Hours had passed since we left New Orleans, and there had been no word from Lucia or from Vi. Vi would have called or texted if Lucia had shown up looking for me at the townhouse, which meant she was still MIA. The longer she remained in Abaddon, the less likely her chances of escaping it unscathed.
But Dis Pater was waiting on me to make contact, and I didn’t have time to dawdle or dwell.
To avoid jostling Kierce, I elected to ride home on the front bench tucked between Matty and Josie while Badb watched over Kierce in the back.
The trip was short and sweet, and my heart swelled when The Body Shop came into view.
Home was still standing. Part of me hadn’t believed it would be until I saw it with my own eyes.
“We don’t have long.” Matty pulled the wagon into my usual spot. “What’s our plan?”
“And don’t try to hog all the glory,” Josie butted in. “We’re all in this together.”
“Okay,” I breathed out, ignoring the sharp twinge at involving them. “Together it is then.”
Ignoring the clocktick-tick-tickingin the back of my mind, a steady reminder Dis Pater was waiting, I told them everything I let marinate in my head during the long trip home. They poked holes in my ideas then helped me patch them. Their input was valuable, clever, and given without their usual bickering.
The two of them had endured so much at the hands of the gods and their self-serving schemes. This was proof they could be mature and rational in a crisis. They wanted more responsibility, and I had to believe I was doing the right thing by letting them have it. I always did my best to protect them from danger, but that approach kept blowing up in my face. As long as I was…whatever I was…they were at risk, and the best way to keep them safe was for them to learn how to defend themselves.
“I can’t believe that actually worked.” Matty blinked at me. “I expected you to put up more of a fight.”
“You’re not going to pretend to let us help—” Josie narrowed her eyes, “—then lock us in a closet while you face Dis Pater, are you?”
“Oh.” Matty glowered at her. “You mean like what you did when you ditched me to go to Abaddon?”
“Quit making this about you.” She flicked her fingers at him. “I can’t gang up on Frankie by myself.”
“Not sure two people constitute a gang.” He swatted her hand. “We need to draft Carter and Harrow. That would give us proper numbers.”
Okay, so, the quiet hadn’t lasted long before the bickering made its triumphant return.
But Josie and Matty wouldn’t be Josie and Matty if they weren’t picking on each other a little. Or a lot.
Before they could break out into a slap fight, I asked, “Have either of you heard from them?”
“They had to check in with Chief Leer,” Josie said. “As soon as that’s done, they’re heading our way.”
Chief Leer wasn’t my favorite person. I didn’t like the way he looked at me like I was a golden ticket that he couldn’t wait to redeem when the time was right. But he was over them at both the Savannah Police Department and the 514, the department’s new para law enforcement task force, so it wasn’t unusual he would demand to see his officers upon their return. Especially since Anunit had kidnapped Harrow, resulting in the hastily patched-up vacation plan Carter arranged as a cover.
“We can’t wait for them.” I had to get moving. “Anunit and I will go ahead.” I took a breath, reminded myself they could handle it, and exhaled. “You and Matty follow. Stick to the plan. No matter what.”
Josie twisted on the bench, casting Kierce a concerned look. “What about him?”
There was no point in leaving him behind. Dis Pater could summon him from anywhere.
“Bring him.” I climbed across Josie and got out. “Make sure you crack a window for him.”
“I’ll be sure to park in the shade while we’re at it.” Matty attempted a smile. “I’ll leave him water too.”
“Smartass.” I laughed, hoping he bought it, then waved them off before summoning Anunit. “Ready?”
Weary eyes met mine, and she nodded with Dinorah clutched in her mouth. She crossed to me, opened her mouth, and prompted me to retrieve the blade. Seeing as how I was more likely to drop the weapon on my foot and chop off another toe than defend myself with it, I figured the gesture must be symbolic.
“Give me a second.” I rushed to the office, punched in the code, and dug around in my desk for a leather belt I confiscated when I caught Josie using it like a whip to chase Matty through the garden after he fell on one of her plants and squished it flat. “Here goes nothing.”
Threading the leather through my belt loops with one hand, I locked up with the other, cursing myself for eating so many beignets. The fit was tight, but I could breathe. Just not deeply. It would have to do.
Holding my breath, I slid Dinorah through the belt so the sheathed blade hung at my waist. Any fear it might slip free vanished when I drew in a breath and the bone pinched me. Oh, yeah. That sword wasn’t going anywhere. Excellent. Having a muffin top was finally paying off.
