Chapter Thirteen #2
Bene’s eyes sparkled. Marius looked pretty happy too. Henrik wore his usual I don’t give a damn expression.
But I grew nervous. A desperate warlock was a dangerous warlock. And Gordon was definitely desperate.
“That will be all, then,” Gordon announced with a gesture that said, Shoo. Then he grimaced. “Must I arrange for accommodations?”
Poor guy. No assistant to do his dirty work since Celeste left, Bene observed.
I begged to disagree. We were the ones doing his dirty work. What he lacked was an assistant to deal with the little things.
“We can do it,” Bene offered quickly.
“You two are welcome to use my guest apartment, of course.” Gordon singled out Gen and Mina.
Marius bared his teeth.
The sisters had probably shared many a sleepover in their lives, but now was not the time. Not with a territorial dragon mated to one of them.
My inner tiger flicked its tail. Dragons aren’t the only territorial ones.
I inched closer to Gen.
“You’re too kind,” Mina said. “But I’ll stay with Marius.”
Gordon gritted his teeth, while Gen’s eyes slid to me, then jumped away.
“That’s very generous,” she replied. “But it would be best if we could find a place big enough to accommodate all of us. You know, for more efficient planning and investigating.”
So, whew.
Gordon nodded. “I’ll keep you abreast of any new developments.”
“We’ll do the same,” Mina assured him.
“Just a moment, Monsieur Anand,” Gordon called as everyone filed out the door.
I froze.
“I’d like a quick word, please.” He curled a finger, beckoning me.
Gen’s eyes went wide, and Bene shot a not at all helpful Oh shit into my mind.
This again? Marius grumbled.
I felt the same. Gordon had a way of cornering me for special favors that only made things worse.
“Yes, sir,” I said, more out of habit than respect.
Mina shot Gordon a hard look, but he ignored it.
“Monsieur Anand will catch up with you.” He closed the door with a heavy click.
I kept my eyes on the gap on the wall, waiting. Wondering. Meanwhile, Gordon walked over to the windows and paced. Not good.
“I have a special request,” he finally said.
I braced myself.
“I ask you because you’re a man of your word, and I know I can trust your discretion and dedication — unlike the others,” Gordon growled.
Oh, this definitely did not sound good.
“Keep Geneviève safe,” he announced.
I exhaled. Whew. I would have done that anyway.
I was about to say as much, but he went on.
“She tends to be impulsive and does not yet have Mina’s…appreciation for the dangers of the supernatural world.”
Such a smooth talker. So much wrong with that sentence. Mina appreciated the dangers because Gordon had exposed her to them again and again. And the entire supernatural world wasn’t dangerous — only the criminal subsection Gordon operated in.
“I will reward you handsomely, with an additional €25,000, to keep my goddaughter safe.”
My lips parted in surprise. Did he consider the others so lax or this task so onerous?
“I also don’t want her fraternizing with any of the men,” he added.
I nearly snorted. Gen would never consider a fling with Henrik. Bene, maybe.
Apparently, he didn’t consider me a danger.
Well, you are the dependable one, my tiger grumbled.
Probably true. But I was also the one with an all-consuming desire for her.
“And I don’t want her wheedling her way into the operational stage of this mission. Just the research,” Gordon barked. “God knows, the girl will try. But you have to stop her, even if you have to throw her over your shoulder and carry her away.”
My throat went dry as I pictured how well that would go over with Gen.
“No bonus necessary, sir. I’ll keep her safe.”
Gordon studied me from head to toe, and the air around me tingled. He was probing my mind for ulterior motives — and boy, did I harbor a few.
I stood perfectly still, trying to think clean thoughts.
“On the contrary — it is necessary,” Gordon insisted. “Soon, you will have completed your contract. How long left? Eleven days?”
Twelve days, eight hours, and roughly forty minutes, I knew. But all I uttered was, “Thereabouts.”
“It’s time to consider your next steps, and a man with your particular skill set… Well…” He trailed off grimly.
My skill set was military, but I’d been pushed out of that world by officers who didn’t appreciate the lower ranks expressing “opinions” on issues like where interrogation ended and torture began.
That left me with narrow options. I could hire out as a mercenary for causes even more vile than Gordon’s, or I could work in private security.
The latter wasn’t all that inspiring, but at least it didn’t make me feel sick.
“You’ll want to start your new career with strong references, of course,” he said.
I looked over sharply. Was that a threat?
You bet your ass it is, Gordon’s smug look said.
“I’ll do anything for at least one of my goddaughters not to be corrupted by the likes of your colleagues—”
I clicked my jaw. We might not be angels, but even Henrik’s soul was purer than Gordon’s.
“—and to keep any harm from befalling her,” he finished.
I nearly snorted. If Gordon didn’t see fit to use Gen for his own mysterious ends, she wouldn’t be in danger at all.
He clapped me on the shoulder and smiled. “Keep Geneviève out of harm’s way, Monsieur Anand, and that bonus will be yours.”
Which pretty much set me up for disaster, because Gen would not approve.
On the other hand, €25,000 would go a long way in setting me up in something other than mercenary work. And much as I dreamed of more with Gen, that was just a fantasy. Gen was classy. I was…well, me. Ultimately, I was destined to be nothing more than her latest mistake.
My hands curled into fists, and my nails dug into my palms.
“Not a word to her about our arrangement, of course.” Gordon flashed a wicked smile.
This was beyond wrong. It was insulting. I didn’t need a bribe to protect Gen. I would protect her just because.
I was about to point out that we had no arrangement, because I hadn’t actually agreed yet. But Gordon’s phone rang, and he gestured me toward the door. “We’ll continue this later.”
No, we wouldn’t.
But over the past ten years, two words had been programmed into my soul, and they slipped out instinctively.
“Yes, sir,” I said, making a beeline for the door.