Page 38 of Deadly Lineage
“Let’s just say this guy has his dirty fingers in a lot of nasty pies, and he’s in debt to the bakers.”
“Ouch.” I flinched, recoiling into my couch. “Doesn’t sound great.”
“No, it doesn’t. I’d tell you to get your dad to lean on him a little more, but I’m not certain how much that will help. Bart Livingston’s the kind of man that probably has his own magical persuasion stuffed in his back pocket, and if not his own, then he knows others who can call in a favor or two. I don’t like that you’re on this asshole’s radar. Maybe your dad was right. Maybe itistime to take a vacation to California.”
My shoulders snapped to attention. “You’re telling me to run away?”
“Retreat. Run away. Call it whatever you want. I just want you somewhere safe.”
“For how long?” I asked, anger creeping into all my crevices. “How long am I supposed to abandon my home, my life, my happiness for? How long do I let this jerk rule my life?”
This time, Franklin’s sigh was long and sounded like it came from the pit of his belly. “Boone, I know this is—”
“No, I don’t think you do,” I snapped stubbornly. “You’re asking me to abandon my life for Gaia only knows how long because some self-entitled criminal thinks I’ve done him wrong.”
Franklin spread his hands. “What do you want me to say?”
My mouth opened only to snap shut again. I looked around the room, my gaze landing on any and everything beyond the man sitting across from me. What did I want him to say? That he’d watch out for me? That he’d keep me safe? That he’d move in and stay with me until the danger had passed? All of that sounded whimsically tempting. All of it was utter bullshit. I was a grown-ass necromancer. I didn’t need anyone else to watch out for me. I didn’t need someone to keep me safe. I didn’t need… Well, maybe I didn’tneedit, but I wouldn’tmindFranklin O’Hare parking his slippers under my bed for, I don’t know…ever.
When I remained silent, Franklin said, “If you won’t go to California, then maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea for your dad to come visit for a while. It’s one thing to know Warlock Nikodemus Holland is your father. It’s another to see it in action.”
The tension fled and I was left loose and noodle-like. “And how long is he supposed to stay?” I asked. Franklin started to say something, but I held up a hand to halt him. “I know what you’re trying to do, and on some level, I appreciate it. But whether I go to him or whether my father comes to me, it’s the same thing. How long? How long do we allow Bart to control our lives and dictate our actions?” I shook my head. “I’m not living my life like that, and I’ll be damned if I ask Pops to do it either. Maybe it’s foolish, but I’m not giving Bart that kind of satisfaction.”
“I told Becks that would be your answer.” Franklin’s twisted grin contradicted his annoyed tone.
“Yeah? Well, you should have listened to your gut and we could have avoided this whole unpleasant conversation.” I wasn’t sure why I was being so snarky. All I could say was that I didn’t like feeling threatened, and that I disliked Franklin thinking I was an easy mark even more.
“Noted,” Franklin answered. “I’ll definitely keep that in mind next time. With that said, keeping you safe is important, Erasmus.” My heart fluttered when he said my first name.
“Because my father will be pissed if something happens to me.”
“No. Because I will be devastated if something happens to you.”
My lips parted and I sucked in a gasp. I couldn’t muster a single word, not even when Franklin stood and closed the distance between us. Head tilted and gaze locked on his every movement, I nuzzled into the palm of his hand when he placed it on my cheek.
“Take care of yourself, Erasmus.”
Franklin’s calloused fingers slid across my skin as he pulled away and headed for the door. I was still sitting on the couch, heart racing and breath coming in stilted gasps, when I heard the creak of the screen door open and close. I needed to get up and lock the door, but it was another fifteen minutes before my legs felt strong enough to carry me the distance.
Sweet Gaia. What was I going to do with Detective Franklin O’Hare?
Chapter
Twelve
Franklin
I got to the end of Boone’s street, turned the corner, and went down another two streets before I pulled into a gas station. My heart pounded and my mind… My mind was a jumbled mess. What had I just done? I stared down at my hand as if it had a brain of its own and was to blame for my actions and words.
My palms were sweatier than the rest of me. My thickened cock and racing heart were physical proof that I could no longer deny what I’d wanted for a long time.That man. My eyes slid closed, but that did nothing to erase the image of Erasmus Boone. It was like he’d wiggled his way into my life, into my essence, and branded my soul. Boone snuck into my dreams, danced through my daytime, and haunted the in-between. It was more than simple fascination. It was more than desire. I wasn’t ready to put the proper label on it. I didn’t know if I’d ever be ready for something like that.
Somehow, I got the feeling it didn’t matter if I was ready or not.
I jumped when my phone pinged with an incoming text. When I dug it out and glanced at the screen, the blood drained from my face and my heart kicked up to an alarming rate.Nikodemus Holland’s name was attached to the text. Did he know I was sitting in a gas station parking lot lusting after his son? Did warlocks have some kind of sixth sense when it came to this kind of shit?
I was embarrassed to say I dropped my phone twice before I managed to unlock the screen. Breath wheezed through my lips as I read the message.Lorelai Winston and Ellen Needler. With my brain buzzing, it took me longer than usual to understand those two names and why Holland would send them.
“The mothers of Noland’s necromantic children,” I said to the empty car. The message was simple, direct, and had nothing to do with the current state of my dick. Leaning my head back, I blew out another breath. My heart calmed and my hands grew steady enough that I was no longer a hazard on the road.
