Chapter Sixteen
Aaliyah
I wake up to Kira barking, probably due to the pounding at my door. Rolling over, I see it isn’t even noon. It’s entirely too early for me to be awake. I would’ve liked to get a few more hours of sleep before starting my day, but here we are.
“Quiet, Kira,” I call, and my girl immediately falls silent as I grab a short robe and wrap it around me. Since I have no idea who’s knocking at my door, it’s probably better to answer it with the robe on than in the skimpy tank top and barely there shorts.
I don’t check to see who’s here because the chances of someone accidentally knocking on my door, mistaking it for someone else’s house, are slim to none. Swinging it open, I feel like I should be more surprised than I am at who I find standing on the other side.
“If you’re coming in, come in. And don’t let out all my cool air.” I leave the door wide open, calling to Kira to follow me. In the kitchen, I get the coffee brewing and ignore the six of them as they join me. Once I have a perfectly doctored cup of coffee, I take a sip and sigh before turning back to them. “If you want coffee, get it yourselves. If you drink the last cup, make more. And maybe someone wants to tell me why you’re at my house at this ungodly hour.”
“I told you we should’ve waited a few more hours,” Archer says with a laugh as he comes around and pours two cups of coffee. There’s so not going to be enough coffee for everyone. Oh, well. They’ll need to work it out amongst themselves. I just better not have to make another pot myself.
As if he can hear my thoughts, Archer turns to the others. “Anyone else want coffee? I want to get another pot going before Aaliyah finishes her cup.”
I smile into my mug, keeping my back to him so he can’t see. I’m spiteful like that.
“So, who’s going to tell me why you’re here?” I ask as I look between them.
“We have a proposition for you,” Hayes begins, and I don’t bother hiding my smirk.
“A proposition, you say? Does it come with multiple cocks and cunts?”
Hayes just blinks at me for a moment, his face straight when he responds, “Definitely not the proposition I was going for, but I can arrange that if that’s one of your stipulations.”
He almost gets it out before his lips curl up at the edges. I just grin at him, loving that he played along. “Sorry. Sometimes, I can’t help acting like a teenage boy—especially when I’m woken up before noon.”
“We’ll keep that in mind for future wake-up calls,” River says with a wink.
My entire body flushes from head to toes, as I recall the night before. Ugh, these are not the thoughts to be having right now. I still don’t know why the hell they’re here.
Hayes clears his throat. “We’ve been working a case, following the drug, Dragon’s Fire. Our goal is to get it off the streets, and in order to do that, we need to take out the entire organization from bottom to top. Alistair was just one of the rings on the ladder.”
“We’ve had an interesting run of luck lately,” Tyson adds. “I’m not sure if it’s good or bad luck, but the last few people I’ve been looking into have died before I can get to them.”
That has my attention, even more than the mention of Dragon’s Fire. Before tracking Alistair to the warehouse, I’d never even heard of the drug. Then at the club last night, I’d not only heard the name but seen it passing hands. I also overheard a few people talking about the supes that have died from it—or at least they suspect it. Apparently, the drugs leave the bloodstream too quickly. There’s no real way to prove that the drugs are the cause of death.
“What are the names of these people that have been killed before you get to them?” I ask, recalling Tyson’s muttered comment at the opera.
Reid reels off a list of names that are very familiar to me. I scoff. “It seems that we might be hunting the same people, then. Those were my kills. But that doesn’t really explain why you’re here, does it?”
“We were pretty sure the kills were yours after speaking with Archer, so we thought maybe we could work together?” River looks so excited at the prospect that I feel like an asshole for my next words.
“I’m more of a solo act than a group performer. That’s generally how assassins roll, in case you weren’t aware.”
Watching River’s face drop makes my stomach twist up, but it’s not just about her. Neither Archer nor Naomi have spoken, but it’s clear that the “we” will include them. I really don’t need Archer hanging around with the way my body’s been reacting to him.
“Do you not care about anyone besides yourself?” Tyson barks as he pushes to his feet.
When I turn to him, I’m unsurprised to see smoke trailing from his nose. He really does have an anger management problem. That’s just another strike against them. I don’t need hotheads in my team. I need people with clear heads.
“Of course, I give a fuck about other people, but I also know how I work best.” I shrug. “If you want to share information, I’m happy to do that. But what you’re asking for isn’t going to help me. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear.”
Lifting my cup to my lips, I sigh when I find it empty.
“Here.” Another cup hovers in my line of sight.
I grab it with my free hand and allow Archer to take the empty one from me. Lifting it to my lips, I find it perfectly made. I shouldn’t be surprised. The two of us were together for a long time. Of course, he remembers how I take my coffee.
“Thanks,” I say reluctantly as I turn to him and Naomi. “How are the two of you wrapped up in this?”
Naomi glances at Archer before turning back to me. “Archer thought this sounded like something you’d be interested in. I haven’t involved myself in any earthside business in a long time, but I feel like this is something I should be involved with. Not only to rescue Tyson’s sister but to make sure no more of our people die for no reason.”
Damn it. I’d completely forgotten about Cecelia. No wonder Tyson is so worked up. I apologize to him and say just as much.
“An apology doesn’t mean a damn thing. What’s the point in having you and us working on the same thing but separately? It doesn’t make any sense, and it just means more time my sister will be in these assholes’ hands.” He shakes his head. “We shouldn’t have bothered asking for your help.”
Anger rises in me as I stare at him, though I make sure to keep my face in a blank mask. Letting others know what you’re feeling allows them to have power over you, and I don’t need Tyson knowing that his words are affecting me in any way.
“Actually, I don’t believe anyone asked me for my help, but good try at throwing the blame at me.” I shake my head. “Plus, caring about others hasn’t turned out the best for me in the past, now has it?”
Glancing at Archer, I meet Tyson’s eyes to make sure he understands what I’m talking about. This isn’t just about working together to find his sister or even to stop the drugs. This is about the seven of us and how I feel drawn to all of them. And that’s something I just can’t afford. I’ve been hurt by the one man I’ve ever really loved, and now the six of them—including the one who broke my heart—have stormed into my life as if they belong here. But I can’t think about them belonging with me if they’re just going to end up leaving me.
Turning away from him, I run a hand over Kira’s head. She’s sat at my side the entire time we’ve been talking, even though I know she’d love to get pets from our visitors. “I think Kira and I will go enjoy the outdoors while I have my coffee. Make sure to lock the door behind you when you leave, yeah?”
I walk away without waiting for a response, calling Kira to my side. Once outside, I allow the mask to fall away. I have to remind myself not to grind my teeth. It’s terrible for them.
Kira brings me a ball, and I throw it for her with an extra burst of strength to make sure it flies into the trees at the back of my property. Watching her chase it down helps wipe away some of my annoyance. It’s hard to stay angry around any dog, but especially my Kira.
We do this a few times before I hear the sliding glass door slide open, and I tense. I was sure they’d have left by now. Why are they still here, and who’s followed me outside?
Whoever it is, their footsteps are soft as they come over to join me. There’s no way it’s River, as I’m not sure she knows how to be silent for this long. A glance over my shoulder reveals Hayes standing silently behind me, his eyes on the forest and not me.
“Can I help you with something, Hayes? I think I made myself perfectly clear before coming out here. I’m not what you’re looking for.”
“Actually, I was hoping that you could walk with me on your property? As a dryad, I prefer to spend at least part of my day among the trees, but Archer and Naomi’s place doesn’t have many.”
Staring up at him, I know I should say no or tell him to take a walk on his own, but part of me wants to say yes. So that’s what I do.
“Sure.”