Venclaire grinned when Kincaid cursed quietly, holding out his hand while each one placed cash in his hand, and the four of them started piling into the limo wearing various looks of disgruntlement while one still grinned. Sighing heavily, I cracked my neck, waiting a moment for the last to get in. Rolling my shoulders, trying to relieve my tension before I moved, I climbed in and sat fluidly with pretended ease. Venclaire was hooting about his victory, somehow managing to do so elegantly as I reached out, grabbing the door handle. I froze for a moment, my gaze caught on the entrance of the chic hotel not more than ten yards back, where two individuals leaned silently against the glass barrier next to the doorway.
Elder Jacobs and Elder Merrick, both standing casually but silently, one duffle a piece at their feet, well within hearing range of our conversation. Quietly eavesdropping, more than likely completely by coincidence, knowing they had been moving to check-out, who knows how long they had been snooping behind our group. Their gazes were anything but bored as they watched in their business casual attire, very reminiscent of 2035. I quickly averted my gaze from hooded, penetrating navy blue eyes to Elder Jacobs, and made a point of slowly letting my gaze rake down his body, letting the Elder Elemental believe that was why I had stalled at seeing them. I gave him a tiny, flirtatious smile before quickly shutting the door, seeing his own brows rise in a bit of interest at the last moment, not unlike when I had first met him in the future.
We were being followed.
I knew that for a fact. The small silver Mercedes sports car was staying a few car lengths back. When the limo pulled up to my apartment, I tried to feign tiredness as I downed the glass of orange juice I had been gifted by Nelson from the mini-fridge, but all the Prodigies bolted out of the limo with swift demands that I had food inside they had bought. And they were hungry. So, I got my bag out of the trunk, covertly glimpsing the silver sports car at the back of the parking lot with two occupants in it watching us, and then moved with the Prodigies who were already climbing the outside stairs. Kincaid, practically already at my door after jumping up to the second floor and over the wooden balcony to the walkway. I knew who was watching us, so I kept my movements fluid as I made my way up the stairs, fishing my keys out of my purse, letting them in like the pack of hungry beasts they currently were. The four of them stormed into my apartment, and made themselves cozy while I locked the door behind me.
Christ, now I had Elder Jacobs and Elder Merrick watching my place, both of them probably wondering who the hell I was for obviously various reasons, the woman they would find out had no background. But, there was nothing to be done about it, unless I wanted to pack my shit up and leave this town, which honestly, as I dumped my belongings in my bedroom and changed into a pair of gray cotton capris and a black tank top, I really didn’t, since I had found…companionship…with the unruly bunch currently cooking or watching television in my front room. And so, I went with it, opening the patio door so they could eavesdrop if they wanted to, plus, the power was getting a bit stifling inside my small place. I then sat, ate a fine meal, and watched television with the group.
When the knock came late two days later, a half hour after the guys had left from their impromptu visit, I wasn’t at all surprised. They’d had enough time to do a background check through the MIA database if they had done a little snooping in the leasing office to get my name from the copy of my driver’s license I’d given while signing the lease. Dragging my hands from dishwater, I grabbed a towel off the sink, drying my hands as I peeked through the peephole.
Yep.
Well, this should be fun. I unlocked the door, and opened it to the night air, asking coolly while staring down at my hands, continuing to dry them, “Yes?” Then, I blinked, and instantly feigned startled shock…with a smidge of fear…when I glanced up. “Elder Jacobs. Elder Merrick. It’s nice to meet you both…and it was,” a glance at Elder Jacobs, “a pleasure noticing you at the hotel the other morning.” I puckered my brows, speaking slowly. “But, what are you both doing here?” More brows scrunching as I firmly ignored Elder Merrick, actually maneuvering my body so I didn’t have to view him straight on. “Do you have the wrong apartment?”
Elder Jacobs leaned a shoulder against my doorframe, casually glancing about the interior of my currently messy apartment—thanks to the guys—before dark eyes met mine straight on. He cocked his head as he evaluated me slowly, this time his gaze completely professional. “Actually, we’re here to see you…Ms. Farrow, correct?”
I nodded once, still feigning confusion. “Why…?” I cleared my throat, then acted the respectful individual I should be in their presence, stepping back and gesturing with my towel for them to come in. “My company just left, so you’ll have to excuse the mess.” As if they didn’t know this already.
Both stepped inside, and I swear, it was like Elder Merricks fucking body heat attacked me, swirling around me, warming me too much as I caught a whiff of his subtle cologne, spiced and expensive as he stepped past me. Both of them scanned the area, taking in everything they hadn’t been able to see from outside, neither placing their back to me as I shut and locked the door. I gestured to the couch, quickly swiping the sweater off it Kincaid had left by accident, only wearing his t-shirt out of here when he got too hot, making me wonder if it was a Shifter thing being so heated. Folding it absently, and placing it on a clean section of the dinette while they sat, Elder Jacobs on the couch and Elder Merrick on a leather recliner, I tucked a bit of my red hair behind my ear.
“Would either of you care for something to drink while we discuss why you’re here? I’ve got,” I moved into the kitchen, glanced in the fridge, “beer, water, milk, or a Coke.”
Elder Jacobs took a water while Elder Merrick took a Coke. I refrained from sitting between them, their positioning perfect for if I sat on the end of the couch. I, instead, sat on one of the dinette’s chairs curling my bare feet up under me, my pink toenails peeking out from under my knees as I sipped at my own Coke, and stared pointedly at Elder Jacobs, still managing not to look directly at Elder Merrick yet.
Yellow brows rose the barest bit as he took a drink from his bottled water, then stated serenely, “I’ll be blunt with you, Ms. Farrow. We followed you the day at the hotel when we saw you with the Prodigies, and have been watching you since. We’ve done a background check, since they seemed…chummy…with you, and imagine our surprise when nothing came up for a Sadie Farrow. No middle name, and,” his head cocked, and I felt an increase of air Elemental power radiate throughout the room, and instantly, my jaw clenched, as he tested me way too crudely, his brows lifting further before he pulled it back, “and so far as I can tell, I don’t feel a bit of Mystical power on you.”