Proof of Life (The Potentate of Atlanta #4) - Hailey Edwards Page 0,22
her heel, and growled.
The slight widening of Boaz’s eyes told Midas he hadn’t seen Hadley in work mode often enough to grasp Amelie was gone. Hadley wasn’t his little sister. She was more. So much more. And he had to accept that if he wanted a place in her life.
“People died tonight because of me, because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Goddess,” he breathed, and his expression showed he was piecing it together. “You’re the target?”
“There’s a coven of witchborn fae in the city, and they’re gunning for me.”
Faint lines bracketed his mouth. “What do you want me to do?”
“Go back to the Faraday, to Addie. Keep her safe. Take our dad to see the art installation then go home.” Hurt flashed across her face. “I can’t lose you too. You’re all…” She glanced at Midas, took his hand. “You were all I had left until I came here, but I’m not…” She bit down on the words. “I can’t worry about you going off half-cocked and still do my job.”
“All right.” He scrubbed a palm over his scalp. “I’ll do it on one condition.”
An exaggerated eye roll, the familiar language of siblings, was her answer.
“Tell me you’re happy.” His jaw hardened. “And mean it.”
A dull throb punched Midas behind his ribs, and Hadley must have sensed how much the answer meant to him, because she tightened her fingers on his.
“I love my life here,” she said, truth bright in every word. “I love my job, my friends, my purpose.” She smiled up at Midas, and his heart turned over. “I love you too.” Turning back to Boaz, she exhaled. “I make a difference here. I’m a different person here. I matter.”
“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