Sin & Spirit (Demigod of San Francisco #4)(81)

“Not until Lexi is back,” Daisy said, lifting her head a little. “I want to make sure she comes back.”

Kieran checked his phone, seeing a new text from Mordecai, checking on Lexi’s status. He handed it off to Daisy to answer.

She’d kept her emotions bottled good and tight until it was clear they were out of danger. And then, for the first time Kieran could remember, he’d seen Daisy cry. She’d curled up in a ball and sobbed. Shortly thereafter, when she’d gotten hold of herself, she’d demanded to be taken to Mordecai right after Lexi returned.

After the hospital.

Lexi’s presence grew stronger within him. Her spirit drew nearer. She was almost back now, pulsing brighter than before. Wherever she’d gone had revived her.

“What are your plans with this shithead?” Thane prodded the Possessor with his toe.

“You wondering how soon we can kill him?” Bria asked with a grin.

“Yup,” Thane answered. “And I would like to volunteer for that honor.”

“Get in line.” Donovan turned from the window, his arms crossed. All the guys were close, but Jack had been Donovan’s cooking buddy. They’d been a little closer with each other than the others.

Alexis opened her eyes and sucked in a breath. Her chest rose and fell before her focus zeroed in on Kieran. A smile crossed her beautiful face. “You’re sitting upright.”

Daisy jolted and turned, grimacing as she pushed to her knees.

Alexis’s smile grew. “Hey. How’s your arm?”

“She won’t go to the hospital because of you,” Zorn said.

“Kieran almost went to the morgue because of you, so maybe a little less grumpiness would be awesome,” Daisy replied.

Bria huffed out a laugh, spraying the edge of the couch in spit. “Burn!”

Zorn’s face closed down. He didn’t voice that it hadn’t been his fault. Knowing him, he was beating himself up for it anyway.

Alexis sat up stiffly. She rolled her head and then her shoulders. She stretched, yawned, then noticed Jack, standing in the far corner, his hands at his sides and his face drawn. Kieran had noticed him but hadn’t known what to say. How to make it better.

Alexis had no such qualms. “What’s your story? Why are you hiding in the corner?”

The guys stiffened. All looked at the spot she was focused on. Longing crossed their faces. They wanted Alexis’s gift so they could see their brother in arms again. Their friend.

“He’s probably so used to stinking up the place that he forgot he doesn’t have to put distance between us before taking a shower anymore,” Bria said, her eyes sad but her smile thawing the room.

Thane chuckled and then shook his head. “It wasn’t the stink from working out, it was blowing ass. That guy was lethal.”

A lopsided grin worked up Jack’s face.

“It’s because he liked everything spicy, but his gut couldn’t handle it,” Boman said, laughing. “He’d always steal my peppers, remember? Then he’d bitch about shooting flames out his hole.”

“Gross,” Alexis said, motioning Jack closer. “You don’t have a virus or anything. You can hang around.”

“Doesn’t have a virus that she knows about, anyway,” Donovan murmured.

Thane guffawed. “I remember that! I told him to stay away from that chick, but did he listen? Nope. Went and got himself a case of the clap.”

“Oh, that curly-haired girl?” Boman asked, tying off the last stitch in Kieran’s neck. In a few hours he’d rip the stitches out. It was an annoying wound. The Possessor really had it coming to him. “She was a looker.”

“She came with baggage,” Donovan said, shaking his head.

“She should’ve come with penicillin,” Boman added.

They all started laughing, and Jack’s smile intensified. Kieran felt himself relax a little, and Lexi put her hand in his.

“It’ll be okay,” she said softly as the guys continued reminiscing and Zorn helped Daisy to her feet. “We’ll either make Jack’s spirit welcome, or I’ll help him cross over. He’s not gone, just different.”

By the time she was done, the room had gone silent again.

“He helped me today,” she went on, speaking loudly enough that everyone could hear her. “He was my eyes when I couldn’t see. He brought me information I couldn’t get myself. He was my spirit watchdog whenever things got iffy with the other Spirit Walker. His role was different than it would have been before, but he still helped the team. He stuck around and finished the job. He made right something that wasn’t his fault to start with.” She nodded with tears in her eyes, her gaze shifting to Jack. “You did good. You’ll need to decide what you want to do—hang around or go—but whichever you decide, I’ll help, okay? I’ll make it work for you. Don’t be scared. Be at home.”

Tears dripped down Thane’s face. The guy had never been concerned with crying in public—he’d always figured that if someone had a problem with it, he’d change into a Berserker and teach them to mind their own business. The other guys looked down at their feet or stared off at nothing while nodding. Even Zorn.

“Thank you,” Donovan said. He sniffed, and it was clear he was trying to hold back emotion. “Thank you for doing this, Alexis. I’m glad Kieran stalked you like a creeper and brought you into the fold.”