Page 66 of Taken for Granite
“No, it’s not,” Juniper said instantly.
Rhoda grabbed Juniper by the elbow and pushed her toward the door. “Surprisingly, you are correct. We’ve tracked a number of the gargoyles’ sigils. They seem to be converging in the area. We got a fresh signal this morning, but I wasn’t sure who’d we find until I saw the SUV.”
Not Chloe’s fault, just bad luck. Juniper twisted to look back at Chloe, her face pale and streaked with tears. She gave her sister a smile. “It’ll be okay, Chloe.”
She didn’t know how but she had to believe.
Forced outside, Juniper blinked against the bright sunlight. A man lay bleeding on the ground, unconscious. Tas grappled with one agent, while another who wore sunglasses had a pistol trained on them. Clearly, Tas had the advantage with his height and weight, but he let the man land blows. Flesh hit a hardened stone skin. The man’s hands were busted and bloody.
“He is a magnificent beast, isn’t it?” Rhoda asked.
“He’s not a beast.”
Rhoda gave Juniper a calculated look. “And why are so many of the creatures coming here? Is it a reunion? And why bring you along? What are they planning?”
“Fuck you.”
“Yeah, fuck you, ya arrogant, high-handed bitch,” Chloe echoed.
Juniper was so proud of her baby sister.
Rhoda turned back to the spectacle of Tas toying with her agents. “Enough!”
Tas grabbed the man’s wrist and knocked the pistol from his grip. The man screamed, clutching a broken wrist to his chest.
With a tired, put-upon sigh, Rhoda shot Tas.
Juniper screamed a warning, too late. He jolted, turned to her, and roared. The lack of blood confused her, but then her sluggish mind reminded her that Tas had worried about tranquilizer.
“Are we done with the dramatics?” Rhoda asked a very pissed off gargoyle.
Tas plucked the dart out of his shoulder. He tossed it to the ground and stumbled.
Rhoda dragged Juniper over to the agent on the ground. “Get up,” she said, kicking the man in the ribs. He moaned but slowly sat up. “You and you, restrain the creature before the tranq wears off.”
“We have more,” the man in the sunglasses said.
Rhoda’s top lip curled back. Clearly, she didn’t like her colleague. “Too much and he’s unconscious and shifts to stone. Please, be my guest and throw your back out trying to lift a solid stone gargoyle statue.”
“Fine.” He snapped his fingers and the two other agents produced restraints. They moved in on the gargoyle, but he moved slowly, his tail dragging in the dirt.
“Is this the woman?” the man with sunglasses asked Rhoda.
“Yes.”
“Get rid of the spare,” Sunglasses said, already turning his attention to the phone in his hand. The agent closest to Chloe raised his pistol.
No. No, no, no. Time slowed, her heart pumping sluggishly and the sunlight gleaming on the barrel of a gun.
“Wait! I’m pregnant!” Juniper shouted, summoning the first thing that came to mind.
Chloe uttered, “No way,” and Tas roared, fighting against his restraints.
“I will not let them harm you or our youngling!” Juniper felt a moment’s guilt at the desperation in Tas’ voice. She wasn't pregnant—probably—but he believed her lie.
“Belay that order,” Rhoda snapped. The agent hesitated, looking toward Sunglasses for confirmation. “For crying out loud, you bleeding idiot. Don’t shoot the girl.” She took the pistol from the man and waved him away.
“But we don’t need her and that’s my gun,” the man said, clearly baffled.
