Page 8 of Ravenous Prophecy
I held up my hands and shrugged, hoping it would distract from the burning sensation in my ears. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Her eye swiveled down to her desk as if she could somehow see straight through to the contents of that onedrawer. “Twinks. And twunks. I won’t judge your tastes, Griffin, but surely this means that your mission won’t necessarily involve total suffering.”
I rose from my chair and jabbed a finger in the air as heat flushed up my chest. “I am aprofessional, damn it.”
“Glorious,” she said, rising to match my height. “Then you’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
She pressed a shiny black button inlaid into the dark wood of her desk, ordering one of the agents to escort me back to my box. Our box. Mine and Bradley’s. As I turned to go, I could swear I caught the shadow of a smirk on Nicoletta’s lips.
CHAPTER 4
BRADLEY
In the so-called interview room,I considered my life choices, which were, by any stretch of the imagination, poor. If I had stayed in the family business, in all likelihood, my only interactions with MEA would have been through fundraisers and if Elaine had ever decided to make dating an MEA agent her preferred method of rebellion.
As it was, there were few options if the MEA didn’t believe me. As a humble researcher, I had no experience in whatever was necessary to stop a man like JA Williams from his intended goal of—well, of doing what, exactly? Something sinister involving the Hive, clearly. I doubted any of my friends would assist me, either.
Without any expertise in fighting or theft or law enforcement, I wasn’t sure what my options were. I doubted JA Williams would stop even if I offered him a lot of money—Father’s favorite attack strategy.
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn’t noticeuntil the door swung open that my fellow detainee was back. A flush rose on my cheeks.
Well, so much for my hope that it had been adrenaline or shock that had made him seem so appealing. No, he was most definitely a very attractive man. Not that he’d be interested in me. Hunky treasure hunters and smugglers weren’t interested in me.
They all had equally gorgeous girlfriends, likely one in every city they visited. No. I needed to focus on the larger threat.
When my cellmate returned, he settled back on his seat and regarded me as though he could see deep into my soul, see the very heart of all of my inadequacies, and he wasn’t sure that he liked them.
“So…” my cellmate said. “What’s your name?”
It wasn’t a question so much as a demand. I raised my chin. “Bradley Brooks. You?”
“Griffin Gallows.” He raised an eyebrow. “Did you get electrocuted while I was out?”
“No.” I sniffed. Although it had been a close thing on my return to the room. No one here seemed to belisteningto me. Granted, it was rare for anyone to listen to me in the first place, but it was particularly egregious when all I was trying to do wassave us all?—
“Any Hive show up and eat a bunch of babies while I was drinking MEA’s shitty excuse for coffee?” Griffin asked.
I felt myself freeze. It wasn’t the first time. It wasn’t even the hundredth time. I wasn’t sure why I always held out hope that someday someonewouldn’tgo for the easy joke.
“You know they never atebabies,” I said, more tired thananything. “Although I suppose we’ll find out soon enough if my theories are correct. For all we know, theydoeat children as appetizers.”
“Yeah, well, be sure to let me know when they show up. Anything to beat the boredom of MEA lockup.” He smirked, and something inside me clenched.
God, he was handsome. No, remember the countless girlfriends from his various ports of call, doing all sorts of illegal crimes and likely stealing artifacts from their historical countries of origin. Probably fighting other treasure hunters…
“Mr. Gallows,” I said. “If what you say is true, you’re a retrieval expert. A man of… abilities, would you say?”
Both of his eyebrows went up. “Abilities?” Griffin drew out the word. “Sure. I have plenty of abilities. Abilities coming out my ears. Whatabilitiesare you looking for exactly?”
I looked around, suddenly aware that the room was likely being monitored. “What I’m more concerned about is whether or not you’re interested in ajob.”
Raising both of my eyebrows, I tried to explain to him with just a look what I needed, but I felt ridiculous. With my eyebrows raised, head tilted, I wasn’t sure what I looked like, but he smirked at me.
“I’m sorry, are you asking me if I want ajob?” His smirk indicated that he thought I was propositioning him.
“No!” My voice was too loud, and he reared back from the sound. I modulated myself. “No. There is something I need… retrieved. And people who will probably be opposed to me… retrieving the thing I need retrieved.”
The more I spoke, the more ridiculous it sounded. Icould practically hear Elaine cackling, see her holding her stomach. She likely would have already wrapped Griffin around her pinkie while I was sitting here, blathering on like a fool.
