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I could relate. If someone rocked up and told me they were my birth parents, it would be hard not to instantly accept them just to have some closure. Bobby was eight; his missing father would be a good lure regardless of whether or not it was true.
On a different topic, I asked, ‘You think it was coincidence that we saw Voltaire at the club last night?’
‘Vampyrs can phase in and out of the shadows. If he didn’t want to be seen, he wouldn’t have been.’
‘Maybe if you hadn’t punched him we could have found out what he wanted.’
‘Maybe if I hadn’t punched him he would have attacked you.’
‘Wait a second. You said he wouldn’t flout the law and that Sharon was safe with him!’
‘She was. She’s a human. You’re not.’
I tabled it. We had greater concerns just now. ‘Anyway, thank you for earlier. When Sonia said Bobby was missing, my mind went blank. What would I do without you?’
‘Flounder, probably.’ He winked, letting me know he was joking, but I felt deflated. He wasn’t wrong. Greg caught my expression. ‘Hey, I’m kidding. You’d be completely fine without me. You’re a kick-ass, independent-woman type.’
‘I used to be, back when I was an accountant and I knew what I was doing and where my life was going. Since I’ve been a werewolf, I feel like someone has pulled the rug out from under me. Magic is real. I’m in charge of a bunch of people, and if they sense weakness they’re going to kill me and replace me with someone stronger. You, probably.’
‘That would never happen,’ he promised firmly.
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘Because you’re my alpha and I will defend you with my life. If you get killed, it’ll be because I’m already dead.’
My mouth dropped open a little and, for the first time in a long while, I was lost for words. So I didn’t use any; instead I stood from my desk and flung myself at him. A hug was all I was up for.
My brain had short-circuited. He would die for me, and that was kind of a big deal. Sure, it was in a ‘you’re my alpha’ way, rather than an ‘I have undying love for you and I’d die for you’ way, but it was still huge.
Greg’s arms closed around me, warm and strong. He smelled divine and being wrapped up in him was a moment of pure contentment. I swear Esme almost purred.
The moment lasted until I suddenly realised it was probablytoolong, but I just needed a little more. He was right, I could do this. We’d find Bobby. We had to.
Chapter 9
GreglefttotakeSonia home and I dialled Bob’s number impatiently. It rang a few times before the grouchy Frenchman answered the phone. ‘Death’s head on a mop-stick. Do you know what time it is?’ he asked.
I blinked and checked the time. It was just gone 5pm. ‘Five?’
‘It is bedtime, you dalcop.’
I rolled my eyes at the insult; I had no idea what it meant, but I knew it wasn’t a compliment. ‘The sun sets in about half an hour, so I’ve hardly woken you at the crack of dawn. This is important.’
‘It’d better be, lovey. Gargoyles need their beauty sleep.’ He was joking, but his tone was still decidedly grumpy.
‘One of our pups has been taken.’
There was a long moment of silence. ‘Merde,’ he finally swore.
‘Talk to me about the gargoyle we found in our grounds, because I’m not buying the coincidence that one of your men is found dead, and the next day one of my pups is taken.’
‘Non,’ he agreed softly. ‘It is no coincidence. But we all have our secrets, and this is tied up in one of ours. I’m limited in what I can tell you, alpha.’ It felt relevant that he referred to me as alpha rather than Lucy, but I had no idea why.
‘Whatcanyou tell me then?’ I asked impatiently. This realm has too many secrets, and if this one killed or contributed to Bobby’s death, I’d kick Bob’s ass. Some secrets are meant to be told.
Bob let out a long breath and I could tell he was thinking it over. ‘I will come and help you find your pup. I’ll be with you in forty minutes, after the sun has gone down. See you soon, my bitey ones.’ He hung up before I could object or question him further.
What is his deal?I asked Esme.
