Page 52 of City of Love

He glanced up at the familiar faces two road lanes away, watched them waving and beckoning to him. And he thought then that perhaps going home, even with Gideon, was not such a bad idea after all. That’s what Mary would want him to do, he was suddenly sure. Confront his guilt and treason. Accept the consequences. Be with his people in his home world. Spend the rest of his life making amends if it were even possible.

He rose and stepped back into the road towards Gideon and Julian. They may have betrayed him and Mary before, but at least they’d believed they were doing the right thing at the time. They’d cared about something, even if Benjamin disagreed with their priorities. And angry though they were right now, they seemed to care about what would become of him.

Unlike Philly, he thought while dodging one car after another, their horns blaring at him as he tried to get back across the busy street.

Philly hadn’t cared about him one bit. She’d sold him lies to get him to betray his people, and not for any more noble a reason than to line her own pockets. Miserable bitch. Now that he was going home and the truth of everything would come out, he’d at least take satisfaction in disclosing her secrets.

But as he hopscotched around the cars, a giant flash of light filled the sky above, the massive fireworks thundering in his ears. Benjamin felt sick, dizzy and nauseated as one knee buckled under him, and he went down right in the middle of a lane.

“Get up. Hurry!” he heard Gideon shout, though it was already too late.

Benjamin had exactly enough time to think, I hope you burn in hell, Margot, as a brand new, bright red Mercedes Roadster married him to the pavement.

CHAPTER 22

They drove back to Taco Shots in silence. Gideon was far too numb and emotionally exhausted to form any words, let alone know what to say.

There’d been no point in trying to collect Benjamin’s body. It would only have brought them attention and slowed them down. The authorities would find an unidentifiable person. A drunken holiday celebrant who’d clumsily wandered into the road.

Still, Julian and Gideon had known him since they were children, and silence was their homage. The only one he deserved.

Gideon’s lack of speech was also a testament to his frustration and confusion. Benjamin’s words about Mary had struck the intended nerve. He’d only known Lexi for a brief time and yet, in retrospect, he now decided he was profoundly grateful for all the technology that had helped rescue her. Though he’d earlier been ashamed of his need to rely on Matthew for help with the computer and the car, it never even crossed his mind to turn down that help. Benjamin had been married to his wife for over a hundred years, and he’d begged the council for permission to let the doctors of World Two save her life.

Heat flushed his cheeks at the empathy and shame he now felt over the Council’s refusal of that request. Benjamin had been right about one thing—the world wasn’t nearly as black and white as Gideon had always insisted. There were a million shades of gray and all the colors of the spectrum.

He dropped his head back against the seat, closing his eyes. As a musician, he should have known. A world colored by such gradations, though exponentially harder to navigate, was a far, far lovelier place to be.

And his world had indeed become harder to navigate. Had become suddenly lovely. Because he could no longer deny that he was falling for…

He turned to see her staring up at him. How much of his thoughts had she heard?

He was saved from her questions as they arrived at Taco Shots. Relief washed over him like a cool balm as they stepped into Matthew’s club and were greeted by Alana and Vik, whose own worried faces burst into smiles as they entered. Alana ran to them with arms wide, reaching first to hug Lexi.

“Thank God you’re all back. What happened?” she asked, moving to embrace Gideon. “And where’s Benjamin? As soon as he saw us, he bolted. We followed, but he escaped. We’ve been so worried.”

“Benjamin’s dead,” said Gideon.

“Dead?” Vikkras said, he and Alana glancing at each other. “But what was this all about?”

“My brother, we will fill you in on everything, but first Julian and I need to go home, and Lexi needs care for her wounds.”

Matthew beelined for the bar, grabbing the closest fifth of bourbon and swigging directly from the bottle. He then stretched his arm toward Gideon, offering it to him. Gideon crossed the room to take it, reluctantly leaving his woman’s side to do so.

“You saved my life, man,” Matt said, as Gideon took his own big swallow. “Thank you.”

“And you saved Lexi’s. My immense thanks to you as well.” He took another swig, then handed the bottle off to Julian before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Matthew, I apologize for doubting—”

Matt put up his hand. “No need to say another word. I understand.”

Gideon turned to face the others. “Thank you. All of you.”

Alana stepped back to her husband, taking his hand. “So, is it all over then?”

Gideon looked to Lexi and she shook her head. “I’ve been asking for visions repeatedly since we left the scene, and I’m not getting anything more.”

Vikkras lifted a brow. “You’ve been asking for visions?”

Gideon smiled and moved back to Lexi, standing behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders. “I promise we’ll explain everything later. Let’s just say for now that our little oracle here has a fast learning curve.” She glanced over her shoulder at him, beaming with the same pride he felt for her. “I’m pretty sure we’re okay for the moment, and we’ll regroup tomorrow to talk it all out. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

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