Read Online Motor City Witch by Cindy Spencer Pape - Free Book Online

probably some in the security office.” Aidan pointed toward a hallway behind the library. “I assume you’re going to want to talk to my staff anyway. We might as well go there.”
    “Fine.” The mage turned to follow Aidan down the corridor toward the staff offices, several of which, including the security office, backed on to the library. “One thing before we do. Did Elise tell you that Dina isn’t yours?”
    Aidan nodded sharply, his lips pressed together. “Yes.”
    “Do you believe her?”
    Well now, that wasn’t a question he’d expected from Des. The last thing they needed right now was a pissing match between Elise’s brother and him, so total honesty was probably called for. He lifted his shoulders a fraction of an inch. “I’m not sure. I do believe that she thinks it’s so.”
    “Why the hell haven’t you been there for her before now?”
    Aidan turned, half expecting a fist to the jaw. Instead, the mage simply stood with his arms crossed over his chest, eyes narrowed.
    Mending fences, not breaking faces. “Until Meagan showed me the card for her gallery, I didn’t even know Elise was back in Detroit. I never knew she’d been…hurt and I damn sure never knew she was pregnant. Imagine my shock when I saw a girl with green eyes show up at my fucking house yesterday morning. Seems like someone might have told me about that five years ago, doesn’t it?” He was aware of the fact that his voice had risen to rarely used levels.
    Desmond had made a point of letting Aidan know Elise had moved back to Vancouver with their parents. He’d never said why. Now he shrugged. “You’d hurt her. Why the hell would I have told you anything? Especially since she didn’t want you to know. It’s not like you ever had time for her anyway.”
    Aidan took the shot, though the words hurt like a physical blow. He deserved it. After a moment spent getting his own anger under control, he tipped his chin. “Glad to know where you stand, but none of this is going to help us find Adina. If you want to hit me, get it over with now so we can get on with the important things.”
    The corner of Desmond’s lips quirked for a moment before his expression hardened again. “Agreed. I’ll take a raincheck on that. What are your people doing to find my niece?”
    There was a thump of bare feet on the marble floor and Greg appeared in the hallway, pulling a black T-shirt on over his head. He’d gotten a pair of jeans from somewhere.
    “What the hell is he doing here?” Des demanded.
    “Helping.” Aidan closed his eyes and counted to five. “Look, I don’t know what your deal is with werewolves but get the hell over it or get out of my house.”
    Tension vibrated in the atmosphere, until Des shook his head and held out his hand to Greg, though his nostrils flared. “Sorry. Long story and not relevant. What’s important now is Dina. Thanks for your help.”
    Greg shook the mage’s hand, though his lips twitched into what might have been a snarl. “No sweat.” He turned to Aidan. “I didn’t find any trace of anything like djinn anywhere on the grounds. I can’t tell if the same elf was here and at the condo or not—too many similar scents overlain and too long ago.”
    Aidan swore again.
    “Any news on this end?” Greg followed them as they continued to move down the hallway.
    “No ransom calls, no disturbance at Elise’s condo and Toby isn’t back from Underhill yet. We’re heading in now to see if Wallis knows anything more.” Aidan opened the door to the security room and stepped inside.
    “Morning, boss.” Wallis looked up from a monitor screen, his face haggard with fatigue and strain. “I’m sorry. I’ve gone over every single surveillance photo of the wedding and can’t find anyone who wasn’t supposed to be here. Either our guy walked in as the date of an invited guest, or he was an invited guest, or staff. Jase emailed a list of the artists and their dates. No one leaps out as