donations for you.”
The little man scurried over to the car, though he paused for a moment at the sight of Bronx. He peered into the trunk and then smiled up at me. “God bless you, son. You’ve been a saint! You’ve nearly doubled our annual haul.”
“Just trying to spread some good cheer, Father.”
“Let’s grab the toys and hurry in. I’ll send some volunteers out for the rest. Everyone is nearly done eating and is anxious to see Santa Claus.”
Bronx shifted a heavy sack of toys over his shoulder and adjusted his beard before heading inside, followed by Trixie. The priest and I grabbed armfuls of donations and went in as well to see all the amused and stunned faces that greeted the troll as he passed through the kitchen to the main dining hall.
I had barely managed to set my items down on an empty table when Bronx’s loud “Ho! Ho! Ho!” was met with an explosion of cheering. Rushing out of the kitchen, I laughed to see Trixie and Bronx swarmed with kids of every race and species, all vying for just a second of Santa’s time. While Trixie was looking somewhat overwhelmed, Bronx’s eyes shined with joy. He may have looked like a scary troll on the outside, but Bronx was pure marshmallow on the inside.
After helping them get a line organized to the large throne they had set up for Santa, I dropped off my coat where Trixie had left hers in the kitchen.
“I thought that was you I saw with Santa Claus,” Gideon said to my back.
My stomach jerked into a hard knot and I felt my soul shrivel up. He’d found me again—sought me out for another Towers job. I needed this night of peace and good cheer. Not more blood, death, and violence.
I was slow to turn around, but the sight of Gideon stopped all thought for a second. Instead of his usual dark suit and black cloak, the warlock was in a pair of faded jeans, a cream-colored cable-knit sweater, and loafers. His black hair was in a short ponytail and he wore a pair of trendy, black-rimmed glasses.
“What are you doing here?” he asked in a friendly tone for anyone who might have been listening, but there was a cold warning in his eyes.
“Helping,” I replied dully, my brain still trying to understand what I was seeing.
“I see that.” Gideon smirked. “Come. I’ll introduce you to my wife.”
I walked with the warlock out of the kitchen and along the back wall where the crowds were the thinnest.
“What’s with the glasses, Clark Kent?” I asked as we hit an empty space.
Gideon shook his head, appearing as if he were trying not to smile. “Ellen says they make me look harmless.”
“Oh yeah. Like a wet kitten.”
A soft chuckle escaped him but his mood turned grim when we stopped halfway across the cafeteria and he began to search the crowd in earnest. After several seconds, a pretty blonde’s hand shot up and she waved to us. She steadily made her way through the crowd of parents until she was standing beside Gideon, smiling broadly up at me.
“Ellen, this is an old friend, Gage Powell. Gage, this is my wife, Ellen,” Gideon said.
“It’s an honor,” I said and I meant it. No one from the dark side of Gideon’s life had met his wife. It was a gesture of trust and it humbled me after Gideon and I had spent so many years at each other’s throats.
Ellen switched the large camera she was holding from her right hand to her left before shaking mine. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you. After all the stories he’s told me, I feel like we’re old friends.”
Smiling, I shot a look over at Gideon, who was frowning at his wife. “He’s been telling tales about me?”
“Only because you’re a walking natural disaster,” Gideon grumbled.
Ellen hit him in the center of his chest. “Be nice!” she admonished and then smiled. “Better yet, go take pictures of the girls.” She held up the digital SLR in front of his face until he took it. “I’m too tired to wade back through that crowd and the girls are getting close to the front of the line.”
“Are you okay?” Gideon’s stern expression immediately became a mask of intense concern as he laid a gentle hand on his wife’s shoulder.
She waved her hand at him while keeping her eyes locked on me. “Fine. Fine. Now go. I want pictures of them with Santa.”
Gideon hesitated, staring