3. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Dash
Simp stood next to me, wearing tinted safety glasses. “What the fuck are you trying to do, brother?”
I tilted the welding hood back to stare at him. I had a few yards of pipe I was using in a feeble attempt at creating handlebars like I’d seen on the hellhound’s bike the last time I was in Hades. Even though I’d made no progress at all, I couldn’t let the idea go.
“I’m trying to make a set of custom handlebars for my Knucklehead. I saw some recently that I liked, and I’m trying to see if I can recreate them. You know anything about cutting pipe to form a skull?”
“I do.” Simp and I glanced over our shoulders to see Brokorol followed by Er’on.
“Hey, Brok.” I stepped over to the president of the Hellhounds MC and bumped fists, bowing my head to Er’on, knowing they didn’t seem comfortable being touched.
“What are you trying to do, sir?” Er’on was about four feet tall with short brown hair and large blue eyes. I couldn’t begin to guess if there was anything between Brok and them other than their shared loyalty to Beelzebub.
Simp walked away and went back to work as I glanced at Er’on. “I’m trying to copy something like Brok has for his handlebars and front fork. It’s damn cool and I want something with a similar vibe."
Brokorol laughed. “If you’ll allow me to sketch it out, maybe we can find something to suit you better than a dog’s skull.”
Er’on pulled a sketchbook from the backpack they were wearing and handed it to Brok, along with a Kohl pencil. Brok knelt, glancing at me for a moment before dragging the pencil over the paper.
Quinn walked over to where we were standing and stared at me. “What’s going on?”
“Quinn, let me introduce you to some incredible friends. Quinn, this is Brokorol and his friend Er’on. Friends, this is Quinn Cruz, Lily’s fiancé.”
“It’s exciting to meet you, sir. We have much respect for Mistress Lilith. We’re happy to offer our assistance in any way we can.”
Quinn stared at me. “Who are they?”
“Friends. Be nice.” Quinn nodded and stepped away.
Brok stepped closer and showed me the sketch. “We were told to be here to support you. Prince Beelzebub wants you to persevere, so we are here to look after you and alert him when the fight begins. It’s believed it will be soon, and he doesn’t want to miss it.”
I exhaled a heavy breath. “Thank you. I guess all the princes are adhering to Lucifer’s mandate that they’re forbidden to fight with us.”
Brok chuckled. “Yes, I’ve been told they are, but you’ve met Prince Beelzebub, sir. He’s not one to be told what to do, even by his father. I won’t speculate on his thoughts, but I won’t be surprised to see him on the battlefield with us.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I can see that. So, any news from down under?”
Er’on stared at Brok, who nodded. “Yes. Things are advancing. You should check in with your husband.”
“Okay. Why?”
“Nyx’s hiding place has been compromised. She and her followers will be searching for another hideout, which means they could be anywhere.”
I stared at them for a moment before snapping my fingers because I needed more information than my human friends were ready to hear. All movement around us stopped.
I stepped closer to Brokorol, not surprised when Er’on got between us. “I’m not going to hurt him,” I told them.
“Sir, sometimes when humans get bad news, they lash out. I’m here to protect my master.”
Brok touched their cheek. “Thank you, Er’on, but he won’t hurt us. He’s a friend of the prince. He will protect us as we should protect him.”
That was touching. I’d had no idea that those from the underworld had the ability to care for those of us who weren’t, but then again, I wasn’t exactly human any longer, was I?
“So, what do you need to tell me? I won’t lash out.” Or I hoped I wouldn’t.
“Lake is in danger, sir. She’s in a place where the white lighters thought she would be safe, but word has gotten out that she’s staying in the late Prince Asmodeus’s former condo in Limbo. She and her daughter believe they’re at a beach cottage near your mother’s home in California.
“Princes Beelzebub and Jameson are working with Jophiel to maintain the illusion of a vacation for Lake and her daughter because they are your family, but someone in Limbo—we suspect they are either from the Celestial Realm or a hidden follower of Nyx—came to the condo unexpectedly, claiming to be looking for someone who once resided there. Lake opened the door to speak with them, and now we fear word has traveled and will reach Nyx when she comes for the fight. Lake needs to be moved, sir.”
Fucking hell!
“Don’t you people keep a better watch down there? Could it be someone working for Lucifer? Maybe someone in your world is trying to kidnap her?”
Brok studied me for a moment before speaking. “Sir, our world is your world. You are one of us, and our kind know Lake is important to you. We wouldn’t try to harm Lake, I swear on my existence.”
That was a huge piece of information to swallow, but it wasn’t the first time I’d been told I was more prone to the dark side than the light. I was still committed to those I loved, and nothing would change that.
“Gah! Let me call Keir.” I glanced at the sketch book to see a set of black wings resembling Jay’s when he unfurled those bad boys. “Man, that’s tight.”
Brok smiled and continued with his sketch as Er’on glanced around the garage. I snapped my fingers and went outside.
Keir’s phone rang a few times before he answered. “Hello, love.”
“We need to get in touch with Jo and have them move Lake. Nyx is on the move and it seems there’s a spy in Limbo who discovered the hiding place. Hello by the way.” There was no need for me to be rude.
“Hi, love. Uh, okay. I’m here with Trent. Let me see if he can reach out to Jo. Are you still at the shop? Did Quinn pick a new name, yet?”
We’d signed the bill of sale—one dollar from Quinn to me—a few weeks ago, and the property deed transfer had been recorded. He just needed to change the shop’s name and file incorporation papers.
“Not that I’ve heard. What are you doing at The Mystical Palm?”
“Giving Trent a pep talk. He’s a little scattered right now and having some strange visions or nightmares or daymares. Anyway, Amelie asked me to come check on him. He’s freaking out. Maybe reaching out to Jo will refocus him.”
“Okay, Dearly. I’ll be heading home in a few.” We needed to get Dr. Randall ready for his last party and our stuff ready for leaving the next day.
“What the hell? Who are you?” Keir’s voice was anxious. High pitched. Not anything I was used to hearing from him.
“Dearly?”
“No! Put that—” The phone went dead, and I was immediately on alert.
“Brok, Er’on. Let’s roll.”
I hopped into my SUV and gunned it out of the parking lot with Brok and Er’on behind me on his bike. I had no idea what the fuck was going on, but my husband was at The Mystical Palm, and if he was in danger, I was gonna get there in short order.
Six minutes later I screeched to a halt in front of Trent’s shop. I quickly got out of the SUV and ran around the back of the store as Brok and Er’on stopped behind me. Hurrying inside, one of the large bookshelves was on the floor, books strewn about. In the middle of the mess was my Keir, sitting with a cloth held to his head.
I hurried over and was immediately hit with the mouth-watering scent of his blood. Brok must have smelled it too because he rushed forward and pulled me behind him.
“Gatekeeper, are you okay?”
Er’on took my hand and led me back a few feet. “You’ll hate yourself if you act on your instincts.”
I knew exactly what they meant. Keir’s blood called to me, but I remembered Dr. Carl’s warning. “You be very careful, Dash. Temptation is radiating around you. Be sure you weigh all your options when the time comes.”
I glanced at Er’on and winked. “Thank you. I’m fine now.”
Hurrying over to Keir, I fell on my knees. “Baby, what happened?”
The bloody cloth kept me from seeing the damage, so I gently moved Brok’s hand and the fabric. A gash in Keir’s head was bleeding a hell of a lot.
“I’ve got it, Brok. Go find Trent, please.” He scurried off, and I turned my man to face me. “I’m going to fix it. You okay?”
My beautiful husband nodded, so I leaned forward and licked the wound, allowing myself to savor his taste as the wound sealed. I closed my eyes for a moment before I swallowed. Every part of my husband fed my soul.
I slid back after I’d cleaned his wound. I held his hand to be sure it sealed completely before I released it so he could touch the wound.
“Thank you for fixing me. This batshit crazy spirit came in. She had powers like I’ve never seen. Her name is Lorraine, and she’s looking for a long-lost lover named Claude. She believed Trent was an incarnation of Claude—that was, until she saw me. Apparently, now she believes I’m Claude.”
I couldn’t help the laugh. “See, everyone wants a piece of you, but they can all get in line behind me.”
Keir rolled his eyes. “Thank you for coming to find me, love. I’m fine now, but this spirit… I don’t see her going away soon. I couldn’t ask her why she thought I was Claude because she was in a frenzy. I need to figure out how to calm her down enough to talk without anyone else getting hurt. You said we need to move Lake and Jamie. We need to do that as soon as possible.”
“I’ll handle it. Any suggestions regarding where to hide them?”
Keir was the smartest man I knew, and I could anticipate his response, but I was asking to be sure. Clearly, the Celestials had fucked up. It was time for us to take control.
“Jo said Lake and Jamie believed they were with your mother in Monterey. I don’t want Lucy and Lenny to be in danger if someone were to go looking for them there. I suggest we bring this in-house. Brok and Er’on are apparently at our disposal, so let’s use them. Brok can multiply into as many guards as we need. I think that’s the best idea.”
I took Keir’s hand and helped him from his spot on the floor, pulling him into my arms. “I love you, but you scared the fuck out of me. Let’s not make that a habit, please.”
Dearly grinned and kissed my lips. “You’re really one of a kind. I agree. The best thing is to bring her to our place. We can put a queen bed in the spare room since we haven’t bought furniture for the baby yet. That way, one of us can be with her and Jamie all the time.”
“I’ll make it happen.”
We helped Trent clean up the mess, righting the shelf and restacking the books. Once everything was in order, I checked the back door of the store. It was still locked.
I went into the office and found the windows were secured, so Lorraine had been a spirit, though a strong one. Why? Why was she so damn insistent? There had to be something behind the energy. We just had to figure out what it was.
“I don’t appreciate being summoned.” Jophiel appeared in our dining room looking none too happy in their angelic glory. Oh, I was ready for them.
“Yeah? Well, we’re not thrilled to learn Jamie and Lake’s whereabouts are common knowledge. Someone came to Asmodeus’s condo where you have them stashed in some fantasyland where they believe they’re in Monterey, California, at the beach.
“One of the hellhounds contacted us to say Lake and Jamie are in danger. If Nyx finds out where they are, she could harm them and our baby. What happened to you saying you put them somewhere safe?” I was boiling with anger and didn’t give a damn that I wasn’t being respectful to Jophiel’s station in the Celestial Realm.
“You’re questioning my ability to keep Lake and Jamie safe?” Their voice echoed throughout the apartment, making it clear they weren’t happy.
Keir stepped around me, his demeanor like nothing I’d ever witnessed. “No. You don’t get to come at us with an attitude. We have been forced into a role we never had a say in, and now, our child is in danger. We didn’t ask for any of this, Jo.”
I stared at them, daring them to deny any of the things Keir had said. It wasn’t a lie. The hell we’d been through was no joke, and what we were about to experience could be the end of us.
Jo morphed into the lovely little woman I’d met on my flight from Italy so long ago. “Fine. You’re right about not asking for any of this but let me offer a reminder. You wouldn’t have met each other had it not been for the course of events.
“Keir, you were on the path to be the Gatekeeper, but there was no Key. When you met Dashiell after his brother was murdered, it became apparent the two of you had incredible chemistry, and look at you now.”
I was ready to roar, but Keir stepped in front of me. He was the more level-headed between us. “Yes, Jo, look at us. We’re about to have a baby to start our family, and we don’t know who to trust. Do you not understand? We will do anything we can to protect our family, and the fact you can’t offer protection to the surrogate carrying our child makes it necessary that we step in. How do we get Lake and Jamie home?”
“I will bring Lake and Jamie home when I know it’s safe. I’m as disturbed by this breach as you, but my foremost mission is the safety of your child. I will stake my existence on it, I swear.”
I turned to Dearly and shrugged. “Well?”
“I guess that’s as good as it’s going to get.” He then hugged Jo before turning them to me. I wrapped them in my arms and held them tight. I knew in my gut they would protect Lake, but not knowing who was trying to possibly kidnap Lake made me skeptical.
If a white lighter was feeding information to Nyx, I’d tear them apart. Apparently, I had that power.