Josie rushed to her room and changed out of her dress into pajamas. She grabbed her laptop, leaned back against the headboard, and got busy. Two hours later, she was no closer to finding Kaya. It was like someone blocked any information on the woman once she retired. Josie turned her attention to the new chief – Dane Abbott. The former detective was a gorgeous blond with piercing blue eyes. In one of the photos, he had his arm around a pretty brunette Josie recognized. She was a waitress at the diner where Josie got her coffee. Now that she thought about it, Dane Abbott was there most mornings when Josie stopped in. Maybe Dane would tell her how to find Miss Kane, or at least get word to her that Josie wanted to talk.
If Josie didn’t feel such a strong connection to Malakai, she would let this madness go and chalk it up to him being a creeper. But she did feel it. She also had a feeling what he said was the truth, and it was something Josie wouldn’t be able to ignore once she found someone to verify that Gargoyles were real. He said they were put on earth to protect humans, and they fought the Unholy. Josie had never seen one of the monsters up close, but she’d watched news coverage when the creatures were seen on the streets. If Unholy were real, why couldn’t Gargoyles be too? Gah, her brain was spinning. She wished she had someone to talk to, but she didn’t have any friends, and she didn’t want her mom to think she was crazy. Because if it turned out Malakai had been telling the truth? He’d eventually meet her mother, and Josie didn’t want her mom to have a tainted view of the man. Male. Shifter.
Josie closed her laptop and set it on the nightstand. She usually read this time of night, but she knew anything she read now would remind her of Malakai, and she wasn’t sure she wanted that. Instead, Josie decided to watch TV. She padded to the kitchen and snagged a beer out of the fridge. Grabbing the remote, she sat down on the sofa and pulled the blanket off the back, covering her legs. She wasn’t cold; Josie just liked being toasty. Flipping through the channels, Josie found an action movie and settled in. She did her best to pay attention, but her mind kept going back to the sound of anguish that ripped through the air when she was leaving. If she found out Kai had been telling the truth, she would never be able to tell him how sorry she was for causing his grief. She rubbed her fist over her chest because her own sadness hadn’t abated since she walked out the door. That had to mean something.
It was times like this she hated her job. Hated how she’d given in to her father’s demands she go into law and the family business. Yes, she would have student loans to repay, but she would have a life. Friends. Someone to call and talk to. Someone to commiserate with when life sucked. Naomi has a life. Yes, but the other paralegal also worked for one attorney. An attorney with a good heart. Neither Josie’s father nor her sister cared whether or not Josie had a life outside the firm. Presley went out all the time, and Josie hated her for it. Her sister was the one making a name for herself while Josie did all the legwork. Presley went out on dates. Hung out with Elise on the weekends. Took kickboxing classes and chased after Malakai.
Josie laughed. Her laughter turned into sobs, and she slid down onto the sofa and clutched the throw pillow, letting years of pent-up grief flow through her. Josie hated her sister. Hated her father. So why the hell was she giving up her life so they could have one? Maybe she should run back to Malakai and join his cult of Gargoyles. At least she’d felt wanted when she was with him. What did it matter that it had only been one night? She’d felt more alive with him in a few hours than she’d ever felt before, even when she’d been in a month-long relationship. “It’s not fair!” Her voice cracked through the tears as she screamed into her pillow.
Josie woke with a crick in her neck from falling asleep with her head wedged against the arm of the sofa. Her phone beeped, indicating a voicemail. Groaning, she pushed up to sitting and reached for her phone. Five missed texts and three calls. Scrolling through, she rolled her eyes. “Screw you, Presley.” Josie tossed the phone on the cushion next to her without responding. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. How had her day gone from one of elation to one of misery? And why did her chest hurt so bad?
After stopping off in her bathroom to pee, Josie didn’t bother washing her makeup off. She didn’t need to look in the mirror to know her face was a wreck. Between her red, puffy eyes and streaked mascara, she was bad enough to scare small children. She grabbed the hand towel off the holder as she walked by it and placed it on her pillow. If this kept up, she would need to buy darker sheets.
Josie lay on her side with her knees curled up and closed her eyes, but the wounded howl she’d heard wouldn’t stop running through her head. She felt an inexplicable need to call Malakai and check on him, but it was after three, and unlike her, he was probably asleep. After a few minutes, her body began shivering like she had a fever. Josie pulled the comforter up over the sheet, tucking it tight under her
