Page 41 of Let Go My Gargoyle
“Bye.” She added a little wave and a shoulder twitch while glaring at him.
He stood and sighed. “Please don’t be mad.”
She pointed at the door. “You never should have come back.”
“You’re right.”
If he walked any slower, he’d morph into a turtle.
She waited him out, maintaining her best woman-scorned stance. When he reached for the door handle, he glanced over his shoulder. She glared right back.
With another sigh, this one worthy of an actor during his big moment on stage, Griffin opened the door, stepped through, and closed it behind him. Abandoning the turtle act, he immediately hopped onto the porch railing and then leaped off, shifting into his gargoyle form. His flapping wings caught the wind. and a moment later, he disappeared from view.
Her dragon pouted.
“Shut up,” she snapped, storming into the attached bathroom so she could brush her teeth and wash her face. “He’s not worth it, no matter how much you like the sex.”
She liked it too, and she could freely admit it. But sex was not enough to sustain a relationship. Not when one of the participants kept disappearing like smoke.
She headed down to the kitchen in search of coffee. As she reached for the cannister containing the grounds of precious caffeine, she noticed an envelope with her name on it lying on the counter.
That was weird. Who would leave a note for her here? Unless Antoinette had, maybe? Except she’d gone to bed before Sofia had last night. And it couldn’t be from Griffin, because he’d left by flying off the second-floor balcony.
Although if it was from him, she’d burn the damn thing.
Snatching it up, she flipped it over and slid the folded stationary out, reading the brief note scribbled in blue ink.
I need access to the reeve’s laptop. You will get it for me. Figure out the password, write it down on a piece of paper, and tape it to the computer, then place it under the cushions in that box in the gazebo. Tonight, after everyone has retired.
You know what will happen if you do not.
There was no signature, but Sofia didn’t need one. Darius had written this note. The question was, how had he gotten into the house? Sneaking into the yard on a cloud-covered night moments before a storm was to start was one thing; actually stepping foot into the house was entirely another.
It meant he was far more dangerous than probably even Antoinette suspected.
And if he could get into this mansion, which was normally crawling with dragons, all of whom were on the lookout for him, he most certainly would be able to find and murder her mother.
She had to do what he asked.
“Morning.”
The deep voice startled her, and she let out a yelp as she flung herself around, pressing the note to her rapidly beating heart.
Ketu stood there in a pair of gym shorts and a gray T-shirt, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
“What’s that?”
She crumpled the note until it was a small wad of paper in her fist and said, “Nothing. Where’s the trash?”
“Recycling and trash are in here.” He pointed at a door that opened into a small pantry. Sofia stuffed the note into the side of the trashcan and hurried over to wash her hands.
“You okay?” Ketu asked. “You seem nervous.”
She shook her head without looking at him. “I-I was planning to make breakfast. To surprise everyone. I didn’t think anyone was awake yet.”
His voice immediately brightened. “Oh yeah? Cool. Need help?”
She shook her head again. “No, that’s okay. Go do whatever you were planning to do.”
