5. In Which Humans and Coffee Can’t Tell Time
Chapter 5
In Which Humans and Coffee Can’t Tell Time
Modern-day San Antonio, Texas
M aximus strolled down the sidewalk and turned the corner. His long legs took significant strides, his hips moving in ways that had women taking double takes as he walked by. He knew the effect he had and used it often to get his way. It was a gift and a curse. He had barely walked a few steps onto the next street when he heard his name.
“Max. Over here, mate.”
Two men sat at an outdoor table. The café had been a frequent meet-up point the last few days.
“Just a black coffee, please, Maria,” he said in perfect Spanish, grinning at a passing server like a cat playing with a mouse, then moved to sit down.
“Did you gain the artifact?” Evander spoke first.
Maximus looked quizzically at the company’s youngest member and shook his head. The most level-headed of the four, Evander sat relaxed in the metal café chair, but Maximus knew how lethal he could be given the opportunity. His legs crossed at the ankle, his hands on his stomach, fingers laced together, soft flesh and steel. He may be the newest, but he had shown himself to be reliable to a fault. Next to him, staring after a tourist in an impossibly short skirt, sat Liam, who had brought Evander into the company two centuries ago. He had an Irish accent that made American women swoon; often using it to his advantage. He was as handsome as the two other men and the playboy of the group. Moving from woman to woman in whatever town they happened to be in. His swarthy looks, dark-brown skin, and boyish charm were more adapted to chasing skirts than following orders. But he was his own type of ruthless, making him a dangerous combination of calm and deadly. Maximus had learned early on not to fuck with him.
“Does she have the grimoire?” Evander asked nervously. He thrived on order and balance, none of which seemed to be in wide supply as of late. This job was ramping up Evander’s usual proclivity for rule-following. Procuring the book had been challenging, and with the blunder of the human woman getting her hands on it, Evander was becoming even more of a pain in the ass than usual. Maximus had to keep the company calm, which was a challenge, especially with Athena’s special little assignment. Damn the bitch . He didn’t mindlessly follow Athena’s orders, hadn’t for centuries. But he didn’t need his company questioning his leadership.
“Yes. After she arrived, fifteen minutes late.” He rolled his eyes. “It was sitting on her desk when I walked in for my meeting.” Maximus took his coffee from Maria, who had appeared beside him.
“So, you have it now?” This time, it was Liam who spoke. He took sips of his latte, wrinkling his nose. “Knowing where the book is and delivering it to the goddess are two separate things.”
Maximus shook his head.
“Humm. Are you going to need to use some of your famous persuasion on her?” Liam wiggled his eyebrows at Maximus.
Evander sat forward and put his hands on the table. “That wasn’t the plan, was it? She is off-limits to all of us,” he said as if any of them needed reminding. “She is a threat to Olympus.”
Maximus casually sipped his coffee, placing it on the table as he swallowed. “Of course not.” Annoyed they had both jumped to that conclusion. Although it wasn’t far from the truth. Maximus initially thought to use his prowess to impress her, but Ellie hadn’t responded to him. Plus, pissing Athena off wasn’t high on his list. Once Athena assigned a job to a company, she laid claim to whatever object they were after. She didn’t play well with others, and she didn’t share. It was a hard and fast rule all legions obeyed. Dying at the hands of Athena for disobedience was something Maximus avoided at all costs.
“She’s pretty enough, and I’d love to see what that red hair looks like all mussed from a night of fun, but no. I don’t break in divorcées.”
Liam raised his eyebrow and cocked his head.
“Okay, fine, I don’t break in new divorcées,” Max concluded, blowing on his hot coffee, and taking a loud sip. “Anymore.”
Liam barked a laugh.
“Again, I say, she is off-limits. What was her name?” Evander, the ever-present boy scout, was, of course, going to recite Athena’s rules.
Maximus rolled his eyes. “Ellie.” Max took another sip. “Ellie Whitemore.”
“Right, Ellie. We must devise a plan to steal the book now that simply asking for it has failed.” Evander leaned in and looked at the other two men pointedly. “And we can’t use our powers of persuasion on her either, gentlemen,” he scolded.
This was how Evander had been since the day he joined the company. He was not one to let loose, and if there was a rule to be followed, he was going to make damn sure everyone followed it. Raised in the aristocracy, it was in his blood to do things by the book. It was annoying as hell, but Maximus tolerated it because Evander had skills his company needed. The powers he kept tightly controlled had come in handy a time or two and Maximus had a sense this assignment might require Evander’s special blend of rule-following and compartmentalizing.
Besides, Pheridones had been quite explicit in his involvement the other evening as the two lie in bed. She had reassured him this was the only way. Although, if he were honest with himself, he wasn’t keen on any of her plans as of late. The woman was cunning. And keeping her a secret was becoming more challenging.
Taking another sip of his coffee. “I have all the details in the folders I gave you. We do have a slight hiccup, gentleman. I need one of you to monitor the human for the next week. I was told her ex-husband moved on, which means she will be alone in her house until her trip. Our mission is to steal the book undetected, but we can’t draw any attention to her. Valerius is unaware she possesses the book, and his pets cannot find out she is alone. We all know what they are capable of if they think she is vulnerable.” His eyes darted along the streets, always watchful. He had chosen this café for more than just its location. Athena’s warriors owned it, and he was safe to talk freely.
“Do you think Valerius would try anything?” Evander asked, scrunching up his nose.
Maximus shrugged. “Why risk it?”
They all nodded in unison.
“I would like to obtain the book before she goes on her cruise. I’m not keen on being confined on a ship for twelve days. I’d prefer this mission was over sooner rather than later.” Maximus continued, lowering his chin at the pair.
“I agree. Stuck on a ship would be an absolute nightmare.” Evander nodded. “Liam and I can try tonight. The sooner we are done, the sooner we can get back to Olympus.”
“And back to Cook.” Liam eyed the half-eaten sweet roll on Evander’s plate. He swiped it and took a bite, wrinkling his nose. “At least she serves edible food.” He frowned and set the roll down.
The men fell into a comfortable companionship. They had been relying on each other for centuries. They were more like brothers, family, than simply a company in the Celestial Legion.
Across the street, in an alley hidden half in shadow, a pair of flaming-blue eyes narrowed.