and be open to new experiences. Then he’d promptly put it to the back of his mind. Clearly Ion hadn’t.
“That’s fine.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I can’t even think about that right now. But I’m glad Ion’s going to be back tonight.” He told her about the meeting at Broken Chains that night at eight. “Can you make sure and let him know?”
“Of course.” She carried his plate and hers to the sink. “I’m looking forward to meeting your friends. I just wish it was under better circumstances.”
He started to point out that they weren’t exactly friends, but decided against it. Whatever she needed to believe to make herself feel better was okay with him.
“Thanks for breakfast, Mom.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you at Broken Chains, tonight.”
The sadness in her gaze echoed how he felt in his heart. He sighed and left. He knew the drive back to Texas City would feel twice as long as usual, but he wanted to go home and change before making those phone calls.
On the way there, his cell phone rang. Caller ID showed Unknown Caller. His heart skipped a beat. While it was possible someone was calling who’d seen his poster and had information about his sister, he had a gut feeling this was something else.
“Did you get the note?” a low voice growled. Masculine, he thought, though the voice-garbling software made it difficult to tell.
“I did.” He kept his tone even, stifling the rage that filled him. Somehow, he managed to keep it contained. “How did you get this number?”
“Never mind that,” the anonymous person said. “Have you considered my offer?”
Though there were many ways Zach could have responded to that, he knew he didn’t have time to waste. “Consider it? I have no idea where I’d find virgins, never mind virgin Mermaids.”
“Really?” The caller sounded unconcerned. “If you don’t, then my little captive’s father should know. Ask him. Otherwise, tell him his daughter is going to die. You have one week. No longer.” And then, with a click, the person ended the call.
Stunned, Zach stared at his phone. He punched Redial, but only got a recording stating that the call could not be completed as dialed.
Clearly, this meant the letter writer had been serious. While he could infer from this that Nantha was still alive and they might be able to save her, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he couldn’t be part of some sort of sacrifice. Two innocent lives for his sister’s? No.
But would Ion feel the same way? For the first time ever, Zach wasn’t certain his stepfather would do the right thing.
While this was something else he’d discuss with the Shadow Agency, he decided he wouldn’t tell June just yet. Due to the letter’s implications, he could only imagine her reaction. No, when and if he decided to fill Ion in, he’d need to catch the Merman alone before he went back to the ocean.
For the first time, he wondered why the captors had chosen to reach out to him rather than Nantha’s father, especially since they wanted virgin Mermaids.
Shayla got to Broken Chains early, before the place had even begun to fill up. The band hadn’t even arrived yet. Johnny, the bartender, looked up when she entered, his expression surprised. “You’re really early,” he commented.
“I rented a private room,” she told him, smiling. “Can I get a ginger ale?” The soft drink had become a favorite. And it was far too early in the day to drink.
“Of course,” he said, pouring the beverage into a glass without ice, just the way she liked it. He checked a clipboard. “You’ve got room three. I’ll start a tab.”
“Thank you.” Carrying her drink with her, she headed toward the back of the bar, where bright red double doors separated the main area from the private rooms. Rumor had it that all kinds of deals were conducted in those four windowless spaces. Shayla didn’t know for certain, as she’d never rented one before.
Lately, every time she set foot in Broken Chains she marveled at how this place—a bar, for shark’s sake—felt so much like home. But here was truly the first place she’d ever been where no one was judged for any reason. Talk about diversity—Shifters and Vampires and Merfolk, and who knew what else, all coexisted in harmony. The knowledge, as well as the experience of finally feeling as if she belonged somewhere, made Broken Chains her home away from home.
Once she stepped through the double doors, she stood in a short hallway that ended with a full-length mirror decorating the wall and reflecting her image back at her. There were two doors on each side, numbered. Number three was the last door on the right.
She went to it, grasping the knob. Giddy with anticipation, she opened the door and stepped inside.
The perfectly square room looked like a conference room. Beige walls, boring artwork framed in walnut, dark hardwood floors and a large round mahogany conference table with six upholstered chairs.
At first disappointed, she shook her head and laughed. What had she expected really? Red upholstered couches and gilt coated lamps? This wasn’t a whorehouse, after all.
For whatever reason, she thought of Zach. It had been a long time since she’d battled such a fierce attraction to a man. Of course, since he was her client, this was not only inappropriate, but dangerous. She needed to keep her full attention on the investigation.
Setting her tote bag down on the table, she pulled out her laptop and powered it up. Might as well check the internet connection before the meeting. Maddie had also promised to be there early so they could get everything set up. Carmen, too, though, like Maddie she’d had to work so would have to come straight from her job. As long as they were here before Zach and his family.
Shayla opened a thick manila folder. She’d printed out all of the research she’d done on virgin sacrifices, both in human history and Merfolk. She’d been tempted to ask her father to speak to Poseidon, but she knew all kinds of trouble came from getting the Sea God involved.
She slipped off her high heels, rubbing her aching feet together before taking a seat. While she loved the way the red-soled, spike-heeled shoes looked, she still hadn’t gotten used to walking in them. That hadn’t stopped her from buying several pairs. She figured she might as well build up her collection.
Now to deal with the business at hand. Time to make notes and see if she—along with Maddie and Carmen—could come up with any sort of plausible theory as to who might be holding Nantha. All before meeting with the young Mermaid’s parents and Zach at eight.
Maddie arrived thirty minutes later, when Shayla had just gotten into the research. Distracted, Shayla looked up when the door opened, slightly disoriented.
“Hey,” Maddie said, by way of greeting. “You seem really lost in thought.”
Shayla indicated the papers scattered all around her on the table. “Research.” She glanced at her watch, surprised to see thirty minutes had already passed. She’d also just about drained her ginger ale.
“Great.” Maddie
