Page 4 of Coming Up Aces

Ace followed Ripperand Glory outside after the meeting. He searched for the female who had his Gryphon agitated. No, not agitated – intrigued. Melinda stood with the other females who were leaving Haven. Ace hadn’t missed how she sniffed the air. He had also inhaled, only more discreetly. When their skin touched as they shook hands, his Gryphon perked up, recognizing another predator as well as someone it wanted to get to know. She didn’t smell like a Gryphon, so what was she? And why would a shifter be at Haven? There was only one way to find out.

Rip touched his shoulder, getting his attention. “We’re going to ride to Providence with Glory’s family. Can you bring the Camaro to us?”

“What about your bike?”

“I’ll come back for it later. It should be safe for now at the campground.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you at Providence as soon as I can.”

“Thanks, Brother.”

They clasped hands, then Ace walked behind the barn where he wouldn’t be seen and entered the woods, locating his carry pouch. After removing his clothes and storing them in his bag, Ace took to his Eagle and flew to where he’d parked his bike. He searched the area to make sure he was alone, then shifted and got dressed.

As he rode back to New Troy, Ace couldn’t stop thinking about Melinda. The brunette was girl-next-door pretty. The way she moved gracefully reminded him of the female Gryphons when they were in their Lion form. He intended to find out more about the woman when he got to Providence. Granted, he needed to give her time to get settled, but he would speak to Lynette and Branson and have them keep an eye on her.

By the time Ace pulled up at Providence after trading his bike for Rip’s vehicle, the vans were gone. He parked the Camaro and angled out of the car. Since he was without wheels, he ordered a ride. Rip and Glory had both been through hell, and he wouldn’t keep them from getting back to the hotel any later by having to drop him at home. Instead of disturbing them, Ace texted Branson to meet him outside.

The Hound came out the front door a few minutes later, and Ace tossed him the keys. “Give those to Ripper, please.”

“Will do. You need a ride home?”

“Nah. I’ve called for one.” He hesitated before asking, “Uh, did Melinda get settled?”

“She’s not staying. She asked to borrow my phone to call a friend to come get her.”

Ace looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the female. “Isn’t that unusual?”

Branson turned his back on the house. “Yeah, it is. What’s more unusual is the person she phoned? She called him Sir. She also deleted the call and text. I wouldn’t say that’s unusual, but it did make me wonder what she’s hiding. She’s still waiting on whoever it is to pick her up.” Brick hesitated, then asked, “Ace, did you notice anything different about Melinda?”

“Like?”

“Like she doesn’t smell human.”

Ace twisted his neck, popping the tendons. “I did, which is all the more reason to keep an eye on her. Can I borrow your truck?”

Branson narrowed his eyes. “What are you going to do?”

Ace rubbed the back of his neck. “Something about this feels off. I want to follow her.”

“The man could be her father, or—”

“Someone higher up the chain. I don’t like this, Brick.” Ace had always trusted his instincts, and they were screaming at him that he needed to keep an eye on the female.

“Neither do I. Let me grab my keys. Meet me at the side of the garage.” Branson went to retrieve his key fob, and Ace walked around the house to where the detached garage was located. Branson met him a few minutes later, handing it over. “She said it would take about forty-five minutes for her ride to get here, and that was thirty minutes ago. I’ll call you when they arrive.”

Ace clapped the male on the shoulder, then entered the garage through a side door. He got into Branson’s truck and canceled his rideshare. While he waited for Branson to send the alert, Ace leaned his head back and pondered the female. His Gryphon took notice when he and Melinda shook hands, and that never happened.

Ace didn’t feel romantic stirrings until he’d formed a solid relationship with whomever he was dating, male or female. By the time that happened, his partners had written him off. Ripley was the only one who knew that about Ace. Not because the other Hounds were homophobic, but because Ace didn’t want the others looking at him with pity when each relationship crashed and burned. And they always did. Not that he was looking for something with Melinda even if she had his beast taking notice. There was something going on with the female, and Ace planned to figure out what.

It was half an hour later than expected when his phone pinged with a text from Branson. Ace started the truck, pushed the button to open the garage, and when the door was fully raised, he pulled out with the headlights off, then closed the door behind him. He eased his way around the house, catching sight of Melinda’s ride. The vehicle was a black SUV with tinted windows. Two factions drove such vehicles – the government and the mafia. Okay, maybe he was stereotyping, but Ace had a bad feeling about whoever was driving. Ace didn’t move until the SUV was almost out of sight. Keeping the headlights off, he followed from a distance. He kept them off until they were in traffic. The vehicle merged onto the onramp for the highway, and Ace kept several car lengths between them. They traveled west until they came upon the exit for New Latham. Ace was familiar with the town since that’s where Spyder’s mate, Charlie, lived and worked when the two first met. Ace and Rip had guarded The Blooming Boutique, or BB’s, as Charlie called her shop, when someone from The Ministry had targeted Charlie’s cousin.

Ace had to back off, as traffic was non-existent in the early morning. Speaking of BB’s, Ace pulled into the lot where he parked and got out. Knowing someone at Zander “Zero” Andino’s security company was monitoring the cameras, he waved, then skirted around the building and stripped. Calling forth his Eagle, Ace took to the sky and flew hard in the direction Melinda’s ride had gone. It took a bit of backtracking, but he spotted the SUV backing out of the driveway of a nice two-story house. Ace circled above the home. There was a kid’s play fort in the backyard, which was fenced in. There were tall trees and flowering bushes. Potted plants lined the covered patio. If this was her home, did she have kids? Why had she gone to Haven, and who had taken care of the plants while she was away?

There was only one light on in the house, and it was in a top-story room where the blinds were closed. Ace settled in one of the trees at the back of the yard and waited. Ten minutes later, the light went out, and the home was bathed in darkness. His beast urged him to remain in the tree until she rose later that morning, but he had no good reason to do so other than his gut told him something was off about the female. Instead, Ace flew to the front yard, took note of the address, then made his way back to the truck. After getting dressed, he climbed into the cab and sent off a text to Bishop, hoping he didn’t wake the Hound.

As he returned to New Troy, Ace turned the radio on and did his best to focus on something other than the woman. It didn’t work. Too many things didn’t make sense, and they all tumbled around his brain. Once he arrived home, Ace strode to his den, opened the French doors, then snagged a half-full bottle of tequila. He didn’t bother with a glass, instead opting to drink from the bottle. As a shifter, the clear liquor wouldn’t get him drunk, but the burn soothed his mood. Ace leaned against the doorframe and gazed at the crescent moon. It was something he did often; staring at the sky, wishing on stars, wondering why he wasn’t like others. He'd long ago given up on expecting an answer to that last one. His phone pinged with an incoming text. He should have known Bishop would research the house as soon as he got the inquiry.

Bishop:The house is owned by Joseph and Delia Edwards. Two kids, ages six and nine.

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