“I thought the couch was too small,” Nicky reminded.
“It is. I’ll stretch out on the rug in front of the woodstove.”
“You should take my bed,” Nicky insisted. “Me and Zaza can go upstairs.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve slept on way worse.” He glanced at me. “It goes without saying that if someone tries to break in overnight, you hide. Right?”
“Yes.”
I agreed for now, but only because I knew I couldn’t do much to aid myself. On the cusp of my next molting, lethargy filled my limbs. I’d yet to get my wings or my ability. Until I did, I remained useless when it came to my own defense.
But at least I had a capable servant in Bruce.
Chapter Sixteen
Dinner proved tense. For me and Nicky, at least. Percy and Zaza, with the innocence of youth, ate with gusto. With reason. The breaded chicken cutlets pan-fried in olive oil and served with roasted tomatoes and garlic truly made the taste buds sing, however, I found it hard to enjoy the meal given my concern.
Would the strangers return during the night thinking they could lure Percy out? Would they be armed? Did I have to worry about reinforcements? If it had been just me and Percy, I’d have managed. Hide the dragon and take the intruders out. But I had Nicky and Zaza to worry about. I couldn’t risk them getting hurt.
After dinner, while Nicky prepared Zaza for bed, I checked all the windows and doors to ensure they remained properly secured. I scoured the chalet for anything I could use as a weapon. Best I could find? A hammer and a large kitchen knife. Deadly in my hands, but not ideal as they both required close-quarters combat, which tended to get messy.
Was I overreacting? Could be these people actually were journalists or the newer type of podcasters looking for a story, but in that case, why not come clean and approach me to ask about Percy directly? The subterfuge implied a darker intent.
As planned, I set up a bed in front of the woodstove. The thick quilt from upstairs and a pillow were more comfortable than what I used to get in the field when on a mission.
Percy started out in the middle of my makeshift bed, curled in a ball, but grumbled after a short while. “Your anxiety is disrupting my slumber. I’m going to sleep with Zaza.”
Probably for the best. I doubted I’d be able to relax.
Nicky emerged not long after Percy went to see them and sat cross-legged on the blanket, staring at me. I had the weapons under my pillow so they probably weren’t the cause of the crease between her brows.
“You’re really worried,” she stated.
“You aren’t?”
She sighed. “I am. I like Percy quite a bit and would hate for her to be taken by force because I doubt that would bode well for her. Maybe we should have left.”
“Leaving would have been a temporary solution. If my face was recognized then these people would just have to wait until I surfaced somewhere to come after Percy again.”
“If they really wanted Percy, why not break in today while we were both gone?”
A nagging point that I’d yet to resolve. “I don’t know. Maybe they wanted to be sure Percy was here before breaking in. Could be they planted surveillance.”
Her eyes widened. “You think there might be cameras spying?”
“It’s possible. I took a peek around to see if I spotted any devices, but with today’s technology, they’re easy to camouflage.”
“Meaning they could be listening to us now.”
“If they are, then they know I’m waiting for them.” I couldn’t help a grim reply.
“We are,” she stressed, sidling closer. “I won’t let you do this alone.”
“I’d rather you weren’t involved,” I stated with all honesty. “If shit hits the fan, you take Zaza and run. I don’t want either of you anywhere close to any altercation.”
She reached out to cup my cheek. “Always trying to be the hero.”
I almost recoiled. “Hardly. I’m not a good man, Nicky. I’ve done things. Bad things.”
