Dark Stranger Immortal (The Children of the Gods #3)(14)

This necklace was a gift from my brother Andrew, and since the day I got it I never left home without it. It’s not nearly as valuable as what you gave me, but if you believe objects get imbued with their owner’s essence, then this necklace has the most essence I have ever imparted on any one thing. I regret the fact that it isn’t worth even a fraction of what your gift is. My only consolation is that when you wear it, you’ll carry some of me with you.” She took Amanda’s hand and pressed the delicate chain with its small heart pendant into her palm.

“Thank you. I’m going to wear it always, just the way you did…”

Amanda wrapped the chain around her neck and closed the clasp. When she was done adjusting the diamond-encrusted heart to lie in the hollow of her neck, she swiped a finger under each of her teary eyes. “Come here…” She opened her arms, inviting Syssi to step into another embrace.

Standing in each other’s arms, they were both sniffling. It felt good, though, to acknowledge this bond between them.

Syssi wondered what was it that had brought them so close together in such a short time. Was it the love they shared for Kian? Or was it the fact that they were both survivors of similar tragedies?

Or maybe it was the attraction of opposites?

On the surface of things, they had nothing in common; different looks, different temperaments, different values. They didn’t even belong to the same species for goodness’ sake. Except, it seemed like they were both in desperate need of a good friend.





9

A N D R E W

R eady to be done for the day, Andrew closed the Maldives case file when his phone rang.

He frowned. An unknown caller? No one besides a select few that were already on his contacts list was supposed to have this number. On an impulse, he accepted the call instead of letting it go to voice mail. “Yes?”

he barked.

“Is it a bad time? You sound busy.”

“Syssi, I thought you were a wrong number… No, not busy at all, what’s up?”

As it was, Andrew still had no new leads on that damned case. He had searched everything he could think of; going through the registration records of every hotel, motel, and inn he had access to. Which, unless they were not connected to the internet, meant everything with rooms for rent in the greater Los Angeles area. He had even gone as far as checking every group of four men or more registering at the same time, and when that had produced zilch, he’d narrowed it down to three.

The twelve had disappeared without a trace. If they were still somewhere around LA, they were most likely staying at someone’s private residence.

Unless they got themselves into some kind of trouble, he would have no way of locating them.

“Just wanted to give you my new cell phone number and tell you that I’m still at Amanda’s, working on that report.”

“I thought you were calling from a blocked landline. Why didn’t you keep your old cell number?” Andrew’s bullshit radar switched on, its red alert light blinking like crazy. “What aren’t you telling me, Syssi?”

The sigh she’d heaved had him jack upright in his chair and tighten his grip on the phone. What kind of trouble had she gotten herself into?

“I didn’t want to worry you… but Amanda’s lab was ransacked a couple of nights ago. That’s why we are working at her place instead of the lab.”

“We’ll get to why you didn’t tell me about this before, after you explain what the hell this has to do with you changing your phone number.” Pushing up from his chair, Andrew began pacing around.

When instead of providing an explanation she sighed again, he felt like punching someone. Except, with no ready candidates lined up, he ended up smashing his fist into the concrete wall and bruising his knuckles instead.

“Talk!” he grated. If she sighed one more time, he was driving over there and shaking the truth out of her.

Did she think to coddle him?

“It was a hate crime. A group of religious fanatics that think Amanda’s research has some occult ramifications. They stole a list of her test subjects— the ones with paranormal abilities. I was at the top of that list, and Amanda was afraid they’d come after me, as well as one of the other high ranked talents. That’s why both of us are staying at her family’s place. I had to get rid of my phone so they will have no way of tracking me…”

“And it didn’t cross your mind to call me? Who’s better equipped to protect you? Amanda or me? I can’t believe you acted so irresponsibly. And what are the police doing about it?” Striding back to his desk, Andrew sat down and booted up his terminal.

“The police are investigating, but they think it’s just a malicious prank.

And I didn’t come to you because there was no need. Amanda’s place is in a highly secure building, as in Fort Knox secure. You have nothing to worry about. And besides, if I stayed with you, I wouldn’t be able to continue my work with her, and as you are well aware, I do need to work for a living.”

Syssi huffed as if to say, “You see? I was completely reasonable.”

“Even so, you could have let me know. You know the resources available to me…”

“I know, I’m sorry. But really, there is no need for you to get involved in this. I’m sure the whole thing will blow over in a few days.”