Going Under (5 page)

Sami nodded. “All right then. I do hope you accept and should you do so and want any
history lessons or other information I’d be honored to help you.” She tipped her chin
down slightly, which of course Molly couldn’t have known the importance of, but everyone
else at the table did.

“Thank you.” Molly tipped her chin back at Sami and then turned to Meriel and Dominic
again. “I accept the offer. Of both the job and the place within your clan.”

“Excellent!” Meriel beamed and then lowered the hammer. “We’ve already got some work
for you to do. Oh and an office and an assistant. Just in case you took us up on our
offer.”

Molly stood and Gage couldn’t help but admire her anew. Tall, but not too tall. She
wore hose on her legs, not something he saw very often, but with her businesslike
skirt and blouse, it worked. Instead of old-fashioned, it was sort of delightfully
retro.

He wondered then if they were stockings and then made himself stop. Then he started
thinking about her other underwear.

Gage had had to physically turn his gaze away so he could get his focus back.

Meriel stood as well. “I’m going to show Molly around. Dominic, can you check in with
Lark to be sure we’ve got someone on Molly when she makes public appearances?”

Lark nodded and looked to Gage.

When the room cleared, Dominic sighed and leaned back. “So glad Meriel won’t be out
there all the time. Don’t repeat that to her, I’ll only deny it and tell her I think
she’s awesome. Which she is of course. So what are you two going to do to keep our
new PR person safe?”

Gage and Lark had talked about this just the day before. “She’s going to be the public
face of this clan in a way that will attract negative attention. There’s no way around
having a guard on her at all appearances. She may not like that though.”

Dominic nodded. “We’ll need to get to know her a little. Once she finds a place to
live we’ll have to ward it well. I’m going to suggest the clan assign her a driver.
Simon’s brother, Faine, might be perfect for that. Then he can be her guard as well
as her driver. He’s been wanting something to do.”

The Lycians had sent Faine, one of Simon’s younger brothers and a warrior just like
he was, just a week before. He was on loan for the foreseeable future to help. As
the guy was nearly seven feet tall and broad as a truck, he would be perfect as a
guard.

Lark looked to Gage to be sure he was on board with Dom’s suggestion. Gage and Lark
had a good rhythm. She was different than Nell, his old boss, but they worked the
team in a more cooperative way. Lark was good at what she did and trusted him to be
good at what he did. They’d taken the team light years ahead in the last months, even
after the disaster of the Magister.

“That’s a good suggestion. I’ll talk with him today.” Lark made a note.

Dominic nodded. “Good. Okay. Just get with Molly on it. I want her to feel included
and welcomed.”

Unlike what Sami had done. That passed, unspoken between them, but Gage knew Dominic,
knew too that something would be said to the other full-council witch about keeping
her communications with their new PR person civil.

“I’ll stop by her office in an hour or so to introduce myself. Then I can go over
some things with her. I don’t know what her power is like, though certainly charisma
is one of her gifts.”

“We can talk with her about some training too, for her magick. If she needs it I mean.
And who doesn’t?” Lark shrugged. “I don’t get the feeling she’s easily offended or
intimidated. But I do think she’s at that
I am witch, hear me roar
stage, which is good.”

“She’s going to need it. The news gets worse every day. We’re tossing her out there
into a firestorm.” Gage respected Molly’s experience, but he hoped she’d be all right.
They were asking a lot of her.

Chapter 5

HER
new assistant eyed her from the doorway as if she wasn’t entirely sure whether to
kick Molly’s ass or give her a hug.

Molly smiled, hoping for the latter. “Hi, Rita. What’s up?”

“You’re perky.”

“I am. It’s a terrible flaw.”

Rita narrowed her eyes until she harrumphed and came into the office. “Are you a morning
person?”

“Why are you asking? Just curious.”

“I’ve been doing this job for thirty years. It helps if I know the person and their
habits.”

“I’m not really, but now that I’m on the West Coast I’ll have to be.”

“Why?” Rita wasn’t rude, she was just blunt and straightforward. Molly liked that
quality in a person.

Molly sat back, crossing her legs. “A lot of the media we’ll be reacting to or interacting
with will come from the East first. New York, D.C., and so forth. So I’ll have to
be alert first thing and ready to handle any emergencies that might arise. Most likely
I’ll be up at five or so to read ahead, but at this time I’ll be in the office by
about six thirty. You don’t have to be though.”

“If you’re here, I’m here. That’s the job.”

“How about you and I make our own rules instead? I write my own press releases because
I’m a control freak. I generally try to do things in order. Morning is time for reading.
Press releases, news articles, that sort of thing. I don’t need you here for that
stuff.”

“All of us are.”

Molly leaned forward. “What do you mean?”

Rita waved a hand. “All witches are control freaks. Oh, some of us are better at hiding
it or regulating it, but we’re all control freaks in some way or other.”

That was good to know. It wasn’t that she didn’t know any witches. She did, but her
circle had been a dozen or so witches and she only knew the Falcos well enough to
have said if they were control freaks or not.

Rita nodded. “Including me. This is my job and if you’re here, I’m here. I’m not perky
though.”

Molly bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. “All right then. In the mornings
I read. I like to be up on everything that might affect my client.”

“In this case, witches?”

She nodded, approving of the way Rita started taking notes.

“Not just witches. We’re all connected, all Others I mean. So I’ll be reading about
shifters and vampires too. I expect I’ll need to meet with their communications people
as well.”

“I can handle setting all that up for you.”

Molly looked up at the new voice to catch sight of Gage standing in the doorway. In
faded jeans and cowboy boots. He was ridiculously hot as the light glinted off the
hoops in his ear. Three. His hair was gold-blond, thick, but short and neat around
his face. She bet it started to curl when it got any longer, or maybe when it was
wet from the shower, and then slapped herself for thinking about it. She wasn’t there
to meet boys, for god’s sake.

“Handle what?”

“The introduction to the shifter and vampire people. Do you have a few minutes to
talk?”

Rita frowned at him. “Gage, she hasn’t even had lunch yet. Give her a break.”

Gage smiled easily at Rita. “Hey there.”

“Hey yourself. Have
you
eaten? I was telling your mother just yesterday that you’re getting too thin.”

Rita gave him the same stern tone she’d used on Molly. Molly steepled her hands in
front of her mouth to keep from smiling.

“You’re the reason she showed up at my house the day before yesterday with eight bags
of groceries!”

Molly couldn’t help it, she let go of a delighted laugh and both the others turned
to look at her.

Rita waved a hand in Gage’s direction. “He’s too skinny. You should see him when he’s
all filled out. “

Damn, he was even more lethally gorgeous than he was right then? She wasn’t sure if
her hormones could handle that.

Gage appeared to be counting to ten. “I’m a little busy lately.”

“What? Too busy to have a cereal bar or something? This is my grand-nephew, by the
way. Just in case you thought I lectured strangers this way.”

Gage snorted. “Which she does.”

Molly could totally believe it.

“You can take me to lunch and tell me about what neighborhoods I should be looking
for an apartment in after we talk business.” Molly looked at her watch. “Say in half
an hour? I need to finish this meeting with your aunt.”

He appeared to be amused, which looked good on his handsome face. “I’ll be back for
you in thirty minutes.”

She turned back to Rita. “All right then, where were we?”

They went over her expectations and schedule and at thirty minutes exactly, Gage poked
his head into her office. “Ready?”

“I really am.” She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

Rita was out there, guarding her office door like a teeny, frizzy-haired pit bull.
She looked Molly over and then nodded. Molly felt like she’d gotten an A on a test.

“I’ll be back in an hour. I have my phone if you need me.”

“Take an hour and a half; it’s business after all.” Rita sniffed. “And be sure that
one eats or I’m going to tell his mother again.”

* * *

“DO
you have a preference for lunch?” Gage headed to the elevators and she followed. He
pressed the button and then looked down her body. “Maybe not walk too far.”

“Why would you say that? Is it raining again?”

He laughed. “It’s always raining. If you don’t walk in the rain, you won’t be doing
much walking at all.” He gestured, and she preceded him into the elevator. “Use your
keycard like this.” He pulled his out and put it in front of the reader on the number
panel. “It’ll give you access to all the lower floors. There’s a food court down on
five. There are several choices.”

“I can walk in the rain, you know. I have a coat. I’m from Chicago. It was snowing
when I left.”

He looked her over again. “I bet you can. But you have heels on. I was trying to save
your feet.”

“Ah. I can walk in heels. These aren’t that high anyway. Do you have any favorites?
I should be learning Seattle now since I’ll be relocating.”

“Do you like seafood? McCormick and Schmick’s is up the block. They’ve got lunch specials,
that sort of thing. It’ll be quieter and less . . . food court–ish than downstairs.”

She fought a smile. “Food court–ish? I like that.”

He didn’t fight anything apparently. Instead he turned the full force of that damned
mouth on her, with a smile that sent her senses into full-blown standing ovation.

“Seemed apt.”

“McCormick and Schmick’s sounds good.” She hoped he didn’t hear her gulp.

He walked to the outside, shielding her. She allowed it, making a note to ask him
about it once they’d settled in at the restaurant.

* * *

MOLLY
Ryan was the kind of woman men looked at.

Not in the same way they looked at the woman at the bar in the tight red sweater and
a short skirt with heels. No, they looked at Molly the way people liked to look at
pretty, elegant things.

The light seemed to hit her just right. She moved with the kind of grace he rarely
saw in people who weren’t dancers. She charmed the hostess. He knew this because they
got a great table.

“You’re like a Disney princess.”

Startled, she looked up from her menu. “What?”

“Birds sing, the clouds part, people turn to you expectantly. Is this part of your
gift?”

The server came so they suspended the conversation briefly while they ordered.

“Am I so horrible then, Gage Garrity, that only magick would make someone turn to
me expectantly?”

He paused, abashed, and then realized she was teasing. “Not horrible at all. Excuse
my manners. Don’t tell my aunt or she’ll tell my mother and then I’ll have lectures
about how I speak to women, as well as casseroles and my mom’s special tea blends
showing up in my kitchen.”

She smiled. “Your aunt is formidable. I’m glad to have her working with me. I bet
people will think twice before they give her any guff to get to me.”

Gage laughed. “Yes. Well, she’s a tough old bird.”

“To answer your question, I’m told that charm is part of my power. Rosa, she’s my
other mother of sorts, anyway, she said people with my gifts often go into politics
or entertainment. Maybe I should be an actor instead.”

He could totally see her as an actor. “Hours are probably better. Pay too.”

“Weather as well. Los Angeles is sunny today I bet.”

But then he wouldn’t be having lunch with her and Meriel would still be at risk too.

“So is there a good reason then? For your mother to be plying you with food?” Her
eyes were beautiful, probably the most striking thing about her. The blue of deep,
deep water, with flecks of gold around her pupils. Long, dark lashes.

Those eyes of hers saw right through him, he realized. It wasn’t entirely comfortable.

“Been a bit hectic here.” He shrugged.

“I don’t know much about it. About what happened I mean. What I do know is . . .”
She shook her head quickly. “I know it’s not the time or place.”

“You’ll need to know it. For your job I mean. When we get back, have Rita get me on
your schedule and we can go over it. For now, let’s get to the day-to-day stuff. What
is your daily schedule going to look like? What sorts of events will have you leaving
our building?”

He watched as she very precisely put sugar and cream into her coffee, stirring without
making a single sound. She sipped and he saw it, the pleasure skittering over her
features at the taste.

The moment was just a breath of time. And yet the intimacy of it shocked him. A flush
heated through his belly.

She tore her attention from the coffee and back to him. “I needed that. Why do you
ask? I’m assuming scheduling if and when I need security?”

He spoke under his breath and the spell dampened all sound around them. “We can hear
when we’re being approached, but we can speak without being heard.”

Her eyes widened and the wonder on her face chipped away a little of his bitterness.
“Really? Can you teach this to me? Oh, that would be brilliant.”

He found himself smiling more with her than he had in some time. “I can, yes. For
now, the answer to your question is yes, I need to know for security reasons.”

“I expect for the next several days it’ll be a lot of catch-up and getting some structure
into place. Then I’ll be doing the things Meriel does now. Interviews, that sort of
thing. Do you have a website?”

“Hm? Uh, yes. Locked to Owen members only.”

She nodded and pulled a pad from her bag and began to write.

“I apologize. I wanted to note something while I was thinking. There’ll be legislative
visits. But I can make the drive down to Olympia easily enough if the maps are correct.
I’ll probably only need your help occasionally. Appearances will take up a lot of
time some weeks and others I’ll be at the office. I’ll have Rita let your office know
in advance if I’m doing something I feel will need an escort.”

He held his finger up briefly, breaking the spell as the server approached with their
food and then recasting once they were alone again.

“You seem to like blunt talk, am I correct?”

She took him in, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Yes, I prefer it.”

“Things are bad. We get multiple death threats weekly. Meriel and Dominic have given
Lark and I the ability to run the security needs of the clan and its witches. Lark
and I believe your job will be as dangerous as it was when Meriel did it. By that
I mean the moment humans find out you’re our spokesperson, you will be under increased
threat. It’s my job to be sure we protect you against that threat level. As such,
all
appearances outside the building will be with a security detail. The clan will provide
you with a guard who will also serve as your driver.”

“Driver? That’s ridiculous. I can drive my own car.”

“Three days ago, a witch in Arizona was pulled from her car and nearly beaten to death
by thugs who found out she was a witch. We routinely get reports of nails in tires.
A witch in Spain, part of their council, was killed just a week ago. An IED planted
at the end of her driveway. You will have a car the clan secures when you are not
in it and you will have a trained driver, who will be your guard as well. This is
not negotiable.”

One of her brows rose and she cocked her head slightly.

“Your home, once you secure a place to live, will be warded by one of the witches
the clan trusts. Meriel’s father is one of the best. Sami is also quite powerful at
warding.” He paused to eat and let it sink in a little.

“Welcome to war, Molly Ryan. It’s my job to be sure you’re tough enough to make it
out alive.” Even though he knew it wasn’t a promise he could keep every time. The
truth was, he couldn’t protect them all.

* * *

GAGE,
true to his word, had assigned her a guard and a driver named Faine. Faine, who was
a great deal like a flesh-and-blood tank, was Lycian. She’d discovered Lycians were
sort of like werewolves and they came from the other side of the Veil, like the Fae.
There were Fae
. She was still sort of reeling over that.

Anyway, Faine was Simon Leviathan’s younger brother and once she got past the fact
that he was nearly seven feet tall, she discovered he also had a very sweet way about
him.

He’d been given the room next to hers at the hotel and had come inside Molly’s room
to give it the once-over. Apparently someone from the clan had come over earlier to
ward the place as well.

Once he’d finished, she touched his arm briefly. “Thank you. I’m sorry your life has
been uprooted just to be next door.”

Faine smiled again and she couldn’t help but respond with a smile of her own. “This
is what I came here to do. I’m pleased to be able to help. Have you eaten dinner yet?”

She shook her head and took a peek at her watch. “Didn’t realize it was already after
eight.”