High Stakes by Parker Williams

Author:Parker Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: urban fantasy, fantasy, serial fiction, gay romance, werewolves and vampires, short stories and collections, supernatural and occult
Publisher: Parker Williams

***

Ben burst through the door, stalking to Burkette and slamming him into the wall. “What the hell are you doing here?” he snarled.

“What needed to be done,” was the simple reply.

“That’s not good enough. You don’t come near Artie, do you understand me?”

“Leave him alone, Ben. I agreed to help him.”

A deep pain filled Ben as he let Danny go, then turned to face his lover. “What? Why?”

“He told me about the fire. Someone is after us or one of our friends. I won’t refuse to assist him.”

Ben stepped toward Artie, though he kept Danny in his line of sight as the Odd Squad detective brushed a hand over his suit and took a seat. “But you shouldn’t be doing this alone. You haven’t been working with Elena long enough.”

Artie smiled as he reached out and pulled Ben closer. He put his hand atop Ben’s, the gesture soothing. “I think you know as well as I do, the world we live in is one we won’t ever be fully prepared for. Demons, vampires, wereanimals, and things we don’t want to believe exist. And more of them are flooding the area every day. Something is happening, and we need to understand it. I know you’re afraid for me, but I have to do this. For you, for our family, and the children we hope to have.”

“Then let me be here with you,” Ben pleaded.

Artie’s expression hardened and he glared at Danny. “Ben’s staying. Whatever it is I saw, I need him here in case things go bad. This isn’t negotiable.”

Danny grinned, then nodded. “Fine. He can stay. And Ben? You did good getting out of headquarters. I hope you’ll be at work tomorrow.”

Ben’s mind reeled. Danny was playing chess, and he knew moves for each of his pawns well in advance. He might be manipulating them for his own ends, but Ben understood his motives. Didn’t mean he wouldn’t beat the man if it came to it, though.

Artie ran through what he’d seen, and Ben gasped. “How could you see Agatha from this?” He picked up the jewelry, then frowned. Emotions swept through him, bringing his protective instincts surging to the fore. There was a connection for him with the piece he held, but what he felt wasn’t possible. “Okay, why is it I get impressions from this?”

“Really? What do you see?” Artie asked excitedly.

“I don’t know if I’d say I’m seeing something, but I feel it. I can’t really explain it. Somehow I know you’re in here.”

Artie reached out and took the piece from Ben. “Maybe it’s because I was handling it?”

“No, it’s more than that. I wish I knew how to put it into words. It’s like…a piece of you is inside it.”

Danny interrupted. “There’s only one way we’re going to know for sure.”

“You don’t need to do this,” Ben said, casting a glance toward Artie. He didn’t want to see the man who wore his ring, and who held his heart, hurt.

“Yeah, I really do. I have to understand why I saw my grandma.

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