Heart Bandit by Rosalie Redd

Author:Rosalie Redd [Redd, Rosalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rosalie Redd

Chapter 20

A gust of wind whipped against Gabriel’s face, stinging his eyes. He mentally kicked himself for forgetting his sunglasses, and the relentless breeze, as if intent on irritating him, kept up its game. The full summer foliage in the trees lining the walkways at the University of Chicago rustled. If it wasn’t the middle of the day, he’d carve a few nasty words into a trunk or two for revenge.

He peered at his phone. Google Maps pointed the way to Stuart Hall. Almost there. He picked up his pace, a light skip in his step. Situated next to the library in the Harper Quad, the majestic structures with their stone edifices and tile roofs seemed out of place in the middle of Chicago.

Students, some with backpacks hung over their shoulders, hurried past, while others congregated in small groups on the lawn. A burst of laughter, answered by another, carried along on that damned breeze.

Not far away, three young women huddled on a blanket under a tree, unopened text books spread out before them. One pointed to three guys standing on the walkway, backs straight, chests puffed out. The flirtatious giggles erupted again. Childish games.

Gabriel gnashed his teeth. How was he supposed to destroy a stone gargoyle with all this activity?

He shook his head and consulted Google Maps once again. His destination, Stuart Hall, loomed to his left. As he walked by the flirty girls, he almost passed his target. Along the peaked roofline, several gargoyles stared at the passersby with unyielding attention. The last one on the left sported pointed ears and a snout with bared, sharp teeth. Long claws extended from hands clasped around a protective shield.

Despite the eighty-degree weather, a chill lifted the hairs on Gabriel’s arms. Damn gargoyles.

Large scaffolding covered a portion of the building’s exterior. Two men, one taller than the other, were dressed in blue jeans with matching red shirts and red caps. They worked on the stone surrounding one of the windows. The back of their T-Shirts read “Phil’s maintenance and repair.”

Gabriel rubbed his goatee. Just wonderful. How could he destroy the stone guardian without notice, especially with the maintenance guys front and center? If the task were easy, Marco would’ve tackled the problem himself.

The desire to please the fae, become a leader in Marco’s army, fueled Gabriel’s determination. Besides, he enjoyed inflicting harm on others, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. He straightened his shoulders and searched for options.

Outside the building’s massive doors, an old-fashioned corkboard hung from a hook. A few pieces of paper fluttered in the breeze. One contained the picture of a girl’s face. At this distance, details were a bit fuzzy, but recognition sparked in his mind. Perhaps the girl’s pink-tipped hair set him off. He wasn’t sure, but whatever it was, the picture drew him forward.

He ran up the steps, two at a time, adrenaline surging in his veins. As he approached, details solidified—familiar dark tresses, a pert button nose, and those green eyes, the ones that sparked his passion as well as his anger.

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