Page 35 of Deadly Little Games
It seemed safe enough, and if it wasn’t, I had back up. Not only was Ringo in my messenger bag, but Gabriel was loitering further down the street. He looked far too good leaning against the brick wall, white button up undone at the top just so, contrasting with his brown skin. Sunglasses shielded his eyes, the lenses as dark as his hair, which was currently tied back away from his face.
“You’re staring, Eva,” a small voice whispered below me.
I glanced down at Ringo peeking out of my bag, lifting a brow at him. “Can you really blame me?” My eyes shifted in Gabriel’s direction.
Ringo simply stared back at me. He picked up on banter at the strangest of times, but apparently now was not one of those times.
Shaking my head, I crossed the street. There were a few other goblins loitering about, including Gladiola, the woman who had rescued me from the Circus. I spotted her at the next crosswalk, and gave her a subtle nod as I approached the diner.
I opened the door, pulling against the slight suction from the air conditioner inside. There was an open expanse of bar-style seating, the long counter rimmed with several strips of vibrant color. A few people sat there on tall stools, none of them glancing my way. Observing theseat yourselfsign, I went for a vinyl booth along the wall near the door.
Not long after I sat, a waiter took my coffee order then hurried away. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans, then straightened my loose green flannel over my tank-top, anxious to get the meeting over with. I was supposed to return to Emerald Heights today, but whoever had left the note didn’t think I should trust the elves. I needed to learn exactly why that was. And I needed to learn itbeforeSebastian found me. I had left his calling card in my apartment when Gabriel took me home to change, but I had a feeling that even without it, it wouldn’t be long before he strode through the diner doors.
The waiter returned with my coffee, giving me a tired look when I said I would wait on ordering food. As soon as he turned away, I slipped a sugar packet into my messenger bag for Ringo. I was pretty sure by now that the little guy could subsist entirely on potatoes and sweets.
I glanced around the diner, growing more anxious by the moment. When my watch buzzed on my wrist, I jumped. I looked down at it, seeing Braxton’s number, then pushed a button to answer the call.
“Hey Eva, sorry it took me so long to check in.”
“I was beginning to wonder if you’d thought better of having such a risky roommate and decided to live in the country.”
Braxton laughed. “Not quite, but speaking of yourissues, that’s why I’m calling. I think you might want to come out here.”
I turned the volume down on my watch and held it closer to my face. “What? Why? Not that I couldn’t use a vacation, but—”
“I know I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone what’s going on with you, but you know how my mom is.”
I pinched my brow and shook my head. “Braxton—”
“She told me some stuff, Eva. Stuff your dad told her right before he died.”
My stomach fell to my feet. “What kind of stuff?”
“I think you should just come out here and talk to her in person. You should be safe with the pack around. Plus, she misses you.”
I looked up as the diner door opened and I recognized a familiar petite form. “I have to go, Braxton. But I’ll think about it, okay?”
“Do more than think about it. I’ll get the guest room ready for you.” He hung up before I could.
I lowered my wrist to my lap as the woman who had entered the diner approached me. I recognized her instantly. I had committed her appearance to memory, even though we’d only had one conversation.
The celestial woman from the Circus smiled down at me. “I wasn’t sure that you’d come. The devil seems to have you completely wrapped up in his scheme.”
“Well, I’m here. Although I’m confused at what point you slipped me those two different notes.”
Her wide mouth curled into a charming smile, crinkling the skin around her large dark eyes. Her brown hair was so thick it was like a pelt falling all the way down to her waist, blanketing her diaphanous purple blouse. “Yes, I’m rather adept at slipping about unnoticed.” She used her body to shield her hand as she wiggled her fingers, sending off a few tiny stars. “I’m Marcie,by the way. We were interrupted the other night before I could introduce myself.”
She slid into the other side of the booth, looking harmless.Yeah right. She was a pure blooded celestial working with my mom. I wanted to trust her, but she was also connected to Lucas, who had been ordered to kill night runners. I couldn’t trustanyonewho would murder strangers so blatantly.
The waiter returned, and Marcie ordered a hot green tea.
Figured. “Why did you ask me here?”
“I wanted to warn you to stop searching for your mother.”
I narrowed my eyes. “And what makes you think I’m still searching for her?”
“Let’s see,” she tilted her head, draping that long hair all around her, “a powerful devil haunts your every step, you have the protection of the elf king himself, and you have been spending quite a bit of time in the Bogs.” She gave me a knowing look.