeke asked.

“Brock Tyson.” Keene answered honestly.

“The arms dealer?”

“Before you get your knickers in a wad, I have nothing to do with him or his nefarious way of life. We aren’t estranged, but he understands I don’t agree with his lifestyle.”

“Then what makes you think he’d help?” Tessa asked.

“Because, I am my mother’s favorite child. Actually, I’m her only child, but if I ask her to intervene on my behalf, she will see that it’s done.”

Xenia stepped closer to her mate and slid her hand around his bicep. He smiled down at her lovingly. She smiled back and said, “It took him a while, but Keene is on board with the whole shifter mating.
We have made the bond official, so technically, he’s family. We’re here to help any way we can.”

Nik clapped his hands together. “This is the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Thank you, Keene.” Inside, his shifter pushed his way to the front of Nik’s mind and said,
Keep Sophia strong a little longer. We are coming for you.

Angry voices woke Sophia. According to the amount of light in the hall, it was day time. It couldn’t be too early, if it was no longer dark. She sat up on her cot and turned so she could lean against the wall. She bent her knees and pulled her feet up onto the bed. Sophia wrapped her arms around her legs and listened. The voices were getting louder and closer. Two guards approached her cell. Instead of bringing her tray, the cell door was unlocked and slid open. “Get up,” one of the men seethed.

Sophia had no idea what was going on, but by the unhappy look on his face, it couldn’t bode well for her. She placed her sock-covered feet on the dirty floor and stood. Her body was still weak, but the dizziness didn’t have time to take hold. The guard grabbed her arm and began dragging her behind him. Instead of going out through the main area where the other prisoners were housed, she was led through a series of hallways that had no doors. She wanted to ask where they were taking her, but she had found it best to keep quiet. The guard stopped and said to the other man, “Now.” Before she could ask
now what
, a black bag was placed over her head, shrouding her world in darkness once again.

Her mind associated the lack of light with the small hole she’d been placed in. Her body protested, and Sophia began lashing out at the guards. “Fuck, grab her arms. Miss Fort, I suggest you behave. If you want to get out of this prison, you’ll stop fighting us.”

Sophia stopped swinging. Surely they were messing with her. Why put a sack over her head if they were releasing her? The guard grabbed her arm, and, once again, they were walking. She did her best not to stumble considering she couldn’t see where she was going. The jangle of keys sounded, and a door was opened. The bright sunshine bore down on Sophia’s arms. Had they not placed the black hood over her head, she would have been blinded.

“I’ll take her from here,” a deep voice said. A gentle hand held Sophia’s, and she was led away from the building. Sharp gravel bit into her feet. “Not much farther now, Miss Brooks. Here we are. I’m going to place your hand on the car door. Can you get inside the vehicle or do you need assistance?”

Sophia reached out with her other hand and touched the door frame. She reached inside and came in contact with a leather seat. Tentatively, she eased her way into the vehicle. The door was closed beside her. Why was she getting into a car with a stranger? He could be taking her to her death. Or, he could be telling the truth. The door on the other side opened then closed. “Who are you?” she asked when the car began moving.

“I’m Brock Tyson. I believe you know my son, Keene. You can take the hood off now. The windows are tinted, so the bright sunshine shouldn’t hurt your eyes too bad.”

Sophia pulled the cloth from her head. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the light, but he was right. She turned to see who had rescued her from prison. The man was older, but he did resemble her aunt’s mate. “How did you get me out? Where are you taking me? Where’s Nik?”

The man reached over and grabbed her hand gently. “Shh, slow down. I am taking you to Keene. He will take you wherever it is you need to be. I don’t know where your Nik is. Don’t want to know.” He patted her hand then placed it back in her lap. “Relax.”

Easy for him to say. Sophia had no idea if he was telling the truth. She had no idea of a lot of things, like how long she had been away, or if she was about to meet her death.

He’s telling the truth. You will be with Nikolas soon.

And there was another thing she had no idea about. Should she feel relieved that her shifter half was comforting her? Or was it a sign she’d lost her mind? Either way, she prayed it was also telling her the truth.

The car slowed and turned into an abandoned parking lot. Brock told her, “Stay here until I come get you.” He got out of the car and walked over to where Keene was waiting, leaned against an SUV. She reached out with her shifter hearing to eavesdrop.

“Hello, Son.”

“Father, you’re looking well.”

“Because your mother won’t let me eat the good shit. She misses you.”

“I had to promise to bring Xenia over for supper.”

“Don’t forget the promise you made to me.”

“I won’t. Just don’t wait too long. I want to get it over with.”

“I’ll call you when I need you. Now, let’s go get the girl.”

“How is Sophia?” Keene asked as they headed toward the car.

His father shrugged. “About as well as a woman can be after what she’s endured.” He opened the door and held out his hand to her. “Let’s get you out of here.” Sophia placed her hand in his and stepped out of the car.

When they approached Keene, he said, “Hello, Sophia. We really need to stop meeting under such troublesome circumstances. Come on. I’ll take you to Nikolas.” They made their way to his SUV, and he opened the door for her. She climbed into the passenger seat and buckled up. Before he closed the door, Keene asked, “Are you all right?”

“As well as can be expected, I suppose.” She wasn’t okay, not by a long shot, but she wouldn’t tell him that. When he was in the driver’s seat she asked, “How long ‘til we get to Nik?”

“About thirty minutes. Are you cold, hot?”

“I’m fine,” she responded and turned to look out the window. She really didn’t feel like talking.

“Okay, let’s get rolling then.”

Nik was pacing the area between the living room and the kitchen. His Goyle was uncharacteristically calm. Keene did as he said he would and contacted his mother. Once she told his father what was going on, the man was more than happy to assist his son. Even though he kept a lot of the details to himself, Keene explained Sophia was the cousin of his fiancé. All he had to promise his mother was he would bring Xenia for a visit. His father called him once he had made the arrangements. The warden would only release Sophia to Keene’s father, no one else. Brock would pick up Sophia and then he would take her to Keene at a prearranged location. Keene was to come alone. At first Nik refused to stay at the villa, but Keene finally convinced him it was the only way his father would comply.

Nik should be ecstatic. Not only was he getting Sophia back, but Julian was on his way to Egypt as of that afternoon. Instead, he was nervous. Scared at what condition Sophia would be in. The others were doing a good job of giving him space while they looked at the photos of Sam and Monica. Tessa turned the volume up on the television, “Listen to this.”

A breaking news story was flashing on the screen. “An inside source has confirmed that Clara Fort, the American woman being held for the murder of transit guard Asaad Halim, has been released. Miss Fort was found inside Ta-Set-Neferu alongside Halim’s body. No word on why she is being released or if they have found the actual killer. We will update you when we know more.”

“Clara Fort, really?” Tessa said as she shook her head.

Nik frowned at his cousin’s mate. “What are you talking about?”

“Rearrange the letters. Clara Fort is Lara Croft. At least she chose someone fun.”

“Yeah, well, I doubt she’s had too much fun being locked up in a foreign prison for weeks,” Nik responded. He knew from his shifter that Sophia was weak. “I can’t imagine what she’s been through.”

“Sorry, you’re right. But she’s a half-blood now. That means she’s tough. And she has you to come back to. Who wouldn’t fight for that?” Tessa smiled until Gregor growled. “Oh, stop it, Stone. You know you’re the only big, bad Gargoyle for me.” She slid her arms up his chest and pulled his head down for a scorching kiss.

Nik felt like a voyeur watching them, but it was really hot, even if Gregor was his cousin. The intercom at the gate buzzed breaking up the visual party. “Oh gods, she’s here.” He hit the control that opened the gate and ran out the front door. The SUV pulled into the circular drive in front of the villa, and Nik slung open the door before the vehicle came to a complete stop. He started to pull his mate from the car, but noticed she had no shoes. “Where are your shoes, Baby?”

“They took ‘em,” she said, nonchalantly.

Nik started to scoop her up in his arms, but upon seeing a splotch of blood on Sophia’s pants, he stopped. “You’re hurt.”

“No, I’m weak, but I’m not hurt,” Sophia told him.

“But you’re bleeding.” His beast could smell the blood on his mate.

“Help me out of the car, or get out of the way, Nikolas Stone.”

“Sophia, your pants…” Nik backed up so she could get out of the car, but he grabbed onto her arms in case she needed his assistance.

“Oh, that.” She was unconcerned about having blood on her clothing. “I do that every month.”

“What? Oh. That.” Nik pulled his shirt off and wrapped it around her waist, tying the sleeves together so the others wouldn’t see the blood and think the same thing. “Sophia, gods, I’m so sorry. I should have never let you go back to the hotel without me. Please forgive me.” She had yet to look at him, and it was breaking his heart.

“No, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have wandered off alone in the tombs.” Sophia started toward the villa then paused when she saw all the people on the wraparound porch. “Wow, a welcoming committee. You shouldn’t have,” she joked.

“You had a lot of people worried.” Nik kissed her on the hair, but she pulled back.

“I’m really gross, and I need to get out of this disguise.”

“You’re not gross. Okay, maybe a little, but I don’t care. I’m just so thrilled to have you in my arms again. As for the disguise, yes, I’m ready to see your beautiful face.”

Tessa met them at the bottom of the steps. “Welcome back, Lara Croft. You sure did pick one hell of an adventure for your first one,” she said before she hugged her cousin. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks. I see you finally came to your senses about Gregor.”