Chapter 16
Maddox left his apartment to open his shop while I was still sipping my coffee.
He wanted things to appear business as normal for anyone who might be watching.
If anyone watched. I’d been randomly peeking out the window as I puttered around his place, wasting time since the tattoo shop didn’t open as early.
Not once did I spot anything untoward, but then again, would I really notice someone good at spying?
After my shower, I made breakfast for Abaddon, his second, seeing as how he’d also eaten with Maddox. Me, I barely nibbled my piece of toast, but it didn’t go to waste with my dragon-can. He even licked the plate clean of crumbs before I slid it into the dishwasher.
For some reason, Princess had taken to stalking Abaddon, a slinking shadow who slyly watched from behind the corner of the couch or peeked around the edge of the kitchen island.
To his credit, Abaddon ignored her, but that didn’t mean I trusted the pair of them alone.
When it came time for me to head over to the shop, I grabbed the kitty who purred as I scratched behind her ears.
“You’re leaving me? Again?” Abaddon pouted.
“I need to grab the keys for the barn from Leo. I won’t be gone too long. You’ll be fine. Maddox is right downstairs.” As would be Princess, as I planned to drop her off on my way out. “The door to the rooftop is open just in case you need a quick exit.”
“I can’t believe you’re making us live in a barn. Why can’t we stay here?” he grumbled.
“I’ve told you why.” Apart from Abaddon’s growing size and my fear he’d do something to the cat, I didn’t want to bring more trouble down on Maddox. If the man in the suit came after me and my dragon again, I’d prefer Maddox not get swept up in the mess.
“How can my protector do his duty if he’s not around?”
“Don’t worry. I’m fairly certain we’ll still be seeing a lot of him.” I hoped. Things had been going well thus far, but I kept waiting for the straw that broke the burly pet shop keeper’s back. “Be good while I’m gone and try to not eat everything.”
“No promises,” muttered my Little Fella as I left.
I popped Princess into her queenly bed in the storage room before heading into the shop. Maddox smiled upon seeing me.
“Taking off?”
“Yeah. Leo texted. He’s got the keys so I’m going to grab them and then hit a store for a few things.” Like underwear. I had some stuff stashed at Maddox’s place but not enough to constitute a wardrobe.
“Sounds good. See you in a few.” A casual goodbye, unlike the kiss he bestowed upon me.
My toes curled and I wanted nothing more than to drag him into the back and have my way with him. Hmm. On second thought…
A good thing we could be quick seeing as how the bell on the shop door dinged just as we finished. Mads quickly tucked and buttoned before heading out to deal with the customer.
After fixing my mussed hair, I also sauntered out, my step brisk as I walked to work. I entered to find my boss leaning on the counter, chatting with Kalypso.
Upon seeing me, her mouth rounded and she exclaimed, “Oh, Pip, I am so sorry about your place. You okay?”
“Yeah. Luckily, I wasn’t there when it happened.”
“Were you able to save anything?”
I shook my head.
“It was a shit thing to happen. Especially since you had that new pet,” Leo stated.
His comment startled me for a second until I remembered I’d told them a half-truth about me acquiring a lizard to explain my visit to the pet store. “Guess I wasn’t meant to be a reptile mommy.”
“Any idea what started the fire?” Kalypso asked. Morbid yes, but let’s be honest, people couldn’t help but be curious when tragedy struck others.
“No idea, but I was having problems with a plug in the kitchen. Guess I shouldn’t have fucked around getting it fixed.”
“Well, at least we’ve got an epic boss. I’m kind of jealous you get to stay in the barn. Place is a hundred times nicer and bigger than my shithole.” Kalypso’s nose wrinkled.
“It’s only temporarily, until I figure out what to do next.”
“I think this was a sign you need to start building,” Leo declared.
“The sign could have been a little less destructive,” was my wry reply. “Building from scratch will take months, and winter is coming.”
“Actually, you could get it done quick if you went with a prebuilt home. I have a friend sitting on a ready-to-go house in his warehouse because the buyer couldn’t come up with the final payment. Given he got to keep the deposit and needs it gone, I could probably get him to swing you a deal.”
“Really?” For a second, excitement filled me, until I remembered Abaddon. I couldn’t take him back to my property, not until I could be sure those goons would leave us alone.
“I’ll make a phone call and see what my friend can do.”
I chewed the tip of my thumb. “I probably don’t have enough to pay for a house in cash.”
“Cash?” Leo snorted. “What you need is called a bank loan. Before you say anything, I know your granny would hate it, but in this case, it’s the right thing to do if you want a roof over your head before the snow starts flying.”
“You think they could really install it that fast?”
“Like I said, the house is already made. Just needs a concrete pad and some utilities run, then boom. Drop it on top and hook it up. Instant home.” He made it sound so easy and I had to at least pretend I wasn’t planning on permanently relocating.
“Talk to your friend and let me know what he says.”
“Will do, but even if he can’t help until spring, you know the barn is yours as long as you need it.”
“Thanks, Leo.” I really did have the best boss.
And the best boyfriend.
When I returned from some essential shopping, Maddox told me he needed to pop out for about an hour and asked if I would mind the shop.
Easy enough to sit on the stool behind the counter and ring up purchases, although the person who wanted live crickets got told to come back because like hell would I be wrangling bugs.
My temporary gig as a pet store clerk ended when Maddox’s part-time employee, Suzy—a plump woman with a big smile—showed up. I headed back to the apartment with Princess in tow to find my dragon reading on the couch—with a bag of Doritos.
I happened to be looking out the window when Maddox returned and parked out front with a motorcycle trailer hooked to his truck.
“You didn’t have to rent a trailer. I would have been driving over by myself,” I exclaimed when he joined me inside the apartment.
“As if I’d let you move in alone, and besides, you need my truck seeing as how little bud is too big for your saddlebags now.”
Duh. I’d completely forgotten the bugger had grown again. Good thing one of us was using their head. Actually, in Maddox’s case, he used two. Snicker.
“While I was out, I also grabbed some groceries.”
“You and Leo must share a brain,” I said with a laugh. “Apparently, he had the fridge and pantry fully stocked as well.”
“Well, considering a certain someone’s appetite, you’ll need it.” We both eyed Abaddon, now the size of a medium dog, who’d moved on from the chips and was eating directly from a box of Honeycombs while Princess sat on a stool, tail swishing.
“How are we getting him into the truck without being seen?” I asked.
“I’ve got a duffel bag that’s roomy enough for him.”
“Oh, he’s going to bitch about that.”
“Wouldn’t be the first or last time.” Maddox chuckled.
But to our surprise, Abaddon willingly entered the zippered luggage with a bag of beef jerky and cookies.
The ride to Leo’s estate took about twenty minutes, the first ten minutes spent craning backwards to see if we were followed.
“You can stop giving yourself a neck cramp. We’re clear,” Maddox murmured softly. “I’ve been keeping an eye on traffic.”
I leaned back in the seat and sighed. “Being paranoid is exhausting.”
“Well, if you’re boss’s security is as good as you say then you should be able to relax.”
I snorted. “Doubtful. If Mr. Stick-Up-His-Ass shows up again flashing an actual warrant, I’m fucked. Leo might be a rebel about the machine, but even he avoids trouble with the law. As he should. I don’t want him having any issues because of me.”
“I think if that asshole were legit, he’d have had all his paperwork in order when he descended on your place. More likely we’re dealing with some fringe group that thought they could bully you into giving them what they wanted.”
“A fringe group?” I repeated with a chortle. “Like, what, you think they belonged to the Society of Dragon Collectors?”
“You laugh, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if one existed. I mean, there are other examples of odd sects like the Templar Knights or the Illuminati.”
Could he have a point? “Guess if some such cult did exist, they’d know the basics about dragons.
I just wish I knew what they planned to do with Abaddon.
It would be one thing if they wanted him so they could worship and serve him, but another if they wanted to dissect or use him nefariously.
I wonder what happened to the other dragon Abaddon heard them referring to? ”
“Assuming they already have one, they’ve obviously not done anything public with it yet. I haven’t seen anything about fire-breathing dragons in the news or on social media,” Maddox pointed out.
“Not all of us breathe fire,” came a muffled reply from the back.
I craned despite not being able to see my Little Fella amidst the grocery bags. “What else can dragons do?”
“Lightning. Acid. Water. Wind.”
“Hot damn. A water dragon would be cool for my garden when we get summer droughts.” Yeah, I said it on purpose and Abaddon fell for it.
“Water dragons are the weakest,” Abaddon squeaked.
“Doesn’t water put out fire?”
“Water douses, but fire burns. Water won’t tumble castles or do more than soak a person, whereas fire can destroy entire towns.”
“Speaking of burning down shit, no fire inside the barn! We need that place to live,” I admonished.
“I’m not stupid or careless,” Abaddon muttered.