Black Wings, Gray Skies (Black Hat Bureau 4)

“We’ll find out in the morning.” Asa, kindly, didn’t press the matter. “Do you want a ride, Aedan?”

“I’ll walk.” He stretched his arms over his head. “My butt fell asleep waiting on you.”

“It’s a long walk home.” I hated to let him out of my sight. “Are you sure?”

“I need to shake off his hold on me.” He rolled his shoulders to loosen them. “I’m going to hunt.”

“Keep your phone on.” I touched his shoulder. “Call if you so much as stub your toe.”

As much as I hated to suspect Dad, I couldn’t afford to accept his miraculous reappearance at face value. Now that he was gone, and I had room to breathe, I felt my brain kicking into gear, sussing out his story.

“Do me a favor?” I waited for his nod. “Call Clay and Colby. Let them know you’re okay.”

And if they happened to keep him on the phone, say, the whole time, I would be fine with that.

“I’m okay.” Reading my unease, he swooped in for a hug. “Nothing happened.”

“I wouldn’t call rising from the dead nothing.” I squeezed him tight then reared back. “That reminds me.” I cocked an eyebrow. “How did the electrician escape?”

“Um.” He flushed to the tips of his ears. “About that.” He scuffed his shoe. “There was no electrician.”

No electrician meant he had flipped a breaker to set the scene then lied to the girls about the problem.

Given how flustered Arden had been about Aedan not answering her call, I could guarantee the girls had no part in this. Since he wasn’t the scheming kind, I had a good idea who put him up to the whole thing.

“You were just hanging out in the store for the heck of it?”

“For authenticity’s sake,” he corrected, chin tucked. “Clay said to give it a few hours then I could—”

“Go on. Hunt.” I flicked my wrist. “I don’t need the details.” I smiled. “See you at home.”

Already bouncing on the balls of his feet, Aedan set off at a brisk jog and left me alone with Asa.

“Clay enlisted Aedan’s help in the blackout, I take it.”

If Asa was as embarrassed as I was that Clay had orchestrated his deflowering, he didn’t show it.

“Looks that way.” I turned to Asa. “We should flip the breakers before we leave.”

That dedication of Aedan’s to authenticity meant the store was still powerless.

“How are you holding up?” He studied me in the sunlight. “You’ve had a big shock.”

“It’s only going to get worse. The drop-ins. The surprise guests. Can you imagine how bad it will get if we do mate? How long before you’re the one who gets kidnapped?”

“I won’t get kidnapped.” He gripped my upper arms to halt my retreat. “And if I do? I’m happy to wait for you to rescue me. I’ll even braid my hair and toss it out the window for you to climb.”

“That’s not as comforting as you may think.”

The mental picture of Asa as Rapunzel would have tickled me any other time, but not today.

“I can’t imagine how it must feel to know your father is alive and out there in the world.”

“And playing for the wrong team.” I rested my forehead against his chest. “The Bureau gives purpose to those who would otherwise be executed by their factions for their crimes. Dad wants to dismantle it. I’m not sure I agree with him.”

The last place any sane person wanted to stand was in Hiram Nádasdy’s way.

Daughter I might be, but he had made a vow designed to drive him to its completion.