Gabriel waited in the parking lot of the local burger joint. Seated on top of a picnic table under the Golden Arches, he tapped his foot against the wooden bench. Although it was still early in the evening, a few patrons stood in line inside and ordered their daily dose of grease.
He never much liked the food, but since it was situated near the local police station, he’d used this spot numerous times in the past. Where better to conduct business then right under the cops’ noses?
Unable to contain himself, he shoved his hand in his coat pocket and fondled the stone. Smooth to the touch, his thumb tingled as he rubbed the surface. Before leaving his apartment, he’d waited until darkness had settled in for the evening. It was never good to appear too eager, but now that he was here, he couldn’t stand the suspense any longer.
After releasing the stone, he reached deeper into his pocket and gripped the medallion Marco had given him. “Marco, I have something for you.”
An excited shiver trickled down his back.
He watched a young couple step to the counter and place their order. The girl had dark, shoulder-length hair, a cute nose, and a gorgeous, curvy figure. She reminded him of Sadie.
A bittersweet twinge tugged at his chest. Despite the many girls that came after her, he still couldn’t rid himself of her ghost. She’d fought back during their fights. That had only juiced his need for her and the violence.
After she’d left, he’d tried to find her a few times. It was as if she’d disappeared from the city. She could be anywhere, but he doubted she’d stay in Chicago. Unfortunately, she seemed to haunt him at the most unlikely times. Like now, while he waited for his, hopefully, new boss.
He tapped his heel against the wood. What if he didn’t show?
Gabriel hadn’t contemplated that option, but the longer he waited, the more he wondered if the whole experience had been some kind of bizarre game.
A dust bunny sprung to life over a pile of garbage. A paper bag caught in the swirl, the double arches emblazoned on the paper whipping around in a frenzy. The dust storm grew then stopped as quickly as it started.
Marco stood in its place, his immaculate shirt and pants unruffled beneath his open trench coat, the cane resting over his forearm.
A chilling grin spread across his features. “Gabriel Rhodes. I received your message. What do you have for me?”
While maintaining eye contact, Gabriel slid from the table. “Tell me something first. You mentioned I’d have the opportunity to be a leader in your human army. Does that come with a healthy paycheck?”
Marco’s smile faded. A flash of yellow flicked through his eyes. Before Gabriel could say another word, Marco clamped his fingers around Gabriel’s throat.
The fae sneered at him. “Let’s get something straight from the start. You answer my questions, not the other way around.”
Unable to breathe, Gabriel strained against the powerful hold, scratching and clawing at the fae’s hand. His lungs ached. White dots swarmed his vision, signaling impending unconsciousness.
Marco released him.
On an intake of breath, blessed relief filled his lungs. He coughed and stumbled into the picnic table.
Marco swiped his fingers over his lapel and cleared his throat. “But because I’m such a nice guy, I’ll deign to answer your question. Leaders in my army will be well compensated.”
Gabriel rubbed his neck and swallowed past the dry lump. He wasn’t on equal ground with this guy. Marco was one scary, bad-ass fae and far stronger than Gabriel. If he ran now, maybe he could escape. Yet, the promise of money and, even more so, power, held him in place.
He met the fae’s gaze and forced a smile. “Then, I have something you’ll like.”
At least he hoped the stone in his pocket belonged to a gargoyle. A heaviness settled into his stomach. What if his hunch was wrong? Too late to turn back now. The gamble would make or break him.
He withdrew the stone from his pocket and held out his fist. With a bit more drama than he’d intended, he opened his palm.
The silver streaks in the white stone glittered in the light from the Golden Arches’ windows.
Neither spoke.
Laughter from inside the building spilled into the night as a customer exited the fast-food joint.
“Where did you get that?” Marco rasped.
“At a pawn shop.”
“Let me see.” The fae curled his fingers.
Victory swelled in Gabriel’s chest. He placed the stone in Marco’s palm.
Marco inhaled and held up the gem, turning the rock from side to side, studying it. He slipped his finger over the rock’s surface. The stone’s white color shifted from red to green to blue before returning to its opaque luster.
Gabriel inhaled. “It’s beautiful.”
Marco fisted his hand around the stone. His features hardened. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it? I find the thing repugnant, but this rock does have great value.”
Hope rose in Gabriel’s throat, cutting off any kind of reply.
The fae’s mouth curved. “You’ve done well, cadet. This stone belongs to a gargoyle, one that has plagued me for many a year—Beaumont Laroche.”
Gabriel scrunched his brow. “How do you know the stone belongs to him?”
“It is a spark stone and contains a piece of his spirit. I can feel his essence within the stone.” Marco raised his fist, scowling, his hand shaking. “If I were so inclined, I could crush his soul in my palm and be rid of him. His spirit would vanish into the ether.”
“If he’s bothered you for years, why don’t you?” Gabriel swallowed, aware of his blunder to question the fae.
Marco curled his lip into that devilish grin. “I want to torture him and see the white in his eyes before I kill him.”
Gabriel’s pulse accelerated. Just like when he’d attacked the vagabond in the alley, the thrill of brutality gave him a natural high. He smiled. “You and I have something in common. Like a cat with a mouse, we both enjoy a bit of play before the end.”
“Well then, let’s proceed, shall we? Stare into my eyes.” Marco’s commanding voice left no room for argument.
Gabriel’s attention focused on Marco’s brown orbs. An eerie yellow glow encircled each one. Mesmerizing…
“Lean your head back and open your mouth.” Marco’s words slid into Gabriel with a soft caress.
Tension tightened the muscles in Gabriel’s shoulders. What would the fae do to him? Gabriel struggled to move, but his muscles wouldn’t comply. Unable to stop himself, he tilted his head and parted his lips.
A smile tugged along the corner of Marco’s mouth. He grasped Gabriel’s shoulders, opened his mouth, and extended his tongue. A drop of saliva glittered at the tip.
Did the fae intend to French kiss him? A sliver of fear slithered along Gabriel’s spine, but then his mind fogged and the worry swiftly disappeared, followed by a sense of wonder and awe. A part of him wasn’t sure if those emotions were forced upon him or if they were his own. Another part didn’t care.
Marco held his tongue over Gabriel’s open mouth. The drop of saliva slipped from the end and landed on Gabriel’s tongue.
A bitter taste, like the tang of spoiled milk slithered down his throat. His gag reflex kicked in, but the liquid made it all the way to his stomach. Visions flashed before his eyes of a tall man with shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes, and a small scar at the edge of his left eyelid.
“That is Beaumont Laroche. Be on the lookout for him. He will search for his spark stone.” Marco placed the artifact into his coat pocket. “While he is without his precious gem, he cannot return to his stone perch. He is vulnerable. Which is where you come in.”
Gabriel leaned forward. “Me? How so?”
“Laroche’s stone gargoyle resides atop Stuart Hall at the University of Chicago. When facing the building, he’s the last gargoyle on the left. Go there during daylight hours and crush it.”
Marco winked. “Simple as pie.”
The fae wanted him to destroy a stone figure perched on the top of a building, maybe several stories tall, during the day, on a campus, while students milled around. How was he supposed to accomplish that?
Gabriel opened his mouth to ask, but the twinkle in Marco’s dark eyes made him clamp his jaw shut. If Gabriel wanted to become one of the leaders in this so-called “human” army, he’d need to prove he could handle the task. Simple, my ass, but he refused to show weakness before this fae.
He plastered on a smile. “Consider it done.”
Marco shoved his hand in his pocket and withdrew a small wad of cash. He placed the rolled-up bills in Gabriel’s palm. “Consider this a down payment. More to come when you complete your task. Tell no other human of your deal with me.”
Marco smiled, that evil, malevolent grin curling his lip. He turned then held up one finger. “One last thing. Much to my chagrin, witches help the gargoyles. They guard the stone countenances at night through spells. Whether they do so during the day has been debated by the fae for years.”
The muscles in Gabriel’s shoulders tensed. “Witches are real?”
“They’ll strike you dead before you even know they’re there, so make sure you accomplish your task quickly.” A malicious smile curled Marco’s lip. “Make me proud.”
A whirlwind of dust rose from the ground. Faster and faster the eddy swirled. When it reached a fevered pitch and covered Marco from head to foot, the fae disappeared. The whispering wind slowed to a stop.
Silence filled the air.
A chill he hadn’t noticed before slid along Gabriel’s nape. Unsure of its source, he thought back to the encounter with Marco. A vague recollection of the fae holding Gabriel’s shoulders and leaning in close flitted across his mind, but nothing further surfaced.
He rubbed his neck, chasing away the sense of unease. More than anything, he wanted to please Marco and collect his reward. Come morning, he’d stake out the university, come up with a plan, and destroy a gargoyle.
Easy, right?