Page 59 of Touched By Destiny
“I got your texts, but go through the story again,” his father demanded of Gabriel.
“There’s not much to tell,” Gabriel said but told his boss every detail of their brief encounters with the mysterious car over the past two days.
“I’m okay, Dad,” Eric insisted as his father finally released him.
His father’s blue eyes were filled with concern and fury as he explained the necromancer meeting Gabriel had already confided in Eric about.
“It must have something to do with Arwynn,” his father concluded. “He offered no argument to everyone attending his fucking meeting virtually, so why was he in Vegas? Did he somehow learn that we have a destiny-touched necro in the family?”
“You knew what hotel he’d reserved,” Gabriel said. “Is he still there?”
“No, he checked out the day after our ill-fated meeting,” Eric’s dad replied. “But that doesn’t mean he didn’t check in somewhere else.”
“Or he could’ve rented a house,” Eric suggested.
“If he did that, he’d be harder to locate,” his father replied with a frown. “I’ll see what I can find out. I don’t like this. Eric, I’d like you to take a little break from spirits.”
“How long of a break?” Eric asked.
“Let’s start with a couple of days and see what I can find out. Then we’ll discuss our plan moving forward. Also, I know your driving lessons are nearly done, but—”
“But you don’t want me to leave the house,” Eric finished for his father.
“All I care about is that you’re safe. I don’t want you alone. I know you’re into those late-night walks now, but I don’t think even that is a good idea right now.”
Eric didn’t think. He whipped his head to the side, and his startled gaze met Gabriel’s. How long was he fucking expected to stay inside and miss time with his soulmate?
“Dad, isn’t that a bit extreme? It was one car. We don’t even know who it was.”
“Are you willing to gamble your life on a walk?” his father shot back.
“What if I went with Eric on his walks? We can keep the floodlights on, and I know I can get some inspirits to guard the house again.”
“If you’re willing to give up part of your evening to walk with Eric, then I’m good with it,” his father replied. “And yes, I want inspirits back over the garage. I didn’t want to impose on them, but it needs to be permanent. Eric, I think we should do another resurrection soon.”
“I was thinking I’d like to gift someone with a heightened sense of sight. It doesn’t mean they’ll want to be a guard, but it could be helpful if they wanted to go that route.”
“I love that idea,” his father said. “We’ll get the room ready and try for that next week perhaps. I’d like you to stay at the casino for at least an hour before you head home.”
“We can order some food and have an early lunch in the conference room,” Gabriel suggested.
“I want mashed potatoes,” Eric replied.
Gabriel chuckled. “Of course you do; I’ll take care of it.”
“Give me another hug,” Eric’s father said. “Then I need to make some calls and see if we can figure out what the fuck Arwynn is up to.”
Frustrated that someone Eric didn’t even know was affecting his life, he nodded and embraced his father. At least Gabriel had jumped at taking a walk with him. If Eric had to confine himself to the house and be deprived of the company of his soulmate, he’d go mad.
Chapter 25
It had been a shit day. After hustling Eric away from his spirit, Gabriel had eventually returned him to the Marwood mansion. Then Gabriel had retreated to his house to work virtually until an hour before dinner. Needing to do something physical, Gabriel had stripped off his shirt and pounded his punching bag until he’d dripped with sweat.
By the time he’d vented his frustration with the assholes stalking them and his own ineptitude in apologizing to Eric for touching him in front of Paxton, Gabriel barely had a few minutes to grab a shower. He’d tugged on clothes and raced to the big house. The moment he stepped into the great room, he saw Eric.
“I was getting worried you were going to miss dinner,” Eric said, stepping closer to him.
“Is everyone waiting for me?”