Page 30 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

Things had settled into a routine since the barbecue at Banner’s. I left for work each day after thoroughly kissing Akiva. For the first time, a part of me disliked going to work. The long drive to whichever area I was to monitor left me plenty of time to think and plan.

I’d briefly shared with my friends Monday night on my way home what she had told me about Mikeal and her worry that since he was a shifter, there might be a way he could track her.

I found it highly unlikely. It would be different if she’d ever talked about visiting our area.

When I asked her about that, she denied ever saying anything.

She hadn’t known of Needles until we mentioned it that day in Joshua Tree.

The same was true about discussing a wish to visit California or the Joshua Tree National Park.

They were upset on her behalf that she seemed to have two men who wouldn’t take no for an answer, but they felt Mikeal wasn’t a big risk for finding her.

When it came to her father, while he might pose a larger risk, it would still require someone to inform him of her location.

How he discovered her identity the first time he came for her was a big unknown.

I agreed that someone likely said or did something on the FBI’s end.

However, with her having no contact with them since then, it would be improbable that he’d find her.

The more important question was whether we could find him. If there was ever someone who deserved justice rendered by the Sentinels, it was her father. His crimes were punishable by us. And to have treated anyone in the manner he and those other two did was despicable.

In all honesty, the most significant concern at the moment, other than getting her to commit to me and allow me to claim her, was Hadar.

His inability to take his eyes off her at Banner’s, despite knowing very well that she wanted nothing to do with him, and that we’d been intimate to a degree in the woods, told me he was an obsessed man.

I could easily see myself becoming that way with her, but the difference was that I wouldn’t harm her to gain her.

I might be persistent until I knew she wasn’t interested.

I wouldn’t kidnap her and keep her a prisoner like her father did those women. Hadar made me think he would.

I made sure before I left each morning to warn her to stay alert, and she had the numbers of all my friends in case she needed them.

Since I had my work truck, I left her the keys to my Jeep after confirming she knew how to drive and had a license.

When I asked her that, she pretended not to, as she asked for the key to my bike, the little minx.

She laughed herself silly afterward about the look on my face when she did.

It was a relief to pull into my driveway every evening after work.

While I told her not to do it, Akiva had dinner waiting for me.

And she kept herself busy seeking work. I convinced her to focus on finding work she would enjoy and allowed her time for her photography, rather than stressing about finding a job and a place to live.

The reality was that if I got my way, she’d end up living with me. Problem solved.

I’d gotten her to give in after pushing it and then threatening to do it myself to buy more clothing.

She left most of her possessions, including clothing, and even a car, when she ran from Mikeal.

The fact that she had to do that angered me.

Yesterday, Twyla, Cerys, and she had gone into town together.

They shopped and had lunch. She had a wonderful time with them, judging by her smile and her description of it.

She told me about it last night over dinner while I shared what happened at work.

At work, I told her about a small adventure we rangers had when a family went missing.

Thankfully, they were found, and aside from some scrapes, bruises, and mild dehydration, they were otherwise fine.

Sometimes, I wonder what went through people’s heads when they went out without water, basic survival tools, or even knowledge.

The desert could kill you easily and in various ways.

By giving away Sunday, the work week was only three days long this week.

I was glad. I was the person who continually picked up extra shifts when others called off or took one if somebody wanted a day off.

I didn’t feel guilty about giving one away.

And none of my peers bitched about me taking the day off.

When I got home tonight, I’d be off for the next three days.

I had plans for us, if Akiva agreed, which I thought she would.

I was an hour away when I called Akiva to see if she needed me to pick anything up on the way home.

Doing such a simple thing felt very domesticated, but it felt good.

When she didn’t answer, I assumed she was outside.

She’d been exploring the general area of my property and taking pictures.

I tried again twenty minutes later—still nothing.

A hint of unease came over me. I knew she’d give me hell for doing it, especially if she were fine, but I called anyway. Nico answered on the third ring.

“Hey, what’s up? You’re not home from work, are you?” was his greeting.

“No, I’m still about thirty minutes away. I hate to disturb you, but would you happen to be at home?”

“I am. Why?”

“I can’t seem to get Akiva on the phone. She’s probably out taking more photographs, but with the whole Hadar issue, I’m not liking it.”

“I can run over and see. I’ll cut through the middle so no one will see me, and I can find her. I’ll call you back as soon as I do.”

“Thanks, man, I appreciate it.”

“No problem. It’s better to be safe. I’ll check back as soon as I can,” he said before disconnecting.

As the minutes ticked by, I sped up and drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. Fifteen minutes later, I knew it was taking too long. He should’ve found her by now. I was about to ring him again when my phone rang. Glancing at the screen, I noted it was Nico.

“Is she alright? What took so long?” I said as soon as I answered.

“I need you to be calm. She’ll be fine. I’m taking her back to the house. We’ll meet you there.”

“What happened?” I growled.

“She had a fall and got a little hurt, but it’s nothing to stress about. Once you get here, she’ll return to normal in no time.”

“Tell him to drive safely. I’m fine,” I heard her say in the background.

“I’ll be there in ten,” I barked, then hung up.

As I drove, I went through the list of things that would fall under the heading of a little hurt.

It all depended on your definition. As a paramedic, Nico was equipped to handle a wide range of situations.

As a vampire, he was even more empowered to do it.

I knew if she were in mortal danger, he would’ve told me.

When I flew into the driveway, I barely parked in the garage before jumping out and rushing into the house.

Her scent and his were there. I followed it to the living room.

Akiva was sitting on the couch with one leg propped up on a pillow.

Nico was sitting in the chair next to it. He gave me a chin lift as I entered.

“There he is,” he told her unnecessarily.

Akiva gave me a hesitant smile. “Hi, Fen, welcome home. I hope you had a good day at work. Dinner is going to be late tonight.”

I went right to her and sat by her leg on the edge of the couch. “What’s wrong? And I don’t care about dinner. I care about you. Nico said you were hurt. I assume he meant the leg on the pillow. What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s a sprain, that’s all. I’ll be good in no time,” she assured me.

I looked over at him. Nico then answered my question.

“She’s correct, it’s a sprain. However, she doesn’t have to wait days for it to resolve. I can do it in five minutes.”

“No, you won’t. I don’t need you to do that. I heal fast,” she argued.

“But if you allowed me to do my thing, you’d be healed right away,” Nico argued.

“Wait. Hang on. First, tell me how you hurt yourself, then we can debate why you won’t let Nico take care of it.”

Akiva didn’t answer immediately. I glanced quizzically at Nico. He explained. “I found her after some searching, at the bottom of a steep hill. She said she twisted her ankle, which caused her to roll down the hill. She was having a difficult time trying to scale it due to the pain.”

“Okay, that doesn’t sound bad. Why are you acting like you don’t want to tell me?” I asked her.

She sighed. “Because I feel stupid. Falling in the first place was bad enough, but to hurt myself and have to be rescued is more embarrassing.”

I shook my head. “Babe, that’s not anything for you to feel bad about. Shit can happen even to the best of us.”

“Tell him how you twisted it. Or more like why,” Nico prodded her. She frowned at him.

“What are you two hiding? Someone tell me,” I demanded.

“Fine, since Nico is making such a big deal out of it. I was out taking photos. I’d gotten done and stored my camera.

I was turning around to come back to the house.

Only I never got here. I told Nico it had to be my mind playing tricks on me.

I let the woods and being alone spook me. ” She paused after she said that part.

“Spooked you how?” I prompted.

“I started to feel like I was being watched. I looked around and saw no one. I then called out, but no one answered. I shrugged it off as my imagination, and I began walking. It wasn’t long before I heard the snapping sounds like when you step on a fallen tree branch.

I stopped and yelled if anyone was there, but again, nothing.

I resumed walking and heard rustling sounds, like leaves and the soft fall of footsteps.