Mystic Militia (4 page)

“Obviously the candles would be huge, the flames massive.” Ryan became more animated as he gained momentum.

“Make it jump again,” Jillian encouraged, obviously captivated by the illusion.

Ryan snapped near the second candle and pointed to the third. The flame flickered then extinguished. “Damn it.”

Tori felt too sorry for him to laugh, but she’d seen enough. “Come on, Jill. We both have better things to do.”

“Wait,” Ryan cried. “It worked perfectly at home. Just let me set it up again and…”

The casino hunks chose that moment to walk past their table. Jillian and Tori both turned their heads, following the progress of the men. The blond paused beside them and smiled at Tori. He made a sweeping motion toward the candles and all three flared to life. The candles blinked out just as fast as they’d erupted. Then a single flame jumped from wick to wick, illuminating all three candles in turn before leaping into the air and disappearing in a burst of sizzling sparks.

“Amateurs.”
He looked pointedly at Ryan, chuckled,
then
followed his dark-haired friend from the lounge.

“Oh my God.
Did you see that?” Jillian cried as applause erupted all over the lounge. Apparently everyone present had seen the impromptu performance.

The stranger didn’t look back and Tori’s heart sank. Why couldn’t he have been a construction worker or an accountant? There was no way in hell she would open her heart to another magician!

“That was incredibly foolish,” Allenton snapped as Lor hurried to keep up with him.

They rushed across the casino as if they were being pursued. Was Allenton afraid the females would chase them down? Lor was not at all upset by the possibility. He refused to be infected by the Shadow Assassin’s annoyance. The look on the redhead’s face had been worth whatever commotion his actions created. He couldn’t get her image out of his mind.

He’d felt something odd in the casino and turned to find her staring at him. Then he’d felt a pulse of awareness more powerful than he’d ever experienced before. She had lovely hair, thick and wavy, a rich auburn that only revealed its fire in a certain light. He wanted to tangle his fingers in that silky-looking hair as he kissed her senseless. She’d gasp, then moan as her human resistance gradually surrendered to the inevitable power of their…

Inevitable?
Why did he feel so certain that was true?

“No harm was done,” Lor insisted. “Relax.”

“I cannot relax, and neither should you.” Allenton glared without breaking stride. “We cannot afford to draw attention to ourselves. Our only advantage is that the others don’t know we’re here.”

That would have been an advantage, if it were still true. But Lor wasn’t nearly as convinced as Allenton. They’d been on Earth for six days and each lead they investigated seemed manipulated, as if they were being led around by their noses. “So who do you believe, the man behind the bar or the cocktail waitress?”

On the second day after they arrived, Allenton had seen Nazerel speaking with an attractive woman with reddish-blonde hair. Allenton kept mostly out of sight, afraid Nazerel would realize he was being watched. Allenton’s caution had inadvertently limiting his view of the female. He’d shared the hazy image with
Atimin
, one of the other members of the Mystic Militia, and
Atimin
had attempted to draw her likeness. The drawing wasn’t detailed, though Allenton insisted it was accurate. They’d been using the drawing in an attempt to identify the female ever since.
Atimin
, and the other three team members, were pursuing other leads, but Allenton was convinced the red-haired woman was their best hope of finding the rebel hideout.

“The waitress and bartender both identified the same woman,” Allenton grumbled. “What difference does it make if their stories have inconsistencies?”

Lor shook his head. “The bartender agreed that the drawing
could
be Angie. He also pointed out that it could have been the female I was flirting with just now. Apparently, they are sisters.”

“A fact we will explore if our other leads reveal nothing.” Allenton shoved open the gold-framed door and exited the casino.

Knowing Allenton couldn’t see him, Lor indulged in a smile. “Exploring” the auburn-haired sister sounded extremely appealing, but Allenton was ignoring a basic fact. “The bartender also explained that Angie has been away for the past few days. She couldn’t have been the woman you saw with Nazerel.”

Allenton stopped walking and faced him, his expression overtly hostile. “Just because she wasn’t at work doesn’t mean she wasn’t in the casino. Both accountings could be accurate. The bartender simply didn’t see her while the waitress did.”

Lor didn’t argue the point, though it seemed unlikely. If someone was playing hooky, it was far more probable that they would avoid their workplace entirely. “So what’s our next move?” Lor was used to leading missions, but Allenton had made it obvious from the beginning that Lor was not part of the Mystic Militia. He was a consultant, an employee. After accepting the inaccuracy of the team’s name, Lor decided not to let the rest bother him. He’d grown up at the Conservatory, surrounded by passive Mystics. It would take more than a regimented bully to lure him into a pissing contest.

“The cocktail waitress mentioned a dance club Angie frequents. I’ve actually seen her, so I’ll check for her there. You should go to the address the waitress gave us. See if there is any indication that Angie left town or has been the victim of a kidnapping.”

The implication was obvious. Still, Lor hesitated to ask the question. “You think Nazerel already took her?”

“Naz always liked to toy with the prey.” Allenton stared off into the distance, clearly lost in memory. “Hunts were supposed to be quick and clean, but Naz frequently broke the rules. He’d approach females, flirt and flatter until he’d earned their trust, then he’d capture them with little or no struggle. It was more of a challenge that way.”

The casual description sent anger twisting through Lor. How had the Joint Council not seen these men for what they are, predators,
criminals
? It infuriated him that the Shadow Assassins hadn’t been made to pay for all the lives they’d destroyed. Five cycles of military service was not adequate payment for their crimes!

More than ready for a few hours alone, Lor kept his opinions to himself. “I’ll check out the dwelling,
then
meet you back at headquarters.”

Allenton nodded and they quickly found a secluded spot where they could teleport to their separate destinations.

* * * * *

Tori tucked the envelope full of money into her purse as she prepared to leave the casino lounge. Humiliated beyond words, Ryan had slinked away with his tail tucked between his legs. Tori doubted she’d ever hear from him again. Hallelujah!

“Do you think he’s famous?” Jillian pushed back her chair and stood, a dreamy smile still curving her lips. She obviously meant the stranger, not Ryan. “He did that trick without any sort of setup. It was so freaking cool.”

“Maybe he’s big in Europe or something.” Tori shrugged with an indifference she didn’t feel. “I definitely haven’t heard of him. Lord knows I would have remembered a face like his. Did you see his eyes?” She’d never seen eyes so bright or such a true blending of green and blue.

“I was too busy ogling his body.” Jillian fanned her face. “Forget the candles. That sexy smile set off sparks all over my body.”

“Too bad he didn’t leave his card or at least tell us his name.”

“They were asking about Angie.” Apparently, Jeff had overheard the comments and resented their enthusiasm. He joined them beside the table, his features reflecting his disapproval. “The dark one had a hand-drawn picture of a young woman with light red hair. It could have been anyone, but Lynn told them it was Angie.”

Tori’s confusion spiked into anger.
“Even if it was obviously Angie, why would Lynn volunteer Angie’s name?”

“Because Lynn’s a gossipy little bitch and they were gorgeous,” Jillian suggested.

“I told them it couldn’t have been
Angie, that
she’s been out of town for the last few days.” Jeff sounded as irritated as Tori felt.

“Did they seem convinced?” Tori asked hopefully.

Jeff shrugged. “No clue.”

“Why were they looking for whoever is in the drawing? Did they tell you what she’d done?”

“Nope.
They asked me if I recognized her. When I told them it could be several people, they told me what Lynn had said. I disagreed and that was the end of the conversation. They turned away and started talking in some foreign language.”

“Any guess which one?” Tori asked.

“It was nothing I’d ever heard before, very musical, sounded almost Asian.”

“They didn’t look Asian to me,” Jill said.

“You don’t have to be born in China to speak Mandarin,” Tori pointed out. “I thought they looked foreign when I saw them in the casino. Sounds like I was right.”

“I doubt it’s anything to worry about.
Just thought I should mention it.”
He walked back toward the bar before Tori could respond.

Tori tried to convince
herself
Jeff was right, but her instincts wouldn’t disengage. She dropped Jillian off at her apartment building without revealing the true level of her upset. If foreign investigators were looking for Angie, she had to be messed up in something serious. It also meant Tori had to find her sister before they did.

Tori lived in a small apartment complex in the older part of town. Beyond the glamor of the Strip, Las Vegas was like most cities with pockets of poverty and more than its share of crime. Angie still lived in the apartment they’d shared when they first came to Las Vegas. They’d originally chosen the apartment because—it was all they could afford—and it had a security gate that kept uninvited visitors from prowling the inner courtyard. Unfortunately the complex had been sold three years ago and maintenance was no longer a priority. The complex had deteriorated fast. Tori knew the gate code, but a firm shove disengaged the lock. It was so frustrating.

After locking her purse in the trunk of her car, she took the stairs to the second floor and hustled toward Angie’s apartment. She wasn’t sure what to expect, so she wasn’t taking any chances. A pepper spray container was attached to her key ring and she didn’t want the bad guys to be able to identify her if she happened to surprise some unsuspecting thug. She didn’t foresee that as a likely ending to this encounter, but better safe than sorry.

Please let her be there and let her be alone
.
Tori wasn’t
sure what she’d do if Angie opened her front door, but the gorgeous magician/investigator was sitting on the couch.

No lights were visible through the front blinds. That didn’t mean Angie wasn’t in her bedroom or the bathroom, so Tori knocked. No one answered. Using the key Angie had forgotten Tori had, Tori let herself in. “
Ang
? Hello.” Her voice echoed eerily in the empty apartment. “Damn it,” she muttered as she reached inside and flipped on the lights.

Nothing had been disturbed, no furniture overturned or out of place. Thank God. She swiveled the top on the pepper spray so it didn’t accidently dispense. Despite her careless ways, Angie was tidy. If someone had dragged her away, there would have been some sort of sign. It seemed safe enough to enter, so Tori stepped into the apartment and locked the door behind her.

She spotted Angie’s purse on the dinette table. Her heart gave a sickening lurch. What woman went anywhere, of her own free will, without her purse? She rushed over for a closer look and discovered the purse was missing some major components, like sunglasses and Angie’s wallet. Okay, so maybe she just switched purses and—

Long arms wrapped around her, forcing her back against a large, warm body. One arm banded her torso, easily trapping her arms against her sides. A hand covered her mouth, muffling her startled scream. Terror burst within her, momentarily paralyzing her muscles. Her keys dropped to the carpeting, taking the pepper spray with them. This had to be a man or one massive woman.

Heat sank into her back and her skin tingled everywhere he touched her. It was
him
. It had to be. She’d never reacted to another person with…whatever this was.

Tori’s debilitating fear released in a frantic rush of adrenaline. She twisted and kicked, slamming her head back into her captor’s chest. Knowing who he was didn’t make this any less dangerous. Had he followed her? No, he couldn’t have. He’d arrived first.

He increased the pressure of his hand and his arm, anchoring her more securely against his big body. She was trapped, immobilized by his much greater strength. And all around her energy pulsed like the warmth of an electric blanket.

“I will not harm you, but I can’t let you scream.” He paused as if to give her fear-muddled brain time to register his words. “Do you understand?”

She nodded and his hand eased up without lowering from her mouth. She remained silent, hoping he’d take the bait. His other arm begun to relax and she jerked hard, breaking his grip. He muttered a curse as she slipped from his grasp. She ran for the door, but only made it to the middle of the living room. He tackled her, pinning her with the weight of his body. Her breath was forced from her lungs by her impact with the floor, her scream escaping as a useless whoosh. He flipped her over and drew her hands above her head, securing her wrists with his long, strong fingers. Then he folded his legs and straddled her hips, taking most of his weight off her.

“Be calm.” He was obviously annoyed, yet his hold remained careful, unbreakable without being hurtful. “I’m no danger to you.”

“Who the hell are you and why are you in my apartment?” She glared, struggling to ignore the beauty of his unusual eyes.

“We both know this apartment isn’t yours. Will you answer a few questions or shall we continue our wrestling match?”

Their faces were mere inches apart and the warmth she’d sensed before now congregated between her legs. His crotch wasn’t even touching hers and yet her core felt hot and hollow. Her nipples tingled, making her want to arch and rub her breasts against his chest. It was irrational, yet knowing it made no sense didn’t make the impulses any less real.

Part of her wanted to tug against his hands and buck her hips just to see how he’d react. Would he cover her completely, let her feel all those hard muscles flexing as he struggled to control her. Not that it’d be much of a struggle. He could probably bench press twice her weight.

She forced the logical part of her brain to reengage. This wasn’t some romantic rendezvous. He’d come here looking for Angie. Now she had to find out why. “Unless you have a warrant, you have no right to be here.” She wanted to reassert her position without pissing him off. She was afraid he had more questions than answers, but maybe if they compared notes they could figure out where Angie had gone.