Inevitable Series 01 The Inevitable Read online

  "Hello?" he whispered into the receiver.

  "Jim?" Simon's voice boomed through the earpiece.

  "Simon, I was just going to call you." Jim crossed to the balcony and slipped outside.

  "Why are you whispering?"

  "Blair's asleep. I didn't want to wake him," he said, resuming his normal speaking voice now that he was sure he wouldn't disturb his roommate.

  "He's home? That's great!"

  "Yeah." Jim crossed to the edge of the balcony and leaned on the railing, looking out at the city lights. He loved this view at night. From here, he could almost believe that there was no crime in Cascade. Just the peaceful twinkling of lights against the darkness. "Did you call to see how things went with Blair or did something else come up?"

  The hesitation on the other end of the line was enough to tell Jim that Simon hadn't called just to check on him and his Guide. "What is it, Simon? What's happened?"

  "Alex is back."

  Those three simple words sent a wave of red-hot rage washing through him. "How do you know?" he ground out. He gripped the phone so tightly, he thought it might snap in two.

  "She was spotted at the airport. Security tried to pick her up but she lost them."

  Jim closed his eyes. Of course, she lost them. She's a sentinel. She's got an edge they don't even know about.

  Simon's voice pulled him back from his thoughts. "She got away clean, no trail, and now she just comes back to Cascade? It doesn't make any sense."

  "Unless she's here for something specific." Jim turned and crossed back to the glass doors separating him from his partner. "Or someone specific."

  "You think she's come back for Sandburg." It was not a question but a statement of fact and Jim knew Simon had already come to that conclusion before he called. He just wanted to see if Jim would put it together the same way.

  "You know that's why she's here." Jim let out a long breath. "It's been a month, Simon. Who knows what's been going on with her senses in that time. If she found out Blair survived, maybe she's decided that she needs him to help her."

  "You gonna tell him?"

  Jim ran a hand over his eyes, rubbing lightly. "Not tonight. It's his first night home. I want him to have at least one good night's sleep. I'll tell him tomorrow. We'll both be at the station in the morning."

  "Okay Jim. And Jim? I'm glad the kid is home."

  "Yeah, me too." He disconnected the call and then stood for another minute just watching Blair through the closed doors. If Alex had come back for his Guide... His jaw clenched. His stomach churned. "She will not get near you, Chief. I promise you that."

  He stepped back inside and crossing to Blair, shook his shoulder lightly before pulling him up and leading him toward his room.

  Alex stepped from the shadows and aimed her gaze upward. She could see the two men inside, hear their voices. Blair saying something about tribal welcome home customs. Ellison telling him he could explain it all to him in the morning.

  A predatory smile pulled up one corner of her mouth as she focused in on Blair. What had she been thinking when she tried to kill him? She had thought what he had told her would be enough. That she wouldn't need anymore information. She had been wrong. For the last two weeks, she had barely been able to manage her senses, barely been able to hold onto her sanity. But now, just being this near to him seemed to restore some of her control. Was that what he did for Ellison?

  Her gaze shifted to the detective. How much of a problem would he be? She'd heard his promise to Blair. Had nearly laughed at the arrogance behind the words. He's so convinced he can beat her, yet he hadn't even heard her down here. Had never suspected for a moment that she was this close. He'd been too focused on his Guide.

  His Guide.

  "Not for long," she breathed, her gaze shifting back, focusing solely on the young man beside Ellison. "No, not long at all."

  To be continued....