Jess reached out and took his hands, and Mitch squeezed hers slightly.
“There’s a possibility that I can help. If you can give me time, I’ll need to speak to a few people,” she stated.
“Whatever you need. But stay, please, Jess. We’ve spent more time apart than together. I’d like to get to know you better, and we can’t do that with constant absences.”
Jess rested her head on his shoulder and smiled. “As you wish.”
Gargoyle
Interesting. Alfred was dead at his son’s command. Now Alexander sat in Alfred’s chair and gave the orders. He watched intently as Alexander called the family together.
“Are you going to let Mitchum escape punishment?” Alexander’s younger brother, Clifton, demanded.
“Mitchum will be dealt with when the time is appropriate,” Alexander replied calmly.
“The whelp needs dealing with now,” Clifton shouted and smashed a fist on the arm of his chair. Alexander regarded him coldly.
“And when Mitchum’s death releases the files containing information on our relatives and the Sealgair Uilebheist as a whole? Then what, brother?”
“We’ll deal with it!” Clifton retorted.
“From behind bars or our graves? Once that knowledge leaks, those not incarcerated will come for our family and destroy us. We’ve seen it happen, hell, we’ve given the order. We need to discover where those files are hidden and strike them and Mitchum simultaneously. I’m sure Mitchum would have put a cascade effect into place. Take one out and the others will release instantly.”
“The cripple has to be one,” Frederick drawled.
Alexander nodded. His eldest nephew reminded Alexander of himself and not his hot-headed brother. Frederick thought things through; Clifton acted without considering the consequences.
Gargoyle waited. This meeting was getting interesting. Mitch had really put the cat among the pigeons. His family was panicking. But Alexander knew Clifton would act impulsively. That would rid him of a problem. His brother was as arrogant as Alfred. The Weidemans were in trouble and didn’t recognise it.
Mitch wouldn’t be reined in, and Gargoyle was silently urging him on.
“There may be a weakness,” Frederick announced.
“Apart from the gimp?” Clifton chuckled. Several other family members laughed at the joke. Gargoyle wondered how these idiots had made it so high in the hierarchy of Hunters.
“Mitchum’s seeing a woman. So far, the only info is that her name is Jess. Reports say they’re close,” Frederick continued, ignoring Clifton.
“Do we have a surname?” Alexander demanded.
“Jess Mayhew.”
Oh shit.Gargoyle stirred. Looks like it was time to rejoin the living.
Chapter Eleven.
Jess/Loch Ness Monster
There was an easy solution to Mitch’s problem: take him and Diar back to Bran Castle. He and Diarmad should both be safe there. Well, at least from the Hunters. Or there was Refuge. But she’d have to leave her family behind and join them there. Bran Castle was her home, and Jess was loath to leave it.
She and Mitch spent a week together. The small spark they both felt grew stronger daily.
But Jess wasn’t ready to mate, even if Mitch wanted a relationship. Until she told him everything, they couldn’t sleep together. For all Jess was aware, Mitch might walk away. For now, they were learning about each other’s likes and dislikes. She knew Mitch was curious about her secrets, but he didn’t pry or push.
Today, she was spending a day at the castle while Mitch attended some important meetings. It was weird not to be with him, and Jess was pouting as it was dreary outside and she couldn’t swim.
“How’s things?” Killian/Phantom asked as he sat beside her in the great hall.
“Okay. Is my relationship common knowledge?”
