Page 72 of King of Tides

Yet, that feeling earlier … that was something else entirely.

“King Ardan, can you help us?” River asks.

“Did you all really need me for this? You are both nearly two hundred years old. Can you act your age and not the one in the mirror?”

River blinks at me a few times as if she’s shocked, while Brooks snorts and tries to cover it up. I’m done with this pettiness. I have no idea why everyone has been acting like children around here.

“Yes, My King. We will figure this out on our own,” Brooks says.

“Thank you,” I say and stand.

“Brother, before you go. Do you have a minute?” Brooks says, halting me.

I sigh but reclaim my seat. River glares daggers at Brooks before she storms out. I roll my eyes and shake my head.

“I’m sorry about that. It’s my fault. We were in a relationship when we applied to open the business. I should have known better?—”

I hold my hand up to cut him off. I don’t want to hear this shit again. I approved the business in both their names. They eachwill have to pay their dues for the business, not just Brooks, as River wants.

In fact, all the funds can come from Brooks as long as it’s the right amount, I don’t care. The loan provided is the same, so the terms are as well. I will not be decreasing the repayment because River doesn’t want to continue with the business.

“What is it you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Yes, sorry. It’s about the ice titan. We’ve been monitoring the location you gave us. I can’t help feeling like someone has been tipping him off.

“Not one sighting. Yet when it’s my shift to watch for him, I can scent him in the air. I thought I should report this to you as I don’t know who can be trusted,” Brooks says.

I tighten my fists on my desk as I think through his words. I had a team put together to monitor the location Billy said she saw Bardo enter. I already felt like the results were taking too long to be reported. Each shift has an ice being who should be able to take Bardo on sight, or they should call for me.

“Thank you. I will look into this.”

He nods and places a hand over his heart then bows. I haven’t had any reports of the twins transforming since sending them away. I wonder what Bardo is up to.

“I think it’s time to look in on Ricci,” I murmur to myself.

Full of Surprises

“What are you up to?” I say as I find Ardan leaning up against my car when I walk out of the precinct at the end of my shift.

I look around to make sure no one saw him appear out of thin air. It’s been a long night, the last thing I need is to have to deal with a noisy human. Not seeing anyone, I walk right into his waiting arms.

“That was brutal. I’ve never wanted to tear a human apart more in my life. I thought I’d do something special for you,” he replies as he wraps me in his embrace.

“God, I thought he was going to force you out of the necklace. Gates was in a particularly nasty mood today,” I groan.

Captain Gates tore into me like nobody’s business. I think he went off on me for an hour. I didn’t even do anything to warrant the blasting. It wasn’t my case or investigation he ripped into me about.

The only reason he took it all out on me is because I asked about the Ricci investigation. I caught a few whispers that Candido is facing a RICO and his businesses are being audited.

Ardan had mentioned wanting to know if Bardo had been in contact with Candido since the murder of the chef. I thought I could ask the captain to fill me in, not tear me a new one.

“He almost did. If it wasn’t against our laws, I would have really put him in his place.”

“Wait, what’s that supposed to mean? You did something, didn’t you? What did you do, Ardan?”

He gives me a mischievous grin. “I may have turned his bowels to water. He’ll have the runs for a day or two.”

I gasp. “You didn’t.”

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