Going Under (9 page)

“Molly and I had a talk about it yesterday. Reporting things to the cops and FBI I
mean. She sees it as our right as citizens and she’s not going to let them shirk.”
Meriel shrugged. “She’s right of course. I think her perspective is important. Especially
now. She remembers what it means to be human in a different way than we who’ve grown
up in clans do.”

“You made a good choice when you hired her.”

“She handling it all okay? You see her more than I do.”

“Death threats are no fun. She was shaken up last night when the protesters rushed
us. But she refused to take the back way. She’s strong.”

Meriel nodded. He filled her in on everything else and by the time he’d left, he felt
better. Meriel had that way about her.

Chapter 10

BY
the time they headed back to the hotel it had been a very, very long day. Molly had
enjoyed her time at Gage’s parents’ house. His father had been warm and welcoming,
interested in what Molly did for a living. His mother, well, she’d been overjoyed
to see Gage when they’d arrived.

It’d been easy for an outsider to see how much Shelley had needed the visit from her
son. She’d tutted over how thin he’d looked and the shadows under his eyes before
she turned her attention to Molly.

She’d fed them both. Repeatedly as the time had worn on. True to Gage’s word, Molly
had been able to work and finish her press releases in the sunroom that had overlooked
the garden. No one had bothered her except to bring her a cup of tea here and there.

And when she’d finished up, they’d all ended up watching a movie and gorging on pizza
and popcorn. It had been the first time in well over a month that Molly had actually
relaxed. She’d really needed something delightfully normal and it had been that in
spades.

“You were good to my mom today. Thank you.” Gage came into her room to do his usual
checking under the bed and testing the wards.

She put her shoes in the hall closet and hung her coat up as well. “She was the one
who was good to me. I was thinking on the way back here that this evening was the
first time I felt truly relaxed since . . . well, before the Magister.”

He stood in her entry and she waved him all the way inside. “Are you staying here
tonight?” She blushed. “I mean, next door? If so, I’ve got a bottle of wine if you’d
like a glass.”

He’d reached out to her when she’d really needed it. Plus she liked being with him.
He smelled good. Made her feel safe and there was no denying he was nice to look at.

And she wasn’t ready to be alone yet.

He smiled. “Yes. I sent Faine home for the weekend. A glass of wine sounds good.”

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to change out of these work clothes. There may be some
cheese or something like that in the fridge. Meriel sent over a basket yesterday.”

She ducked into the bedroom and then stood there as she tried to figure out what to
wear. Sweats? No. Yoga pants? Yes, that would work. She didn’t look herself in the
eye in the mirror because for heaven’s sake, the man did not care what she wore! But
she did.

She carefully hung her work clothes up, thankful for the washer and dryer stacked
in a nearby closet. It wouldn’t be that hard to live in the hotel for a bit, especially
when she could wash her clothes and make her meals.

When she emerged he’d opened the connecting door to the other room and he’d kicked
off his boots, padding around in his socks. She paused, arrested for a moment by the
sight and not understanding why. He wasn’t naked for goodness’ sake.

“There you are.” He smiled her way as his gaze moved up her body, lingering at her
breasts, making her glad she wore the snug long-sleeved shirt. He cleared his throat.
“I took the liberty of uncorking the wine and getting the glasses.”

They ended up settled on the small couch in the living area. She tucked her feet beneath
her and grabbed her glass.

“Wait.” He held his aloft. “To successes. Big and small.”

She clinked her glass with his before sipping.

“I’m a little superstitious. I like to make a toast when I drink spirits. It feels
like I’m wasting magick if I don’t.”

She smiled. “I like that. So, what made you decide to be a hunter?”

“Family business. My father was a hunter. He only retired a few years ago. Before
that it was my grandfather, his brother, and so on. There’s been a Garrity in the
Hunter Corps since the first years of Clan Owen. Hell, since we all lived on the East
Coast. That or Hunters. That’s Nell’s family.”

“Nell is the hunter out on maternity leave now? The one who was kidnapped just shortly
ago?”

He nodded, the anger on his face drawing deep lines into his forehead. This Nell was
clearly important to him.

“Yes. She and her husband have faded into some well-deserved obscurity. He was wary
about her job before. But after the kidnapping, well, let’s just say he is
not
enthused about the family business at this point. Though he is part owner of Heart
of Darkness still. They have a newborn so that’s rightfully their focus. A little
girl named Libby.”

Babies helped you remember what was important in ways nothing else could. “I get that.
And I understand why she’d back off. You two were close then?”

“She’s like a sister. I’m just glad she and the baby are all right. But I miss having
her around. Lark and I work well together, don’t get me wrong. I like her. She’s smart
and capable and I think she and I run a tight crew.”

“But it’s not the same.”

“No. It isn’t.” He snorted. “Do you have a best friend like that?”

“I did. She . . . the Magister.” Molly licked her lips, suddenly unable to control
her emotions.

He took her hand and she shook her head. “No. I can’t. Not now.”

He kissed her knuckles and her lids flew up. He filled her vision.

“You don’t know me well, but you don’t have to be strong every single moment. Not
on my account. I understand it. The loss. The anger.”

If she let it go, Molly was afraid it would fill the room and drown them both.

“So Rosa found you at thirteen and then took you under her wing?”

He was good at this. Changing the subject enough that she could fight past the knot
of emotion in her throat.

“I pretty much lived at their house a few weeks a month and most of the summer. She
and Anthony, that was her husband, they accepted me like I was theirs. Taught me how
to use my magick. I remember the first time I did a spell successfully. A protection
spell.” She smiled remembering that moment when all the symbols she’d drawn in the
air had worked, come together and she’d felt it all the way to her toes. “Rosa taught
me a lot of healing and protection stuff. Anthony showed me that I didn’t have to
do sigils to use my magick. That was later on, when I was nearly out of high school.”

“So you were part of their coven then?”

“Sort of. I went to barbecues and picnics, that sort of thing. My mother insisted
I participate on some level because she’s always felt it was important I understand
the other side of my heritage. I never really felt connected to it. Not the way you
all do to Owen.”

“Maybe you will too, someday.”

“Maybe. It’s different now. I’ve changed. This thing has given me a different perspective.”

“My first week on the job I got my nose broken. My mom could help some with it, but
it still hurt like a bitch. Worse, I was humiliated because I got it after making
a stupid mistake. My dad said to me, as he picked me up off the sidewalk,
‘Kid, some lessons are best learned the hard way.’
Not that I’m saying it’s good you had to go through this, that any of us did, but
I’m hoping that we can all learn from it. And never fail that way again.”

She shrugged, suddenly so very tired. Instead she held her glass out as he filled
it again. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

Oh god. Did she just say that?

“No time really. I dated someone, but she left after the Magister. Wanted to get out
before the heat came down. I guess she was right to go.”

“Look, it’s not like I was the poster girl for witchcraft and my entire life was destroyed.
Not by being a witch. But by scared, cowardly people. She can hide, but I don’t think
that’s much protection anyway.”

“You used to think so too, didn’t you?”

Annoyed, she sent him a raised brow. “I wasn’t hiding. Just because I grew up in a
different way doesn’t mean I’m incapable of understanding reality.”

“I deserved that.”

“You did. I never much thought about it before one way or the other. Which is a problem
of a different sort and one I have to deal with now. I wasn’t active in the coven
not because I was ashamed of being a witch or felt like it was bad. But because I
had a life I was happy with. I had a business and a home and friends and family. I
was a witch, same as I am now, but it didn’t define me in the same way it does now.
But that’s not me misunderstanding what I was, what I am. That’s life changing not
only the way others view me, but the context of what I am too.”

Abashed, he realized how much more self-actualized she was than he. He, who’d grown
up with all the clan had to offer. Connection, history, education, the collected skills
and information of generation after generation of witches.

“I’m sorry. It’s not what you think. It is in some ways, I admit. You’re an outsider
and”—he paused as the irony hit him—“I guess we both know how that goes now. Anyway,
are you dating anyone?” He probably could have changed the subject better, but he
wanted to know anyway.

“No. I’ve been busy with my firm. Building my professional life. I dated here and
there, but never anything serious. I just didn’t have the time, or the interest to
put anyone before work. Now I’m glad I didn’t. I guess.”

“You’ll find the time here after a while. This can’t go on forever. At some point
we’ll get to back to normal. Woman like you? Smart and pretty, talented—you’ll find
yourself swimming in suitors.”

“Don’t know if
back
to normal will ever happen. We’ll have to find new normal. And ha, suitors. You sound
like my mother.”

“Did she never marry then? I mean after your father . . . though I guess
father
is a relative term. Can’t abide a man who abandons his family.”

“To his credit, I don’t think he knew when he left. They were only together a few
months. She had a boyfriend for nine years. She said marriage wasn’t in the cards
for her at her age. Though for goodness’ sake,
her age
, like she’s ninety instead of fifty. Anyway. They broke up two years ago and she
hasn’t really been looking. She’s a little, um, daunting. I’ve never met anyone as
awesome, ambitious and totally in charge as my mother.”

He appeared to be looking at someone who was as awesome, ambitious and totally in
charge, but he didn’t say that. “Did you ever want to find him? Your father I mean.”

“Rosa has wanted me to for years. But I don’t know. He’s not really anyone to me.
I had a man in my life. I had a father. Even my mom’s boyfriend was more of a father
to me than the one who made me.” She shrugged. “Anyway, my god, let’s talk about something
good. What do you do for fun, Gage Garrity?”

She leaned in, a smile on her face, and it lightened his heart. Though also, undeniably,
other parts got a little heavier.

“I don’t know, do you want the PG answer?”

She laughed. A different laugh than she’d given him before. This one was husky, sensual.
He liked it.

“Well, it’s been a long day and I’ve had some wine so let’s go big or go home. Give
it to me.”

Then she blushed, putting her fingers over her lips as she laughed again.

He started to laugh and kept on. She was so much more than he’d imagined at first.
She kept surprising him, which was unexpected and wonderful all at once. Not much
was surprising to him those days. Not in a good way anyway.

“I’d scare you all the way back to Chicago, missy.”

One of her eyebrows rose ever so imperiously and he dug it like an idiot. “Is that
so? Hm. I think that might just be the other way around. I might give you gray hair.
Just because I don’t date on the regular doesn’t mean I don’t know how to get my
hobby
on.”

“Oh my god, you’re a menace,” he said through laughter. But he’d be lying if he denied
he hadn’t gone there when she’d said it. Hadn’t wondered just what she meant.

She started laughing and within moments the two of them were doubled over on the couch,
laughing so hard they couldn’t speak.

“I haven’t laughed like this in so long.” She wiped her eyes with a paper towel. “Thank
you.”

He grinned. “Right back atcha. Just remember how much you like me now tomorrow when
I’m working you.”

She started laughing again. “You’re what?”

“Teaching you defensive magick! Gah, you are a total perv, aren’t you?”

“You started it!”

He hadn’t laughed like this in so long either. God knew he needed it. And he really
liked that it was with her.

Chapter 11

GAGE
had cornered Faine and sent him off on an assignment. One anyone else could have done
in his place. But he wanted to escort Molly to the local nest to meet with Franco
Pendergast. The local vampire bigwig had agreed to meet with her and she had no idea
what she was dealing with.

Not that he’d tell Molly that. Or, well, he’d tried in nice ways, but she’d given
him a look that had sent his balls up into his body in fear.

So he’d escort her and shoot anyone in the face if they tried to touch her. It worked
for him.

“I really can’t believe I’m going to visit a vampire at his lair. Nest. House. Whatever.
Honestly, it’s silly for me to be surprised, given the fact that I’m a witch and all,
but vampires seem so much more fantastical than anything else.”

“More fantastical than men who can shift into wolves?” He grinned as he drove.

“I didn’t profess my surprise to be rational. It’s just so . . . well, werewolves
aren’t like in the movies I guess.”

“Don’t expect vampires to be in polo shirts and jeans with backward baseball hats.”

She laughed. “Check that one off the list. Though it would be really funny if they
were. I know they’re predators. Lark took me aside a few days ago and gave me a big
brief about them. She’s awesome. I wish I could dye my hair blue.”

Random. Women were so damned random sometimes. He just nodded and hoped she’d wander
back to the point soon.

“Anyway, so I know not to stare into their eyes. Not to make sudden movements. She
gave me a list of topics to avoid. Not that I would have been discussing any of them
with strangers anyway. And frankly, who
does
discuss that sort of thing with strangers?” She sniffed, outraged, and he tried not
to laugh. “In any case, I’m more curious than frightened.”

“Good. They smell fear. Of us all, Others I mean, they’re the most, um, different
than humans. They’ve been around a very long time. A lot of the really powerful ones
are hard to relate to so they keep to themselves. The one you’re meeting with today,
Franco, is only a couple hundred years old. He’s all right. He knows we’re not victims.
I’ll set him on fire if he gets out of line. I find that helps move things along.”

She looked over at him and shook her head. “Lark told me about the last run-in with
them. Still, I’d like to think I could do this on my own. I’m not totally helpless.”

“We’ve gone over this many times before, Molly. You’re not totally helpless at all.
But this world, well I’m more familiar with it. And I know how to set shit on fire.
I’m handy to have around if things get out of hand. Just think of it that way. Never,
ever deal with vampires if you’re not armed. Consider me your weapon.”

“That and the two rather large side arms you’re wearing.”

“You saw that, huh?”

“Yes.” She wore a smile, one he thought . . . well, it couldn’t be a sexy smile. She
was amused by him. Which worked better than sexy. Right? They were better off as friends
and nothing more. They’d work better that way. Even if he was fighting off the urge
to sniff her, or smooch her every time he got her alone these days.

Stupid hormones.

It was the way she made him laugh. That’s all.

“Look, there’s going to be a little push and shove here. They’re going to want me
to show my belly. And that’s not going to happen. It’s mainly ceremonial anyway. Just
let me handle that part.” He pulled up to the gate and stopped, rolling his window
down. A burly human guard muscled over and gave them the eye.

“Molly Ryan here to see Franco Pendergast on behalf of Clan Owen.”

“She’s on the list, but you’re not, Garrity.”

“He’s my interpreter.” Molly leaned over, hovering over Gage’s lap, her hair close
enough to his face that he had no choice but to breathe her in. Goddamn, she smelled
good. And right over his cock. He held his breath before he said or did something
stupid. Oh, and he probably should pay attention too. “Wouldn’t want to make a mistake
with so much at stake, now would I?”

The guard looked down at her, a surly expression, which faded quickly as he caught
sight of her. Another one bites the dust. The woman could seemingly win over everyone.
But the PURITY people, anyway.

“Do you have identification?”

“I do.” She braced a hand on Gage’s thigh to sit up to grab her bag and he ground
his teeth together. Shortly she produced her wallet with her driver’s license, which
the guard decided was enough.

“I recognize you, Gage. Go on up to the house. You’ll need to leave the guns in the
car. You know he doesn’t allow them in the house.”

Fine. He could still be a weapon without side arms anyway. And they both knew it.

Molly knew Gage didn’t need to be there. Lark had told her Owen and the Vampire Nation
had a peace accord. One Lark had brokered herself just a month before.

But she had no trouble admitting she liked having Gage around. This was all totally
foreign to her. Being out of her element was one thing. Dealing with vampires was
something totally different. Lark had had to break noses and arms and stuff to be
taken seriously. Molly could be a badass, but breaking things was most assuredly Gage’s
arena.

Plus he looked unbelievably hot in those snug, dark utility pants with his combat
boots and those damned guns strapped to his thighs. Really, really nice thighs.

Okay she had to stop thinking about his thighs. Or his belly, which she caught sight
of when he bent to put the guns in a locked case in the trunk.

“From here on, they can hear what we say. Even if we whisper it. So save anything
important for later, all right?”

She tore her gaze from his ass, guilty and totally busted. He wore the glimmer of
a smirk, but straightened.

“Yes. Yes. I got it.” She’d been careful about what she’d chosen to wear. Too much
hiding of the neck and it only emphasized it. Too much exposed skin and the result
was the same. So a shirt with a collar worked.

The front door opened as they approached. More guards. “Franco is waiting. Come in.
I need to pat you down.”

Gage stepped in front of her, putting himself between them. “No, you don’t. I put
my weapons away as requested. I’m not going to allow you to put your hands on her.”

“Then you can’t come in.”

Molly shrugged and stepped back. She really didn’t want this guy’s hands all over
her. And if Gage didn’t want it, well, then she didn’t want it even more. “All right
then. Good day.” She turned, speaking to Gage over her shoulder. “Let him know when
you call later that this opportunity is only available so long. I have other things
to do. He can of course deal with the humans alone. Or face them in a coalition with
all Others. I know our preference. Mr. Pendergast needs to figure out his.”

A male came out into the main room, skirting the light at the front door. “Back off,
Mike. Let them pass. Mr. Garrity understands what would happen if he tried anything.”

The vampire male wasn’t handsome. Not really. But he was compelling. His eyes were
so brown they were nearly black. He wore a soft sweater and trousers. Nice watch.
Nary a hint of crusty blood at his lips or anything like that. No cape either.

He bowed slightly. “Ms. Ryan, the Vampire Nation welcomes you to our nest.”

She did the same, her gaze focused on his eyebrows. “Thank you, Clan Owen is grateful
for your welcome.”

He smiled. “Well done. Come in. I’ve just had coffee brought in. It looks cold and
wet out there. Warm up and give me your pitch.”

* * *

THAT
had gone amazingly well. Molly smiled as she waited for Gage to open her hotel room
door and do his thing.

That’s when she saw the boxes had finally arrived from Chicago. She managed to withhold
her little dance of joy, but the sight of her mother’s concise handwriting on the
address labels comforted her anyway.

“Looks like your stuff arrived.” Gage turned to her with a smile.

Faine showed up. “Hope you don’t mind that I brought it all in for you. It arrived
at the office so I delivered it here. Figured you’d like to go through it all here
rather than there.”

“Thank you, Faine. I appreciate that very much.” She turned back to Gage. “Thanks
for guarding me with the vampires today as well. Go on, have a life. I’m safe in my
gilded cage.”

“You did an awesome job. I can’t believe they extended an offer to let Meriel address
their Convocation. And to send a representative with you when you to testify too.
You have a way about you. Honestly, it’s fun to go with you just to see what you’ll
get people to give you.”

She blushed, the warmth of Gage’s compliments washing over her. “I’ll see you both
tomorrow. I plan on a pizza and a lot of unpacking.”

Gage nodded and Faine lifted a hand as they both backed from the room and left her
alone.

She knew exactly which box she wanted to open first.

Thank goodness her mother hadn’t been offended by her rather precise instructions.
Molly cut the top open and carefully unpacked the turntable. She placed it on the
counter and went back to get the Bose dock that would also serve as her speakers until
she moved into a real apartment and had the room for her whole setup.

She found all the cords, neatly labeled by her mother, and got everything hooked up
before she found the box with all her non-work clothes and opened it, changing into
jeans and a T-shirt before returning to grab a glass of wine and the box with her
records.

Molly knew exactly which one she wanted. The orangey glow of Led Zeppelin’s
Houses of the Holy
greeted her as she pulled it out and slid the record from the sleeve.

Ah. She cleaned everything and placed it down, putting the needle at the beginning
of “The Ocean” and stood back as the crackle spilled into the room over the speakers
and she felt a million times better as the song started.

She’d been scared spitless at the very first when they’d driven up toward Casa de
Vampire. Ha. But being with Gage had made it better. The way he’d consistently helped
her through things, given her advice and even taught her some awesome new defensive
magick spells—had all combined to build her confidence in this entirely new world
she found herself in.

Also, her crush on Gage burned still within her. Man, he was so . . . hot. Smart.
Sexy. Strong. Powerful. He was all manly and protective and it rang her bell. Not
her type at all. But apparently she’d been doing it all wrong because
hello
.

When he’d gotten in between her and the bodyguard earlier that day her entire body
had come to attention. She really shouldn’t be thinking of him in the way she was
just then. But whatever, it was in the privacy of her hotel room and she could objectify
anyone she wanted in her fantasies!

The song ended and she flipped the record over. Strange to think that her life had
settled in such an odd way. Adrift, away from everything she knew, she was beginning
to find her way. It gave her some measure of comfort and right then, her records,
her cupcake socks and a glass of wine did the trick.

* * *

THE
woman who stood just at the table wasn’t the giggling witch he’d drunk wine with just
two weeks before. This woman was not silly. At all. This Molly was totally in charge.
It sent a flash of heat through him. Her hair was back from her face, captured by
two barrettes at either side of her head. The rest had been held in a pretty but not
fussy knot at the back of her neck.

He stared at that bun, wondering what it would feel like when he pulled the pins out.
What the cool silk of it would smell like as it tumbled around his wrists and hands.

He tore his gaze away and it snagged on her suit. A skirt, not too short or too fitted.
It had a flare so it moved as she walked, hitting the top of her thighs. Her blouse
was the color of deep, cold water and it made her skin look . . . Christ, what the
fuck was he doing? She looked nice. Yes, that was it. She looked nice. Pretty but
not too pretty. Sexy, but that was probably just his twisted mind. She wasn’t showing
anything! She had on pearl earrings for god’s sake. He was just broken and bent, that
had to be it.

She wore heels, but they weren’t too high. Just right. Not dowdy, but not the hot
sexy ones women wore a lot of the time. Not that he complained about such things.
He
liked
hot and sexy high heels.

She nodded to the person next to her and sat, only to have the guy next to her push
her chair in. Gage frowned. He could have done that. But she’d have been pissy, he
knew. He noted the slight tightening around her mouth and wanted to laugh. She was
pissy then as well, she just hid it better with the human next to her. Ha.

He’d seen her be interviewed. He’d seen her give video press releases, but he’d never
seen her testify before any legislative body. He settled back, his gaze never stopping
for long, moving around the space. There were metal detectors and security here in
the wake of 9/11. But he wanted more. They’d told him it was fine. He hoped they were
right.

“Ms. Ryan, Mr. Sawyer, Ms. Freed, welcome.” The chair of the committee addressed them.
He turned to the person who’d just entered. Ugh. It was the state PURITY leader, Alison
Moore.

Moore smirked. “I apologize for being late. It took me some time to get through the
throng outside. All those concerned citizens you know.”

Gage had his game face on, but it was a challenge not to smirk right back. He was
surprised she hadn’t giggled like that character from Harry Potter.
Concerned
citizens his ass. Thugs. Just like the thugs who showed up anytime anyone from PURITY
would be anywhere.

Molly smiled, her hands clasped loosely on the table before her.

“Let’s take this alphabetically, shall we? Ms. Freed, would you like to go first?”

Lani Freed was an attorney. A civil rights activist who’d been working in the Puget
Sound for most of her life. She spoke about the uptick in the number of cases she
was seeing regarding unlawful terminations, evictions and general harassment at local
businesses.