Page 59 of Blood and Bone
“Areyouinsane?” Ari mocked, laughing.
“How would that—”
“You think putting a centipede shifter in a cell with a toe-sucking vampire is a bad thing? Seriously?” Ari asked, leaning close. “Think about it, Eoghan. “A hundred pairs of legs, that just means…five hundred toes.”
Eoghan burst out laughing and when he’d finished, they both glanced at Smith who stood there looking like they both had two heads. When they could finally catch their breath, Ari explained why putting a centipede shifter into a cell with a toe-sucking vampire was the best idea since sliced bread.
Chapter Sixteen
They left the prison and what surely promised to be a much easier sentence for Beauregard Champayne if the centipede was on board with the idea. Smith had promised to talk to both men and then if they agreed, he’d put them together during their yard time and see if there was any chemistry. Either way, he promised to make the effort and let them know the results. They left dreary Folsom, its nasty warden, and the new friends they’d made in Smith and Champayne, feeling hopeful.
Champayne had made them another promise on the trip back to Folsom. He’d contact his mate, Victoria, and ask her to speak to their clan leaders about the possibility of helping King John Townsend. Eoghan didn’t seem too hopeful about the prospects that she’d be successful, and he told Ari. Honestly, Ari appreciated the frankness and straight talk from his partner, a man he was very possibly falling in love with.
They found a motel and checked in, dropping off their duffels in the room before going to find a place to eat. They hadn’t had anything in hours, and they were both famished. After a nice sit-down dinner of Caesar salads and air fryer sweet potato fries at a diner called The Melt, they were both sated and happy. In Ari’s opinion, the best part about the place was that because they’d eaten healthy dinners, they could indulge in dessert. They opted for strawberry milkshakes served in sweating mason jars that were so divine, he wanted to cry.
“We need to call her,” Ari said, sipping on his shake as he leaned back against the booth cushion.
“Priest?” Eoghan asked, glancing down at his and Ari’s Faraday caged cells. “Yeah, I know. We probably should have checked in before we ate, but I was starving. We’ll do it with the burner as soon as we get back to the room.”
“I thought we were supposed to use these unless we’re talking about Townsend,” Ari replied, nodding at their phones.
Eoghan gave the side of his own cheek a little slap like he was trying to wake up. “You’re right. I’m so tuckered out, sometimes I forget.”
Ari put down his empty glass and reached for the check before pulling out the company credit card and glancing over at Eoghan. “Come on, baby. If I don’t get you back to the room, you’re going to fall asleep sitting straight up in the booth.” When Eoghan gave him a tired smile, Ari stood, held out his hand, and helped haul his man to his feet. They somehow managed to stumble to the counter, pay their bill, and head out to the car before Eoghan fell on his face.
When they got back to the hotel, the night clerk said they had a message and handed them the note. Eoghan smiled and nodded a thanks before turning toward the elevators with Ari at his side.
“Who left a message?” he asked, feeling uncertain. No one knew where they’d be. When he read the note Eoghan passed him, he immediately felt better. “She must have tracked our phones earlier and figured out this was the most likely hotel in the vicinity of the restaurant. Did you notice the name?” He held the paper aloft as the elevator arrived.
Eoghan nodded. “Priest Burns. I’m pretty sure it means she wants us to call her burner,” Eoghan replied. “We’ll do it when we get to the room.”
“She’s gonna be pissed,” Ari singsonged. He could tell Eoghan wasn’t in any hurry to rehash the entire evening with their boss, which was probably why he’d blown off calling herearlier. It was late, and Eoghan had not only gone over and above for the assignment as always, but he’d also been behind the wheel most of the day.
He felt slightly angry that the chief would expect the debrief as soon as they finished their duties and dropped Beauregard back off at Folsom. Surely, if there was a problem, she’d know they would contact her, and one call to Smith at the prison would have reassured the chief that things went fine. Some days he loved his job but there were others in which Ari really resented not being able to spend a minute alone with his lover without expectations.
He was still getting used to the micromanaging tendencies of their boss. Then again, she was not only dealing with an understaffed office which was responsible for alien and paranormal life in a huge state, but also, a mole at the Agency. Of course, she was uptight. He was just going to have to learn to adjust to the way she wanted things done. Sure, he was used to the rather laid-back way his former chief in Lexington handled his marshals. But Reynolds was older, nearing retirement, and not dealing with anything like the kind of fugitives the I.S.R. hunted. Ari really shouldn’t complain. After all, in this job, he was lucky enough to be working with his best friend.
And in all fairness, therewasan incident with Champayne and they should have reported it immediately.
Ari strode over to the duffel bag where he’d stored their burners and pulled both out before checking the Faraday cage on their regular phones. Sitting on the opposite bed, he noticed Eoghan making sure his phone’s signal was blocked as well. When he looked up and held out a hand for one of the burners, Ari shook his head.
“I’m going to call her. Lie down. You look like you’re going to pass out, Eoghan.”
“I’m fine.” He wiggled his fingers. “Gimme the phone.”
“I’m serious, Eoghan. Let me do this.”
“Fine.” He flopped backward on the bed where he stared up at the ceiling and waited.
Ari dialed her number from his burner, and she picked up on the second ring. “Where have you two been? Is Sapphire okay? You were supposed to brief me as soon as the job was done.”
“Hello, to you too, Chief,” Ari said. “First of all, yes, Sapphire’s fine. He’s right here.” He put the call on speaker, holding the phone out.
“I’m fine, Chief,” Eoghan said, sitting up and frowning at him. “We know we should have called you as soon as we finished the job, but we were starving and thought we’d refuel before calling. I apologize. I guess I thought you’d call Smith if you were worried.” He paused and Ari noticed how bone-deep tired he really was. “It won’t happen again.”
“It’s fine, Eoghan. I can hear the exhaustion in your voice. I already talked to Smith, so I know Champayne got back to Folsom in one piece. If you don’t feel up to telling me what happened, that’s fine. Call me in the morning.”
“I’ll fill you in while Eoghan jumps in the shower, Chief,” Ari said, looking at Eoghan and pointing to the bathroom. “He looks like he’s about to keel over.”