Free Aconite (The Elektita Series Book 1) by Christine Alvarez Page A

the whole
walk Jo just listened. I kept my gaze averted. I didn't want to see what she
thought of me written all over her face.
    We turned onto
Highland Street putting Antiques and Oddities squarely in our path.
    "Do you know
the owner of that shop?" I interrupted myself pointing at Sebastian's
shop. Jo's high pitched squeak came in answer.
    "I take that
as a yes." She must know something about the feud that was plain between
him and Jonathon. After all she had worked with him for years
    "What is the
deal with those two, anyways?" It would be nice to talk of someone else's
problems for a change.
    "I don't know
what you are talking about." Her answer was hurried and definitely a lie.
    "Well, do you
mind if we stop by so I can thank him for the gift I received?" I knew she
would mind by her reaction but curiosity got the better of me and I headed
straight to the front door of his shop.
    "What
gift?" she asked, trying to keep up with me. I chose to ignore her. I had
already given away too much and something in my gut told me to keep the gift a
secret.
    "You can't go
in there!" Her panic was clear as I reached the front door of the store.
    "Why?"
She would have to have a damn good reason for me not walking through that door.
A boss was one thing, a guardian was another.
    "Jonathon
won't like it." Her answer wasn't good enough. I didn't care at this point
if he would like it or not. I had questions for Sebastian anyway. Her eyes held
tightly to unshed tears begging for me to listen and walk away.
    "Screw
Jonathon! He’s my boss, not my god damned keeper," I bellowed, bypassing
Jo who had stepped in front of me.
    She hesitated for
a moment before stepping out of my way. I could hear her mumbling profanities
under her breath and swearing that this was the worst idea ever. I wanted to
promise that if she gave me a damn good reason I wouldn't go in but the words
wouldn't come out. The lights in the shop were on but the front door was
locked. Undeterred, I began banging on the door. If someone was inside I'm sure
they thought I was being chased by a masked murderer. I could see a man much
shorter than Sebastian make his way up from the back of the shop. He opened the
door almost expectantly.
    "Sorry, we're
closed." He purred, stepping back letting me in anyway.
    "Where is
he?" I demanded, the man’s wolfish grin faltered by a fraction when he
caught sight of Jo as she followed me in. His hazel eyes swept over her in
disgust. Realization stopped me in my search. He was the man at the front desk
this morning.
     A throaty laugh
burst out of him when I stopped my search to gape at the far too familiar face.
    "What the
hell?" was all I could manage to get out.
    Jo's large green
eyes darted back and forth between us, clearly not understanding the sudden
turn of events. That would make two of us, I thought.
    "Shouldn't
that be my line? You are the one that just barged in here demanding answers
when none were deserved." He stood lounging against a bookshelf, hazel
eyes assessing my paint splattered clothes. In my haste I had forgotten to
change back into my normal attire.
    "Where is
he?" I stupidly repeated. I chose to ignore what I couldn't process.
    "If you are
referring to Mr. Gates he is away on business. I told him I would look after
the shop. Is there something I can do for you ladies?" He asked pulling
himself away from the shelf, closing the distance.
    "We should
really be going then," Jo whispered as she tugged on my sleeve.
    The look the man
shot her pissed me off. Jo was hiding something, but she was still the closest
thing to a friend I had.
    "No. I'm not
leaving here ‘till someone tells me what the hell is going on!" This could
not be a coincidence. I rounded on the mystery man that now stood in my
personal space.
    "Yes there is
something that you can do for me. You can tell me who you are and why you were
at the Inn this morning." I retorted, slamming my finger into his chest.
    Jo sucked in a
shocked breath. Okay, so ignoring