Page 141 of After 5
“How do I do that?” I finally asked her.
“I’m only a seer, but I see you with many keys, and I see the king’s vessel.” She waved her hand in the air. “Maybe with time and normal hormones, I’ll be able to see more.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t tell me.” I bit into my lower lip.
Jake ended his call and joined us in the den. He gave Angel a stern look. “You shouldn’t have given Victory the key, but now that you have…” he turned his attention to Victory. “General Potts requests you to be inducted into the WTF as soon as possible.”
Victory seemed taken aback. I didn’t blame her—with a baby on the way, why would she want to risk her life? Besides, when Caiyan wore the Thunder key he was all aboot the woman should stay at home and raise the bairns.
Toches told me the Thunder key enhances your desires. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to be with him. Maybe this was how it ended for us.
“Jen, I need to speak with you.” Jake tilted his head toward the back yard.
I followed him outside. He turned and stared at me, hands on hips.
Yep, he knew.
“Seems like Angel’s not the only one returning keys to their owners. You returned the key to McGregor.” It was more of a statement than a question.
“Did headquarters call you?” The tattletales.
“No, when Gertie told me she gave you the key, I knew where you were headed.” His big brown eyes held an understanding I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“It belongs to him,” I said. “He put his life in danger to save Victory. She’s an important piece to our puzzle.”
“I agree; she sees things that will help us. General Potts is going to have my ass, and probably ground you for returning McGregor’s key. He wanted a carrot to dangle.”
“Do you believe Victory’s vision that I unlock the secret to the King’s key?”
“I don’t know what to think. I’ve got an agent who was shot over one hundred and fifty years ago, the Mafuso attorney breathing down my neck, my girlfriend’s brother threatening bodily harm, and a traveler who just skipped ten years of her life. My system’s on overload.”
“Can I help?” I knew the answer, but thought offering sounded nice.
“Are you OK with Victory staying here for a few months?”
“A few months?”
“I need to find a safe place for her to live until we get things worked out. She’ll need someone to help her acclimate to this time.”
By things, was he referring to Caiyan’s recovery? If she stayed a few months, the baby would be here. I wasn’t sure I could hang.
“I guess so.” Did I say that?
“You’re great! Have I told you that lately?”
“No, you’ve been keeping secrets.” I frowned up at him.
His dimples winked out at me. “No more secrets. Angel and I have been dating for about six months.”
“Did you know she had the gift?”
“Not a clue.” He grinned wide. “But that explains a few unanswered questions.”
Jeez. Was I ready to hear about Jake in love with another woman? It was all over his face.
“I didn’t tell you or anyone else because I wasn’t sure how to handle Marco’s wrath, and I felt like a hypocrite. I was always on everyone’s case about dating a coworker. I even gave Gertie grief for hooking up with Brodie. I was a real piece of shit.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. We ignored you.”
