Chapter Twenty-Four

 

Rafael was anxious to get Kaya home and check on Jonathan, but finding out more about the Hounds was necessary, so he was glad when Ryker accepted the offer of a ride back to New York in the jet. The males didn’t hesitate to discuss Monk and his disappearance in front of him and Kaya, and that went a long way in easing his mind about the type of relationship they would all have going forward.

Once they settled down, Rafael said, “Tell me about the Ministry. I know they claimed responsibility for taking down Jonas Montague’s clinic when the world fell apart, but other than that, I’ve not heard much about them.”

“Because they’re slicker than whale shit,” Kaya claimed, surprising the Hounds.

“She’s not wrong,” Maveryck muttered, grinning at her.

“During all the years I was on the force, not once was anyone connected to the Ministry convicted of a crime. Without anyone willing to testify against them, the evidence never held up.”

Ryker nodded, and explained further. “They are exceptional at keeping their business hidden and their members in line. They claim to be a religious group, but in reality, they are a cult with factions worldwide. The Hounds of Zeus, like the Gargoyles, come from all areas of the globe, and we have made it our mission to take down the Ministry, one group at a time. The Hounds aren’t as connected as it seems your Clan is. You have Kings to rule your respective country. The Hounds pretty much govern ourselves within our own areas. We do communicate with yearly gatherings, unless we hear of a cult in an area we don’t control. Then we reach out to the head of the family. Before Lucy was hired on with the GIA, we did the best we could finding them without her computer skills. Granted, she isn’t the best hacker in the world, but she was able to help before this latest fiasco came about.”

“Once this is all over and we have proved Lucy’s innocence, Julian can teach her more about computers, if that’s something she would be interested in. That is, if she doesn’t stay on with the GIA.”

“She didn’t want to join them in the first place, but it was either that or jail time. Proving her innocence won’t necessarily enable her to get out of her contract.”

“Then we’ll need to figure out how to help her with that as well. I’m not sure where she and Tamian will end up, but since she lives in New York, I would suspect she’ll want to remain close to her family. Tamian’s parents also live there, so I don’t think he would be opposed to moving there with her. He has a place in New Atlanta, so they could stay there while she’s training.”

“Why would Julian do that?” Maveryck asked.

“Because Lucy’s part of our family, and we take care of our own. Don’t worry; we aren’t trying to take her from you, but she now has an extended family that reaches across the country. We will all be connected once Lucy and Tamian mate, and it would be in our best interests to work together. Just because the Gargoyles handle the Unholy and the Gryphons take on the Ministry doesn’t mean we can’t help one another going forward. Both our species are honor-bound to watch over humans.”

“What happens if they spend time together and decide not to complete the bond?” Hawke asked.

“I have every faith Tamian and Lucy will be mated soon, but if something were to happen and they go their separate ways, Lucy will still be considered family, and the Clan will work with the Hounds regardless. We have a common goal, and nothing will change that.”

The rest of the flight was spent with Ryker and the Hounds recounting times they’d infiltrated the Ministry and how they took them down. The good thing was the cult members who weren’t there of their own free will were directed to rehabilitation centers set up by the Hounds. The only negative was the Hounds didn’t see to it the heads of the cults found their way into the human justice system. Instead, they meted out their own brand of justice. Surprisingly, Kaya didn’t flinch when they explained how their family worked.

When Rafael asked her about it later, she said, “There’s too much wrong with the world as it is. If the Hounds can rid society of these bastards, I’m all for it. That’s one less thing I have to worry about when Sebastian is born.” He couldn’t fault her thinking.

After dropping Kaya off at the manor, Rafael made his way to the hospital. He was pleased to find Jonathan in good spirits, and that meant Priscilla was behaving. She still hovered, but not nearly as badly as when her brother was feeling down. Deacon was leaned against the wall on the far side of the room, staying out of the way. Rafael made a mental note to ask the male how often he visited Jonathan just so he could keep an eye on Dr. Bailey.

To take his human family’s minds off things they had no control over, Rafael told them all about meeting the Gryphons, but he didn’t linger too long after answering all their questions. He didn’t want to cause Jonathan more stress than Priscilla would by herself. After promising to stop by again soon, Rafael headed to see Julian.

Rafael was surprised to find Julian alone when he walked into the lab. “Hey, Brother. When did you get back?” Julian asked, taking his eyes off the monitors and turning toward his cousin.

“A couple hours ago. I dropped Kaya off at home then stopped by to see Jonathan. How are things going here?” It was hard to miss the distress in Julian’s eyes, but his cousin would never complain. He might be Gargoyle, but at some point, they all needed to rest.

“Like you’d expect when the human government’s involved. Phil Ramey is a piece of work, and the more I dig, the deeper the hole gets without hitting bottom. How he managed to pass the GIA’s security clearance is beyond me, unless he had inside help. He’s been good about covering his tracks over the last twenty or so years, but in the past few years, he’s gotten sloppy. That coincides with Lucius Ball’s death. When I can finally get through the files from the lab where Lucy was working, I might be able to discern why that is, but I’m assuming the specialists Ramey hired after Lucius died weren’t as adept in what it was they were tasked to do, and Ramey kept looking until he could get Lucy transferred to his area.”

   “Are they encrypted?”

Julian’s frown deepened. Scrubbing a hand down his unshaven face, he said, “No, I just haven’t gotten to them yet. I’m trying, but there’s only one of me. Rafe, I know you don’t trust him, but I could really use Lachlan’s help.”

“You’re right; I don’t. There’s no way I’m letting him out of the Pen.” Julian’s shoulders slumped, and Rafael felt the impact of his words as if he was sitting in Julian’s place. “After everything he did to aid in Katherine’s arrest, can you honestly say you want his help?”

Julian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he looked at Rafael, he said, “If we can’t find someone else, then yes. It’d go a long way in allowing him to redeem himself. I’m…” Julian shrugged, his voice trailing off.

“Jules, I’m sorry. I —”

“I understand. You’re King, and you have to do what you feel is best for the Clan.”

“That’s not what I was going to say. I’m sorry I didn’t realize how stressed you are. If you, Frey, and Gregor can work out a way to keep him under twenty-four-hour surveillance, then I’ll allow it.”

“No. I can’t let you do that. I’ll keep searching for someone else.”

“While you’re doing all the other work I’ve asked of you? No. We’ll make this work, at least until we find another suitable replacement. With the number of Goyles we have in the States, there has to be another genius among the bunch.”

“Did you know Hunter calls Gregor at least once a week to check on Lachlan?”

“No, but I don’t doubt it. He might not be able to forgive his mate, but if I were in his shoes, I’d check on him, too. For whatever reason, the fates put those two together. They had to see some good in Lachlan, or I doubt they’d have given him such an honorable Goyle as Hunter. Before I talk to Frey and Gregor, I’ll give Hunter a call and tell him what we’re planning. Now that Donovan has a good grasp on being King to the Greeks, Hunter might be willing to relocate to New Atlanta for a while and help us watch Lachlan.”

“That’s a good idea. Last time he called, he informed Gregor several Greek Goyles disappeared. I haven’t had time to track them, but if I were a gambler, I’d bet they’re here with Drago.”

Rafael took a deep breath. When had things gotten so out of hand?

“I didn’t tell you, because you have enough going on with Kaya being pregnant and Jonathan in the hospital. Add finding out about the Gryphons on top of that, and your family thought we would try to take some of the load off your shoulders.”

 “While I appreciate the sentiment, it’s my responsibility to bear that load. Kaya’s doing fine. There’s nothing I can do to help Jonathan other than keep Priscilla from driving him crazy. This thing with the Gryphons will work itself out. After meeting with them, I have a feeling they’ll be good allies. Is there anything else my family has been hiding from me?”

“No, Brother. Not as far as I know.”

“Okay then. I’m going to call Hunter, and then I’m calling a family meeting. You’re excused from the meeting. As a matter of fact, I insist you go home and take tomorrow off. I know we need to help Lucy, but Tamian has her, and she’ll be fine long enough for you to take a break.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m not telling you as your cousin; I’m giving you an order as your King.” It wasn’t often Rafe pulled the King card with his immediate family, but Julian needed the downtime. “Go home to Katherine. Now.”

“Thank you,” Julian whispered.

Rafael closed the distance between them and pulled Julian to his feet. He wrapped his strong arms around his cousin and held him, offering as much strength as he could without saying anything that would cause two big Gargoyles to shed a few tears. When he pulled away, Rafael waited on Julian to type in a few codes.

“I’m calling Katherine when I leave here and telling her to keep you away from the computers at home. No work, Jules. I mean it.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

Once outside, Rafael slid into the seat of his Jag while Julian got in his Vette. As they both pulled away from the parking lot, Rafael dialed Gregor. It was time he got his head out of his ass and reminded his family he had their backs.

 

 

 Lucy had flown in the GIA’s jets many times, but they were nothing compared to Tamian’s personal plane. That had a lot to do with her Gargoyle being there with her. Santiago only interrupted them long enough to come over the intercom with information about taking off and landing. Other than that, Lucy and Tamian had the cabin to themselves. It was impossible for her to keep her hands off Tamian, so she didn’t try. The only thing keeping her from stripping naked and giving herself over to him was Santiago. The pilot was also a Gargoyle, which meant he would hear everything they did or said. Plus, she wasn’t ready to have sex. Her body ached for him to touch her everywhere, but her brain reminded her there would be no going back once that happened.

Sitting on one of the leather sofas, turned so they faced one another, Tamian threaded his fingers through Lucy’s, stroking her skin while they talked about everything and nothing. As soon as they were in the air, he promised to take things as slow as she wanted, stating getting to know all the little things about each other would take time, and they had plenty of that.

At some point, Lucy nodded off. When she woke, she kept her eyes closed. Tamian held her in his arms, brushing her hair off her face and placing soft kisses to her temple and her hair. While she’d been sleeping, they had shifted so they were lying on the sofa. She couldn’t resist the sigh that escaped. She would be happy waking up to his sweetness every morning. When Lucy opened her eyes, the cabin was washed in subtle warmth with the sun shining through the windows. The flight was a long one, and Italy was seven hours ahead of New DC. “What time is it?” she asked, tracing a finger down Tamian’s stubbled jaw. She wondered how he would look with a beard. Stunning, no doubt.

Instead of checking a watch or his phone, Tamian looked out the window. “I’d say it’s right at seven.”

A bell dinged, and Santiago came over the intercom. “This is your captain speaking. We will be making our descent in approximately fifteen minutes. Please return your seats – or your bodies – into an upright position. The current time is six fifty-five, and the weather in Courmayeur is a balmy eight degrees Celsius. For those of you who are metrically challenged, such as myself, that equates to forty-six degrees Fahrenheit.” Lucy and Tamian laughed at the male’s antics. Lucy didn’t consider eight degrees balmy, but she wasn’t a full-blooded Gargoyle. Tamian shifted so Lucy was no longer lying on top of him and helped her sit up.

The landing was the smoothest one Lucy had ever encountered. Once they rolled to a stop, Tamian held out his hand and pulled Lucy to her feet, excitement coursing through her veins. She didn’t know how far the chalet was from the small airport, but she was one step closer to being alone with her Gargoyle. The thought of having a mate who was a shifter wasn’t a foreign concept, but having one who was so much different than her own was thrilling. More than once, Lucy had imagined calling on her eagle so she and Tamian could take to the skies. Hopefully, his chalet was secluded, for more reasons than one.

Santiago slid the cockpit door open and stretched out to his full height, twisting his body several times. His smile was as bright as the sun streaming through the small windows.

“What has you so happy?” Tamian asked.

“What? Can’t a guy smile for no reason?”

“Nope.”

Santiago shrugged. “Then, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He pushed down the lever and opened the door, then pushed the button which unfolded the stairs. “After you,” he gestured.

When Lucy and Tamian reached the tarmac, a gorgeous woman was waiting for them. “There you are,” she said, stepping into Tamian’s waiting arms.

“Hello, Mirabella. You didn’t have to meet us here. I have my car.”

The woman’s face blushed pink, and she lowered her eyes to her feet.

“She’s not here for you.” Santiago pushed past Tamian and swept Mirabella into his arms, swinging her around.

Laughing, she slapped the pilot on his arm. “Put me down, you overgrown beast.” The glint in her eyes hinted at much more than friendship.

“Wait. Why is she here for you?” Tamian asked, slipping his arm around Lucy’s waist. “Aren’t you coming with us to the chalet?”

“Not on your life. Well, okay, if your life was at risk, but I don’t think that’s something I have to worry about, is it?” Santiago winked at Lucy, causing her to blush as hotly as the other woman had.

Tamian barked out a laugh. “Mirabella, I’d like to introduce you to Lucia Ball – my mate.”

“The pleasure’s mine,” Mirabella said, offering her hand to Lucy. After they shook, Mirabella handed Lucy a jacket she’d been holding. “I took the liberty of bringing this for you. Your other clothes are waiting at the chalet.” Tamian had ordered clothes for Lucy, but she was surprised they’d arrived in such a short time. The difference in temperature between Italy and the States was significant, but not so much it truly bothered Lucy. Being a shifter, she could withstand the heat better than the cold, but forty-six wasn’t so bad. Still, she slid her arms into the jacket, thanking the other woman for her thoughtfulness.

“The chalet is fully stocked and ready for an extended stay. But if you need anything else, you know how to reach me,” she said to Tamian.

“You’re the best,” he replied, keeping Lucy close to his side. To Santiago, Tamian said, “We haven’t discussed whether or not we’ll remain here until the shitstorm blows over, but I’ll try to give you as much advance notice as possible before we’re ready to travel. If you need to leave the country for any reason, just let me know.”

Santiago smirked and glanced down at Mirabella. “I’m sure I can find something to occupy my time while you and Lucy get better acquainted.” He handed Tamian Lucy’s bag before taking Mirabella’s hand. “Shall we?” She nodded, her face still a pretty shade of pink.

Tamian didn’t move while the couple made their way onto the plane. He stared as the stairs folded up and disappeared inside the jet before the door closed.

“What the fuck just happened?” Tamian muttered.

“I take it you didn’t know about them?” Lucy asked, grinning at the way her male stood gaping.

“No, I didn’t. But a lot of things are making more sense.” Snapping out of his stupor, Tamian repeated Santiago’s words, “Shall we?”

“We shall.” When Tamian said his car was there, Lucy hadn’t given it much thought. When he led her to a sleek, yellow Lamborghini, the thrill-seeker in her squealed in delight.

“Would you like to drive?” Tamian asked when he caught the way she was eying his car.

“I would love to, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. At least not yet.” Lucy had a sports car of her own back home in the garage, but it was nowhere near the caliber of the high-end vehicle waiting to be turned loose. It had been months since she’d had the chance to get it out on the road, and even though she knew there would be no comparison between the two, Lucy looked forward to seeing if Tamian’s Italian convertible lived up to its hype.

“Fair enough, but considering it’s yours…”

“Mine?” Lucy placed her hands on her hips. “Tamian, you can’t give me a car, much less an Aventador.” Her words betrayed the happy dance going on inside her head.

“I already told you, I’ll give you whatever your heart desires. This” – he gestured to the Lambo – “is something my heart desires for you to have. Consider it a birthday gift.” 

Lucy stepped up to Tamian and placed her hands on his face, pulling him down to meet her lips. Dropping her bag, he slid his hands around her waist to her butt, pulling her tight against him. Either he was happy to see her, or giving her such a present thrilled him. Tamian’s erection pressed into her stomach, and Lucy lost all sense of time and where they were. Wrapping her legs around his waist, Lucy wiggled against the bulge in his jeans, pulling at his T-shirt. She needed him to take her, right then and there, and make her his.

When Tamian settled her back on her feet, he held her at arm’s distance. Grinning, he said, “I want you too, Sweetheart, but not here. Not like this. Let’s get to the chalet, and you can have your wicked way with me.”

Lucy might have pouted, but he was right. If what he’d told her about the mate bond was true, they would need somewhere they could lose themselves in one another as the beasts took over. She couldn’t wait to see his wings again, so she straightened her clothes and nodded. “Okay, then. Let’s see what this baby is capable of,” she said as he opened the door for her. While waiting on Tamian to walk to the driver’s side, Lucy admired the interior. “Holy shit. I have a Lamborghini,” she said, giggling.

As she requested, Tamian showed her exactly what her new car could do.