Free Shadow of Hope by Elizabeth Rose, Tina Pollick

regretted the words the minute he spoke them. It was unfair to use that against Chris, a second father to him. Chris pinned him with a stern gaze. “Yeah, Evan. Because these guys don’t have enough to worry about without getting dragged into someone else’s goddamn war. If I felt it necessary, I would. You’re not going soft here man, are you?”
    Evan bristled. “Of course not. I just…”
    “I know Zoe can be a handful, God Evan, I do. But-”
    “No. It’s not that. It’s-”
    “The fact she’s a witch,” Chris prodded.
    “Okay, that’s one thing. But if the Gateway has been stolen, time is of the essence and I need to-”
    “Protect my daughter,” Chris finished sternly. “I’ll track this guy down. He endangered someone very precious to me and I intend to make him pay. Rather than you running around like a chicken with your head cut off, let me use my intelligence network to find him. Then I’ll call you in.”
    Evan glared at Chris. “Promise?”
    “Soldier’s honor, Evan.”
    Evan couldn’t argue with that, and he didn’t even try.  When they re-entered the gym area proper, Evan was surprised to find Zoe still there, sitting on the couch. He raised his eyebrows. Zoe glared at them both. “When your father is a professional IO trainer, you have few places you can hide. That’s Intelligence Operative, for the layman.”
    Evan returned her glare. Chris walked over to Zoe and sat down next to her. He put his hand on her leg. “Sweetie, I need you to pack some things.”
    “Like hell I will. I’m not going to just up and run because some thug broke into my house and stole my locket!”
    Chris looked to Evan, and then returned his gaze to Zoe. Zoe’s eyes narrowed. “You guys know something and you’re keeping it from me. Spill or I’m not going anywhere!”
    She glanced at Evan. “And yes, that’s a threat.”
    Evan shrugged. Chris sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Look, sweetie. I’ve made a lot of enemies in my profession. People who want to see me hurt or dead. And what better way to hurt me than to come at the only thing I have left? I need you to work with me on this one Zoe.”
    Zoe crossed her arms over her chest.  “To do that would imply I’ve not cooperated with you in the past. It’s kind of hard to cooperate with a ghost, dad.”
    Evan saw the pain all over Chris’ face. Chris kept it from reaching his voice. “You think I spent all that time away from you because I didn’t care?”
    Zoe gritted her teeth. “I think you had a job that was more important to you than your family,” she replied tersely. 
    What a spoiled, obnoxious- He remembered the card he sent to his mother after his father died. Kids didn’t hurt their parents because they were bad. They hurt them because they hurt. Either way, this was going nowhere fast. He reached over towards the wall and pulled a set of keys from a peg. “Chris.”
    Chris turned and Evan tossed him the keys. “Once she packs, you guys can use those to get in. I need some sleep. I have work tomorrow.”
    Chris threw the keys back at Evan and he caught them underhanded, perplexed. “No can do, champ. I want you guys out of the city. I want her at the farm.”
    The anger swelled within his breast like some poisonous blossom. He gritted his teeth. “I can’t do that, Chris. I have work tomorrow!”
    Chris shook his head. “I’ll make the rounds. Explain things. Evan, put your ideals-”
    “No,” Zoe said, getting up and turning to leave. She grabbed her purse. Evan winced at the memory of being slugged in the back of the head with it.
    Chris grabbed Zoe’s arm. “No is right Zoe. You’re going with Evan and Evan is going to the farm.”
    He gave Evan a hard stare. “Isn’t that right, Evan?”
    ****
    Lucian entered the abandoned paper factory through the back door. The musty scent hit him first. He walked over to a small trapdoor located in the corner of the building and descended into the Chamber, as Aries had taken