Page 147 of After 5

He didn’t marry Mahlia, although he would have married her to gain his key. Maybe.

Where did that leave me? Alone eating the cake. We still had a lot to work out. I’d go see him tomorrow, and hopefully he’d be sitting up in bed flirting with the nurses.

I yawned and pulled my new, ruffled duvet from Anthropologie under my chin. I liked the soft, girly texture of the bed cover. It was comfortable, like this part of my life.

Being a chiropractic assistant and a secret agent wasn’t so bad. My life was filled with good friends I considered family, and family I considered good friends.

Aint Elma knew the most important thing in life is to surround yourself with loved ones. People you could count on, people who loved you, people a girl could share secrets with. I had to agree that the woman was wickedly wise.

A light rain began a tap dance against the glass on my French door. Lightning flashed outside. I did the count thing and waited for the thunder, but it didn’t come. The Texas weather, summer storms in particular, were so unpredictable, exactly like the men in my life.

I cuddled deeper into my burrow and drifted to sleep.

A buzzing noise woke me. My phone. Jake’s name flashed across my screen along with the time. It was after five in the morning.

“Everything OK?” I managed to mumble into the phone.

“Good morning.” Jake’s voice sounded husky on the other end of the line.

“It’s still dark outside, technically it’s still night.”

“It’s after five, and I have some news you’re going to want to hear.”

“What news?” I propped up on an elbow.

“McGregor’s gone.”

My heart stopped for a full minute. I bolted upright in bed and sat rigid, preparing myself.

“Jen, did you hear me?”

“What do you mean he’s…g-g-gone?” My voice quivered.

“Shit Jen, I didn’t mean dead gone, I meant, he skated the hospital.” He sighed. “I’m sorry, I’m tired and I didn’t think.”

“But the nurse told me he wasn’t stable.”

The pause meant he ran a hand through his hair before he continued. “He just got up and left. Took out his IVs and vanished in his vessel. I imagine the key played a big part. The moon cycle is closed, so Pickles can’t track him. I wanted to let you know in case he comes your way.”

A shadow crossed my balcony.

“Thanks, I’ll let you know if he shows.”

“See you soon.”

I disconnected and slipped from my bed.

“Holy shite!” The sound of shoes skittered across the tile on my balcony.

I flung open the French door and flipped on the overhead light. Caiyan stood outside, his face flush with surprise.

“What are you doing?” I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the door hinge.

“I need to see ye, but the biggest fucking spider I’ve ever seen was guarding yer door.” I looked down and a furry black spider sprinted across my bare feet and into my bedroom.

I jumped into Caiyan’s arms, then squinted at the spider. It wore a little vest.

“I think that’s Chuck.”

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