Love you? If he hadn't said the words in person, he certainly shouldn't say them in a text, not in such a jaunty, offhand way. And if he did send that message, he suspected Olivia would come running, thinking someone had stolen his phone.
In the time he paused, she sent back, Meet at office. Need to check a file.
He still hesitated, his fingers ready to typ
e back his usual All right.
"Put the phone away," Patrick whispered. "You'll see her soon enough."
Perfect. Gabriel texted, See you soon, and a moment later she sent back a smiley face. He allowed a hint of a smile himself and pushed the phone into his pocket.
--
The dryads scampered ahead, not even looking over their shoulders. When they reached the middle of the floor, they flanked a classroom doorway and said, "Ta-da!"
Gabriel let Patrick go first, reasoning that, as a fae, he might have more protection against whatever lay inside. Gabriel followed right at his heels, though, curiosity prodding him forward even as he tried to pace himself, ears attuned for a rear ambush.
Inside the room, they found...Seanna.
"She's bound," Patrick said.
"How else could we make sure she stayed put?" Alexios said.
"And gagged," Patrick said.
Helia looked at him. "You've met her. Can you blame us?"
Gabriel ignored Seanna's glowers. It was indeed much easier to deal with her--and ignore her--when she was in this particular state. He moved farther into the room and then realized the dryads still flanked the door. He waved them inside. They obeyed without hesitation.
It was a classroom, like all the others they'd passed. No windows. A flashlight propped up in one corner. A sleeping bag and nest of blankets. To one side, a duffel spilled clothing. Fast-food wrappers littered the floor.
Seanna must have been squatting here when the dryads found her. The sight of her "camp" brought back memories of Gabriel's own years on the street. Except he'd been unable to afford fast food. Or a sleeping bag.
"I'll need to question her," he said. "Then we'll take her to the police, to prove she is alive."
And after that? He hadn't thought of what he'd do with Seanna after that. He had ideas, most of which involved very deep holes, but they were only fleeting fancies. While Olivia would doubtless say he deserved to entertain those fancies, he wanted to rise above them.
The deep-hole fantasy wasn't about punishing Seanna; it was about protecting Olivia. Protecting Rose. Even protecting himself and the life he'd built. Put Seanna someplace she couldn't harm them.
Jail seemed the best solution. He was still working out the logistics for that. It might involve accusing her of a crime she had not committed. And no, he would not feel the slightest bit guilty for that.
"I will ask you to escort her out," Gabriel continued. "I have sedatives, if it proves necessary."
"You brought sedatives?" Patrick said. "It seemed wise."
"You have sedatives just lying around your house?"
"It's an apartment. Seanna? If you don't wish to be sedated, I would suggest you accompany these two quietly. Remember, you can't escape if you're unconscious."
"I don't think you should give her ideas," Alexios whispered.
Patrick only shook his head. He knew Gabriel was advising her to stay alert because she had no actual chance of escape and sedation was merely inconvenient. Which was not entirely true. Gabriel was bluffing about the sedatives. He certainly didn't keep them on hand. If he did, there'd be far too much temptation to use them on far too many people.
The dryads started toward Seanna. Then they stopped, pursing their lips in unison as they looked about.
"Oh, let me guess," Patrick said. "You hear something. And we need to run and hide, leaving you..."
Patrick kept talking, but Gabriel no longer heard him. No longer heard anything except the softest beating of wings against glass.