Page 39 of Major

“I did not!” she yelled at the room. “I mean. Maybe. Look, I just went into our database again to see if anything was up yet. It says there are two non-Egyptian mummies in their original sarcophagi that will be auctioned off. It says the mummies have, and I’m quoting, ‘extraordinary historical significance which will be discussed at the auction.’”

“Damn,” muttered Major.

“I’m going to try and get into the warehouse,” said Daphne.

“Damnit, woman! Do not do something so fucking foolish!” yelled Brix. Elena looked at him, giving a small grin.

“She doesn’t respond well to that tone,” she whispered.

“Fuck me,” he growled. “Daphne, please do not do that. Someone is probably watching you, and it’s too much of a risk.”

“The only people watching my every move are my parents! They’re driving me crazy sitting here, and I’m sick of having dinners with men they believe are good son-in-law material.”

The room was suddenly deathly quiet. Brix swallowed, staring at the phone, then at everyone else.

“I-I’m not encouraging them,” said Daphne. “I don’t want to have dinners with them, but as long as I’m here, I’m being forced to. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

“Yes, you do,” said Brix. “Come here.”

“I’m not even sure that security would allow me to leave, Brix. Even when I try to go outside and walk around, they’re following me like dogs. I’m grateful that they’re here, but I have no privacy at all.”

“I can come and get you,” said Brix. He looked at the others in the room, and Luke nodded.

“We can send him on the jet and be there by tonight,” he told Daphne.

“Can I have twenty-four hours to think about it? I don’t want to hurt my parents. I know they’re scared for me after what happened with my sister, but they’re really making me crazy.”

“Claim to have the flu,” smiled Elena. “Stomach cramps, diarrhea, anything that will allow them to leave you alone in your rooms.”

“That’s a good idea,” she smiled. “Alright. I’ll try that today. I want to come there. Just give me some time to deal with them.”

“I understand,” said Brix.

“No, you don’t, Brix. I want to be there, not here. I’m all my parents have left. They’re getting older, and they worry for me.”

“I get it, really,” he said.

“Okay, I’ll keep in touch, but someone needs to be at that auction or figure out what they actually have.”

She ended the call, and Brix looked at the others, unsure of what to say.

“Brix, she’s telling the truth,” said Elena. “Her parents are very protective of her after her sister died. It’s not what you think.”

“Is that right?” he frowned. Major gave him a stare that said for him to back off. “Sorry, Elena. What is it you believe I think?”

“I think you believe it’s about race. You think because you’re from mixed heritage, that she and her parents care. They’re not the kind of people who would care about something like that and more than that, neither would Daphne. They don’t care.”

“Don’t they?” he frowned.

“Brix,” she laughed. “Her parents are black. Daphne is adopted. She is a white European woman, but her parents are West African.” He opened his mouth several times to speak, nothing came out. As the others smirked in his direction, he finally was able to utter one word.

“Oh.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“We may have some good news for all of you,” said Pigsty, standing in the doorway with Hayes, Nigel, and Spencer.

“Come on in, boys,” said Hex. “What did you find?”

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