From the Shadows (Hunters #1)

Chapter 16

Diego wasn’t surprised when his phone rang. He pressed a button on the wheel, bringing the Bluetooth to life.

“Diego.”

He smiled. “Charla. Thank you for calling.”

She sighed. “You were ten steps from our door, and then you walked away. We haven’t seen you in ages, darling, and you deny us the opportunity to gaze upon that amazing face and body. How could you?”

“We were being watched.”

“Yes, yes,” she said, sounding bored. “There were ten of them skulking about, keeping an eye on you. Whatever you’re involved in has really got their dicks in a twist.”

He snorted. Charla was probably close to ninety, maybe more. She was funny as shit, and he enjoyed the time he spent with her. Fortunately, though she looked human, the gifts of her and her sisters made them paranormals, which meant Diego wouldn’t have too many issues around them. Still, it wouldn’t do his broody swagger any good to say he had a soft spot for these old crones.

“I’m sure you already know what they’ve got going on.”

She was quiet for a few moments, then gave a weary sigh. “ About six months ago, there was a… flux that wrapped around your timeline, Diego. The convergence changed and no longer meshes like it should. There is an anomaly on or near your person. Despite the time we’ve spent together, your future is… weird.”

It could only be Shay. He’d healed Diego, made him almost whole again. Still, if the Fates couldn’t see him, Diego wasn’t about to tell them.

“Succinct as always,” Diego chided playfully.

“If it helps, we still can’t see your death, so that counts for something.”

Of course they couldn’t. “Whee. Oh, joy.”

“Stop that!” she snapped. “You and your group are important to the world. You help to keep those on the other side of the veil where they belong.”

Yeah, just what he wanted to do for the rest of his unending life.

“You do know our wards would have kept the vampires at bay, right? You and Martin are able to pass through them, but no one with ill intent can.”

“Trust me, you weren’t my primary concern.”

Because the Fates were wicked strong. Especially when they combined their powers. Diego had witnessed them performing something akin to a miracle when they held a literal behemoth at bay to protect a child from being claimed as its intended meal. It took Diego and his group, plus another dozen hunters they’d called in to take the damn thing down, and they still lost three of their own. But the Fates never wavered, keeping a mystical shield around the little girl. They told Diego to do what he had to, and that they’d keep the child safe.

And they did. How, he didn’t know, and there were some things he knew he was better off not asking.

“Well, I never.”

“You liar. You have, and if you enjoyed it, you did it several times. My concern was your human patrons. If the vampires knew where we were going, they could have stalked and killed your clients, and that wouldn’t do your reputation any good.”

“Sweetie, our clients were perfectly safe. Trust us on this one. It’s you we’re worried about. Whatever this flux is around you, we can’t penetrate it. We’ll keep trying, though. We think there’s something important there. Deeply hidden. Dark.”

“His name is Cristobal,” Diego informed her. “He’s the bastard who turned me, and now he’s back.”

“So the fiend has a name,” she wheezed.

“Did… did you just call him a fiend? How seventeenth century.”

“You would know,” she shot back. “And he is a fiend. Turning humans without regard to their lives is an abomination.”

Ranna had said the same thing. Maybe they were on to something. He’d have to consider that at some point.

“Anyway, what we were coming to talk to you about is?—”

“We’re already trying to locate them. If we get anything, we’ll call you right away. We’re hopeful we can prevent more deaths.”

“I don’t understand why he’s doing this. I mean, yeah, he’s crazy and all, but even for him, it’s way out there.”

“Not as much as you might think,” Charla replied. “This Cristobal is also tied up in your future, but in ways we can’t determine. He could well hold the key to whatever is happening or about to happen.”

“I wish you could pin him down.”

“We do too. You know our powers don’t work like that, though.”

Actually, he didn’t. He’d seen the Fates pull off some incredible things, but then be stymied by something simple.

“I’d appreciate it if you could keep me updated. Of course, I’ll pay you for your assistance.”

She clucked her tongue. “You’re a guardian of humanity, and as such, you get our help for free.” A voice sounded from the background, which made Charla snicker. “Though Annabelle said if you wanted to come serve us tea in your briefs, we would be happy to accept.”

“My briefs?” Diego chuckled. “Not naked?”

Charla gasped. “Sir, we are old ladies. Are you trying to give us heart attacks?”

From the corner of his eye, Diego could see Martin struggling to control himself. He had tears streaming down his contorted face, and he was near hyperventilating. Charla and the others were a riot, and even Diego had to work to maintain a serious facade around them. He was having a hard time remembering how he acted before Shay showed up and proved to Diego he wasn’t alone. He had a team. No, he had friends who were willing to stand by his side. A family of his very own.

“Thank you for everything, Charla. You’ve all been amazing, and I can’t imagine my life without you all in it.”

She snickered. “You forget, sweetheart. We’re the Fates. Even if you didn’t say how you felt, we always knew. Now, I have a Shiatsu in thirty minutes, so I have to get off the phone.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “If you’d rather come here and serve tea in your shorts to just me, we can work with that.”

This time Diego couldn’t help the chuckle that had been determined to escape. “Please. I know if I did that, you’d be selling those pictures on the internet before you finished your first cup.”

“That’s not true!” she shouted. “Tea is very important. I could wait until afterward.”

A laugh bubbled out of him. He couldn’t help it. “You’re too much. Good bye, Charla.”

“One last thing. Your life is changing rapidly, and you need to be on your game to keep up. One false move could undo everything you’ve been trying to accomplish. Protect those close to you, and trust in them to do the same.”

And then she was gone, leaving Diego to ponder her words.

“She’s a freaking hoot. If I was into women, I’d totally do her.”

“She’s ninety years old.”

“You see age, I see seasoning. She could probably teach me a lot.”

Diego didn’t doubt it. She’d just taught him something, and he needed to keep her words in mind. Something was coming, and he had to be ready.

“Boardwalk, with a hotel. You owe me two thousand dollars,” Jeremy cackled gleefully .

Shay counted out his remaining money. After three hours of play, he had two railroads and Baltic Avenue, plus about eighty dollars. “Guess I’m out,” he said, gratefully.

They hadn’t lied. Jeremy was a cheater, but it was too damned fun watching him try to slip money from the bank and put it into his own pile. Still, he needed a lesson, and Shay would have to teach him.

“Aw, c’mon, Shay. I’ll give you a loan. I have lots of money.”

“Which you swiped from the bank. If this were real life, it would be a federal crime, and you would end up in prison.”

His eyes widened. “What?”

Ranna chuckled. “We all know you take money from the bank, kid. Shay’s the only one willing to call you on it.”

“You can’t win every game, Jeremy. Sometimes losing can be fun too.”

He scoffed. “I doubt that. No one likes a loser.”

“Who told you that?”

“There was this show I used to watch, and they said?—”

“Stop right there.” Since Shay had been at the house, Jeremy gravitated toward spending time with him instead of the television. “That’s television, Jeremy. It’s not real life. Everyone loses at some point. It’s a given. Besides, winning all the time? It would be boring. There would be no challenge in your life.”

“That doesn’t sound bad,” he grumbled.

“I know. It sounds like it’s amazing, but think about it. What if you never had to work for a goal? Let’s say you wanted to buy Diego a gift. Would you rather earn that money yourself, or would it be better if someone gave it to you?”

“Gave it to me. I don’t have a job.”

This kid had the answers for everything. “So you mow lawns. Do dishes. Come up with creative ways to earn whatever you need to buy it. Which do you think would make Diego happier? Something you got the money from someone else or a gift you worked hard to give him?”

His face scrunched up. “Do you really think he’d like it better if I earned the money? ”

“I honestly do.”

Ranna patted him on the shoulder. “If you were going to give me something, I would rather you made the money yourself. Even if you couldn’t make enough to buy what you wanted, anything you give me would be awesome, because it came from your heart and hard work.”

He was quiet a few moments. “Have you ever lost, Shay?”

He thought back to the beating, the hospitalization, and the realization he could have died. “Yeah, it sucked, let me tell you. But it made me stronger. I want to say it made me a better person.”

Jeremy smiled, got up, and made his way to Shay. When he got there, he wrapped his arms around Shay’s neck and hugged him tight. “I think you’re a pretty great person anyway.”

The warmth that flooded Shay’s body was unlike anything else he’d known since his parents died. A feeling of family that he’d missed so much. He truly believed he belonged here, with this motley crew. His new family.

He hugged back. “Thanks, kid. You’re pretty damn awesome yourself.”

He grinned as he nodded at the board. “So, if I promise to play by the rules, can we do another game?”

Ranna groaned, but Shay laughed. “Yeah, we can. Ranna is dying to go again. Aren’t you?”

“Oh, yeah. Of course.” Then her forehead wrinkled. “Have you seen Jakar recently? Usually he hovers, but he hasn’t been around that I’ve seen.”

Shay snickered. “Last I knew, he was in the parlor arguing with Hal. He called Hal stuffy, and that was answered with Jakar being an assh—jerk.”

“Well, to be fair, neither of them are wrong.” Ranna snorted. “You do have a point.”

Jeremy diligently put the money from last game back in the bank. As he did, Shay glanced at Ranna. She looked like she’d rather gnaw off her arm instead of playing again. Shay didn’t really mind a do-over, especially since he’d hopefully taught Jeremy a lesson. Still, he had to balance the needs of both of his charges, so maybe they should consider something else.

“Hey, Jerm? Know what I made last night after you went to sleep?”

He jerked his head up, his eyes wide. “What?”

“Blueberry cheesecake ice cream.”

“No way. You made ice cream?” he asked incredulously.

“Oh, yeah. This was my first try. I love learning new things. If I timed everything right, it should be just about perfect right now. What do you say we do a game later, and the three of us go enjoy it before everyone else comes back and eats it all?”

He pushed the game to the center of the table and slapped the cover on. “Yes!”

“Ranna? Wanna try my creation?”

She frowned. “My girlish figure might never recover, but what the hell. If this experience has shown me anything, it’s that you only live once.”

They all made their way into the kitchen. Just as Shay was pulling out the bowls, the phone rang. He hurried to pick it up, and when he heard the scream, he froze.

“Who is this?” he demanded. “Diego? Is that you?”

“Shay? Shay, I need?—”

Then there was silence. Shay spun around, the worry on Ranna and Jeremy’s faces obvious.

“What’s wrong with D?” Jeremy demanded, his voice shrill, panicked.

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”

He headed for the door, but even wounded, Ranna was faster than he was. “You’re going nowhere.” She clutched his arm. “Shay, they got me down. You wouldn’t stand a chance against them.” She turned her head. “Jakar, you are needed! Now!”

A moment later, he came rushing into the room, his clothes disheveled. Any other time, Shay would be happy to tease him, but right now, he needed to focus.

“Did they say where they were?” Ranna asked.

“No, he was cut off before?— ”

The phone rang again. Shay answered before it stopped ringing. “Diego?” he asked, desperate to hear his voice on the other end.

“This is Charla. I’m a… friend of Diego’s. He and Martin are in terrible trouble. It’s all happening so fast. He needs help at the Marchand warehouse. I’ll give you the address. You need to hurry, though. I’m not sure how long he and Martin will be able to hold them off.” She rattled off the numbers, and then she was gone.

“I have the address, but it’s on the other side of town.”

“Borne!” Ranna screamed. “We need a portal.”

The air shimmered and Borne stepped out of an aperture in space. “Where?” he asked, his voice like ice.

Shay read the address off, and a moment later, there was another opening in the room. Ranna, Borne, and Jakar stepped through it, and then it closed behind them.

“Please hurry,” Shay whispered as he went to pull a panicked Jeremy into a hug so they could worry together.