Morgan
I didn’t pull the trigger. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to. The sight of Mike-battered and bloody, sitting on an ugly steel chair looking like death warmed over, face beaten into shapelessness-froze my blood, but something stayed my finger. Maybe it was the incredibly efficient, graceful way Boris had disposed of the golem, the terrible beauty of his lethality. Whatever it was, I let him live for that moment.
“Don’t you dare move, Boris.” I really, really wanted to shoot him in the worst way. It was like an itch you just had to scratch before it drove you mad. “You okay, Mike?”
My friend laughed, a sad, sick sound. “Depends on your definition, I guess.”
I wasted no time in laying Healing on him, keeping one eye on Boris, who was glaring hot death at me. I could feel Mike grow stronger, but not enough, so I laid on another and another until the bruises on his body faded and his face became recognizable again.
Fatigue pulled at me, but I didn’t care. Mike was alive. A flick of a K-bar and the zip ties holding his wrists together parted.
“So this is the infamous clergyman who causes the Sicarii to quail and quiver in their boots.” Cain stepped into the suite, smiling at Mike with what seemed to be genuine affection. “And I note the figure of a surly Russian who must be the dreaded Boris of whom such tales are spun as to unman ordinary mortals.”
“Interesting turn of phrase,” began Mike, rubbing some life back into his hands. “I vote we delay any further discussion until we are safe. Let’s get out of here now.”
“Sit, Boris,” I commanded. The Russian just glared, so I shot the cuff of his expensive slacks. “Sit, or I take out your ankles, like last time.” That put him on his butt right quick. It was then I noted we were standing on several wrestling mats. We had to be in a training suite where the guards kept their skills sharp. That meant Julian was close by.
“Hey, boss. Hey, handsome,” Maggie’s deep but very feminine voice came from behind. “Is this tall drink of cute the priest you were after? Too bad he belongs to God.”
Mike’s expression at seeing Maggie for the first time was worth the price of admission. She was a lot of woman to take in all at once.
Cain gave her a once over. “Alan?”
Her face closed down. “He was on the League’s payroll. Tried to do me in.”
I cast my mind back to the Seeing, the second half of which I had paid scant attention to while searching for Mike, and gave Cain a nod.
Mike cut in before Cain could reply, sounding more than a little frustrated. “I don’t know what’s going on, but we have a psychopathic Russian to deal with. Anyone have a pair of handcuffs or three?”
“Sorry, man,” I said, not taking my eyes off of Boris. “You’re right.”
“Actually, a better idea springs new-formed to mind,” Cain mused. “Mr. Heart should pursue the perilous quest while Michael, Maggie and I provide our overlarge friend here with some much needed containment.” His shades moved my way. “Go. Find the Primal and set it free. Michael will be safe in our august company.”
“Mike, you mind, man?” I was half-afraid he’d fall over despite the Healings.
“If you trust these people, then it’s okay with me. Do what you must do. I’m pretty sure Julian is on the opposite side of the building, well past the elevators.”
“Thanks, man.” To Cain, “Be careful, Boris is the most dangerous non-magus I’ve ever met.” That earned me a smile at full power. I was about to run out, but an impulse that had nothing to do with danger seized me. Grabbing Maggie by the shoulders, I laid a big one on her moist lips.
For a moment I thought she’d clean my clock right there, but instead her arms encircled me and she returned the kiss with interest.
When we both finally came up for air, lights sparkled in her baby blues. “Let’s go, gorgeous.”
I shook my head. “Sorry, Blondie, but this is a Family thing. I have to fly solo.”
She scored quite a few points by nodding, instinctively understanding. “If we survive this, handsome, you’re taking me someplace nice.”
I kissed the end of her nose and she dimpled prettily. “You got it, Blondie.” And with that I ran out, looking for Julian. I had to put an end to all this before New York paid the price.