Page 71 of Lovesick Titan

“Nice work, Oz. Notice anything amiss?”

“Not that I could tell.”

“Good.” Unzipping the bags, Mal looked inside. Oz had left his sunglasses behind like he asked. He hadn’t asked for Danny’s messenger bag with the goggles and comms either. Too risky with reflections, though Priestly had given him new comms for the occasion. “Back to patrolling the streets.”

“Got it,” Oz said. “From Haven, down through the shops, and end at Carla’s. Shop keeps are already warned. Anyone gets a lock on me for too long in one place, I’ll be gone before they can blink. Got a few plainclothes snooping around already, but they’re easy to spot. Momma and baby are doin’ fine, by the way,” he said with a warmer smile. “Michael keeps asking about you.”

Mal sighed as he looked at his gear and the things he’d asked Oz to get from his apartment. This safe house wasn’t meant for a long haul, cramped and dark with minimal luxuries, but it was the only option they had. “Tell him the truth. I’ll visit as soon as I can.”

“You sure Carla wouldn’t be better off staying with her mom? She—”

“Dunkirk’s on the streets again. Lucy confirmed he got out of holding. Can’t risk it. Best place for her is still in the neighborhood even with Ludgate around. Besides, they’ve got you to look out for them.” Mal grinned, and instead of grinning back or shaking his head, Oz looked at him reminiscent of how Michael—and Danny—had lately, as if Mal was somehow more than he believed of himself.

“They sure do. And if anyone can move faster than a freak jumping mirrors, it’s this freak right here.” Offering a wink and swift salute, Oz vanished on the spot.

All Mal had done to warrant his loyalty was—well, saved his girlfriend a few times over. But still, Mal had always seen it as quid proquo, only helping because he knew he’d get more in return. He doubted now how true that was, because even if Oz never again agreed to use his powers for Mal’s benefit, Mal would still defend him, or Carla, or any of his team.

Danny was a terrible influence.

“Report, Hart,” Mal said over the comms.

When Dom picked Priestly up, she’d made sure the young engineer brought along everything he’d need to keep them connected. Dom had sneered at the idea at first since they hadn’t used comms for the heist earlier that week, but Mal insisted. They needed to be able to talk as a unified front to know if anyone became compromised.

“Nothing,” Priestly said. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s been home all day. The windows look frosted over too, which is…odd.”

“Frosted?” Mal turned back to the computer as he contemplated what that might mean, then internally praised Vaughn for being so damn ingenious. “It’s safe to go inside. Once you’ve had a look around the house, tell me what you can.”

“Safe? You know what the frosted look means?”

“I think the Grant house is Hades-proof. If I’m right, I need you to find out how.”

“On it, boss. I’ll let you know what I dig up.”

“And Hart? If you see Zeus,don’tengage him.”

“Roger that. We can save the heroics for folks with powers.”

There had been no sign of John Grant or his children. Only Danny had been seen since last night, which was far more troubling than the Elemental’s behavior at Pronto. It amped up Mal’s worry as much as it soothed him because at least now he knew his gut feeling was right. But they needed to find someone, anyone other than Danny who could tell them what happened.

Mal had sent Lucy to find Vaughn when she couldn’t get a hold of him by phone or online. “Try his apartment.”

“You know, it’s cute you think I already know where he lives. But I don’t.”

“Please, give me two minutes,” Priestly had said before conducting a quick hack to acquire addresses for both Vaughn and Rivers, which was where Mal sent Dom.

“Any news on the white hats?” he asked now.

“Nothin’ at the doc’s,” Dom said. “Nicely stocked fridge and pantry though.”

Mal snorted, envisioning Dom with a few spoils from Rivers’ apartment.

“Nothing at Andre’s either,” Lucy said, though her tone was less humored, troubled and not trying to hide it.

Mal’s first goal had been to protect his own, make sure the neighborhood stayed safe. Next, he’d wanted to find out what Zeus had been up to last night and locate everyone Danny cared about, which meant he’d had to break his first promise to Danny when he gathered his crew for this mission, but he couldn’t feel bad about it.

“Zeus is Danny Grant, youngest detective at the OCPD and Detective John Grant’s son.”

Oz’s mouth had fallen open, while Dom stared at Mal like he was out of his mind before she grinned.

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