Tempted by Fate (12 page)

“Yeah. Elena Ramirez. Looks like she raised him. Minor scuffle with the law when he was a kid. The record is sealed, but I can hack it if you want.”

“Not necessary.”

“Never been married. Never lived with anyone that I can tell. He’s pretty much a golden boy.”

Willow exhaled a breath she didn’t know she was holding. For some reason, hearing he wasn’t married was a huge relief. But then who was the woman? “He was with a blonde. I need to know who she is.”

“That really narrows it down for me, Will. Thanks for making my job easier.”

The sarcasm was par for the course. Willow just ignored it, like usual. “They met at a bar in the Mission area called the Pour House. For that matter, do a check on the bartenders there. I also want to know everything you can possibly find out about a woman in her late twenties, early thirties, black hair, mixed Asian ancestry.”

Morgan complained some more under her breath, but
Willow could tell she was noting everything. Morgan was nothing if not thorough. “I’ll get you the information as soon as I find it.”

“Good.” She looked at the street signs. “I’ve got to go.”

“You okay, Will? You seem… I don’t know, distracted or something. In the ten years I’ve known you, I would never have used
distracted
to describe you.”

“I’m fine. Just get me the information. Fast.” She closed her phone and tapped on the passenger seat in front of her. “Pull over here.”

“Here?” He frowned over his shoulder. “You sure?”

“Yes.”

He glanced at her top, and his frown deepened. “You’re going to have trouble dressed like that.”

She pulled a bill from the tight pocket of her pants. “I’ll manage.”

He started to say something else, but she opened the door and slid out before he could lecture her further. Slamming the door, she strode around the corner to the motel.

She let herself in and went down the hall to her room. As she unlocked the door, the older woman’s door opened. “You’re out late again. And don’t you look scandalous.”

Hell. Willow closed her eyes and centered before turning around.

“I used to wear shoes like that,” the woman said, pointing with her cane. “Destroyed my arches.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The woman’s lipstick-stained mouth pursed. “You out looking for a man?”

Willow’s mouth quirked. “You could say that.”

“You be sure to pick a nice man. I liked bad boys
myself, which is why I ended up like this. You heed my words and find someone decent. Exciting ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, too. Good night.” She stepped inside and closed the door before the woman could continue.

As she kicked off her shoes, she couldn’t help but think about the woman’s words. A decent man. She snorted. As if they existed anymore. And then she thought of one man who lived with his grandmother. Ramirez’s face appeared in her mind, his eyes heavy-lidded, right before he took her mouth.

She shook her head. She wasn’t looking for a decent man. She was looking for the very bad one who killed her mother. Period. And no one was getting in the way of that, no matter how much her body wanted him.

She undressed, neatly stowing the clothes away, and climbed into bed after washing her face. Tomorrow she’d pay another visit to the club, and this time she’d talk to the owner. This time she wouldn’t let anyone get in her way.

T
he woman was bound with leather cuffs, naked except for red heels and a blindfold. The man ran a crop across his palm, and the woman shuddered at the hissing sound.

Edward could care less. As he sat in his private room in the Easy, he glanced at his watch. Collins was late.

Deidre shifted next to him on the couch. He knew the tableau titillated her by the avid way she watched. It irritated him, that she could be so detached when the stakes were so high.

Where the hell was Collins?

He’d left orders not to be disturbed, unless it was someone bringing news of his daughter’s return. The door behind them opened. A thrill of anticipation shot through him.

Then he became aware of the stench of defeat that drifted in with his employee, and knew he wouldn’t be meeting his daughter today.

Edward kept his gaze on the scene in front of him, riding the cold tide of rage that swept through him. He could feel Collins’s discomfort behind him.

Good. Let the incompetent bastard squirm. “It took you longer than I expected.”

“I didn’t…” His employee cleared his throat. “She got away, sir.”

Fucking incompetence. “Explain.”

“I had her. At least I thought I had her. And then something hit me from behind and knocked me out.” Collins shifted, his discomfort audible. “It felt like a club, but I didn’t hear anyone come up behind me.”

Her power. It had to be.

A feeling of pride spread through him. Ironic, since that had annoyed him to no end in Lani.

Although Lani hadn’t always annoyed him. When he’d met her, he’d been captivated by her light. It’d drawn him in, like he was a damned cliché.

True, her light had drawn him in, but it was her power that seduced him. He’d noticed it right away—she’d worn it like a cloak, pulled tight around her. He’d wanted to know where it stemmed from. He’d wanted to know the extent of its strength.

He’d wanted to possess it.

At first, she’d resisted him, but it wasn’t long before he’d won her over. A few sappy gifts, some pretty words, and she was his. He’d been almost disappointed by how easy it had been.

Once they were married, there was nothing easy about Lani. She closed herself to him completely. He’d found out completely by accident about the scroll that gave her mystical powers. It’d infuriated him that she’d kept it hidden from him. She was
his wife
—everything she was belonged to him.

And then she had the nerve to turn her powers on him instead of sharing them.

He didn’t tolerate betrayal. He’d pursued her with cold purpose. It had taken him years to figure out metal weakened her, and once he found her, he had been prepared.

Not prepared, however, to discover he had a daughter he didn’t know about.

A daughter he still didn’t know. He had to forcibly unclench his jaw to speak to Collins. “I’m not pleased.”

The bodyguard swallowed.

Deidre slipped her hand over his, lightly gripping his fingers as if to offer comfort.

He didn’t want comfort—he wanted his daughter. Lani had kept her away from him for too long. He’d thought he could make Willow need him, that she would stand by his side. That if he killed his wife, it would resolve their rift. But it had only deepened the gulf. “I trusted you to handle this. I don’t employ you for failure.”

“No, sir, you don’t.”

“Tell me you at least followed her.”

His silence was answer enough, but then he said, “I got knocked out. When I came to, she was gone.”

“Leave,” he said to Collins. He’d get what he deserved later.

Deidre crossed her legs and waited until Collins left before she spoke. “An unfortunate setback.”

“She’ll come back here,” he said tightly. “She saw me. She won’t be able to resist coming back.”

“Whoever she is, she’s a worthy opponent.”

Yes, Willow was worthy. Another reason to feel proud. It made the game that much more interesting.

“Let me take care of this.”

He glanced at Deidre.

She returned his gaze steadily. “I’m serious. Let me handle this. I’ll send several of my men after her.”

“What can your men do that mine haven’t?”

“She can’t possibly evade four men at once, could she?”

He felt a grudging admiration for Deidre. Not even his men had the balls to stand up to him this way. “You’re willing to help?”

“I’ve been helping from the beginning, darling.”

Her presumption irritated him. The slut hadn’t
helped
him—he’d used her.

But she was oblivious of the distinction and his thoughts. She curled her legs under her and faced him. “What does this woman want?”

That was easy. His daughter wanted
him.
He studied Deidre, trying to decipher her motives. “Why?”

“Maybe it’s time to dangle it in front of her. To lure her into a trap.” She caressed his fingers. “What do you think?”

He pulled his hand away. “I won’t allow her to escape again.” In actuality, it was a good idea, although he’d never admit that to her. It’d bring Willow right into his grasp.

“Then let me help.” Deidre took Edward’s hand again and, locking eyes with him, drew his finger into her mouth.

It did nothing for him. Willow had stolen his focus. Nothing else mattered now—nothing else would matter until Willow was at his side, once and for all. Until he had access to Willow’s powers, the way Lani had denied him.

With her gifts, there wasn’t anything they couldn’t
accomplish—nothing they couldn’t procure. Unlimited power was the end result. He’d rule the world.

He eyed the woman by his side. Perhaps he could use her just a bit more. So he nodded. “Do it.”

Deidre tilted her head. “Consider it done.”

N
ine o’clock in the morning, Gabe Sansouci was pacing back and forth in front of her three-person audience. She was trying to figure out how to tell them what she knew without freaking anyone out, which seemed totally impossible, given how freaked out
she
was. Being direct was the only way.

Agitated by the energy zipping between them like lightning, she studied the two other Guardians: her boyfriend Rhys Llewellyn, Guardian of the Book of Fire, and Max Prescott, who held Metal. It was bad enough with three Guardians—their powers were intensified and harder to control when they gathered together. How crazy would it be with four? She could only imagine that the outcome would be bad. Hands on her hips, she said, “So last night this Guardian walked into the bar.”

Max stared at her flatly. “Please tell me you didn’t barge into my home and drag me out of bed to tell me bad jokes. Because I could have still been snuggling with my naked wife.”

“
Max.
” Blushing, Gabrielle’s best friend Carrie smacked her husband with a pretty solid left.

Rhys arched his eyebrow. “As much as it pains me, I’d have to agree with Max, love.”

Usually she melted whenever he called her
love
in his crisp British accent. But right now, after the incident last night and the ensuing lack of sleep, she wasn’t inclined to being soothed. “This isn’t a joke. When have you known me to willingly wake up before noon?”

Rhys nodded at Max. “She has a point.”

“Damn right I have a point.” She started pacing again. She could still feel the residual aftershocks from the surge of her power last night. It vibrated inside her, making her feel volatile. “Last night before closing, a woman walked in—”

“But I was there before closing last night,” Carrie interrupted.

“She came after you and Ramirez left.”

“How do you know she was a Guardian?” Max asked.