Page 17 of Awaken the Dragon
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you,” Ziva said as she stepped into the space that separated him from Shola. “I’ll be riding in the front with Reece, he’s one of our best drivers.”
“Hi,” Shola said, her gaze going from Ziva and back to Theo with a modicum of worry.
“This appointment is a dress fitting. Ziva’s coming along so that we’ll be able to provide protection even while you’re in the dressing rooms.” He hoped giving the explanation would get rid of the worried look in her eyes.
“I do not believe that will be necessary,” Shola stated.
She looked uncomfortable and she watched each of them warily. Theo couldn’t blame her. For as many questions as he had about this situation, he had to figure she, coming from another country and being alone with strangers, was having a hard time dealing with this as well.
“When you return, dinner will be waiting,” Bleu said to Theo.
“You have bedroomsanddinner at your office?” she asked.
Ziva laughed. “Honey, you have no idea the things that go on in this place.”
With that pronouncement left dangling in the air, Ziva turned and walked out of the room.
“Do not fret, Ms. N’Gara, you’re in good hands.” Bleu stepped to her and touched a hand to Shola’s shoulder.
“If she is the new agent, why are you still going with me?” she asked Theo.
Bleu looked at Theo as if he too wanted the answer to that question. He and Bleu had been through a lot together. They’d traveled the realms together in search of a new home when Theo had determined that the Far Realm was no longer the place for him. Bleu knew all of his secrets, and Theo knew his. That’s why their partnership worked so well. It was why Bleu had always been more than just a watcher to Theo; he was the closest thing to family Theo had now.
“I’ve taken over the case,” Theo said with finality. “Let’s go or you’ll be late.”
Outside, he slipped on his sunglasses and walked down the many steps leading to the courtyard. His truck, the largest of their fleet of eight with its bulletproof exterior and other magnifications including a cloaking device, was parked in front. Ziva leaned against the passenger side door laughing at something Reece had said. Reece Mulvane, who was built like a battering ram and wore his long curly black hair pulled up in a shaggy tail was always down for fun.
“Let’s go!” he commanded and opened the door to the back seat of the truck when Reece was too slow getting there. He didn’t spare his annoyance as he glared at the now sobered agent.
“Yes, sir,” Reece replied and hurried around to the driver’s side door.
Shola eased into the back seat and Theo followed, closing the door behind them.
They weren’t seated for five minutes before she asked, “How many of you work or live at the Office?”
“You’re very curious about my company.”
“Your company has been employed by my family and now I am staying at the Office. So yes, I am curious about the setup and the continued plan for my protection.”
It was valid. If he were in her position, he’d want to know all he could too.
“I built the Office as a place away from all that goes on in the city. There are eight of us who live and work here,” he admitted.
It was more than he’d ever told anyone about the mountain refuge he’d created and it was not a total lie.
“So you live inside of a mountain.” Her voice was filled with disbelief and just a hint of awe. “Is that the usual type of housing available here in Burgess?”
“It’s not, but at the time I was looking the land surrounding the mountain came at a bargain price so I snapped it up. I wanted to be comfortable.” He’d left out the part where he purchased the property in the early 1800s when he’d opened his first business, a mining company. Still, it was another admission he wasn’t sure why he was making. It didn’t matter what she thought of where he lived or why he lived there. She was just a client.
“Where do you live? I mean, in the village of Mobo, what type of house do you have?” Bleu had left a digital file on Theo’s communicator. Once he’d showered and changed clothes, Theo had transferred the file to his desk platform and read every word before leaving his room.
She’d been staring out the window, like she did each time they were in the truck even though he was certain she couldn’t see anything more than lights through the specially tinted glass. All the windows to their trucks and at the Office were tinted with a special gem coal mixture that came from the Far Realm. Only Drakon could see through the glass clearly.
Now, she turned to look at him with a touch of sadness in her eyes. “I live in a small house with my parents. We do not require much space as long as we are close to the river.”
“Because you like to swim?”
“Because it is our life force,” she replied. “And yes, I love to swim.”
