Free Hear No Evil (Alpha Guardians Book 2) by Vivian Wood Page A

I did a little research about Pere Mal. He’s obsessed with his personal history and that of his ancestors. So I dug a little, nudged a couple of Gray Market vendors I know, asked around for whispers about where his people are from. I cross-checked some of the older plantations with the places he and his family were rumored to have lived and worked, then I compared that to the list of properties Ciprian gave us.”
    Gabriel studied her for a moment, looking a little surprised.
    “What?” Cassie said, pretending offense. “I’m not just a dumb fortune teller, you know.”
    “I’ve never thought that for a moment,” Gabriel promised, his lips curling up into a smile. “So? What did you conclude?”
    “So, look ,” Cassie said, pointing out the same spot on five different maps. “Right here, on what’s now Prytania Street. Pere Mal’s mother was said to have worked at the Foucher Plantation. There’s a cemetery very close by with a bunch of important graves, maybe even Baron Samedi himself.”
    Gabriel raised a brow.
    “Baron Samedi is the one who made up the riddle about the Gates of Guinee. ‘Seven nights, seven moons, seven gates, seven tombs’, remember? You really gotta keep up,” Cassie sighed. “Anyway, within the same few blocks there is also a paranormal crime hot spot, a house where the first Vampires that arrived in New Orleans kept their coffins, and a freaking Indian burial ground.”
    “And Pere Mal’s addresses?”
    Cassie dropped her finger onto the closest map, beaming with pride.
    “Right smack in the middle of it all, of course,” she crowed. “He has a number of properties in the area, but public records say this is one of the oldest standing homes in the city. I think it’s more than an investment. I think it’s personal.”
    “And you think… what, that he’d put the new Birdcage somewhere close to his heart?” Gabriel said, putting the pieces together.
    “I think Ciprian said he’d pick somewhere with a lot of security, well protected. I think he’d protect someplace he cared about a lot, right? Especially if you already ran him out of the first location.” She paused to take a breath, thoughtful. “Actually, Alice did that. She’s the one that sent up the flare.”
    “A friend of yours, I presume?”
    “Probably my only real friend,” Cassie admitted with a shrug.
    “That’s not true. You’re friends with me. And Echo and Rhys,” Gabriel said. “And for some reason, Cairn seems drawn to you. That bloody cat doesn’t like anyone but you and Mere Marie.”
    Cassie suppressed a giggle when Cairn rose from where he was curled up atop a bookshelf, right behind Gabriel. Cairn gave Gabriel a haughty look and reached out a paw, knocking a heavy-looking book off the top shelf. Gabriel jumped and spun to glare at the cat, who slunk off out of sight.
    “Careful about him,” Cassie warned with a grin. “He’s sneaky like that.”
    Gabriel muttered a low curse and shook his head.
    “Well, this is excellent work. You really should think about doing research professionally,” he said. “Uh, not that you need a job.”
    Awkwardness bloomed between them and Cassie almost groaned aloud.
    “Thanks,” she huffed. “So can we go get Alice from the Birdcage now or what?”
    Gabriel frowned for a moment.
    “I’ll have to talk to the other Guardians. We don’t go in without a strong plan, and we don’t take our…” He paused, and the word mates hung in the air between them before he corrected himself. “The Guardians go in alone. We don’t want to have to defend you and attack Pere Mal’s guys at the same time.”
    “I resent that! I can pull my own weight. Or the Oracle can, at least. She’s not about to let me get hurt, I assure you.”
    “I’m afraid that’s not nearly enough reassurance for me,” Gabriel said with a bemused smile. He stared at her for a second too long, his gaze dropping to her chest before he cleared his throat and reached out to give her