“Poor Glory.” Flo gave me a hug. “Ian shouldn’t have done that. But obviously you were beside yourself. Who wouldn’t need a tranquilizer after hearing such horrible news? But at least the demons are finally finished with you. Hah!” She gestured down at the floor. “Stay in hell, burn forever, bastardo Lucifer, puttana Alesa!”
“Uh, Flo, don’t think I’d taunt them if I were you. You never know when the demons might think we deserve one last torment.” I thought about telling her the Jenny story, but tonight was already too full of angst to add another layer. Instead, I gave one last glance at the mirror, sighed, then headed for the door.
“Ack! You are right. Out of here, quick. I guess Rafael would object if I dragged one of his customers in here for a”—Flo showed the tips of her fangs—“real drink.”
“Don’t you dare.” I held on to her arm. “He welcomes us here as long as we behave. Go finish your synthetic. Then—”
“Stop! I read your mind.” Flo gave me a stern look as she threw open the door. “I know you think to make me stay out of this meeting but you can forget it, my friend. I am going with you. And that is that.” She flounced down the hall and toward the bar.
“What meeting is this?”
I jumped and turned. “Rafe. Where did you come from?”
“Stockroom.” He juggled a case of premium vodka like it weighed nothing. Which it did to him. “Good thing since I just heard something very interesting. What’s going on, Glory? Who are you meeting?” He pulled me back into the break room and set the case on the table.
“Forget that. We went shoe shopping. Look at my new boots.” I held out a foot.
“Give it up. Those are your old boots. You wore them yesterday.” Rafe pushed me down on the sofa. “Now spit it out. You look guilty as hell. Where are you and Flo going? And did I see Aggie with you at the bar earlier?”
“Yes. My sister Siren is a pain in the ass. I tried but I will never, positively never, bond with her. Sirens are evil, Rafe. Do you think I was like that before Achelous kicked me out of the sea? Or could it be possible Jerry’s right and Ian and Aggie cooked this up between them and it’s all a lie?”
“I suppose it’s possible. Though Ian did have all those test results.” Rafe studied me from head to toe. “Then I look at you and can’t imagine… You’re right. You’re nothing like Aggie. I used to think Blade was paranoid about MacDonald but maybe in this case he’s right. It’s easy enough to fake papers like those Ian showed you.”
“But then there’s other evidence. My reactions to Ian’s drugs. And what I saw when I was with Aggie. The statue trick I can do.” I took a shaky breath. “I feel it’s true. I know it. Here.” I rested my hand between my breasts. My snug red V-neck sweater didn’t leave much to the imagination and I saw Rafe take in the view where the knit clung to my nipples even through my industrial-strength bra. Yes, he was a man, proof positive that sex was always on the agenda no matter how serious the conversation. Well, I didn’t care what he was staring at or why he reached for me to settle his hands on my shoulders. It was my message that was important here.
“Aggie showed me real memories of my time as a Siren. It was intense but I saw myself actually lure men onto the rocks. I made them, um, serve me and then I just cast them into the sea.” I dropped my hand. “It was all at Achelous’s bidding.”
“Real memories? You sure?” His hands were warm as he drew me closer. “I’m sure Aggie could show you Gone with the Wind on the wide screen of your memory if she put her mind to it. Don’t trust her, Glo. Things like that can be faked. And what’s this about Achelous? Is that who you’re meeting with? The Storm God?” Rafe’s hands bit into my shoulders.
“Yes. Aggie says he wants to see me. It’s a command performance.” I sighed. “Which blows apart the conspiracy theory, doesn’t it? If this is a MacDonald trick, then Achelous certainly wouldn’t lower himself to play along, now would he?”
“You never know what amuses these creeps. Look at what Lucifer did for Alesa.” Rafe pulled me into his arms. “You can’t go to this meeting. I remember that bastard. He’s violent, unpredictable and throws around lightning bolts for fun. Those electrical charges can kill you where you stand.”
“Don’t I know it.” I shuddered and leaned against him. “But I have to go, Rafe. If he shows up, I can ask…” I glanced up at Rafe. “Oh, God. I can’t stand the thought that I could have been one of those evil Sirens.”
He brushed my hair back from my face. “You are nothing like Aggie. Hold that thought.”
“Yeah, well, you are definitely prejudiced. Which I thank you for. But no matter what, I have to know. It’s like I have amnesia. Wouldn’t you want to know what was missing if you had a hole where your memories should be?”
“What does Blade say about this meeting? Where is he?” Rafe looked around. “In the men’s room? He’d better not be drinking his dinner from one of my customers in a bathroom stall.”
“No, he’s not here. He doesn’t know about this. It just came up.” I frowned. “And I’m not telling him, Rafe. If the Storm God does show, Jerry would end up getting himself killed trying to protect me. I won’t have it.”
“That’s not your call, Glory. The man deserves to make that decision. After all the years he’s got invested in you?” Rafe grabbed my shoulders again. “Look, you know how I feel about you and Blade being together, but I respect the man and what he’s done for you. He’s proved time and again that he’ll do anything, anything to keep you safe. Under some kind of Siren’s spell or not, that earns him the right to be there if you do confront Achelous.”
“What do you think the Storm God is going to do if I drag my lover in front of him? Just smile and say hello?” I jerked away and was across the room in a flash. “I’m sorry, Rafe, but you’re wrong about this. No man needs to be anywhere near this meeting if it happens.” I took a steadying breath.
“You’re going to meet him with just Aggie and Flo as backup? I’m betting Florence didn’t tell Richard about this either.” Rafe waited for my answer, his stare making me look away.
“I’ve begged Flo not to come.” I grabbed a tissue and wiped away a stupid tear and saw concealer come with it. “She’s insisting. She’s such a good friend. Is even paying Laurie to show up. The tiger says she has some tricks that may help us.”
“Yeah, great. But you’ve got another good friend standing right here. You know I’d go to the mat for you too if you’d let me.” Rafe frowned when I shook my head and blew my nose.
“Damned stubborn female. Will you at least kiss me good-bye? A real kiss, not some lame peck on the cheek. Hell, I have a feeling this might be the last time we’ll be together.” He pulled me into his arms. “Glory, see reason. Don’t do this.”
I touched his cheek. “We need to say good-bye whether I survive this night or not and you know it.” I wound my arms around his neck. I shouldn’t have kissed him but I didn’t have the heart to deny him. He took my mouth as if he wanted to drink in every bit of Glory while he had the chance. I did love Rafe. He would always be a special friend. But when his arms tightened and I felt his hunger move toward something primitive and wild, I pushed him away.
“I’m sorry, Rafe, but thanks for listening.” I gave him the best smile I could manufacture—I knew it wasn’t much—and walked out of the room. I found Flo sitting on a bar stool, my untouched drink on a napkin next to her. I quickly drained it, the alcoholic kick welcome, and glanced at my watch. It would take a while to get to the isolated spot where Ray had lived before his house had burned to the ground. Arriving early wasn’t bad strategy and maybe Laurie would be there with some good news.
“Look at that puttana dancing. No grace or style.” Flo nodded toward where Aggie flailed her arms and jerked her hips awkwardly to the music.
“She looks like Rafe did when he got Tasered out at the EV compound.” My laugh was probably three parts hysteria, one part amusement. “Guess Sirens aren’t so great when they hit the dirt. Luckily, when I lost my swimming skills, I picked up some dry-land coordination. Come on, let’s get out of here.” I stalked over and rescued Aggie’s partner from further embarrassment. She grumbled until I warned her we might be late. Apparently the idea of keeping the Storm God waiting terrified her enough to get her hustling.
“Glory, we could shape-shift out to this place. It would be quicker,” Flo said as we forced Aggie into the backseat of my car again. “What about you, fish girl?”
“Quit calling me that! And, no, while there are stupid myths that we were once half bird, I don’t shift except to look human then back to my best form for swimming. Ow!” Aggie bumped her head on the convertible top. “Put the roof down on this stupid ridiculously tiny car. When we are in front of Achy, he’ll probably work up a Cat 5 hurricane anyway. Trust me, your hair will never be the same. And Flo’s hair started out looking like she styled it with a pitchfork.” She kicked off her shoes and wedged her bare feet between the seats. “You at least need new hair spray, midget. I can give you the name of my brand.”
“Right. Like I take advice from a woman who wears starfish for a hair accessory.” Flo shoved Aggie’s feet away. “Eww. You have been dancing, sweating, and now you smell like rotting fish.”
“You Italian runt! Keep tossing the insults and I’ll rip your frizzy hair from your head.” Aggie crammed her feet into the back again. “And, by the way, that’s your best friend you’re insulting too, you know. She used to be just like me, smell like me, dance like me. Screw the men and toss them into the sea to die like I do too.”