"Karl Marsten?"
We looked up to see Troy's partner, Griffin, walking toward us. Did his blue eyes frost over as they met mine? Probably my imagination. I was in the mood to see disapproval everywhere.
Karl extended a hand. When Griffin pretended not to see it, I didn't imagine the icy look in Karl's eyes. If he was going to make the effort, he didn't appreciate being repulsed by a glorified security guard.
"Have you heard from--" I began.
"This way," Griffin said, then headed back toward the building.
I hurried to catch up, but Karl caught my arm, his look reminding me that we were here to assist the Cabal, and damned if we were chasing after our escort.
"I'm sorry you were called away from home at this hour," I said, as Griffin looked back at us impatiently.
"You think I care about that?" His tone was so sharp I jumped. "My partner's lying on a hospital bed, fighting for his life. My boss was almost killed, and now he's guarded by security team flunkies I barely know. And I'm stuck playing escort for--" He stopped himself.
"A werewolf?" Karl said smoothly.
A grunt that could be a yes.
"I don't know why Lucas assigned you to us, but we had no say in the matter, and as soon as we find William, we'll be out of your hair," I said as we approached the front doors.
"Better yet," Karl said. "We could leave right now."
"You're not going anywhere until Lucas says so." Griffin yanked open the door.
Karl caught and held it. "I beg your pardon?"
"Lucas told me to guard you, and I will until I'm relieved of that duty."
"Is that Lucas's order?"
"I know my job."
In other words, Lucas had said no such thing. As we stepped inside, my cell phone rang. It was Paige.
"We just got to the office," I explained as I answered.
"Is Griffin there?"
I looked at the bodyguard, who glowered back at me. "Yes."
She gave a throaty laugh. "Is he giving you a hard time? Ignore him. He's a good guy. He just takes the whole bodyguard image very seriously. Not like..." A slight catch in her breathing.
"How's Troy?" I asked.
"He's in surgery now."
That's all she said. I guess it was all there was to say--that he'd survived long enough to get onto the operating table and we just had to wait and see what would happen there.
I could hear voices in the background. It sounded like an argument. Had they run into trouble?
"Anyway, I wasn't calling to pester you about your progress. I just wanted to say...be careful."
"Okay..."
"We just got to Hector's house. He's here in the study apparently, and has been all evening. Carlos was here an hour ago. So that's two pretty much accounted for."
I caught her meaning, one she probably didn't dare voice with others around. If Benicio's attacker had gone after one of the sons following his failure at the house, it would be William. If that attacker had managed to get into Cabal headquarters, he could be here now.