“To be questioned at the station.” Echo gave her a quick answer, then she went about putting the evidence in an official bag she pulled out of her back pocket. We were on the move to the car shortly after, hopefully to end this whole case.
I wasn’t an official member of the Seahill Police Department, so I was stuck waiting in the break room as Echo and her chief interrogated the pastor.
Twenty minutes later they emerged, her face twisted in anger.
“He’s lawyering up. He’ll have to stay the night, and we’ll get another crack at him tomorrow. But until then he’s not budging. Hopefully forensics can connect the drug in Amanda to his.” She looked a little restless as we walked over to her desk, which, considering all the dust on it, I bet she didn’t use often.
I sat in the chair across from her, watching her emotions change by the second.
“Think he’s the guy?” I was curious. He seemed like a fit suspect, but something in her words told me she wasn’t one hundred percent. Her brown eyes met mine, and I wished I could read minds.
“I’m not sure. I don’t feel that relief I thought I would by catching my parents’ killer.” She chewed on her bottom lip.
“Maybe you’d made him out to be bigger in your head than he really was.”
“Maybe. We’ll see tomorrow.”
She had some paperwork to do, so I decided to go get her something to eat. She was always hungry.
Their little snack area was pathetic, so I took to the street and stopped by a late-night diner to pick up some burgers.
“Asher. So glad I ran into you.”
I’d lived in the city for years now, and until the last twenty-four hours, I had never heard my name said out and about like I have now. I turned to see the master of the universe himself waiting for food alongside me.
“Phillip Griffin. I’m sure this is a surprise to you.” I grinned, knowing very well this meeting between us was one he’d foreseen.
The pretty boy smiled, completely unashamed for whatever reason he was here with me.
“I’m grabbing some food for everyone. It’s been a rough week. Thought they’d want something other than Italian food tonight.” Phillip grabbed a drink from the little fridge and paid for it at the counter. He was dressed in jeans and a thick, zip-up jacket and sneakers. So down to earth for a millionaire.
“Pizza can get old after a while.”
“Yep. So, you two have any plans for Christmas next week? Rose wants to introduce Draco to our parents. So that will be fun, but we were thinking about doing a little get-together for the crew. You guys should join us, if you aren’t busy.” He was pretty chatty, but then again, so was I, most of the time.
“I completely forgot about it, honestly. But I’ll mention it to the woman.” I winked. Speaking of my woman…
“The killer who got her parents came after her today. She changed into a lion and her asshole neighbor reported her to the landlord. She has to move out within twenty-four hours. Any room at your headquarters if she wants it?” I figured while he was here I could at least help try to get Echo in at the apartments.
Phillip nodded while taking a sip of his drink.
“Already have it ready for her in case she decides to. It could still go a few ways. One path is starting to solidify, though. Keep putting the sweet on her.” Phillip chuckled to himself while my chest warmed. There was a future where she chose to stay with me. That gave me hope.
“So, what’s the real deal you’re here for? We both know it’s not just for the burgers.” I didn’t mind his company, but I wasn’t one for beating around the bush.
He nodded, understanding that I just wanted him to get out whatever he had on his mind.
“I can’t see who that killer is. I’ve tried finding him in the visions, but I can’t go back, only forward. I saw her being attacked but knew you’d save her. I wanted to warn you that shit in Seahill is going to get worse, and we are going to need you both with us. She’s already agreed to be part of our Hero Society, but we need you, too. You are vital, actually. I’ve seen two futures for you that are most prominent: a mate, or a destiny with your coven. We both know Echo is your mate, destined for you since she was born. Her energy matches yours perfectly. You could also run from the fact that your future is set one way or the other. I can’t tell, but you need to make your move soon. Time is running out. Night is coming for us all. You will either be with us or hiding with your coven.”
I stared at the man who seemed so young but had the knowledge of every possible future. He’d seen everything he cared about live and perish in a single thought. The man had lived thousands of lives before they’d even come to pass. It takes a strong spirit to have his power and still be standing, fighting for what he believes is right. But what if he was wrong? What if that line he walks so tightly wobbles, and he fails? If he fails, we all fail.
“Mr. Griffin, order up!” The waitress behind the counter lifted a large bag full of the food he ordered for his crew. His family.
“The time to make your choice is now, Asher.” Without another word, he grabbed his bag and strode out of the diner.
Time to choose. I thought I’d already made that choice. Hadn’t I?
Chapter Twenty-Five
Echo
Asher had been quiet as we had eaten the burgers he’d gotten us. The silence continued as we made our way back to my apartment.
I hadn’t decided where I was going to go yet. I’d been caught up in trying to find other evidence that Amanda’s killer was Robert Burke, but I wouldn’t be able to talk to him again until tomorrow, and then it would be with his lawyer. I wanted it to be him, I really did, but something deep inside me said that this was too easy.
“Do I need to call a moving truck for tomorrow to come grab your furniture?” Asher looked around after we’d entered my place, apparently noticing there really wasn’t much as far as furnishings went. I shook my head. Let them sort it out. My books, clothes, and a few little personal items were all I truly cared about.
“I’ll rent a pickup tomorrow and get it all in there.”
“Figured out where you’d going to stay?” he asked while standing by the door, waiting for me to see if I told him to go or not. He’d been oddly distant from me, and I wasn’t sure I was fond of it.
“No. I’m not used to needing to depend on people. I could always go back to my childhood home, but I don’t want to do the long drive back and forth from the reservation to the city.”
While part of that was true—about the drive sucking—I also didn’t care to be in the house where my last memory of my parents dying on the rug would pop up like it happened yesterday.
I’d thought about him offering me a place to stay with him or going to the Society. He’d mentioned he’d run into Phillip at the diner, and that Phillip had space for me. I could choose the easy way and stay with them. Maybe even build on the small friendships I was beginning to form with them. Or I could take a leap of faith and choose him. Choose that this thing between us was real, continuing to give it a shot.
I walked slowly toward his tall frame.
His eyes watched mine as I stopped a few inches in front of him.
“Do you want me to stay with you?”
I wanted to know what his choice was, what he wanted.
“I want you in my home, in my bed, and in my arms. I’ve never wanted anything as badly as that. I want you, period.”
His words were what I didn’t even know I needed to hear.
“I’m scared as shit, choosing a fate that’s been picked for me, rebel and all. Echo Cross, I want you to know that I’m choosing you, even if it kills me in the end,” he added, and while I didn’t quite understand what all he meant, I didn’t care right now. All I cared about was that he was claiming me. He was choosing me over whatever question had been plaguing him.
I reached out to touch his soft ebony hair, running my fingers through the waves and over his prickly five-o’clock shadow.
“I choose you, too.”