Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods 7)

ous of the sister she never knew.

Allegra’s legacy had been one of grief, pain, suffering, and war.

But Finn Chase was Ben’s daughter. A normal human girl, with a normal life, a normal heart.

“Will you come with me to Chicago?” she asked Oliver.

THIRTY-ONE

Mimi

week had passed since Mimi and Jack had parted ways at the burning house. She had no idea what had gotten into him—he had to be lying, he had to be up to something—there was no way—no way he meant what he said. Or did he? They had spent a long time in the underworld, after all. She had to admit everything he had said was something she had wrestled with herself. Why be good? Why do the right thing when being bad was their true nature, when it was so much easier to give in?

What’s happened to you? she sent him. What are you doing? Tell me. I can help. But once again, there was no answer.

Well then, she would have to figure out how to get out of her predicament on her own, as usual. If she was going to warn Kingsley, she would have to find him first. Where was he now that the safe house was no more? Where would he have gone? she wondered. What resources were left to him, with the Coven bankrupt and the vampires underground? It was too distressing to think that Lucifer might actually win this fight. There was only one thing left to do.

Have a cup of tea.

She was in London, after all.

The Ritz was a little too flashy, and all those shops at Harrods had too much tourist riffraff. Only Fortnum & Mason would do. The St. James restaurant, tucked away on the fourth floor, was sufficiently removed from the bustle of London to give her the feeling she was getting away from it all for a bit.

No sooner had she settled in with a pot of Assam tea and spooned a heap of clotted cream on her scone than a girl sat down in the empty chair across from her. “Excuse me,” Mimi said shortly. “Can’t you see this table is taken?”

“You really don’t recognize me, do you?” the girl asked. She had an American accent—curious. “It’s only been a few years. Forgotten the little people from high school already, Mimi?”

High school…It seemed like centuries ago. But she’d know the sound of that gossipy voice anywhere. “Piper Crandall?” she asked, incredulous.

“The one and only.” Piper smiled. “How the hell are you?”

“What are you doing here?”

“The same thing you are, duh. To answer the call?”

“What call?”

“You know, when the Venators summoned everyone here. Or hadn’t you heard?”

She hadn’t, at least not officially. But Mimi suspected it wouldn’t be in her best interest to admit that. “Right, I thought you meant something else,” she said. She realized that if Piper was acting so friendly, it meant, at a minimum, Kingsley hadn’t told the Coven that she’d cast her lot with the Dark Angels. Good to know.

“I know,” Piper said. “We’re a bit late to the party, but I had to convince Max it was the right thing to do. Besides, going underground was cramping our style. I’m so glad we came. Everyone’s here! It’s like a big reunion.”

Mimi nodded. Piper always did like to be in the center of the action.

Piper leaned in. “So—what’s going on? No one will tell us, but we know something big is happening.” For a moment, Mimi felt like she was back in high school again, with Piper waiting for the good dirt so she could go tell everyone. “Come on, spill. I know you know.”

Boy, did she ever, Mimi thought.

“I don’t know anything. I’m waiting—just like you,” she said.

“But you’re our Regent,” Piper pointed out. “Someone spotted you on the tube the other day, and sent me to check it out.”

“So this isn’t just a random encounter,” Mimi said. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

“Not in the slightest. I volunteered for the job—thought we could catch up. Besides, I didn’t believe what everyone is saying.”

“What are they saying?” Mimi asked with a raised eyebrow.