He pushed past me. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
“Take longer if you need it. I’m serious; I’m not going anywhere.” The rest of my errand day could wait. I shoved the door open and was taken aback by the sight of Lourdes hooked up to all the machines. Her face had a few more bruises, and her olive skin was pale. Her right arm was covered in bandages, much the same way mine had been a few hours ago.
I stood beside the bed for a minute, tears welling up in my eyes. She was such a beautiful woman, and she’d been through so much. That tiny baby inside her was fighting to live. He could have died because of a nasty bitch dragon. I didn’t know for sure Jene’s sister had done this, but I had a feeling. I wished I could kill her all over again.
Lourdes flinched. I pushed the evil thoughts from my head. I wasn’t that big into the woo woo stuff, but I knew enough that Lourdes didn’t need that kind of negative energy in the room while she was trying to heal.
Think happy thoughts.
I tried to smile, but I’m afraid it was probably more of a grimace.
Her eyes fluttered open, and it took her a moment to focus.
“Hey.” I squeezed her hand. “The doctors say you’re doing great.”
“Baron?” Her voice was hoarse. I saw the cup with a straw on the bedside table. I put it to her mouth, and she took a sip.
“He’s in detox.” I wasn’t sure how much I should tell her. “He doesn’t know yet. I wanted to talk to you first, before—He’s been trying to call you. And if you want him here with you, I will make it happen.”
Well, me and Dr. Simonak.
She shook her head against the pillow. “No. Don’t tell him. Too much. I don’t think he can handle it.”
She was a smart woman. I set the cup back on the table and took her hand again. “You know you aren’t going through this alone. You have Angel and me. We’re here for you. I will say I’m worried that Baron’s going to kick my ass when he finds out we didn’t tell him, but the doctor at the rehab center agrees with you. We’ll wait. Maybe we can tell him together when you’re healed and outta this place.” I waved a hand around the hospital room. She looked around as if for the first time. “Flowers.”
There were several bouquets around the room, along with a bevy of stuffed animals. My guess was Angel had bought out the hospital gift shop, and from the looks of things, possibly a couple of florists in town.
She managed a weak smile. “Thank you.”
“Oh, please. This was all Angel’s doing, and it’s the least we can do. And just so you know, I’ve increased security.” I closed my eyes.
What the hell are you doing? She doesn’t need to think about any of that crap.
“You know what you can do for me?”
“What?” She eyed me cautiously.
I smiled at her. “Just get well.” I pointed toward her stomach. “That tiny person in there needs you.” I took a deep breath. “And when I talked to the doctor, he said Baron was doing okay in detox. He’s started the program, and they feel confident that he’s going to succeed. But, man, he’s going to be—”
“Pissed.” She smiled again. “But he’ll get over it. He always talks about the big picture.” She put her free hand on her stomach. “Bambino is the big picture. He’ll need us both, and that means a drug-free papa.”
She was so strong. I’m not sure I’d be half as courageous in her situation. “You’re right about that. Listen, you don’t have to decide right now, but when you’re better, I’d like to move you to the States so you can be closer to Baron. At some point he’ll be able to receive visitors, and you’re going to be the first person he wants to see. If you are game, Angel and I have something in mind for you and Baron away from the club scene.” I was talking out of my ass, but part of me wanted so bad to give her some hope.
“America?” Her face brightened.
An idea came to me out the blue. “Sure. If that’s what you guys want. My sister Gilly has an arts foundation, and she was just telling me the other day that she needs a lot of help. To be honest, I’m not sure exactly with what, but she needs good people, and you are definitely that.”
“I want very much to come to America. Baron talks about it so fondly, and says that it is a place where dreams can come true. He wants to take me to Disney World. It is the kingdom of magic.” She said that last part as if in awe.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I don’t know about you on those rides when you’re pregnant, but I see a trip to Disney World in your future.” Her eyes fluttered, and I could tell she was struggling to stay awake.
“I’ll take care of everything. Well, Angel and I will. When you’re better, you and the baby can come over, and we’ll get you set up. When Baron is on the mend, he can join you, and you guys can live wherever you choose. A new start for everyone.”
She opened her eyes again. “A new start. Very good. If he calls—” She paused for a moment. “Tell him that it’s too hard for me to talk to him right now. I need some time to get my head straight, too. As soon as he can have visitors, I will be first in line. Tell him that I love him. Tell him that I very much want to go to the land of magic with him. That will make him happy. Just promise you won’t tell him what happened here.” Her eyes begged me to comply, and I couldn’t say no.
I might lose Baron as a friend, but I made the promise.
Her eyes closed again, and she instantly went into a deep sleep.
Sitting in the chair next to her bed, I did the most important thing I could. I texted Gilly and told her we needed to build a new life for my friend Lourdes. She deserved that and so much more.
While Lourdes slept, I took care of business. Thank God for cell phones, texting, and e-mail.
In the three hours Angel was away, I arranged a trip to Florida for Lourdes. And to have a nursery installed in the home of their choice with a full staff available to attend to her every need before and after the baby was born. She’d almost been killed because she worked for me, but it wasn’t just guilt that made me want the best for her. Maybe I couldn’t change the world, but I could help this family. It was important to me that she and her child have a good life. I would do whatever I could to make that happen.
After that was taken care of, I read through my pile of Aspen e-mails. They weren’t as bad as I thought, except that now she and Huff were worried about the carbon footprint of their wedding.
The absurdity of the woman who wanted and had everything being worried about carbon footprints wasn’t lost on me.
The universe really is in whack mode.
CHAPTER 22
Once Angel returned, looking much more like his old self, I headed out for my next errand. I landed in the back of the pub in Montreal. I knocked, and when no one answered, I tried the door. It was unlocked.
I let out a low whistle as I entered. The dust was gone, and the space was spotless. Even the chandelier had been cleaned.
“I had a bit o’ help,” Mr. McMurphy said from the stairs, as he polished the banister with a rag in one hand. Maybe it was my imagination, but his shoulders weren’t as stooped, and he was moving much faster than any other time I’d seen him.
“Expecting company?” I took in the rest of the room. Even the glasses on the shelves behind the bar had been cleaned. “Holy cow. You have been busy.”
“A wee bit.”
“What happened?”
He motioned to one of the booths on the sidewall, and I followed. Before I could sit down, a pitcher of water and two crystal glasses appeared on the table. I gave him a sharp look, and he shrugged.
“You really are a hell of a lot more powerful than you led me to believe.”
He frowned. “I’m an old man with a bit o’ magic left in me. Nothing to get excited about.”
I winked at him. “You pretend to be old. From what I can see, you’re ready to go back into business.” I waved a hand around.
“There was a bit of trouble last night, and I realized my services could still come in handy. It won’t be a full-running pub as it was in its day, but I’ll be here to help when necessary.”
I leaned back and winced a little when my shoulder hit the wood.
“The dragons?” He must have heard what happened.
I nodded. “So this trouble you’re talking about?”
“The girls wanted to wait at the club just in case you returned. Siobhan caught a Kaling trying to use magic to leave with a human, and he damn near killed my niece before she took him down.” Clasping his hands, he pushed his thumbs together. “Just like her mother, that one; tough as they come. Damn fairy stabbed her with a poison knife right in the heart. Took me near an hour, but I saved her.” I could hear the pride in his voice. “Helped that she’s made of sheer will.”
A fairy’s knife in the heart was certain death. There was more than a bit o’ magic in this man. “Do you know if—”
“Yes, the Kaling was pure evil. Serving the Manteros. The darkness was in him so strong it was near bleeding out of him. Graves took care of a few others he found in the mix. Said once he knew what he was looking for, they were easy to spot.”
“Huh. I thought we were supposed to leave them alone so we could spy on them. I’m pretty sure my mom ordered me not to burn the place to the ground.”
Mr. M moved to a stool by the bar and leaned on it. “Aye, that she did. But as Niamh says, all bets are off when it comes to the Manteros. Can’t have darkness like that in proximity for too long. Best if Graves keeps the club for those who might not necessarily be on the side of the good but aren’t consumed by pure evil.”
“So let me get this straight. Nasty, stinky dragons and Fae okay; Manteros possessed by evil, not so much.”
“Aye.”
“Well, now that we have that cleared up, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you but haven’t had a chance.”
“Anything, lass.” He took a sip of his water.
“I want to know if it’s just your magic protecting Bells.”
He cocked his head. “You saw me working the spells. What do you think?” I knew I was right. My mother and other mages were involved. I also knew he’d been told not to talk about it.
“I’ve never seen magic like what protects this pub from evil, so it makes sense that if you wanted to keep evil in—”
“Smart cookie, you are. I had a feeling when you watched me work the spells that you’d caught on. I told your mother there’d be no hiding the truth from you.” He smiled.
“Why would she want you to?”
“Politics, lass. Nothing personal. The council is keeping everything they do very close to the vest these days. The fewer people who know what’s going on with Bells, the better.”
“Yes, but I don’t consider Guardians just people.” I shook my head. “That didn’t come out right. I mean, we’re the protectors of Earth, so it makes sense that we should know what the hell is going on.”
This time his eyebrow rose. “I couldn’t agree more. Do you ask?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your mother, lass. Do you ever think to ask her these questions you are so curious about?”
Yes, but it’s doubtful she’d tell me the truth.
Of course, I didn’t want to say that out loud. “It’s complicated.”
“Aye. You both have heads of steel, so I would imagine so.”
I scrunched my nose at him. “If you think I’m hardheaded, you should see my sisters.”
He laughed out loud. “Did you ever stop to think that perhaps your mother wants to tell you, but she can’t? As I said, the council is keeping a tight rein on things, and my guess is she tells you what she can. It cannot be easy having four of the most powerful women in the universe as your daughters. Keeping them safe must be a full-time job. Not to mention what it must do to her ticker every time one of you girls almost gets yourself killed.”
“You don’t know my mother. It isn’t like that at all. We’re the ones who do the protecting. She raised us to be warriors and to fend for ourselves. Her only concern about us is that we do the job she trained us to do.”
He patted my hand. “ ’Tis quite a pity party you have there, young one.”
I shook my head. “No, that isn’t it. I don’t mean it that way. I’m proud of what I am, and so are my sisters. My mother made us strong, and she taught us well. She did a good job, along with our dad, setting us on the right path. She’s just not the most nurturing person you’re ever going to meet.”
“Is that respect I hear?”
Frustrating old geezer.
He hooted.
“Great, don’t tell me you can read minds, too.”
“A little, but your face is an open book. You are right about your mother doing her job. From what I’ve seen and heard, she’s raised four Guardians who rival any who have gone before, except for my nieces, of course.”
I smiled at that.
“You mentioned your relationship is complicated,” he continued. “Imagine how complicated things are for her when she wants to protect you but must put the universe’s well-being at the forefront. Cannot be easy for her.”
He had a point. He’d also changed the subject.
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re very good at diversion?”
He winked again. “A time or two.”
I could analyze my relationship with my mother another day.
“So it is your magic at Bells, along with my mother’s? And you’re the one helping Graves?”
“Aye, ’tis me, but I haven’t been doing it very well, evidently. Makes me angry at myself to let those dragons slip right through the magic.”
I sighed. “They had evil on their side. We’ve had run-ins with the Manteros before. The magic—Well, it rivals any I’ve ever seen. What I want to know is if you think Graves is on their side or ours.”
“Death walks the fence. He is neither good nor bad, but he gains nothing from evil taking over.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Death is about balance, and he’s the one who brought Siobhan to me last night. Niamh had a call, and I’d returned here. As I said, Siobhan waited at the club in case you came back and needed help. She was angry that she didn’t follow you.” He glanced at my shoulder again. “From the looks of things, perhaps she should have. Your people should have brought you to me.”
“I don’t think they knew. In fact, I never found out exactly what happened once I passed out. I need to ask somebody about that. Anyway, you changed the subject—again. I’m fine. Go on.”