Nikolas by Faith Gibson

worker had given her a note. If only he could figure out who the worker was. Nikolas looked around, noting the security cameras. He needed to get a look at the feed. He could barge in there now, or come back later when the park was closed. Godsdamnit!
    Nik made one more pass through the large park before heading back toward Cairo. Instead of going to his hotel, he stopped at the bed and breakfast. He was going to ask for Beatrice in hopes that Sophia was there. When he walked into the small inn, the familiar scent was barely detectable. She probably wasn’t there, but he was going to ask anyway. When he reached the desk, there was an older woman standing behind it. He smiled and said, “Hello. I’m here to see Beatrice, but she isn’t answering her phone.”
    “You must be her son-in-law,” a voice said from his right. Two couples, one older and one younger, were walking toward him. The younger woman smiled and held out her hand.
    Oh shit. If he was wrong about the woman, these people would probably call the cops on him. “Yes, I am. We were supposed to meet for breakfast this morning, but she didn’t show.” Nik hoped it was a plausible lie.
    The older man spoke up, “I saw her leave early this morning around four.”
    “What were you doing up at four, and why were you watching Beatrice?” the older woman crossed her arms over her chest and huffed at him. If they were married, Nik felt sorry for the man.
    “You were snoring, and I couldn’t sleep. Besides, I wasn’t watching Beatrice. I was down in the common area reading a book, and I just happened to see her leave.”
    “I don’t snore!” The woman began a one-sided argument with the man who simply stood and took the bashing from his wife.
    The younger couple appeared mortified, but Nik grinned. “I will return to my hotel and wait on her. She has a mind of her own, that Beatrice.”
    The young woman said, “She’s a spitfire, that’s for sure. I’m Millicent, and this is my husband Garrett. Those are his parents Yvonne and Fred.” Nik shook hands with Garrett.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. If you see Beatrice before I do, please tell her I was looking for her.” Since he had no idea if Sophia was truly portraying the older Beatrice, Nik didn’t give them his name. If she was, she would know he was in town. If she wasn’t, at least the older woman wouldn’t have a name to give the police when she informed them she had a stalker.
    He exited the inn to the sound of Yvonne still going on about Fred’s early morning activities. If she were his wife, he’d lock her in the Basement with the Unholy for a few days. What Nik wouldn’t give to be home in New Atlanta, flying at night, fighting Unholy, and going home afterwards to Sophia. Since she knew all about Gargoyles, he wouldn’t have to hide the blood from her. As a matter of fact, she could help him shower it off. Fuck, now his dick was getting hard just thinking about her. Nik ducked onto a side street with no traffic so he could adjust the hard-on in his jeans.
     
     

Chapter Nine
     
    Sophia was being followed. This time there was no doubt as to who it was. The two men from the ferry had been waiting outside the zoo when she made her way to a taxi. Now, they were in the cab behind her. They knew she was staying at the Nile Grand, but they didn’t know about the bed and breakfast. Hopefully.
    She wasn’t as nervous leaving as she had been entering. They had given her another clue. If they intended to abduct her, they could have done so before now. The people following her had to know she would need to get ready to travel to the intended destination, once she figured out where it was. When she arrived at her hotel, she was alone. The two men continued on past instead of getting out with her. Sophia breathed a sigh of relief and made her way to her room. When she reached her door, she felt light-headed. She stuck the keycard in the slot and didn’t try to be quiet. When the door