Stacey took a deep breath of fresh December air and tried to calm her nerves as she waited for Northwalk to arrive. Mr. Rodgers’s shady construction company had finished work on the forest mansion only a few days ago, and the smell still lingered—paint, sawdust, metal welding for the steel doors and other reinforcements, and the sharp, acrid odor of wires that made up the extensive security system electronics. Standing next to Kat and dressed in a stylish black wool coat—fancy for Stacey anyway—she glanced behind her at the guards manning the entrance. More took up positions inside, while still others patrolled the outside area around the mansion. Almost two dozen private security guards total, all in black suits with rifles slung across their shoulders and pistols at their hips. When six service sedans materialized through the trees, cruising up the long driveway toward them, she felt as if she were starring in her own spy movie and was about to rendezvous with the hero…no, the villain.
The sleek cars looped around the expanse of gravel in front of the house and came to a stop a few feet away from them. The driver of the head car jumped out and opened the back passenger’s door. A blond woman in a blood-red pencil skirt and ebony fur coat stepped out, a pair of bug-eyed sunglasses covering half her face even though it didn’t seem terribly bright to Stacey. From the following cars, others began emerging to scan the surrounding forest and crane their heads up at the huge house. Together the Northwalk council, at least some of whom were Kat’s kin, consisted of three men and four women, all so finely dressed in shiny suits, cashmere blouses, and shoes that probably cost more than most people’s monthly mortgage, they put Stacey’s attempt at high fashion to shame. From the fourth car, a woman clad all in white with black, silky hair emerged from the dark hole of the sedan’s interior like an angel stepping out of Hell.
Though Stacey had never met or seen pictures of the lady, she knew immediately who it was—Cassandra, Northwalk’s prized Alpha Seer and the woman who’d foreseen Stacey’s death years ago, before Val had stopped it from happening. The way she moved, almost as if she floated, was a dead giveaway.
Like a couple clown cars, a gaggle of people in more sensible business attire popped out of the last two sedans and immediately began shouting orders at the drivers and chattering on cell phones. They must be the help. As footmen hurried to unload luggage, the council walked toward Kat and Stacey, their expensive heels crunching against the gravel as they went. Oh Jesus, Stacey thought as they neared, I hope they like me.
It didn’t really matter if Kat’s family liked Stacey, but it would still be nice to get on the good side of her future in-laws, even if they might be not-so-nice people. The woman in the red skirt and black fur coat took point, placing one hand on her hip and surveying Kat from behind her huge sunglasses.
“Mother,” Kat said with a polite, cold upturn of her lips. Kat’s mother held out her arms, and the two exchanged kisses on the cheek.
“Stacey, this is my mother, Honora.”
“Very pleased to meet you, ma’am,” Stacey said with a smile.
Honora removed her sunglasses, revealing the same ice blue eyes as Kat set in a rigid, expertly painted face. The Arctic stare she leveled at Stacey, as if her daughter’s girlfriend were a fly who’d landed in her wine, was enough to wipe Stacey’s grin away. Honora turned her attention back to Kat, apparently having decided Stacey’s presence wasn’t worth acknowledging.
“I trust you’ve made all the necessary arrangements?” Honora asked in a smooth English accent.
“Of course.”
“Our agent in the field is doing her part. She’s confirmed our assets have manifested and are ready for extraction. Are you doing your part?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Because we wouldn’t want a repeat of what happened last time.”
Stacey knew Kat well enough to spot her girlfriend’s eyes twitch a fraction of an inch—a major show of unease for Kat.
“That wasn’t my fault.”
“No, it was. It really was. But your Uncle Poland was always a bit of an idiot.” She checked the slim gold watch on her wrist. “Enough talking. We have a meeting in forty minutes. After I freshen up, show me to the boardroom.”
Without another look at Kat, Stacey, or the rest of Northwalk, she brushed past her daughter and walked into the mansion, a half-dozen assistants trailing after. How would Honora know which of the twelve bedrooms was hers? Oh yes—that would be the biggest one. After Honora disappeared, the others finally moved. Each exchanged bland, seconds-long pleasantries with Kat before going inside to claim their own bedrooms, probably by size according to their respective rank, however they figured that out. Stacey would have been insulted Kat hadn’t introduced her to the rest of the family, but the subzero reception she’d received from Honora convinced her it was probably for the best.
The last Northwalk man approached Kat with Cassandra at his side. Stacey met Cassandra’s wide eyes and was nearly swallowed by the infinite azure within them. Those eyes saw Stacey die—probably saw everyone die, including those who hadn’t been born yet. Put Val’s ability to shame, really. Forcing herself to look away, she did a double-take at the man’s blue eyes, blond hair, and shockingly handsome face—like a male version of Kat.
“Sister,” he said with a grin that was almost warm, which compared to the others, made him seem downright cuddly.
Kat mirrored his smile. “Brother,” she replied with more ease than she’d shown any of her other family members.
“Tracy, was it? I’m Julian.”
“Stacey. Nice to meet you,” she lied.
“Claire has always been good at picking assistants. She’s an excellent judge of utility.”
“I’m not her assistant. I’m her girlfriend.”
“Oh,” he said with mock surprise. “Of course, of course. Same thing.” He looked at Kat. “We missed you in Prague.”
She snickered. “I didn’t miss you in Beirut.”
“Ever the bitch.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small white chunk of rock. “I got five while in Prague.” Julian admired the rock for a moment, and Stacey’s stomach dropped when she realized it wasn’t a rock, but a tooth. “This one’s my favorite. He was feisty. You?”
Kat rolled her eyes as if he’d made a joke, and not implied he’d murdered five people and taken their teeth as trophies. “Sorry, I keep the ears of my kills in my other purse. Didn’t go with my outfit today.”
“Liar. Severed ears go with everything.” Dropping the tooth back in his pocket with one hand, he threaded his other arm through Cassandra’s. The Seer didn’t react, or even look at him. She seemed almost drugged, like her mind was in another world. Stacey had always assumed Cassandra held a place in Northwalk’s top echelon. To see Julian leading her around, clearly Stacey had been mistaken. The Alpha seemed more like a prisoner than an insider.
He glanced at Stacey, then back to Kat. “Don’t be too long, hmm?” With a sly grin, he added, “You know how I hate to sleep alone.”
Kat looked at him with her typical unreadable expression, an amused smile on her face that might have been sincere, or not. Julian led Cassandra inside as if she were an invalid child.
After he’d gone, Stacey rounded on Kat. “What the fuck was that?”
Kat shrugged. “I told you they were strange—”
“You did not tell me they were rude, creepy, and incestuous.”
“Julian’s just messing around.” She turned and began walking back toward the mansion’s entrance. Over her shoulder, she said, “Don’t take him seriously.”
Stacey marched up behind her. “You neglected to tell me about your perverted, psychotic brother. So thanks for keeping me in the dark on important information, again. Oh yeah, and when they were treating me like shit, I couldn’t help noticing that you stood by and did nothing.”
“You saw them, they don’t care about anyone but themselves. Fighting with them would’ve been pointless.”
“You didn’t even try!”
Kat stopped and turned toward Stacey. In the blink of an eye her expression morphed from steely determination to compassion and concern, like she’d flipped a switch on her face. Putting a tender hand on her girlfriend’s cheek, she said, “Baby, I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have tried. I’m so used to accepting their odd quirks, I don’t think about how it might affect other people.”
Stacey slapped her hand away. “You mean other assistants?”
“I told you, don’t listen to my brother. He’s trying to get under your skin. He has a sadistic streak.”
Stacey snapped, “Like brother, like sister.”
She marched into the mansion before Kat could launch into the usual routine of sweet-talking her way back into Stacey’s good graces. Why did she keep falling for this crap? She should have known Kat’s love was too good to be true. Promises of marriage, a future together…bullshit. Not with a family like that.
Feeling tears building in her eyes, she hurried past the throng of Northwalk staff, who ran around like ants putting everything just so for their masters. After climbing the stairs to their room on the second floor, she sat at the edge of the bed and put her head in her hands. She loved Kat with all her heart, but this wasn’t working. Jet-setting around the world performing innocuous tasks was one thing. Diving into the dark heart of an evil empire was another. At least before, she could tell herself the odd jobs they did for Northwalk were trivial, even if it was for a morally ambiguous organization. She and Kat never hurt anyone. Now that she’d had an up-close-and-personal taste of what their bosses were really like…She wasn’t cut out for this life.
But in my other life—in another universe maybe—I’m dead. What am I doing with my second chance? Whatever doing the “right thing” is supposed to be, this definitely isn’t it.
She heard the bedroom door open and close, then Kat’s hands touched hers. Stacey glanced up and met her girlfriend’s stare. Despite the ice blue of her eyes, Kat could melt any man or woman with that look in the span of a heartbeat. Stacey wished she was immune, but she wasn’t. Kat sat next to her and planted a deep kiss on her lips, and her anger began to wane. Damn, her girlfriend was a good kisser—a good everything when it came to sex.
No. Kat always did this. Whenever they fought, she’d turn on the charm until Stacey relented. And it always fucking worked. Not this time.
Stacey pulled away. “Stop it.”
“I know I’ve been bad.” As she unbuttoned Stacey’s heavy coat, she said, “Let me make it up to you.”
Stacey scoffed. “How? What’re you going to do this time, Kat? Shove your tits at me and hope I stop complaining?”
“Yes to the first part.” She slipped off her own coat, tossing it to the ground before straddling Stacey. Breath hot against Stacey’s lips, she popped open the buttons of her silk blouse and unhooked the front of her bra so her creamy breasts spilled out. “But I’m also going to be honest. Ask me anything.”
Unable to resist, Stacey cupped each soft mound in her hands, running her fingertips across the smooth skin, thumbing her girlfriend’s nipples into hard points.
“Anything?” Stacey asked, her anger subsiding at the rare opportunity to get a straight answer out of Kat, along with the sudden heat between her legs.
“Anything, baby.” She pushed Stacey down onto the bed, unzipping her girlfriend’s slacks before slipping a hand into her underwear and sliding two fingers between Stacey’s legs.
“Mmm,” Stacey moaned as a fire roared to life in her belly. God, this bitch knew exactly how to play her. Despite knowing full well Kat was manipulating the shit out of her, she still loved every second of it. At least she’d make Kat follow through with her end of the bargain. “How are all the people in Northwalk related to you?”
“All cousins, except my mother and brother, who you met.”
“Do you have any other siblings?”
“No. Just Julian.” Kat’s fingers slipped deeper into her, pressing harder until bolts of electricity shot down her thighs.
“What happened to Uncle Poland?”
“Hit by a bus.”
“How is that your fault?”
Kat let out an annoyed sigh. “I put him up in a hotel, and then he was…well, goaded into running into the street, I guess you could say. Mother thinks I should’ve babysat him better.”
“How long has she been in charge of Northwalk?”
“Oh, about seventy years, I think.”
Seventy years? Honora didn’t look nearly that old. Before Stacey could ask how that was possible, Kat sat up so her torso was level with Stacey’s face. Stacey greedily accepted one nipple into her mouth, sucking on the delicious flesh as wetness pooled between her legs, threatening to explode into Kat’s hand. Desperate to be inside her girlfriend, too, Stacey pulled Kat’s pants down to the mid-thigh and entered her. As she stroked Kat’s insides, enjoying the warm, wet feel around her fingers, she thrilled when Kat’s head arched back and a wild moan escaped. The air seemed to thicken as they burned each other’s fuses, getting closer and closer to combusting.
“How does your mom look so young?” Stacey mumbled against Kat’s breast.
“Special drugs. They’re all on them.” She let out a tight chuckle. “Julian would have died a hundred times over if not for the drugs.”
“Are you on them?”
“Sometimes.” Kat’s tits bounced to the rhythm of Stacey’s hand, and her voice became strained as pleasure began to overwhelm her. “But only…if I have to.”
“What does Northwalk really want? Are they trying to take over the world?”
Kat laughed. “Hardly. Northwalk wants what everyone in power wants—to stay in power. They don’t want to take over the world, but they want to control it—and live forever to enjoy the bounty, of course. Being able to see the future is an incredibly powerful tool to that end, for lots of obvious reasons. And the Alpha is an extra special tool. One they won’t give up easily.”
“Do they control all the other seers, too, like Val and Delilah?” Goddamn, she was close, so close, but she needed answers. She had to hold out just a little longer…
She scoffed. “Do you really think anyone can control Val? That’s one tiger I wouldn’t want to grab by the tail. Delilah willingly worked with Northwalk for a while as a free agent, in exchange for help climbing the political ladder. She doesn’t work for us now, but we still keep close tabs on all the seers and manipulate them as necessary, with or without their consent or knowledge.”
“When do you—ahh!” Stacey couldn’t finish before an explosion of ecstasy ripped through her body. At the same time Kat’s insides tighten around her fingers as her girlfriend came, crying out as if begging the room for relief.
When the earthquakes in their bodies passed, Kat cupped Stacey’s head in her hands. “I love you. Remember that.”
“I love you, too.” Holy shit, did she ever. At that moment, if Kat asked her to set herself on fire and jump off a cliff while declaring fealty to the Devil, she’d have done it without thinking twice. She’d been too quick to give up before. So what if Kat had a crazy-ass family? Lots of people did. They could make their relationship work. When Kat assumed control, she wouldn’t be her mother’s errand girl or brother’s verbal punching bag anymore. Together, they could turn Northwalk into a force for good, and not…whatever the hell the organization was usually up to.
Sliding off Stacey, Kat stood and quickly set her clothes back in place. “Time to prep for the boardroom meeting in a few minutes.” She sat down at a cherry wood desk that doubled as a vanity table and popped open her laptop. “I need to make sure the Northwalk cells in Dublin and Cairo are ready for the video teleconference. We still have a lot to do before the big succession ceremony in a few days.”
“When your mother will hand you the reins of the organization?”
“Yes.” Kat grinned at Stacey, the same smile she used on marks—the I’m telling you what you want to hear smile. “And you’ll be at my side.”
A shiver ran through Stacey’s spine, killing the warm afterglow of their lovemaking. Would she really be at Kat’s side? How much of what Kat had told her was the truth? Honora didn’t look old or unhealthy enough to make stepping down a necessity, so why would she abdicate to her daughter after seventy years of what Stacey assumed was iron-fisted rule? Unfortunately for Kat, even the most amazing sex in the world couldn’t patch over the holes in her story.
Stacey steeled herself and forced out a grin she hoped Kat wouldn’t suspect was fake. “You know it, baby.”
Apparently satisfied, Kat swiveled back to the laptop and turned it on. They’d always trusted each other; Stacey because she loved Kat, and Kat because she knew Stacey loved her. For the first time, Stacey subtly craned her head over Kat’s shoulder and watched her girlfriend type in the password to unlock the computer. Stacey hoped she was being paranoid. She hoped Kat loved her and told her the truth about everything.
But to quote a saying Val learned in the Army and had imparted on Stacey when they’d been Valentine Investigations partners: Trust but verify.