Page 38 of The Misplaced Warrior

“Then maybe remember what Chip said to you last when you were leaving MystTech Creations,” he began. “What did he say… Oh, right, ‘I’m sure that everything will turn out okay. A woman like you, who is strong and smart will always come out on top. I believe that, anyway.’”

Gen blinked at him in disbelief. “That is what he said. But how do you know…” She trailed away, realizing she was asking the wrong question. Everyone had told her that Plato wasn’t understandable. Even Liv had related this. He was powerful and all-knowing and no one knew why.

“Why do you think that last phrase from Chip was important?” Gen asked.

“I just do,” he answered. “Doesn’t sound like the words of a guilty man, in my opinion. But maybe of a remorseful one who knew what was coming.”

Gen looked up with a sudden realization. It hit her so hard. So cold. So forcefully. “Of course. Chip didn’t set me up. But he knows who did. He was used. And he regretted it after getting to know me.” She thought for a moment. “Does that mean it was Dwayne?”

When she brought her gaze down to the floor, she was surprised to find the lynx had disappeared. But then she realized that after everything she’d learned about Plato, that she shouldn’t be shocked. That’s what he did—appeared with some great wisdom and disappeared before he could be thanked.

“Thank you, you sly little feline,” Gen said to herself, but truly believing that somewhere and somehow, Plato could hear her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

FAMILY TIES

John’s Electronics Repair Shop, West Hollywood, California, United States

After the bizarre and unexpected conversation with the mysterious lynx, Gen was more than distracted. She found herself lost in thoughts of the past and confused by ones of the present as she strode to the electronic repair shop under where Liv and Clark lived in West Hollywood. She’d seen the shop on the first floor labeled John’s Electronics Repair Shop, but never paid it much notice.

When she entered the place crammed full of electronics, Gen felt an air of familiarity wash over her. Maybe it was because she’d been by the shop so many times without knowing it belonged to Beaufont family friends. Or maybe it was because on some level, it held great significance to her family. For whatever reason, she was drawn to the place upon stepping through the door, feeling instantly at ease.

An older man who Gen recognized looked up when the door chimed, marking her entry into the store. She squinted at the guy, trying to remember where she’d seen him. He smiled brightly, his blue eyes lighting up as he set down the electronic he was tinkering with. He had a head full of grayish-silver hair and although he was older, he had a timeless handsomeness about him.

“Gen,” the man said in a warm voice, waving her into the shop, welcoming her. “It’s great to have you here. I was hoping to meet you face to face soon. You know, when things settled down.”

Gen didn’t want to be rude, but she couldn’t place where she knew the man. “Ummm…yeah. It’s good to meet you too.”

He chuckled, standing. “I’m John Carraway. I don’t expect you to know me. But I’ve obviously heard all about you. And I’ve seen you around.” He looked over his shoulder. “Alicia, Gen is here.”

Gen gulped, still not piecing this all together. She wished now that Liv had filled her in more. Or if she did, then she’d lost the information with all the overload of details bouncing around in her head.

“Right, you’re John,” Gen said, slowly. “And I’m here to see Alicia.”

He chuckled good-naturedly. “You must be so confused. We all know of you but you’re just trying to piece it all together.”

She nodded, grateful for his easy, understanding nature. “Something like that.”

He pressed a hand to his chest. “I’m London’s father. The one married to Rose. But also, I was a Mortal Seven for the House of Fourteen, the first in the new generation after the great war. But more importantly than that, I was Liv’s friend. I sort of adopted her after her parents died and well, all of our worlds knitted together, as they tend to do.”

“I love that,” Gen said, smiling. “And thanks for the explanation. It helps. And explains why Liv lives up there.” She pointed to the ceiling.

He laughed. “Yeah, I can’t kick her out now, not even if she’s turned a one-bedroom studio apartment into a penthouse suite.”

Gen was about to laugh when she was interrupted by a woman rushing through the door to the back. The lady stopped, looking at Gen in surprise, a pleasant smile on her face. She pointed at Gen and looked at John.

“Is that?” she asked, the question trailing away.

He nodded eagerly.

The woman turned fully to Gen and strode forward, her arms wide and opening. Before Gen knew what was happening she was enveloped in the woman’s embrace. Gen didn’t fight it, although she was stiff and uncertain.

“Hi,” the woman said, peeling back. “I’m sorry. We know all about you and have been so anxious to meet you, although Liv said you needed time to adjust. Anyway, I’m Alicia DeLuca. I’m?—”

“The magitech scientist,” Gen said, stepping back.

The woman, who was younger than the man but well matched to him, nodded. “That’s right. I’m also London’s mother and a really bad golfer.” Alicia laughed. She had a thick Italian accent and was exceptionally beautiful with long brown hair and dark eyes.

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