Gunnar nodded. “Appreciate it.”
Liam gestured toward the door, motioned for me to follow. The night was still, humid, quiet. The memorial songs had all been sung.
“I want to check on Eleanor,” he said. “Just in case. I have some favors I can call in for extra security, and I think it’s time to do that. I want to make sure she’s protected.”
“Favors?”
He blew out a breath. “I’ll have to ask Solomon.”
I winced. “There’s no other way?”
“Not after tonight. And his price will be high. But there’s no avoiding it.” He glanced back at Gunnar. “He’ll be all right?”
I nodded. “I think so. He’ll adjust, or the Commandant will come to his senses when Rutledge causes more trouble. That seems pretty inevitable.” And that reminded me. “Be careful in Devil’s Isle. He could still have friends.”
His gaze softened. “Are you worrying about me now?”
I let my gaze linger. “I know you can take care of yourself. But I might have heavy furniture that needs lifting. So it’s always good to have muscle around.”
He grunted a laugh. “Hilarious as always.”
“I’m trying,” I murmured as he walked away. Because I wasn’t sure what else to do.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The smell of rich coffee wafted upstairs. I came down in a robe, my hair pulled into a bun, to find Gunnar and Liam sitting at the store table. They held mismatched mugs, and there was a carafe in the middle of the table. I paused on the stairs, waiting until I’d composed myself.
“Bonjour, Claire,” Gunnar said. “Liam is teaching me some Cajun French.”
“Oh, good. Now both of you can mutter under your breath in a language I don’t speak.” I pointed at the carafe. “Is that coffee?”
“The real deal,” Gunnar said. “Courtesy of Mr. Quinn.”
“Thought we could all use it,” Liam said.
So he thought he could woo me with coffee. I poured coffee, held the warm mug in my hands, and closed my eyes to enjoy the steam that drifted up. I took a drink. It was hot, strong, black. I felt better almost immediately.
All right, it was a good play. “God, I miss coffee.”
“You sell coffee.” Gunnar pointed to it. “It’s over there.”
“Since we don’t get it very often, I didn’t want to get used to it. And besides—it’s never as good as when someone brings it to you.”
I looked at Gunnar. “You seem to be feeling better.”
“I did what I could,” he said. “I’m not going to sit around because they aren’t handling it well. I’ll give them time to investigate, and then I’ll make my case. I’ve got a friend, a colleague, who I’ve asked to keep me updated.”
“Good,” I said, and glanced at Liam. “How’s your grandmother?”
“Fine. No incidents.”
I looked at Gunnar. “And Tadji? Her mother?”
“Good. No incidents for them, either. Bigger picture, I don’t know what that means. Maybe that Rutledge is retooling. Hopefully, that he’ll give us a little time before he moves again.”
“Time to get Containment in line?”
“Exactly,” Gunnar said.
I nodded, sipped my coffee. “He’ll make a move. Rutledge, I mean. Why wouldn’t he, after all this planning?”
“Agreed,” Liam said, refilling his cup. “The only issue is—”
“Where, when, and how well you’re prepared for it,” I finished, rising from my chair.
Liam looked at me with surprise. “That’s twice in a row that you’ve listened to me.”
“Veil fluctuations,” I grumbled, and headed upstairs.
? ? ?
I got dressed and came downstairs again to find Gavin rushing in through the front door. Since he was on guard, it was quickly obvious that something was wrong.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Liam asked.
“Tadji’s mom. I left when the Containment guards relieved me half an hour ago. I verified their ID, then went to the store to grab a few things—food, water. When I got back, the guards were dead. They took Phaedra.”
Fear blossomed like a crimson rose. “Tadji?”
“My next-door neighbor’s a former marine. She and her aunt are with him for now. That was the safest place I could think of.”
“They didn’t take Zana,” I said, and looked at Liam. “They figured out Phaedra locked the Veil?”
“Or she told them to protect her sister.”
I hadn’t known Phaedra long, but that sounded like something she’d do.
Liam’s eyes narrowed at Gavin. “How’d they find out where you live?”
“I don’t know,” Gavin said, looking completely stricken. “I don’t know who could have told them.”
“Rutledge must have connections,” Gunnar said. “Which means he won’t have any doubts now that Containment is onto him.”
“He’ll try to open the Veil now,” Liam agreed with a nod. “Even if he doesn’t have all the Sensitives, he’ll know he only has one shot. Hell, the way the Veil’s been fluctuating, he could already be close.”