Read Legacy of Olympus (In the Gods' Secret Service) Online
Authors: Teri Gilbert
Tags: #Romance, #ebook
Legacy of Olympus (In the Gods' Secret Service) (9 page)
“An unfortunate casualty.”
So they didn’t know he was alive. Neither did he, but something told him Eleni’s boss was among the living. She hadn’t been wrong yet. “You make this sound like a war.”
“Didn’t she tell you?” The tall one jutted his chin toward Eleni. “We
are
at war.”
In the blink of an eye, the short one stood at Eleni’s side. What the hell? Dumbfounded, Alec leapt toward her. How had he moved so fast?
“We’re taking her with us, too. As collateral.” The man wrapped a stubby arm around Eleni’s waist and clamped her hard against his side.
Eleni’s eyes widened.
“Wait.” Alec held out his hands and stepped forward. “I’ll cooperate.” Yeah, right. He charged the torso on stilts, smashing his head into his chest.
“So that’s how we’re playing it?” A fist slammed into Alec’s stomach, causing him to double over. Air rushed from his body in a whoosh of pain. Damn. For such a skinny guy, he was strong. Balling his hand into a fist, Alec remembered Nick’s advice on how to deck a bully, then struck his opponent low on the chin. Pain erupted along his knuckles as the asshole crumbled to the asphalt in a pile of gangly limbs.
The short one kept a solid hold on Eleni, who squirmed, kicking out with her legs and arms as she struggled to free herself.
There was no sign of a weapon of any kind. Alec worked his fingers, trying to ease the pain. If he charged the guy, they’d have a chance. He took a step forward. “Let her go and I’ll cooperate.”
“That’s what you said before. I think we’re going to need our insurance policy.” He clasped Eleni a little tighter, then lifted the edge of his hat.
The air around him shimmered in waves, engulfing both him and Eleni in a bizarre, translucent sort of cloud. Alec had only seen something similar from super-heated tar. And it certainly wasn’t hot. If anything, the air felt chilly.
The ripples seemed to coalesce and tighten around all of them, and the smell of ozone grew increasingly strong.
The phenomenon pulsed, once.
Alec stared, open-mouthed, and cold dread washed over him, leaving him sick and disoriented.
The Blues Brothers and Eleni had vanished.
Blasted with a surge of vertigo unlike anything she’d ever experienced, Eleni closed her eyes, trying to block out the image of Alec, standing a few feet away, a mixture of horror and disbelief fixed on his face. Her stomach rolled and churned as she struggled to keep its meager contents in place. She’d heard of teleporting, but had never actually witnessed the unusual method of transportation, let alone experienced it.
Images and colors blurred behind her closed lids. Her body felt light, scattered, then her stomach rolled again. Suddenly, the unfamiliar sensation stopped. She drew several deep, soothing breaths of warm, humid air and opened her eyes.
They’d materialized in a brightly lit circular room lined with windows overlooking the moonlit ocean. The heavyset man remained next to her, his grip tight around her upper arm. “Release me.”
Relief coursed through Eleni as he did as she had commanded.
Stick Man on the other side of her made a sound of frustration and lunged. “I knew we should have gagged you.”
“Stop.”
“I’m not as weak-minded as Leo.”
She had no choice. Tightening her hand into a fist, she let him have it square in the jaw. Spires of fiery pain licked every knuckle, forcing a low cry of pain from her lips.
Eyes wide and mouth open, the man wobbled back and forth a couple times before dropping to the smooth marble floor with a dull thud. She felt a slight grin spread across her face as she massaged her injured hand. She’d always known she could talk her way out of any situation, but Stephanos had made sure she could fight her way out of one, too.
She quickly scanned the area, then sprinted in the direction of the closest exit, a corridor a few feet away. She glanced behind her. So far, so good. One was still out cold, and the other was a few feet behind her.
Facing ahead again, she saw a flash of white before plowing straight into a man’s broad chest. His hands closed around her shoulders. No. Wildly, she swung her arm. Adrenaline surged through her as she struggled against her captor, kicking, squirming, doing anything she could to make him let her go. She wouldn’t be manhandled again. Raising her knee, she aimed for his crotch, missed, catching him on his muscular inner thigh instead. Pain radiated from her kneecap. Damn, she felt as though she’d kneed a chunk of marble.
The hefty blond wrapped his massive arms around her, immobilizing her, pressing her vise-tight against his hard body. “Enough.” She felt her feet lift off the floor as he half-carried her backward toward the center of the room.
A low chuckle vibrated in the air. “I think you can set her down now, Zander. Unless, of course, you’re worried she might hurt you.”
Slashes of red sprang to Zander’s face as he eased her down. The second her feet hit the floor, she whirled to face the man she knew was responsible for her abduction and the murder of her friends.
The first thing that struck her was that Dorian Mallaki photographed poorly. In person, he was strikingly handsome, with his classic Greek features, accented by a white shirt, unbuttoned to the point where several sprigs of curly black chest hairs were revealed. His tan khaki slacks were snug, emphasizing his lean, muscular physique, and slight bulge at his crotch. Heat flooded her face when she returned her gaze to his face, and spotted the knowing curl of his slightly scarred upper lip.
“I see my men made a mistake.”
Her heart thudded in slow, heavy thumps. Did that mean he’d let her go? Or that she was expendable?
“We encircled them both.” Stick Man joined them, standing a few feet behind, looking somehow shorter. “Bastard must have a bit of the dark one in him.”
Mallaki shot him a warning glance. “You interrupted me.”
Stick Man lowered his eyes and shifted nervously from one foot to the other.
Mallaki returned his gaze to her. “The mistake I was referring to is that you are far more beautiful than my men had led me to believe.” His gaze slid to her chest, where it lingered longer than necessary, as if he were trying to visualize what she looked like without clothes. As difficult as it was, Eleni forced her arms to remain at her side. Mallaki’s gaze moved lower as he seemed to digest every inch of her.
The air stilled as his inspection continued.
She exhaled a trembling breath. His eyes found hers. Arousal lingered in their dark depths. She tore her gaze from his and focused on the shimmering blue water behind him.
“Yes.” Mallaki spoke softly, as if to himself, then turned to Zander and Stick Man. “Pity you weren’t able to obtain our target. He must have some Hades in him. But she’ll do. Alec Androulakis will surely come to rescue someone as exquisite as she.”
At Alec’s name, Eleni’s heart sank. She wanted to drop to her knees, beg Mallaki not to hurt him, but realized there would be no point. But maybe she could manipulate Mallaki into letting her go.
Her captor’s gaze narrowed.
She traced a tongue along her dry mouth. Could he read her thoughts?
“Don’t worry, my dear.” A condescending smile graced Mallaki’s lips. “I’m not going to harm Mr. Androulakis, merely persuade him that he should join our side and live in the lap of luxury.” His gaze drifted behind her. “Mr. Androulakis won’t be able to resist my offer, will he, Zander?”
“No, Master.”
The almost robotic quality to Zander’s response sent a wave of unease spiraling through her.
Please, Alec, don’t come after me.
Even as the silent prayer formed in her mind, she knew it was hopeless.
Dorian Mallaki was a man who always got he wanted. Now she would have to do everything in her power to see that he failed.
Rage flowed red-hot through Alec’s veins as he jogged toward his Mustang. Rage toward his attackers, rage toward Stephanos, and most of all, rage toward himself.
He’d been foolish to stand in the parking lot waiting for Eleni to reappear and tell him it was all an elaborate hoax of some kind, an illusion of the caliber only David Copperfield could pull off. But, of course, she’d never showed. He had to face the facts. Eleni was gone.
His mind shot into overdrive as he jumped into his Mustang and headed down Elmwood toward Brooks Avenue and the address Eleni had provided. Until now, he’d managed to stay focused on the task at hand and block out the nagging questions. Now they bombarded him, making his temples throb and the back of his head pound. Special abilities?
Stephanos was alive.
Possibly.
Eleni’s skin showed evidence of a major injury that was no longer there. If he’d had any proof, he’d swear he’d been drugged and this was all some sort of crazy hallucination.
But it wasn’t. He made several sharp turns, then squealed to a stop in front of a rundown warehouse. Feeling more pumped up than ever, he tugged out a crumpled sheet of paper. Yep. This was the address Eleni had given him. He parked across from the dilapidated structure. Not the best part of town by a long shot.
In fact, the warehouse looked as if it hadn’t been used in years. There was no sign of life, no parked cars, no streetlights. A spear of panic sliced through him. What if it was all a ploy? What if this place were truly abandoned? What if Stephanos was dead? All along he hadn’t believed Stephanos was truly alive. But now he had to be wrong, didn’t he? Otherwise, with no one to help him, how could he find Eleni? Who would believe the strange things he’d seen?
Alec strode across the cracked and worn pavement to a side door next to the loading dock. He hesitated a moment, then entered. Cold sweat prickled his skin as his eyes adjusted to the dim interior. In the center of the spacious room sat a grouping of odd shapes. He drew closer, and could make out three chairs, one desk, and a table with a computer on top, its electrical cord disappearing into the darkness. The furniture looked like it had been purchased at a schoolyard salvage sale.
His heart gave a start as he spotted a man standing a few yards away, arms crossed. He’d have to get a closer look, but he certainly appeared to be the man he’d seen at Amalgamated—the one without a pulse. And unless he had a twin out there somewhere, he was very much alive.
Blood pounded in Alec’s ears as he strode toward the man he believed to be Stephanos. If it was, then he sure as hell had better have some answers.
“Mr. Androulakis.”
Alec felt a chill. The man had the identical heavy Greek accent as the one who’d narrated Eleni’s video. If he really was alive, then...
Stephanos extended a hand. “I have much to thank you for.”
Alec ignored the outstretched arm and studied the man some women might find attractive. His jet-black hair was shorter than the current trend, his aristocratic nose a bit oversized, and the scowl that crossed his face gave him a stern appearance.
Stephanos stared beyond him, dark brows slanted upward. “Eleni?”
Alec’s muscles tensed at hearing Eleni’s name fall so easily from Stephanos’s lips, as if he truly cared about her. If he did, she wouldn’t be in danger. She’d be living a normal life, just like everyone else in the world. “She’s gone. Taken.”
“What happened?”
Alec recounted Eleni’s abduction, struggling against the impulse to tear into Stephanos. He hated like hell that he needed his help to find her.
“Were they wearing hats?” Stephanos rubbed his chin.
“Yes.”
“Was there a flickering of air?”
“Yes, but we don’t have time for twenty questions.”
“Hades had the helmet of invisibility, Hermes had the speed. The men you encountered came from a mixed bloodline.”
Alec raked a hand through his hair and tried to absorb Stephanos’s explanation. “But why take Eleni?”
“I think they wanted
you
.” Stephanos appeared deep in thought. “When the atmosphere changed, where were you?”
“In the middle of the ripples, just like Eleni.”
“So, you’ve got some Hades in you.”
“What does that mean?”
“You can’t be affected by the powers of someone in the same genetic line as you.”
Great, so somehow he, or rather his tainted bloodline, had put Eleni in their grasp. “Who took her, and how do we get her back?”
Stephanos held up a hand. “First things first. The doctors say I should be dead. My body’s been riddled with bullets, but I’m still here. Do you know anything about that?”
Stephanos must have just been close to death and resuscitated. But what about the tingle of energy running through him and into Stephanos? His entire arm had felt alive, as if millions of tiny creatures moved deep within. Then there was the burst of heat when he’d lifted Eleni into his arms after the explosion. What was that? Was there even a logical explanation? “What I
know
is that I’m Alec Andrews, meteorologist for News Team Seven.” The words sounded corny, even as he spoke them.
“And direct descendant of one of the most powerful healers known to man.”
“According to myth.”
Stephanos nodded toward Alec’s hands. “You said you were in a fight? That you struck a man with your bare hands. Where’s the evidence?”
Alec stared at his hands in disbelief. Where bits of flesh had dangled, tiny fine scars lined his hands. Dried blood verified the injuries. “These weren’t like this half an hour ago.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Even if I believe you, why now? Why haven’t I noticed this power before?”
“I’ve given that a great deal of thought myself. Have you ever been around injured people who needed healing?”
Alec searched his mind for any instances. In high school, he’d opted for the science and chess clubs and had never been into sports, not the more likely places to encounter someone who’d been hurt.
“I didn’t think so. Even if you had, I would suggest that perhaps the shock of seeing so many dead people at Amalgamated might have triggered your ability.” Stephanos gave him a speculative look. “I see from your expression you need more proof.”
Alec wanted to yell in frustration. He didn’t have time for whatever “proof” Stephanos had in mind. But he got the distinct feeling his argument would fall on deaf ears. Besides, what choice did he have?
Stephanos turned and nodded toward a man Alec could now make out standing in the shadows at the far end of the warehouse. Within seconds, harsh light flooded the immediate area.
Stephanos gestured for the man to step forward. Short and slim, with thick wavy hair and smooth features, he came to stand about a foot away.
“Theo is one of my most loyal friends.” Stephanos slid a jackknife from his jacket pocket and extended the blade. He gestured at Theo. “Hold out your hand.”
Realization dawned on Alec. “Wait.”
Stephanos ignored him and swiped the blade across Theo’s palm, leaving a bright red trail in its path. The man’s lips pulled away from his teeth, and his pupils contracted to pinpoints of pain.
Bile rose in Alec’s throat at the sharp, metallic smell of blood. A cut that deep would require stitches. These people were sick.
“Do what you did when you healed me.” Stephanos jerked his head toward Theo’s hand.
