“You okay?” Darcy sat on the sofa opposite, smoothing down her black and white striped micro mini pleated skirt. She had on a plain white t-shirt with an alarming splatter of dried blood across the front. Knee high shiny patent black leather boots completing the outfit.
“I…” Gigi couldn’t find the words.
“Do I need to kill someone?”
“No. No. I just discovered that I… I’ve conquered the world.”
“Which world?”
“This one.”
“Ah, I get it. Been there, done that. It’s both more and way less exciting than you imagined, right?”
“Yes!” That was it exactly.
Gigi had been planning a slow methodical business expansion, with a realistic five year plan. Yet within ten minutes of talking to Aunt Daisy, everything had changed.
“Did you know all Aunt Daisy’s lot are bi-lingual? And have management training?”
“Really? All I know is that she’s tired of having them all living back at home underfoot.”
“Not any longer. They’ll each be managing one of my new Emporiums to be located in Paris, Florence, Madrid and London.”
“Cool. Oh, does that mean the High Council will be needing to find a new receptionist?”
“Yes. Shelby will be managing the Emporium in Florence.”
“Which will just leave Troy. But I hear on the grapevine one of the other firefighters is looking for a roomie, so maybe he’s got plans to move out as well. Wow. Four new stores. You’re going to be busy.”
“Not me, Aunt Daisy. She’s just appointed herself Global Regional Manager, or something of that ilk, she hasn’t quite decided what title she wants on her business cards yet. She’s downstairs making lists, and trying to decide if we need one European based kitchen or whether we should just Transportal everything in daily from here.”
“Sounds like Daisy has everything covered.”
Yes, which both irked and relieved Gigi, hence her dazed state. Though the whiskey was helping on that front and so was— “Why are you here?”
“As one of my Secret Special Liaison Deputies, I thought you might like an update.”
“One of? Just how many Deputies do you have?”
“What do you not get about the word secret? Any-hoo. Let’s see.” Darcy’s gaze roamed over Gigi, taking in how pale and wan her cousin appeared. Damn, focusing in on her Spider Mage senses, Darcy fought the urge to roll her eyes. Seriously? What was it about the path of true love? Path? Honestly, it was more like an out of control rollercoaster ride during which flying monkeys flung faeces at you non-stop.
The off key twanging of Darcy’s web was irritating to say the least. And the only way to get it to cease was to meddle, manipulate, and crap, matchmake.
Blowing up Great-Aunt Alma’s car, twice now, was not punishment enough. Nope, getting side-tracked, revenge later. Ick, matchmake now.
“We discovered how the prisonbreak was orchestrated. One of the kitchen staff met the supposed love of their life on a dating site… and bloody Hathor got her hooks in. Steps have been taken to see it doesn’t happen again. Nell and the baby have relocated to Maat Towers for the foreseeable future and Nell will commute for work, accompanied by a guard of Double-wide’s choosing.” Darcy took a sip of whiskey. “I might have a lead on Hathor’s lair. Problem is, it’s located on another Plane. And we have no idea if Flynn is being kept prisoner there, or even if he’s alive. Maat assures me he’s alive, that she feels it when one of her Warriors carks it, so that’s some good news.”
“Dash must be going crazy.”
“He’s suddenly gone scary quiet and focused, according to Hadleigh. Let’s see, anything else? Oh, so we have confirmation from Neith’s mouth that Sopdu isn’t involved in the Cabal takeover the world bid. Which is good news. But she dropped something about Heath Gammon’s Godfather being involved, so I’ve put the feelers out trying to work out just who that might be. I tried asking Sopdu about who he named Godfather to his son, but the God of War is all like peace, happiness and non-interference these days. It’s pretty sickening.”
“How about you tell me why Hathor kept referring to me as some kind of nun.”
“Nun? Oh, no, you mean the pure references they kept making in the Library? Oh, that’s easy. You know how there’s a whole spectrum of love, and how Hathor and her brats were dabbling mostly on the dark end; obsession, possessiveness, worship? Well, you’re one of those rare people who has neither the time nor patience for all those negative emotions. Your definition islocked in and you refuse to accept anything that falls short of your expectations.”
“That sounds awfully simplistic.”
“I know. But shockingly, most people just don’t have such a positive opinion of themselves and understand that in order to be happy, you need to find someone who loves and respects all the aspects that come together to make you, well, you.”
