Peace (13 page)

Snorting, Lam shook his head and said, “Day has no interest in that. He’s lazy and self-centered. Do you know how much work taking over the world would be?”

A noise coming from down the corridor silenced them. Lam saw Seth motion for him to move back away from the door. He scurried to the corner of the cell then crouched, ducking his head to make it look as though he were scared. It was better to make them think he was afraid of them instead of challenging his guards. Anger swelled in his chest. Why the hell did they take me? Why couldn’t they leave us alone? We weren’t hurting anyone.

He knew he should be worried, but to be honest, he wasn’t. There wasn’t anything the Quad could do to him and Day was coming. It would only be a matter of time before Day got there. He just had to hold out.

When his door opened, he glanced up. His eyes widened at the sight of Uriel standing there. “What are you doing here? Come to gloat about grabbing me and torturing Day?”

Uriel stepped closer. “We aren’t going to torture Daystar. We brought you here to ensure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“Stupid? What exactly do you think he’d do? And you’re using me as leverage against him?” Lam pushed to his feet, glaring at the archangel.

“It wasn’t my idea. I told the others he wouldn’t do anything once he found you.” Uriel raised his hand to keep Lam from saying anything. “I know I told him not to look for you, but I also knew he wouldn’t listen to me. It’s strange how attached he is to you. I never thought Daystar would pay attention to anyone besides himself.”

Lam shook his head. “I’m not interested in talking about our relationship. It’s none of your business. Besides, Day wants nothing more to do with you or the heavenly realm. He resigned himself a long time ago to the fact he’d never return here.”

Uriel lifted his shoulder and said, “I already told you I figured he wouldn’t do anything. It wasn’t my decision to take you.”

“Then let me go before all hell breaks loose. And you know it will. Day isn’t going to take you kidnapping me lying down. He’s coming, Uriel, and he’ll burn this whole place down to find me.” Lam held out his hands then wiggled them to make the chains clink.

“I can’t do that, Lam.”

“You won’t do it.” Lam turned his back on Uriel. “I don’t even know why you came here. Are you here to tell me all the things you’ll do to me if Day threatens you? What exactly do you want?”

“I thought you might be willing to send Daystar a message. Tell him you left because you can’t do it anymore. You don’t love him.” Uriel grunted. “Maybe he’ll wash his hands of the whole thing and not do anything stupid.”

Lam chuckled. “You’re an idiot, Uriel. He’d never believe I meant it. I’m sure he would figure out I wrote it under duress. Day knows I would never turn my back on him or what we have. I gave up my wings and heaven for him. I told you that before.”

Sighing, Uriel agreed. “You’re right, but one can always hope it won’t come down to a war.”

“If you hoped for that, why the hell did you take him?” Seth shouted from his cell. “Even I know it was the dumbest thing you’ve done. At least since you banished Daystar in the first place.”

“Shut up,” Uriel yelled back before looking at Lam. “I’m leaving. If you change your mind, you just need to say my name and I’ll return.”

“No way in hell is that going to happen,” Lam muttered, not watching as Uriel disappeared.

Once they were alone again, Seth winked at him. “You’re going to take me with you when Daystar comes to bust you out, right?”

Lam peered over at the man. “I’ll let him know that you’re Paisley’s brother and can answer all the questions he has about her. I will tell you that he suspects she’s more than just a personal assistant. It’s been bothering him since she left for her vacation.” He paused then continued, “Do you take vacations?”

Seth wrinkled his nose and shook his head. “Not really, but we can disappear. No one is supposed to see us. I’m sure she’s hanging around him.”

“If she was, why didn’t she stop them from taking me?” Lam snarled. The idea that Paisley had stood by and let the Quad steal him away from Day angered him.

“We can’t do anything, Lam. All we can do is watch and record what’s happening. We have powers, but mostly to keep from being seen by the mortals and angels we track. I know Paisley, and I’m sure she was horrified by what happened. If she could’ve done something, she would’ve.”

As much as Lam would love to remain angry at Paisley for not stopping his kidnapping, he knew it wasn’t her fault. In fact, all of this wasn’t even her problem. No. It was his and he was going to have to figure out what to do about it. He wasn’t going to wait around for Day to rescue him. Lam was more than capable of getting free, even though he didn’t know exactly where he was.

“Seth, I need you to tell me all you know about this place. Are there guards? What kind of schedule do they have? Do they feed you?”

“Yeah, they do because they think I’m mortal. They don’t know I’m a Watcher. Not waiting to be rescued, huh?” Seth joked.

Lam pursed his lips then tilted his head to study Seth. “I’m not a damsel in distress. Admittedly, it’d be easier if I wait and have Day blast his way in here, but I can’t do that. Being mortal will make all of this harder. I’ll have to be careful not to get hurt.”

“Yes, it will,” Seth agreed. “I’ll tell you what I can, but as far as I know, you’re the first mortal they’ve held here. Mostly it’s been just Watchers and angels.”

“Tell me what you know about this place.”

Seth started to talk, and Lam made mental notes.

* * * *

“Where the fuck is he?” Day stalked from the study to where the four former Horsemen stood in the front room of his house. “How the fuck did he just disappear again?”

Gatian raised his eyebrows at Day’s demanding tone. “I have no idea where Lam went. If I did, I would tell you. I don’t want to deal with you any longer than I must. Hell, I don’t even want to be here.”

As much as Day wanted to grab Gatian by the throat and shake him, he took a deep breath, controlling his anger. There wasn’t any reason to be mad at Gatian and the others. They had nothing to do with Lam being taken—in fact, he’d been sort of surprised when the four had requested to be brought to Michigan to help find Lam. But ever since he’d returned from his business trip to find Lam gone, his emotions had been on a rollercoaster.

“To be honest, I would’ve thought you gentlemen would have washed your hands of Lam. I’m thrilled that you want to help me, but I think it would be best if you don’t.” Day gestured vaguely. “Being mortal changes things.”

Baqir propped his ass on the windowsill and crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes, we can die if we’re injured. Tell us again what you found when you came home.”

“I was only gone two hours at the most. I got home and looked for Lam. The house was empty, so I thought maybe he was down by the lake. He wasn’t there either, but I found a broken coffee mug. I know that the Quad took him.”

“How do you know that?” Kibwe asked. “I’m just playing the devil’s advocate here. Why couldn’t someone else have kidnapped Lam?”

“Because no one else has anything to gain by taking him.” He ran his hands through his hair.

“He’s right. Only the archangels have anything to gain—or lose—by taking him.” Baqir studied the floor as though it had all the answers. “We need to be careful, though.”

Day agreed. “Yes, we do. The Quad isn’t a group to be messed with. They’ve gone to great lengths to ensure I’ve been branded as a traitor. By helping us, you could get into trouble. I know Lam wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you or your husbands.”

“He wouldn’t. Lam’s a good guy. Hell, he cares about us, though I’m not sure why.” Kibwe shrugged. “Not that it matters. We’re here and we’ll do whatever you want—or need—to get him back. I don’t trust the Quad. Why take him now when they could’ve just kept him? They didn’t need to banish him, then steal him back.”

Day shoved his hand through his hair and growled. “They took him because of me. I believe they think he’s leverage against me, keeping me from coming after them.”

Aldo grunted and Day shot him a glance. “It was an idiotic move.”

“Why?” He drifted over to one of the French doors then out onto the veranda overlooking the beach.

The others came with him and took seats at the wrought iron table he’d had placed out there. He continued to the railing, bracing his hands on the edge.

“They have to know you’ll do whatever it takes to get Lam back. There isn’t any one in the heavenly realm that can take you on, though maybe if they combined their powers, they might have a chance. Why risk it? Do they want to lose everything?” Gatian sounded amused.

Day whirled around. “You find this funny?”

“Stop glaring daggers at me,” Gatian told him. “I find the whole situation amusing. They’re so freaked out by you, they painted themselves into a corner by taking Lam captive. I’m sure the Judge won’t be happy about this.”

“I doubt the Judge knows anything about this. It has nothing to do with him. He only deals with judgments on souls—or angels. He wouldn’t step into this.” Day stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared down at his feet. “I will make it his business once I get Lam back.”

Baqir motioned to all of them. “We’re here to help you, Daystar. Whatever you need, we’ll do. Our husbands are together at Gatian’s estate in France along with the children. They’ll protect each other until we get back. Russ knows how to fight and I’m sure the others will do everything to stay safe.”

Taking a deep breath, Day met each of their gazes then nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate it and I know Lam will thank you when we get him back. Right now, I have to figure out where they’re holding him.”

“I might be able to help with that.”

Day straightened when he heard Paisley speak from the doors. She smiled at him as she strolled over to where he stood. He stayed still while she pushed up on her toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. Paisley stepped back then turned to look at the others.

“Wow. I never thought I’d get to see former Horsemen. Heck, I never thought that you could become mortal again. Who knew that a little forgiveness and love could change lives?” she asked.

“You are?” Kibwe leaned back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head while he studied her.

“This is Paisley. She’s my personal assistant and was supposed to be on vacation with her husband.” Day looked at her. “Are you really married? Who the hell are you? How do you know where Lam is? Were you around when they took him?” He gripped her shoulder then yanked her around to face him.

Sorrow welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Lucifer. I’m not allowed to interfere in what goes on in this realm—or the heavenly realm either. I can only watch and record what happens. If I could have, I would’ve stopped them. I don’t have the power or the authority to do that.”

Day clenched his hands, resisting the urge to shake her hard enough that her teeth fell out. “What the hell are you talking about? You don’t have the power, the authority? I don’t understand any of this.”

“I’m a Watcher. We’ve been around since the beginning of life. Always in the background. Always watching. No one knows about us. We follow angels and mortals, recording what they do.” Paisley gestured toward the Horsemen. “There are those who watch the Horsemen as well.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Gatian rolled his eyes. “But who do you report to? Are we that much of a risk that someone would need to keep tabs on us?”

Paisley bit her bottom lip while she seemed to be thinking then she said, “It’s not that the Horsemen are a risk. We’re intrigued by the situations you all get into—good and bad. Balance is important to all the realms. Horsemen help keep that balance, but there are times when things tip one way or the other. We mark the small actions that cause the bigger reactions.”

Aldo cleared his throat. “Do you work for the Judge?”

“You know about him?” Paisley looked shocked.

“Lam told us. He explained how mortals created the whole Christian theory of God and heaven to help make sense of the universe. God was built in the Judge’s image,” Baqir informed her.

“He shouldn’t have done that. You knowing upsets the balance.” She wrung her hands.

Day took a hold of her arm. “Paisley, don’t worry about that. Tell me where Lam is. That’s all I’m interested in. Though after I’m done saving him, you and I are going to sit down and chat about what exactly you do.”

Paisley froze. “Okay. The problem we have with where they’re holding Lam is getting there. Once we’re there, how do we break him out?”

“Don’t worry about that. You tell me where to find him and I’ll get him out of there.” Day inhaled as he tried to organize his thoughts.

Gatian stared. “What the hell are you talking about? Aren’t you going to storm the Quad’s offices and demand they hand over Lam? You have the power to do it. Why not use it?”

“Because that’s what they want me to do. They want me to confront them so they can show everyone that I really am power-hungry and crazy.” Day grunted when Baqir came over and punched him in the chest. “What the fuck was that for?”

“You’re an idiot. Who the hell cares what they think of you? All that matters is Lam and getting him back unharmed.” Baqir punched him again. “The Judge didn’t care what they’d done leading up to this. Why should he care now? Is that your plan? To take them before the Judge and have him pass judgment on them?”

Ducking his head, Day fought the need to scuff his shoe against the stones of the veranda.
Why do I feel like a toddler being yelled at by my father? I’m far older than any of these people. Well, except for Paisley, probably. I’ve been told I’m the most powerful creature on Earth. I can fucking do what I want.

He moved toward the house while motioning at the others. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

“Where are you going?” Paisley followed him.

“Where I’m going isn’t important.” He shot her a quick glance.

She started to say something else, but Day had had enough. He strolled through the study to the foyer.

“Like I said, I’ll be back in an hour then you’ll tell us where to find Lam. No more lies, Paisley. No more hiding. Not from me.” He held out his hand and Paisley took it. “We’ve been friends for a long time and while I’m not happy you lied to me, I’ll deal with it. Lam is the most important thing for us to worry about right now.”