Page 36 of Lovesick Gods

A dozen words of dissention rose up in Danny’s mind but froze on the tip of his tongue. Anything he said would just be an excuse. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to spend time with his family. He’d barely been home lately. He loved his dad. He loved Stella. And Joey was just finding his feet; he didn’t deserve Danny’s ire.

With a sigh of resignation, he fought down the tension and anger churning in his gut. “I hate that I know you’re right.”

“But we are right,” Lynn said. “Baby steps, Danny. Just try. Spend a little time with your family. If we need you for Zeus work, we’ll call you.”

Danny nodded, but he couldn’t help the bitter taste in his mouth. “Okay. I’m sure Dad will expect it anyway. It’s going to be a long shift today though. This Virgil Labs case is impossible. We’re going through the motions of questioning all the employees, but it isn’t any of those people, even if it does look like an inside job. Must be someone new with some serious tech.”

“Or an Elemental?” Lynn asked.

“I honestly have no idea.” Danny held up his hands. “The only thing we have to go on so far is the timeframe and that the cameras were tampered with right before the heist went down. How, though…no clue.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t Prometheus?” Andre asked with a short laugh, then betrayed in his eyes, only enough for Danny to see, that he hadn’t meant to bring up the source of their argument again.

Danny mustered a smile. “No ice residue, remember?”

“Right, I know,” Andre relaxed. “Still, can’t think of anyone else who could leave a scene that clean.”

“Could it be another Elemental we know?” Lynn asked. “Maybe something from the list of what was stolen would give us a clue or at least a better idea of what they were after.”

“Money,” Danny said. “The thief went after high ticket items. We’re trying to see if we can catch any of the loot with local fences, but this sort of thing is likely being sold through people we’d need an in with to even get a lead.”

“If only the OCPD had someone undercover with the mob about now,” Andre said far too seriously for Danny not to laugh.

“You know it doesn’t work like the movies nearly as much as you think it does, right? Usually, all that action and adventure comes down to just one nerd in a lab.”

“Well then, I better get cracking,” Andre grinned. “See what you can bring me, huh?”

Danny glanced at his watch. “And on that note, I should actually get to work. Enjoy the donuts, guys. I’ll just…” He grabbed two glazed ones for himself. “If anything comes up, I’ll check in. Otherwise, see you tomorrow?”

“See ya, Danny,” Andre said—fences mended, even if Danny didn’t deserve it. He didn’t deserve any of the amazing people in his life.

The idea of family dinner left him vaguely nauseated, but he pushed those feelings aside in favor of remembering how peaceful he had felt that morning after a good night’s sleep. Everything would get better from now on. Even the Virgil Labs theft had to have a break in the case at some point. And in the meantime, there were plenty of days ahead to see Cho again.

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Hades never dreamed his failure of a life could ever amount to so muchsuccess. He’d just needed to Awaken as an Elemental like he always knew was his destiny. If only it hadn’t come so late in life so he could have shown his father he wasn’t a disappointment, but it had finally happened. All because of Zeus. The brash, young hero didn’t even know he’d created his next great enemy.

Standing before what remained of his haul from Virgil Labs, Hades frowned. He’d made thousands from what he’d sold already, but it wasn’t enough. The credibility he craved was missing. He wanted the police floundering, but without any suspects to shine the limelight on him, he’d never get the fame he deserved. He had to do things carefully to make his entrance memorable. That meant another heist quickly, one with a few actual breadcrumbs left behind.

Patience was key, but eventually his time would come and he’d face off against Zeus like he’d been planning since the day after he Awakened, that foolish hero who thought he could protect this city. Zeus’s other villains were a cakewalk. No, he was meant to be destroyed by someone greater, someone who’d earned the hatred they had for the city’s paragon. Hades would show them. He’d show everyone who’d ever thought they were a match forZeus what true power looked like. Maybe he’d dethrone one of Zeus’s more public enemies before seeing to the man’s downfall.

Hades had heard from several reliable sources that Prometheus was planning something. Even those who would readily snitch on anyone for the right price didn’t have much information though. A heist was imminent, yes, but no one knew anything about where or when. Only the other Titans knew the details, and none of them would ever talk. Hades needed to go where he could eavesdrop without any of them knowing they were being overheard.

And there was one place he knew where Prometheus always showed up.

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The house smelled like tomato sauce and garlic when Danny entered, later than he’d hoped but still on time for family dinner. His father had left the station ahead of him, and Stella was obviously already in the kitchen since it was her turn to cook.

She’d been on her own since college, in her own apartment, living her own life outside the family, but Danny hadn’t followed suit. There had always been a reason to stay home. He and his father worked at the same precinct. His romantic entanglements never lasted long. And his mother had always kissed his temple and said she didn’t mind if her baby boy stayed at home forever.

Danny hadn’t intended for that. He was ready to leave, ready to take a larger step toward being on his own, when Rick was killed and everything unraveled.

He’d never had many friends. Obsessive and analytical, he was perfect as a detective but not the best for relationships. His father had always been better at finding a balance with hispersonal life, but Danny immersed himself so much in work, he’d forget to step back and breathe.

It was only through Rick, his partner, that he found a true friend who understood him, who devoted himself just as deeply and never told Danny to ‘get a life’ or ‘take it easy’. He’d been the only person who ever really made Danny feel like he could be himself.

Danny could still remember the way Rick’s face had turned purple before the light in his eyes died.

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