Chapter 8
It was early in the morning as I walked back from the breakfast stand a little ways down the road. Apparently, it was the best breakfast burrito in the area, and Nina loved the damned things. Personally, I’d rather have something a bit more filling, but this would do until we could stop and get a proper meal.
There weren’t any other pedestrians around as I made my way back, which allowed me to think a bit.
I had gotten up long before Nina did, even though I barely slept at all. Between the fear that the Twin would find us and the confusing emotions that our conversation had brought up, I didn’t sleep much more than a few hours
I’d never told anyone about the book store idea. It had been something I’d planned for when I’d been with the special investigations unit. A retirement plan, if I lived that long. But after I lost control of my berserker and contributed to the loss of my entire team, I buried that dream, along with my career and friends. How could I trust myself around a community of Supernaturals or Mundanes if I did that to my family and friends?
But Nina had a way of waking up parts of me that I had thought were long dead, and suddenly I was talking about it.
Right after revealing that I knew about her secret dream.
The look on her face was something I wouldn’t soon forget.
I hadn’t really thought about how she’d react before I spoke, something I didn’t do often. Maybe it was being so tired, maybe it was the strangely cozy feeling of laying there with a good book and Nina so close, but whatever it was that made me talk I wasn’t going to regret it. She wasn’t angry; just shocked and pleased.
Definitely pleased.
Which was fucking with my head. I could’ve handled her being upset that I’d pried, or just plain surprised. But pleased that I’d worked it out? Happy that I’d been watching her way more closely than I’d needed to all these years?
It made me think things I shouldn’t. Like how maybe if she ever found out that I’d trailed and borderline stalked her on my days off, she wouldn’t think I’m a creep.
And maybe if I wanted to boss her around in my bed, tie her up and make her beg me as I edged her she wouldn’t look at me like I’m a monster.
My dick twitched, half-mast and uncomfortable in the jeans I’d packed. I adjust myself, since there was no one around to see. It was becoming a problem the more I was around Nina. Whatever had happened to her at that place, it was like they’d stripped off all the veneer, all the immaturity that she’d clung to as part of her public persona. There was just the real Nina left, the one that had fascinated me and made me want to be better than I was.
It made her even more tempting than she’d been before, which only made me feel shitty. What kind of asshole lusted after a woman who was still recovering from the most traumatic experience of her life? Even if that kiss had meant to her what it had to me, it wouldn’t be right to take advantage of her like that.
I nodded to myself as I rehearsed this line of excuses for at least the hundredth time.
The old reasons were wearing thin, and I needed new ones if I was going to keep my hands off her. Nina said she was fine with my past, fine with what she’d seen, but I was the one who had to remember the look in her eyes when she’d touched my blood. There was pain, grief, and horror.
So much horror.
I had thought it was directed at me and my heart had cracked in half.
But when she’d explained after she patched me up, the tiniest glimmer of hope came through. She didn’t see me as murderer, a beast. How was that possible? How could she not?
If this had been before the abduction I’d say she was lost in a childish crush on me, making excuses so she could keep on with that. But there was so little left of the immature Nina. Those parts had been replaced with a hardness, a determination that hadn’t been there before. She was like a piece of Japanese kintsugi pottery; broken and mended back together with gold so that the broken pieces were made beautiful, the pottery a new and stunning work of art.
She deserved whatever life she wanted, with someone who wouldn’t be haunted by their past. Someone who could move forward with her and help her have that coffee shop.
But now that she’d planted the idea of her shop and mine side by side, I could see it so clearly.
A pair of French doors would connect them, so that when the sound of steaming milk became too much, I could close them. But she’d always be right there on the other side of the glass, and every once in a while, I’d stop and watch her when she wasn’t aware. The smell of coffee and pastries would mingle with the musty heaven of books. The way she’d bring me a cup and leave with a book I picked out for her. How her trivia night would lead to people shopping in my store.
Our lives would be a peaceful flow back and forth, always having her near but never having her as mine. It would be the sweetest torture.
I shook my head as I headed back to the room, two coffees in hand and a bag of breakfast burritos. It was a stupid distraction that would never amount to anything but disappointment and pain when it didn’t manifest.
She would go on to do whatever she set her mind to, of that I had no doubt. But I…
Fuck, what am I going to do after this? I’m burned with the Sinners…and I don’t like the idea of going back to the Archive.
For the first time since I was a child I realized that my future was a big blank.
Is it though?
I shook my head again to dislodge that stupid line of thinking. That wasn’t my future, it could never be. The truth was I’d be on the run for the rest of my life because the Sinners would never stop looking for me. Even if they did stop the hit on Nina, I had betrayed them. I was a dead Orc, living on borrowed time, plain and simple.
My only job now was to make sure Nina was safe, and that she got the Morrigan out of her.
When I came back into the room, Nina barreled out of the bathroom, eyes wide and hair wild.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, throwing the burritos on the bed and reaching for the gun in my shoulder holster.
“I woke up and you were gone, where were you? Did something happen?”
I let out a sigh and re-holstered my side arm.
“I went to get breakfast, Angelica and Trey will be here in thirty minutes.”
“Oh…sorry, I just…I thought maybe you went looking for that Orc.”
“The Twin? No, I have a feeling he’ll find us.”
Her face paled and she swallowed hard. I used to keep things like that from her but the situation was different now. She needed to be aware of the risks more than ever.
“I got breakfast burritos and coffee, but I can’t vouch for how good it is.”
“Thanks.” She took the cup I offered her and took a distracted sip. Her brow furrowed and she glanced at it.
“Sugar and light cream, right?” I asked, worried I’d gotten it wrong.
“Uh, yeah.”
The frown only deepened as I handed her a burrito, no salsa and extra cheese. When she took a bite, Nina groaned in a way that sent blood to my dick and I turned away, pretending to look out the window to check on things when really, I was trying desperately not to think of that mouth against mine.
“So, tell me,” she said, after a few minutes of silent eating, “do you know my menstrual cycle as well as how I take my coffee and breakfast burrito?”
I choked on a bite and took a pull of the coffee, which was better than I’d anticipated.
“Yes, actually,” I said when I could.
She flushed prettily and cocked her head to the side.
“Why do you need to know any of that?”
“It’s my job.”
“My period is your job?”
“You, Nina. You are my job.”
I wasn’t sure what I’d said, but the playful light in her eyes shuttered and she nodded before turning away and focusing on her food.
Nina turned on the TV, which had a surprising number of stations considering the thread bare condition of the carpet and duvet. She found a food network show where the contestants had to make something from random shopping carts, and ate her food without looking at or talking to me once.
It was utterly unnerving.
I could count on one hand the number of times Nina had been around me while awake and didn’t talk. Each time she was angry with me. So it was a good bet that this time was no different. I was just about to ask her about it when someone knocked on the door.
I pressed my finger to my lips when Nina looked over, and I drew my side arm. She nodded and turned up the TV like I’d taught her, to cover the sound of gun shots in case this went sideways. When I peeked outside it was Angelica and Trey so I ushered them in quickly.
Nina turned the TV off and gave them a grin.
“Are you two alright?” Angelica asked.
“About as good as can be expected,” Nina said and gestured to the bed for her to sit.
“No, thanks. I think better standing. Okay,” she clapped her hands together, brimming with nervous energy. “I need to say up front that this plan isn’t ideal, but it’s the only one we have, so keep an open mind.”
I crossed my arms and frowned at her.
“She means you, big guy,” Trey said.
My only answer was a side-eyed glare before focusing back on Angelica.
“I’m working to expose a secretive group that’s been hiring high end thieves to steal artifacts that are stored in high security Supernatural family vaults. It’s been a problem since before I took over, even Francesca had been desperate to shut them down. But whereas before they were simply lining their pockets, now I’m fairly certain that these artifacts are being sold to the Protectors to give them an edge against the Archive. I finally got in with one of the groups of thieves that’s been hired by supposed philanthropist Douglas Whitman to break into the shared vault of the Crowley and Hepburn families. Whitman is the one who is funding the group, but he hired me to put a team together, and I have.”
“I never pegged you for a criminal mastermind,” Nina said with a grin.
Angelica chuckled.
“Oh, I have a myriad of talents. In this case, Sprite helped me make contact and constructed a plausible identity for me and Trey. We’ve been putting this together for months and I’ve finally earned their trust. The vault the group has been hired to break into contains various artifacts, including a bracelet that was used by High Priestess in connection with the Morrigan.”
“What’s the catch?” I asked.
“The catch is that the artifact is so volatile, it’s one of the few that they have no intention of stealing, mainly because it will kill them if they try and touch it. But, it’s also the only artifact I have a lead on that can absorb the power in Nina. So, because the metal kinesis Witch on their team met with an unfortunate accident, they’re in need of one.”
“No,” I bit out.
“Not your call, I’m sorry to say,” Nina said.
“It fucking is my call, and I say no. There’s no way to ensure your security with people like this, and if they find out you’re a living artifact, what then?”
“In case you haven’t noticed, the Morrigan doesn’t seem very keen on being anyone’s property any more than I do, so I’m pretty sure I can handle it.”
“Nina—”
“Not a discussion! I need the artifact, and this is the only way, correct?” she asked Angelica.
“Without spending the time and energy on searching for an alternative, which I won’t be able to do because right now the Archive is a tad hostile toward Nina and you, Darius. So if I’m caught looking for an alternative, how long before they figure out I’m helping you and track you through me?”
My lips pursed and I clenched my fists tightly. I couldn’t control anything about the environment she was talking about. I didn’t know the team, the lay out of the safe house, or the specs regarding where we were stealing this damn thing from. I hated variables like this when Nina’s life wasn’t hanging in balance.
But Angelica was right. If time was of the essence and staying out of sight was a matter of life and death, this was it. The thieves would likely not want to draw attention to themselves, and would have security that would potentially keep us off the Sinner, Protector and Archive radars.
Especially if these thieves have evaded capture this long.
I let out a snarling breath.
“What’s the plan?”
“Trey and I will arrive ahead of you,” Angelica said, handing me another burner phone. “I’ve had Sprite, our tech consultant for this mission, construct a plausible back story for where Nina has been this whole time,” she handed Nina a tablet. “It’s all on here, memorize it and then delete it before you arrive. You’re a high profile person, so convincing them that you not only want to be a part of this, but can handle it, is going to take some doing. But, I’ve vouched for you and that small resume of…shall we say, extra-curricular activities will help. But you, Nina, will have to sell it. Act natural, don’t try to elaborate or make yourself something you’re not. Part of being undercover is staying as close the truth as you can.”
“Trust me, being in the public eye my entire life taught me how to walk that line,” Nina said with a lopsided grin.
“They’ll want some proof of your abilities, so they’ll likely have an Orc by the name of April test you a bit since she knows specifically what will be needed to break in. Be prepared for that, and don’t take it personally.”
Nina nodded.
“Darius,” she turned to me, “being her bodyguard isn’t going to cut it, it will look suspicious. So you’ll need to have a cover too.”
I had a feeling I was not going to like this just from how reticent she was to tell me.
“You’ve been in a relationship for the past year,” Angelica said, not mincing words.
My stomach dropped, and when I glanced over at Nina, her eyes were huge in her face, which had gone pale. Was she as uncomfortable as I was about this, and was it for the same reason?
“You’re a very protective boyfriend,” Angelica went on, “and so you’re going to be additional muscle, sticking with her to ensure that she is protected while she uses her gifts to break into the vault.”
I knew there was no way around this, but I also didn’t trust my voice either, so I just nodded in acceptance.
“Whitman wants to meet you both,” Trey said, handing me a tablet with a dossier on it. “He likes to have a connection with the people he works for, look them in the eye and determine their character. So, he’s hosting a party in two days, you’ll both attend so that he can approve you. Or more specifically, Nina.”
I tried very hard not to grip the tablet too tightly and break the damn thing. The idea of Nina being inspected like she was a car or some kind of prize sickened me.
And he better keep his hands off her.
“Your backstory is on there too,” Angelica added. “Both of you make sure to erase all of those details before you get to the cabin, which is where our little group has assembled to put the finishing touches on the job. The address is on the tablet. And after you’ve erased what you need to, hit the skull and cross bones. Sprite rigged it up to strip it off the hard drive or some such, I had a hard time following it. But if anyone breaks into your tablets, they won’t find it.”
“Rehab?” Nina shrieked. “I’ve been in rehab for a year and half?”
“Not the entire time, no,” Angelica’s tone was soothing. “Afterwards you decided to go on a meditative trip around the world, in seclusion and cut off from your phone.”
“Who’s going to believe that?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“Which part? The rehab or the traveling without my phone?” Angelica asked.
“Both,” I said.
Nina threw her empty burrito wrapper at me, and I snorted.
“It’s as believable as we could make it on short notice,” Angelica replied. “Now, when we do the heist, we will take the artifacts to Whitman, except for the cuff. Nina, you will pretend to sustain an injury and Darius you will take her away from the job to a predetermined location where Sprite will be waiting to extract the Morrigan.”
“What about you?” Nina asked.
“Trey and I will need to see this through so we can call in the Archive to collect the artifacts and the guilty parties.”
“When is the job?” I asked.
“Five days, in Vancouver. We’ll drive there, stay at a hotel, and then the next day we’ll break into the vault The details are also on the tablets as well, memorize it all. In the meantime, we’ll stay at a cabin of mine, very well protected with powerful wards reinforced with blood seals. No one will get in or out that we don’t want to. Any questions?”
“Not yet,” Nina said, looking over the dossier on the tablet.
“Do you know silencing charms? Locking spells?” Trey asked.
Nina nodded.
“Why do you ask?”
“If you two need to talk about the mission in your room, I want you to cast those spells, just for a precaution.”
“And no one will suspect anything because…” Nina motioned awkwardly between the two of us and flushed. “Got it.”
“Okay, if there’s nothing else, Trey and I will get going and we’ll see you there soon.”
I walked Angelica and Trey out and pulled her aside for a moment before she got in their car.
“You’re sure about this, about these people?”
“I’ve been building up trust with this team for over a year. I know them and as much as it pains me to admit it, they’re actually not half bad. If you exclude the theft and occasional murder. They won’t like two unknowns like you and Nina, but they will deal with it because I’ve told them to. You need to make sure to just curb some of the growly over protectiveness long enough to get the cuff. Think you can do that?”
“I thought I was an over protective boyfriend?”
“Over protective, yes. Not hair trigger, kill someone for looking at her wrong.”
“It’s necessary sometimes,” I huffed under my breath.
“Look,” Angelica said, “I know this isn’t your comfort zone, any of it. But it’s the best I could do on such short notice, so don’t make me regret it, okay?”
I let out a long breath and ran a hand over my head.
“Yeah, okay. I’m sorry. It’s just this whole situation is…”
“I know. But it will be over soon and you can go back to…wait, you can’t though. What are you going to do after this?”
“Honestly? Probably die. The Sinners don’t just let you go unless it’s in a body bag.”
Angelica’s face scrunched into an unsatisfied frown as what I’d said sunk in.
“Let me see what I can do about that,” she finally said.
“Angelica—”
“Will you please let me do this for you? I know you have a bit of a martyr complex but do you think you can shelve it for a while?”
Usually, I’d push back about a comment like that but this was Angelica. We’d been through a lot of shit together, so she might one of the few that could get away with talking to me like this.
“No,” I said with a playful smirk.
She snorted.
“Typical.”
“For which one of us?”
“Shut up,” she playfully punched me on the shoulder.
The sharp scent of sulfur stung my nostrils and everything in me went on high alert. There was a predator here, a threat and…
Oh…oh shit.
It was Trey, standing by the car, and though he was wearing his glamour, smoke was curling up from his nostrils as he glared at us.
Angelica gave an annoyed sigh and folded her arms across her chest.
“Damn male thinks he owns me,” she murmured.
“Are you two…?”
“No.”
Her voice was hard, and it didn’t invite any further questions so I didn’t bother to ask them.
“Wait about three hours and then head for the cabin. I don’t want you two getting there too close to us.”
“Got it.”
I watched her get into the car, Trey opening and closing the door for her. I knew he was a Dragon, but I had no idea that he’d laid claim to Angelica. Dragons could get…touchy about those they claimed as mates. The courting period for a Dragon with its mate was brief and usually didn’t result in a rejection, but it didn’t sound like Angelica was keen on this whole thing. Which might mean that Trey was holding on by his fingernails to keep from biting her and sealing the deal.
And it also means that anyone touching her that’s unmated is seen as a challenge. I’m going to have to be very careful.
I nodded at him before he got in the driver’s side and he returned it, so I hoped it was enough to signal that I wasn’t interested.
I watched them drive off and stood in place as the morning air warmed, telling myself I was just giving Nina some space and keeping watch. But really, I was trying to work through my own feelings on all this.
I’d been on enough undercover missions to know that I had to sell being her boyfriend, which meant physical contact, affection. All the hopes I’d had for putting that kiss behind us and going on as if it hadn’t happened were shot to hell by this new development.
Well, if I’m going to die at the end of all this, maybe I should go out finally knowing what it’s like to hold her, kiss her, touch her.
That unsettled me more than I liked; the thought of only having that for five brief, wonderful days and then simply walking away. But if given the choice between that and never knowing? I admitted, having a taste was the better option.