"You know exactly why he won't give up," he said, giving me a pointed look.
Now that was one thing I was sure I would never forget. The smell of another person's blood mixing with my own. A sickly metallic scent coupled with the sound of a gasping gurgle as a person’s lungs filled with fluid. Breaths short as the bullet in the woman's chest did its work. Of course, Emmanuel wouldn't let me go.
I had killed his sister, after all.
Chapter Eighteen
Ajax
"Please, Ajax, tell me you're finished with Mr. Yagermejensen's sign. He keeps emailing me that people aren't going to be able to find his inn if there is no sign. As if you wouldn't be able to figure it out from the fact that it's the only inn in this damn town."
I sighed and looked down from my perch on my ladder at Argos' mayor, Leto. She emanated irritation constantly. Like a high grade sand paper that was slowly rubbing back and forth across my skin. She was a beautiful woman of asian decent, with jet black hair and alabaster skin, but as with most beautiful woman in power, she had a bit of an attitude. At least with me, for some reason. With others, she was actually genuinely kind. Perhaps it was because I refused to sleep with her.
"It is." I affirmed.
Her irritation flared. "And when you were you planning on delivering that?"
"When I'm done." I gestured to one of the many other signs she had commissioned for me to do, including the one for Edith’s craft store.
She rolled her eyes. "As long as it gets done."
She finally walked away, thank the gods, letting me get back to work. I just had to remember that the pay for the town restoration job would be really good. Plus, seeing the faces of the other town’s people as I showed them their signs and the artwork they asked for was all worth the headache from Leto.
Pulling out my level, I made sure that the sign was straight before tightening that last screw. I climbed down my ladder and was careful to move it and hook it back to the side of my truck without hitting anyone. Edith came out the front door of her shop when she saw that I was done.
“Oh, Ajax, my dear. It is wonderful." The old woman stared up at the sign in wonder before turning to me with tears in her eyes. “You're doing a good job, hun. It's just what I’ve always wanted."
I looked back up at my work, a giant paint brush crossed with scissors that snipped the end of a string of yarn, which spelled out "Imagine That Art Supplies". Making these creative signs were fun. The warmth of Edith's joy felt wonderful in the aftermath of Athena. However, when the old woman hugged me, suddenly all of her emotions sank into me. A flash of stress over a phone call I knew she'd had earlier, annoyance at a complaining customer that had just left, her discomfort at my awkwardly standing there.
I slowly hugged her back as I built back up my walls, until all of it became a dull hum over my skin.
After a moment, I separated from her, plastering a smile on my face. "I'm glad you like it."
"Like it? Oh, darling, I love it! You have some skilled hands there, mister. You know, I have a granddaughter who's looking for a mate of her own. I could give you her number."
"No," I blurted out, a bit panicked. "I'm okay."
Her face fell, and I felt the slick feeling of her pity roll over my shoulders. "Ajax. I know it's difficult, but you can't be alone for the rest of your life. Now, I know it's not my place, but you’re a strong male, any woman would be happy to have you as a mate. Despite what you might think of yourself."
I shook my head. "I'm fine."
"If you insist." She gave me a sad smile, radiating that motherly warmth.
I always liked Edith, but she knew far too much about everyone in town. At least she didn't use it to her advantage, outside of when she tried to play matchmaker.
I tried to turn down the generous tip Edith slipped into my hands, only to blush when she scowled and slipped it into my back pocket before patting my ass and shooing me away.
Rolling my eyes, I hopped into my truck and drove over to Mr. Yagermejensen's Inn. I had a few more jobs to do today before I could head home. I wondered if everyone would be staying at my cabin again tonight. It was interesting having all the company after so many years alone. I did feel bad that most of us were either on the floor or one of the couches. Maybe I could build another room if this kept up. It would be a fun project, as I hadn't done any major construction in a while, mostly just focusing on my art.
My chest filled with pride as I realized how much of my artwork was dawning the town. Most of the shops had new signs that I had crafted, several of them had requested me to paint some sort of mural on their walls outside. Turning the once sea-darkened wood into bright and colorful paintings. Not to mention all of the mermaid sculptures I had put up all over the town. It was a bit like I was finally putting my mark on the world, a very interesting feeling after so many years of being the closet artist who was shut off from the world.
When I pulled up to the inn, I noticed a familiar motorcycle in one of the parking spaces and remembered Atalanta’s meeting with that man. I didn’t mind him too much, beyond his obvious attraction to Atalanta.
With a new spring in my step, I walked into the building. Mimi was minding the counter, and while she gave me a pleasant enough smile, she radiated annoyance. I couldn’t really tell the cause, but the way her eyes kept sliding over to Jason and Hip sitting in the lounge chairs, I could at least guess.
I waved and walked up to them.
“Ajax, perfect timing. You’ll be able to settle a dispute with us!” Hip shouted.
I grunted and crossed my arms, waiting to hear what they were bickering about this time.
Jason rolled his eyes. “Oh, sure, run to Ajax. Just acknowledge you’re wrong and move on.”
“You’re the one who’s wrong!”
These two were so stupid. Tuning out their bickering, I concentrated, trying to locate Atalanta’s signature.
There it was.
What?
“Kill,” I growled out before storming off to where I felt her.
The sickening churn in my stomach was fed by an ocean of negative emotions. Whatever that piece of shit human said to Atalanta didn’t matter if he was six feet under and couldn’t ever say it again.
I could hear Hip and Jason call after me as I stomped up the stairs, over to the door that emitted all of the horror and guilt.
Rearing back, I kicked in the door.
BAM!
Aaaand now I had a gun in my face.
BANG!
Guns are only as fast as the person pulling the trigger, and this person wasn’t fast enough.
Dodging the bullet by millimeters, I grabbed the slide of the barrel, preventing him from firing again before slamming the human's wrist while jerking the gun from his grasp. Pressing the magazine release, I ejected the clip and tossed it behind me, then emptied the chamber.
“What in the ever loving fuck?!” The man shouted.
I followed the voice to see Atalanta. On. The. BED. And the human was shirtless. Twelve feet underground then, possibly spread across thirty countries. They would never find all the parts.
I focused my attention back on the human who looked like he was ready to attack me. His feelings of confusion and anger were brimming, but there was something else there too. When he swiftly moved to step between me and Atalanta, I knew that he was feeling protective.