The Guardians (MORE Trilogy) (10 page)

Sloan Bartok stood on a rooftop a safe distance away, watching as the red Mustang finally turned around and left the neighborhood. His pale red hair curled around his head, blowing wildly in the wind, and he shoved it distractedly out of his face, annoyed.
 

He’d never been one to question orders, mainly because he knew he wouldn’t be given any answers, but the night’s assignment had proven an exercise in frustration. First, he’d been sent to intercept the cop, only to be diverted to Allenmore to the girl’s dorm then back again to the cop’s suburban neighborhood, but simply to watch from afar. It seemed a ridiculous waste of time, not to mention a waste of his particular skill set.

He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a familiar number, breathing deeply to maintain his composure.

“Yes?” a voice answered.

“The girl was here, just as you said.”

The line was silent. Only Sloan’s slow breaths measured the long seconds until the voice replied quietly, “And?”

“She’s gone now. She spoke with the cop and then took off with Katherine Ross.”

“Katherine? Really?” the voice said. “That’s a bit surprising. I was unaware the two had become friendly.”

Sloan didn’t say anything. He’d learned that often it was simply best to wait for instructions.

“You know what to do. It should look like a crime of passion. Cover your tracks carefully. We don’t want any inconvenient questions.”

“Yes, sir.”

“A witness or two might be helpful, though. I assume you can handle that?”

Sloan almost rolled his eyes, a bit insulted by the question. “Already taken care of, sir.”

“Excellent. Thank you, Mr. Bartok. Your efficiency will be rewarded.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Inform me when the job is done,” he said. “Oh, and Mr. Bartok?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t forget the wife.”
 

The phone went dead, and Sloan slid it into his pocket as he rolled his shoulders to loosen his muscles. He checked his weapon, then thought better of it and holstered the Glock. He reached down and slid the hunting knife he kept under his pant leg out of its sheath. Even in the darkness, the blade flashed as it caught a glimmer of light from the moon, and Sloan smiled in satisfaction. He didn’t often use weapons—given his gift, he didn’t need to—but this particular assignment called for unorthodox methods.
 

He leapt from the rooftop and walked casually down the sidewalk toward the cop’s house, the knife gripped loosely in his fingers. He whistled and flipped it in the air, catching it first by the blade, then the handle. If things went according to plan, he’d be done before dawn. Maybe grab some breakfast before he went home. He could go for some pancakes.

Sloan stopped at the curb, looking up at the front porch for a moment as he flipped the knife again. Gripping the handle firmly, he went to work.

Chapter 5

Ava stared at the clock on the classroom wall, the tick-tick-tick keeping pace with the thudding of her heart. Her English professor rambled on about allegories in
The Faerie Queene
, but she couldn’t even track the conversation.
 

Caleb was gone. He’d disappeared without a word two days earlier, and she had no idea where he was. She’d finally broken down and asked Katherine, but she seemed genuinely surprised. She had tried to reassure Ava that sometimes Protectors were called out for emergency assignments at a moment’s notice.

“I’m sure he’ll contact you when he can,” she’d said, but her eyes had betrayed her own concern. Which had been enough to really worry Ava. She was relatively certain that Katherine had never been one who was easily concerned. At her continued prodding, Katherine had tried to contact Tiernan to see if he knew anything, but so far she’d been unable to reach him.

Ava sighed as the minute hand moved ever so slowly, finally settling on the eleven as the professor announced a quiz the following afternoon. She couldn’t even summon the energy to groan with the rest of the class but got up and left the room, her backpack bumping heavily against her hip.

She had no idea what to do. She knew Caleb was a big boy—more than able to protect himself—but her instincts continued to scream at her that something was wrong. Ava felt weak, powerless, left to flounder about helplessly, and she didn’t like the feeling one little bit.

She started toward the dorm then whirled around, deciding to go by Caleb’s apartment once more, just in case. She checked her phone, but didn’t call him again, having texted and left numerous voice mails already. She swore if he was okay, she was going to kick his—

Well, first she was going to hug him. And kiss him.
 

Since he’d been gone, she’d truly begun to understand what Caleb was talking about when he’d warned her of the so-called addiction. She felt tense and unsettled without him nearby, her power reaching out as if searching for him, needing his presence to fill a hole she hadn’t realized was forming. If Caleb was right and that feeling only intensified the closer that they got? Well, it was a little scary, to be honest.
 

So, yeah. First, she was going to touch him and relieve this ache inside her. But then she was definitely going to let him have it.
 

Ava hitched her backpack up higher on her shoulder and gasped as a familiar sensation tingled along her skin. The hair stood up on her forearms and the back of her neck, and she spun around, her heart racing wildly.

“Hi,” Caleb said, scratching at his neck nervously. “You’re losing your touch. I can’t believe you didn’t sense me sooner.”

Ava gaped at him. “Well, I’ve kind of had a lot on my mind. My boyfriend disappeared without a word two days ago. I’ve been a little worried.” She fought the urge to grab him and nuzzle into his neck, despite the fact that she could feel her gift reaching toward him—and his reaching back.

“Yeah. I’m sorry about that,” he said, brushing a finger down her arm. Her skin tingled where he’d touched her, even through her clothes. “Last-minute assignment and I was constantly on the move or I would have called.”

Ava nodded, feeling tears prick her eyes. She knew she should be strong about this. Caleb was only doing his job—trying to help people—and she knew she should be supportive. She was just feeling so . . . not.

“Hey,” he said softly, finally moving to take her in his arms. “I’m fine. Really. I’m sorry you were worried. If there was a way to get word to you, I would have. You know that.”

Ava took a deep breath, settling against his chest as their gifts mingled and swelled to fill the hole inside her. “I know,” she said. “Where were you, anyway?”

“West coast.” He pushed her hair back over her shoulder and tipped his head to brush his lips over her ear.

“For the Council?”

He snorted. “No.”

“The Guardians, then?”

“What’s with the third degree?” he snapped. At her shocked expression, he blinked and shook his head slowly. “Wow. I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from,” he said. “It’s just been a long couple of days. I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.” Ava tried to relax, to enjoy Caleb’s warmth, his touch, but a twinge of uneasiness nagged at her. “Are you okay?” she asked.

The strangest thing happened. Caleb smiled, assured her he was fine, apologized again, and leaned in to kiss her. And in that moment, Ava
knew
he was lying. It was as if he’d put on a mask—one that most people might not be able to see through, but one she could tell was a façade. A Veil atop his Veil.

“Come on,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her along. “Let’s go to my place and order some pizza or something. I’m starving.”

Ava warred with herself, wondering if she should challenge him further. He was keeping something from her, but she could also tell that he was tired. She knew fulfilling his duties as a Protector while helping out the Guardians put a lot of pressure on him, so it was possible that was it. Maybe he was trying to put on a brave face so she wouldn’t worry. It would be so like Caleb to try not to be a burden, out of a misguided notion of chivalry.

She opted for a gentler approach, squeezing his hand. “You know you can talk to me about things, right?” she asked quietly. “I mean, if something’s bothering you, I’d want to help.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. “I know,” he said. “And really, I’m fine. I just want to curl up on the couch with you, eat some greasy food, and maybe watch a horrible reality TV show and veg out, okay?”

Ava watched him carefully, still unconvinced, but she smiled and nodded anyway. “Okay, that sounds good.”
 

He grinned and they walked the rest of the way in silence, Ava’s instincts protesting the whole way.

It was late when a sound roused Ava from where she’d been drowsing, leaning against Caleb on his living room sofa. Actually, she realized it wasn’t a sound, but a
feeling
, a tingling of her awareness. Caleb stiffened, shifting under her cheek, and she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

“What is it?” he asked.

She held up a finger, reaching out with her Race senses.
 

There’s someone . . . just on the edge. No, coming closer.

“Can’t you feel it?” Ava stood abruptly and walked to the window, peering through the curtains. “Someone’s coming.”

“Are you sure? I don’t—” Caleb froze. “I feel him now.”

“Who do you think it is?”
 

A knock sounded at the door, and Caleb got up from the sofa, rubbing a hand over his face. “I think we’re about to find out.”

Ava moved to his side, and instinctively, Caleb positioned himself in front of her before opening the door. Tiernan stood on the other side, his face grim and stance intimidating.

“Tiernan?” Caleb stepped back to allow him to enter. Instead of coming inside, however, he moved forward, effectively blocking the doorway with his hulking frame. “Is something wrong?” Caleb asked.

“You’re wanted before the Council.”

“What? Why?” Ava asked, her instincts on high alert. “I haven’t done anything!”

“Not you,” Tiernan said gruffly. “Him.”

“I don’t understand,” she babbled, her gift rising in an impulse to protect. Something was wrong. Very wrong. “It’s the middle of the night. Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”

“I’m afraid not.” Tiernan crossed his beefy arms over his chest. “Come on, Caleb. Let’s go.”

Caleb took a step backward. “What is this all about?”

“You know they don’t give me that information. I’m just following—”

“They don’t tell you everything. But you know
something
.” Caleb’s jaw twitched as he stared Tiernan down. “Give me something, here, so I don’t go into this blind.”

Ava could feel the tension radiating off both of them in waves. “Caleb, what’s going on?” she asked.
 

“Where have you been, Caleb?” Tiernan asked. “Why have you been hiding from the Council? Why did you run from me?”

“I wasn’t aware I had to answer to you!”

“You knew I was there. You deliberately tried to lose me.”

Caleb snorted. “I succeeded.”

“What?” Ava pushed between them. “Why were you following him?”

Tiernan ignored her. “Does the name Elias Borré mean anything to you?” he asked Caleb.

Caleb shrugged. “No. Should it?”
 

He’d taken another step back into the room, and Ava watched as Tiernan matched his movements. She reached down for her gift, felt it twist through her, waiting . . . 

“He’s a Rogue who was, up until yesterday, in Council custody,” Tiernan said through gritted teeth. “You saying you don’t know anything about that?”

“What are you insinuating?” Caleb asked, taking another step backward.
 

Ava took a deep breath, her power sparking along her nerve endings. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but she didn’t like it. Not one bit.

Tiernan stepped forward, casting a wary glance in Ava’s direction before focusing on Caleb again. “The Council thinks you helped him escape.”

Ava let out a choked sound. “That’s ridiculous!”

“They saw you on the security cams. Your imprint was left in his cell.”