Chapter Eight.
Loch Ness Monster/Jess
Ness paddled around the lake, trying to make sense of what she’d seen.
Mitch and Diar had taken the body to an estate somewhere and dropped it off there before driving away.
What on earth had that been about? There’d been a look of intense hate on Mitch’s face.
How did Mitch recognise the tattoo of the Hunters?
Had he recognised it? She’d caught him looking at it, but that didn’t mean Mitch knew it.
Ness plunged deep into the water. Disease was agitated, and Ness longed to drown it, but that wouldn’t work.
Instead, Ness slapped Disease back hard as she dived and spun in circles in the deepest part of the lake.
On land, the Loch Ness Monster was ungainly and clumpy.
Here in the water, she swam with grace and poise.
Water was in Ness’s blood, and here she reigned as queen, although she might have to share that title with Willow and Scylla.
Ness sailed along, diving closer to the lakebed and extending her neck and flippers in joy.
This was her happiness, her world, and nobody could take it from her.
Down here in the depths of the huge deep lake, Ness could be herself and be free.
No need to worry about Hunters down here; they’d never find the castle or their land.
Hidden from humans by powerful magic, the shifters were safe.
Once more, Ness turned her mind to Mitch.
She’d witnessed the altercation from start to finish.
Mitch had secrets; he’d admitted them, and they were clearly dangerous ones.
Because the way Mitch moved during that attack—that was a man trained from a child to fight.
Which meant what? Why was a billionaire conditioned like that?
Then Ness paused in her swimming as a thought struck her.
Had Mitch always been rich? Ness knew nothing of Mitch’s family or childhood.
That was a topic Mitch refused to talk about.
She floated lazily in the current; clearly, there was something in his past that Mitch was hiding, and it was a big secret.
They’d agreed not to pry into each other’s skeletons, but this affected not just her.
This could infect the world if she were captured and kill billions this time.
Ness Monster shot up towards the surface. She needed answers.
Gargoyle
“Mitchum killed him!” Alexander shouted, and Gargoyle almost laughed. Someone was pissing his pants. “Father, I can’t believe you sent a Murtair!”
“Alexander, I won’t bow down to your ungrateful whelp!” Alfred ranted, and Gargoyle chuckled silently. Looks like the Weideman heir had kicked some ass and thrown it in his family’s face. Mitch McQuoid was making a statement, and neither his grandfather nor his father liked it.
“Mitchum dumped the body on our land!” Alexander seethed.
Gargoyle wondered what their next plot might be and was startled when he heard sirens.
“What’s that?” Alfred demanded, rising to his feet.
“The police. I warned you not to mess with Mitchum. It looks like he’s striking back,” Alexander sneered with worry in his voice.
“That boy just signed his death warrant,” Alfred threatened.
“This is on your head, Father. But I agree, Mitchum will die,” Alexander seethed. There was a pounding on the door, and moments later, the police stormed the house and arrested Alfred for murder. Gargoyle rocked back and forth, completely amused.
Mitch
“It’s all over the news,” Diar exclaimed, storming into Mitch’s office.
“It is? Are you going to tell me exactly what ‘it’ is?” Mitch asked, looking up. He had a good idea but wasn’t too fussed. Diar confirmed his guess with his next words.
“Alfred was arrested for murder. The police have the body of Alfred’s latest victim, a woman, and the DNA that was left behind. Somehow, they also have camera footage of him torturing her. An anonymous person sent them the information.”
“Such a shame. Maybe the old bastard will learn a lesson,” Mitch replied. How stupid was his family that they’d not even changed passwords to block his access to their network?
“That you won’t bend the knee and fall in line? You should see Alfred’s face on TV. He’s beside himself with fury. Who was he arrested for?”
“A Sealgair Uilebheist, Marie Crossbank. She failed in a hunt, and Alfred made an example of her. Marie’s death was miserable to say the least, and a blessing when it came.” Mitch felt guilty. There were plenty more like Marie Crossbank. Too many.
“What do you think will happen now?”
“Alfred will make bail, not take heed of my warning, and pursue me again,” Mitch said resigned. “Either that or the Ceann-Feadhna will come for me.”
Now Diar looked worried, and Mitch reached out. “They’ll send more than one Murtair next time.”
“Probably. I warned them that I had information that would bring them down. One of their leaders is now behind bars with enough evidence to put the old bastard away for life.”
“But you believe Alfred will make bail,” Diar argued.
“Oh, definitely. Alfred won’t learn his lesson. Unluckily for Alfred, I have other murders ready to be released.”
“What about Alexander?” Diar asked.
Mitch leaned back in his chair and steepled his hands.
“My father is a cunning fuck. He’s prepared to let Alfred take potshots at me, and if Alfred is successful, all well and good.
But if Alfred screws up, which he will, Alexander will walk away clean.
He’ll cheerfully sacrifice Alfred and claim his seat at the Sealgair Uilebheist table. ”
“Your family is warped.” Diar shook his head.
“Much the same as yours. Maybe you ought to lie low; no doubt Alexander will have eyes on you.”
“I’ve already decided to stay out of the public eye. They might start looking at me as well as you.”
“Bro, they’ll come for you because they’ll believe you’re one of those holding the information. I’m sorry to have put you in this position,” Mitch said and leaned back on the table.
“They’ve always kept a watch on me. This isn’t on you. It’s on them being murdering bastards. Anyway, change of subject, have you heard from Jess?”
Mitch flinched and shook his head. “It’s been five days, and Jess has gone silent. My messages aren’t even sending, so she’s turned her phone off. Honestly? Jess might be better off away from me with this shit going on. This will put a target on her back.”
Regret ran through Mitch. He wanted more of Jess, but how could he justify opening her to this level of danger? That would be damn selfish. Jess didn’t deserve this risk and disruption to her life.
“Well, maybe your luck’s about to change.” Diar strolled to the door.
Mitch frowned at him. Where was Diar going?
Diar opened the door and moved to one side.
“Hi, come on in, I’m just leaving,” he said and left as someone stepped inside to replace him. To Mitch’s utter shock, Jess walked in. She eyed him sideways and then straightened her shoulders, wandered over to his desk, and took a seat.
“Mitch, we should talk,” Jess said softly, and all Mitch could do was nod dumbly. Jess was here, and she’d not reported him to the police. Mitch was curious why, but right now, he was more than relieved to see her.
“Let’s go elsewhere. Somewhere we don’t need to be afraid of being overheard,” he said.
Jess nodded and quietly got to her feet.
Mitch noted how wary Jess seemed, and it worried him.
There was a distance that Jess had put into place, and he couldn’t blame her.
She’d seen Mitch kill a man. Although a thought nagged.
Why hadn’t Jess called the cops? Why had she kept quiet?
Jess/Loch Ness Monster
Jess was on edge and had a compact mirror in her pocket.
It would take seconds to reach safety if Mitch attacked.
She was shocked that Mitch wasn’t in custody.
Guns and knives were illegal in England.
Did Mitch have the Manchester police under his control?
Who lived in the house where he’d dumped the body?
“Here,” Mitch said and indicated the Bugatti.
“You want me to go with you?” Jess murmured.
“I’m going to take you somewhere where we can talk,” Mitch replied.
“Are you planning to hurt me?” Jess asked. Even if he were, Mitch would not admit it; that was a stupid question.
“No. Never, Jess. I’d rather die than let anything harm you,” Mitch declared.
Jess bit her lip. She could overpower Mitch, but something was warning her about him. Mitch wouldn’t be an easy takedown.
“Fine,” she said and got into the car. She wanted answers, so she’d have to trust him. They drove in silence until they reached a private driveway. The gates opened, and Mitch headed up the lane. Jess wasn’t surprised to see a mansion at the end of it.
“My home,” Mitch stated as he parked.
“Guessed that,” Jess climbed out of the car, not waiting for him. She was on edge and antsy. Images kept flashing through her mind of how easily Mitch had fought the attacker and how smooth his moves had been. Jess was very much on guard against an attack.
“Come in,” Mitch said as he opened the front door. Jess paid attention as he led her through the house and into the kitchen. Without a word, Mitch flipped the kettle on, then rested his palms on the worktop. He ducked his head and blew out a deep breath as he leaned heavily on them.
Jess gave Mitch time to straighten out his thoughts.
Mitch finally moved, made them both coffee, and placed hers in front of her. She’d already noted the exits in case he attacked.
“I don’t know where to start. It’s such a long, fucked-up story,” Mitch admitted.
“Try the beginning,” Jess said.
“Okay, but I need to understand why you haven’t called the police?”
Jess met his gaze calmly. “Because I know that there are things in this world that don’t make sense. Like my billionaire boyfriend knowing how to fight like a professional bodyguard.”