“You’ve always mattered—”
“—to you, yes. To our little brother, yes. But I was never myself in Savannah. I didn’t know who I was there. I got lost, so lost, and I had no idea how far I had strayed from the path until it was too late to find my way back.”
“I’m glad you’ve found what you were looking for,” he rasped, “but I don’t want you to lose you either.”
“You never will,” she promised, dropping Midas’s hand. “I’ll always be your annoying little sister.” She walked into his arms, and he squeezed her until she squeaked. “Or I would be, if you would hurry up and marry Addie.”
A low grunt rose up his throat. “I’m trying.”
“Try harder.”
From Hadley, Midas knew long engagements were common in the Society. Years could pass before either party got antsy about finalizing the paperwork. Gwyllgi tended to bond hard and fast, and mate within a year of meeting. Yet another deviation from the norm Hadley must have expected in a partner.
Releasing her, Boaz took a step back. “You would call if you needed me, right?”
“Nope.” She patted his cheek. “I would most certainly not.” She shoved him. “Now get.”
“Take care of her.” Boaz pointed a warning finger at Midas. “I would hate to make Lethe an only child.”
“Lethe would eat your face.” Hadley chuckled. “So would Tisdale.” She waved. “Buh-bye.”
Grumbling under his breath, Boaz crammed his hands into his pockets and started walking.
“I’ll text Hank.” Midas pulled out his phone. “That way we know Boaz did as he was told.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“We’re going to stop them.” Midas tugged on one of her curls. “It’s going to be all right.”
The quick nod she gave him didn’t convince him, but he understood her worry. Her family couldn’t have picked a worse time to visit, but they were here now. The best she could hope for was they would view the art installation and go, as Hadley requested, before anyone got hurt.
The sight proved useless in identifying new hidden nooks or crannies where what remained of the coven might be holed up while they prepared to strike again. Midas suspected they had moved their operation outside the city, their base at least, and Atlanta’s suburbs were a labyrinthine warren in comparison.
Bishop had shadowed Midas and Hadley all night, his texts were proof of that, but Midas hadn’t sensed him once.
And Bishop, in turn, hadn’t sensed anyone else following them.
That didn’t mean much when anyone who blended in could hang out in the lobby and get a detailed rundown of almost everyone’s schedule, social life developments, and horoscope sign reading for the night. Gwyllgi loved to gossip almost as much as they loved to eat.
An enforcer working out of the Faraday made the most sense as their firebug. The OPA was a possibility, but it fit that an enforcer overheard a rumor about their date night and set their plans in motion. An enforcer would also have known ahead of time when the Knoxville pack was in town, and how much chaos they brought with them. An enforcer could have made certain they were in the lobby, hidden in plain sight, to overhear any plans that were made. That could explain why the bar blew after Hadley left.
A bomb took time to place, set, and detonate. To get in and out again on the fly would prove difficult. To go undetected? Almost impossible. Unless you were a local the visitors had recognized and dismissed as a threat.
Had the Knoxville pack’s arrival sparked this latest outbreak of violence? Or was the coven lashing out in response to Hadley’s family visiting? Either way, the combination formed a perfect storm of distractions.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
Midas glanced over at Hadley to discover they had circled back around to the Faraday. “Everything.”
“I get that.” She took his hand. “Are you up for visiting Abbott with me?”
“You just don’t want to be alone with him.”
“He’s started harping on me taking vitamins,” she grumbled. “How does that make me less flammable?”
“Maybe he wants you to live a long and healthy life, flame retardation aside?”
“Please?” She leaned in and fluttered her lashes at him. “I’ll pay for your cooperation in hot wings.”
Neither of them had felt up to eating on patrol, but a headache was settling in from the lack of calories.
“Only if you spring for extra ranch.” He led her to the elevator. “Abbott is only pushy because he cares.”
“He’s worse than a mother hen.” Her shoulders drooped. “Always pecking at me.”
The doors slid open on Abbott, who stood waiting for them, and she greeted him with a low groan.
“How did you know?” She curled her lip at the pills on his palm. “It was Hank, wasn’t it?”
Mumbling death threats, she picked up the red and purple children’s chewable vitamins and ate them.
Midas kept his tone light. “Flintstones?”
“She won’t swallow pills.” Abbott held up a bottle. “This is the only brand she’ll accept.”
“Vitamins are horse pills,” she complained. “Plus, they taste funny.”
“Mom takes these individually wrapped cubes that resemble Snickers bars. Mybite, maybe?”
Hadley snapped her heads toward him. “What?”
“Hey.” Hands up, Midas stepped back. “I would have mentioned it sooner if I had known.”
“Find me that brand,” she bargained with Abbott, “and I solemnly swear I will devour nougaty vitamins of my own free will.”
“Done.” He dug out his phone and sent a text. “I’ll forward the information after Tisdale verifies.”
“Thank you.” She worked her mouth like the remaining grit bothered her. “Now, we have to talk.”
Mood brighter, Abbott led them to his office. “Come on in.”
Once Hadley and Midas sank into their respective chairs, Abbott shut them in and locked the door.
Leaning forward, Hadley asked, “Have you made any progress on field testing for hosts?”
“Yes and no.” He sat on the edge of his desk. “We have a test that’s accurate four out of five times.”
“That sounds good.”
“The problem is
