He maneuvers me onto a stool at the island. “Sit here.” Walking over to the sheet pan on the stove, he grabs a spatula, scoops three cookies onto the plate sitting next to it, then places it in front of me.
The night he fixed pasta in Italy comes to mind. “So, you like to cook?” Bringing a cookie to my mouth, I take a huge bite. Chocolate oozes from the warm cookie as flavor explodes in my mouth. “Wow, that’s good.”
He dips his head in thanks and takes a bite of another. “I like to take care of people.” He eyes me for a second. “Tell me, do you really think the panels open the portals?”
4
GATLIN
“Yes,” she admits, biting her plump bottom lip and drawing my attention to her mouth. “I just have to find them first. And get the other two back from our enemies.”
My gut tightens at the thought of her in danger. They won’t let go of them easily, and if she thinks she’s doing this by herself, she really doesn’t know us. “Let’s worry about one thing at a time, hmm?”
Some of the anger riding me these last three weeks eases. When I returned to the villa in Italy and found it empty, I immediately flew to North Carolina and started checking all of her usual places. Unfortunately, nobody had seen her since she left for London two months ago with us. No wonder she flew under the radar all those years. If she really wanted to hide, I doubt I would find her. Panic started to set in.
It wasn’t until the end of the second week I remembered the tracker in her boot, which led me to this place. Once I arrivedat the farmhouse, I could tell she’d been here recently, and although patience isn’t my strong suit, I didn’t have any idea of where she could be, so I forced myself to wait. And snoop.
Unlike the sparse condo by the university, this place is her home. There are souvenirs from her travels, a library full of books, food in the pantry, and closets filled with clothes from different eras. It gave me a lot of unexpected insight into her.
“This is clearly the place you love most. Why don’t you stay here more often?”
Her eyes warm as she looks around the kitchen. “If I lived here all the time, someone could find me…and the vault of cursed items I keep here.”
My brow lifts. Always with the secrets. “If you want to mend things with Jamison and the others, I suggest you start by sharing more of yourself.”
Her voice is almost a whisper when she asks, “Do you think it’s possible to mend things with them? With you?”
I look down at her and frown, but when I search her eyes, I see the same misery in hers that lingers in theirs. Exhaling heavily, I shrug. “You knew they would feel angry and betrayed, yet you continued to keep them in the dark. Kept yourself at a distance while they unknowingly let you close. They never let anyone close. If you want a chance, you’ll lay everything on the table.”
“Them, not you?” she asks quietly.
Seeing the feelings she’s been hiding all this time melts the rest of my anger. I don’t know what I feel right now. She stirs something in me. Certainly, my protective instincts and an underlying need to take care of her, but there’s more too. Her bright blue eyes tug at me, urging me to do everything in my power to banish the shadows in them.
“I’m not sure. Right now, you’re in danger, and that takes precedence. But know this…my family comes first. If you can’topen your heart and share yourself, they won’t either. As for me, I’ll assign another team to watch over you. I won’t stay,” I warn her, unsure whether I could actually leave her to fend for herself, but I’m hoping her feelings are genuine, and she’ll want to be more transparent with them. With me too. Trust isn’t built by keeping your walls up or telling half-truths.
She scans my face and gives a firm nod. “Got it.” She swings her legs off the barstool. “I’m going to take a shower and start researching Hera.”
There’s a tremulous note to her tone that makes me want to pull her into my arms, but instead, I deliberately cross them over my chest.
“I’ll make us some dinner,” I tell her, tilting my head toward the stove. “Steak and baked potatoes okay?” It’s obvious she hasn’t been eating much or taking care of herself.
Phaedra stops at the doorway and glances back. “I always worried someone would find this place and ruin my little haven, but I like having you here. It’s nice.” With those words, she leaves me standing there, her admission filling me with a deep sense of satisfaction.
The minute she’s out of sight, I grab the phone and call Jamison. He picks up on the first ring. “She’s here.”
He loudly exhales, then in a clipped tone, he bombards me with questions, a sure sign of his conflicted feelings. “Finally. What happened? Where has she been?”
“The gods are definitely in play again. She’s on a quest for Hera. Not sure of the details yet.”
He scoffs, “Good luck getting any answers from her.”
I wince at his comment. He hates lying, and her secrets coming to light, while not a lie, made him question whether he could trust her. And Jamison needs to be able to trust more than most.
The roar of a train sounds in the background. “I’m headed to the country to confront my father. He’s been hiding at Lady Catherine’s estate for the last couple of months, which leads me to believe he knows something. Once I finish with him, I’ll make my way to you two.”
I open my mouth to reassure him that she wants to make amends, but I’m still not sure if she can, so I simply tell him to turn on his tracker and be safe. After hanging up, I start prepping the potatoes for our meal.
I hear her moving around in the living room. After popping the potatoes into the oven to bake, I season the steaks and set them aside to marinate. Then I chop vegetables for our salad and whip up the dressing.
