Lorcan and Fiona sat in Dalton’s office having tea and delicious scones with the CEO. Even after seeing all he had on this assignment and listening to what Dalton told them, Lorcan had been impressed when Fiona pulled the pastries from midair not long before Minerva barged in with two security guards.
“You’re here?” She sounded surprised.
Dalton adjusted his glasses. “Where did you think we’d be? I promised Ms. Maguire a cup of tea.”
“And it’s delightful.” Fiona lifted the cup toward Minerva, sounding calmer now despite all they’d just learned. She obviously could put on a good act.
“Scotch would be better.” Lorcan grinned. “So where’s Prince Rohese and our least favorite reptilian?”
Minerva snorted. “They’re in holding cells as our leader requested. They’re filling out their reports…as you two have yet to do.”
“On the contrary,” Fiona said and Lorcan felt his eyes widen at seeing the paperwork on the desk, all filled out in hers and his handwriting, like they’d just spent the last twenty minutes completing it and not listening to Dalton spill his guts about LAMB’s dark secrets. Although he suspected there was a lot more to learn.
Fiona winked at Lorcan. She knew he despised paperwork.
“I can work so much better with a cuppa,” Fiona said with a broad smile.
Minerva only appeared more suspicious.
“Now if you’d take Ms. Maguire down to be debriefed, I’ll speak to Mr. Wright a bit longer and I’d like you to send Prince Rohese up to speak with me.”
“Not Jaycee?” Minerva asked.
“All in good time,” Dalton said. “I’d prefer to talk to her last, for I suspect she will have much to say. I’ll go to her holding cell so she doesn’t have to be moved when she’s heavily medicated.”
Fiona looked less than pleased that Jaycee wasn’t facing much worse or maybe because she’d be talking to Dalton. Lorcan couldn’t help wondering what secret Jaycee might have learned about Fiona that she wasn’t eager for anyone else to hear. It seemed it had something to do with the cabin.
“See you later, Henry,” Fiona said. “And, Lorcan, thanks partner.”
Was that a flirtatious smile she gave him? Then another wink? Minerva glowered. “See you at home, luv,” Fiona said.
“Home?” Minerva asked, nostrils flared.
“Home, Boomer?” Lorcan messaged her, puzzled. “Luv?”
“I’ve moved in with Lorcan,” Fiona said. “Didn’t he tell you?”
“Together?” Minerva snarled.
“There’s nothing that says partners can’t live together is there?” Fiona asked. “In your list of umpteen rules. I’m not his superior or vice versa and it’s not like we’ll be carryin’ on at LAMB headquarters like half the other employees. We’ll keep it tasteful.”
She fluttered her eyelashes. Lorcan coughed and saw the humor in her eyes; then she switched to telepathy.
“I’ll be movin’ into the upstairs apartment if your offer still stands, Lorcan, but don’t be gettin’ any ideas about it bein’ more than friends and partners workin’ together and havin’ each other’s backs.”
Lorcan raised his eyebrows and winked. “I’ll take your back and whatever other part you’ll give me, Boomer.”
She blew him a kiss and then went out the door.
Minerva stood with a mystified expression.
“I thought the woman had more damn sense,” she muttered as she left, too.
Dalton raised his eyebrows. “Did you know about Fiona’s decision to reside with you? Or was that all for Minerva’s benefit?”
“No, she’s moving in with me.”
“In what capacity?” Dalton pushed.
“That’s a little personal, Boss.”
“If you hurt her, I suspect the elven-Fae prince will have something to say about it. And I doubt Antonio will be thrilled either.”
“I’m not going to hurt her.” If anything, Lorcan guessed he’d be the one hurt. He crossed his arms. “So what did you need to talk to me about that Fiona couldn’t hear?”
“I don’t know for certain how deep the deception goes in this organization but I don’t believe the cloning is limited to people.”
Lorcan let out a long breath. “You got some scotch, Boss?”
The older man pulled out a bottle and poured them both a glass.
Then Rohese stepped inside the office, closed the door behind him and held out his hand. Dalton poured a third glass and passed it to Rohese. Without hesitation, Rohese raised the glass to the other men and downed it.
“I believe several of the MBs being held in our facility’s prison have been cloned,” Dalton said. “We suspect Jaycee has something to do with it, but she certainly isn’t acting alone.”
Rohese’s expression told Lorcan he wasn’t surprised. “What is it you want of me, Henry Dalton? What is my assignment?”
Dalton grimaced. “You’re perhaps the only one who has Jaycee’s trust at the moment.” He waggled his finger at Rohese. “Keep it that way. Woo her, seduce her, sleep with her, whatever it takes to keep her feeling you’re on her side.”
Lorcan had never heard Rohese cuss, but he let out a stream of English swear words along with some that were likely in elvish.
Then he calmed. “I have made arrangements to purchase Fiona Maguire’s residence from Timothy Byrne. My intent was to return it to how she had it previously, for I know it’s important to her. I will live there, but I will do as you wish with Jaycee Orm if it will mean Fiona is in less danger.”
The elven prince really did care about Fiona and he hadn’t referred to her by her last name just now.
“Why couldn’t Fiona hear about the cloning of MBs?” Lorcan asked.
“Because I’ve seen how she reacts when she’d displeased.” Dalton sighed. “You saw evidence of that with the hellfire. She has many abilities only found in transcendent witches and I believe her powers are growing. With magical growth there is often instability.”
“Still, I don’t like keeping secrets from her,” Lorcan admitted.
Dalton let out a breath. “We suspect they may have cloned her…maybe both of you, too. We could be wrong but we’ll need you to determine if that’s true.”
Lorcan stood and punched the wall. “How the fuck could this happen, Henry?”
Dalton shook his head and patted his comb-over.
“Who is we?” Rohese asked. “Who suspects this?”
“That, too, is confidential,” Dalton said, which made Lorcan want to punch him.
“Mr. Wright, we need you to keep Fiona calm and happy, too.”
“How the hell would I do that?” Lorcan spat.
“The same way I suggested to Rohese with Jaycee.”
“You’re a fucking piece of work if you think all women can be seduced and screwing them keeps them submissive.”
“It’s not as though your philandering reputation doesn’t precede you, Mr. Wright. You are half demon. Your father’s deceptiveness knew no ends and you do have his genetics. It would appear you’re happiest when you’re fucking anything that has…female genitalia. And Ms. Maguire is a sensuous woman.”
Dalton clearly wasn’t as squeaky clean or reserved as he appeared. Again Lorcan longed to punch him square in his pointed nose, despite his age and disability. Lorcan could see Rohese felt the same. But Dalton was the closest to an ally they had here, and it had to be better than being snuffed out or having all their memories erased.
“Am I free to go or are you going to fuck with our lives a little more?”
Dalton shook his head and pointed to the door. “You both know your assignments. You’re free to go.”
Lorcan left without acknowledging Dalton. Behind him, Rohese’s usual long light strides sounded heavier than normal.
“Do not hurt Fiona Maguire.”
Lorcan turned back to look at the elven prince. “That’s the last thing I want to do.”
“Have you really convinced her to cohabit with you?”
Lorcan exhaled. “Yeah. She’s moving in with me.”
He wouldn’t tell the prince it had been Fiona’s idea. Neither did he tell him that they were sharing a roof but not a bed. He had to maintain a little mysteriousness. He was kind of a dick.