AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I can almost hear him shaking his head from here, but his reply makes my heart stop.
I appreciate that. But you and I are a team too. I need you to tell me these things.
I sigh because, he’s right. I nod to myself as I reply.
I will from now on. I promise. I love you.
Three dots pulse for long enough that I think something big is coming.
I love you too. Let’s tell Rory when he’s done with the police. Can you summon your little red friends back here? Maybe we can get more info from them.
I exhale quickly in relief.
Deal… I’ll text George and see if he knows how I can do that.
I am finding my text chain with George when Jake’s reply comes through.
See if he can get his ass over here too. I want you to have everything you need to get Eliza back.
My skin is clammy from the salty night air, and now that the sun has gone down and I’m standing still instead of pacing, a chill blows through me, making me feel hollow inside. I send a quick text to George.
Any idea how I can get my imp friends to come back here?
When I don’t see any signs of a response, I brace myself to go back inside the house. Eliza’s house. So that I can tell my best friend’s distraught husband that I am likely the reason the mother of his young daughter is missing. But also, so I can tell him that I am going to get her back.
The house is cooler than the night air was against my skin, and I shiver as I slide the glass door closed behind me. Since Rory is still with the police, I skirt around the room and the kids playing to go upstairs and find a sweater. I finally locate the lone one I brought and tug the soft-brushed hacci mock turtleneck down past my face when Jake walks in.
His hair is disheveled, I imagine him running his hands through it while standing, useless, while Rory talked to the police. Frowning, he stops in his tracks and crosses his arms over his chest as if to shield himself. Then he releases a long exhale, and his shoulders sag.
We look at each other for long enough that I think the silence will crush me if I don’t break it. “How is he?”
Jake’s shoulders curl in with exhaustion. “He’s completely beside himself. The police have nothing, no new information, no leads. He’s so scared for Eliza, and for Tabby and him if she…” He looks away from me.
“Jake, I’m going to get her back.”
His eyes meet mine as he chews the inside of his cheek. I know he doesn’t want me to see that he has his doubts, but I do see it.
“I know it’s still hard for you to believe, but this is the kind of bullshit that I was born to do. I rescued your ass, didn’t I?” I try to joke but there is no heart behind it.
Not even the hint of a smile. He whispers, “You had George with you then.”
Ouch. I flinch as his word stab me in the heart. “George didn’t climb that mountain with me. George didn’t fight a fucking incubus to the death. George didn’t snap you out of your goddess orgy trance so you would come home. George is not the Guardian, Jake. I am.”
“I wish it were him,” he admits.
Even though he’s glued his eyes to his shoes, I stare at him for a long moment before I am able to collect myself enough to speak again. This has all been about his fear. All of the attitude toward George, not wanting to train with me, all the anger he’s been showing me, it’s all been because he’s so afraid to lose me. He was kidnapped by muses, I was fucked by an incubus, we have a kitsune family living in our backyard, and now my best friend is missing, presumably with a siren. Literally anything could disrupt our lives forever at any time, and he knows it. But none of that matters right now. When I finally speak, I first take a deep breath so I don’t lose control. “Please, trust that I can do this.”
After what feels like an eternity, he nods. “So, how do you want to tell Rory?”
I sink to the edge of the bed, my knee bobbing up and down so fast that the mattress could compete with some coin-operated ones. “I, I’ll think of something. Can you bring him up here? Away from the kids?”
He nods. “Yeah, I’ll go get him. I love you.” He grabs my hand and looks me in the eyes.
“I love you, too.” I reply.
I’ve barely had the chance to pace the room, much less figure out what I’m going to say, when they come back. Jake closes the door behind him, but leaves it open an inch.
When I look from the gap to him, he says, “So we can keep an ear out for the kids.”
