Grim Echoes

Chapter 49 - Will

Will cleaned another wing off the bone. They'd delivered as promised, spicy and smoky. These were gonna make his top ten list. Who would've thought the shit hole town would have good wings? Ander worked the room, doing his usual routine chatting up the locals and got info to confirm the locations they'd need to check later tonight.

Maeve shifted in the seat next to him. Right. Tomorrow, the locations they'd check tomorrow. Damn it, all babysitting was annoying. Made everything slower than needed. He took a drink of his beer, looked at Ander again and then back at her. Fuck, she was useful for something, anyway. Ander was on top of his game for once. It'd been months since Ander had been good at doing his job, or at least that part of it.

Will enjoyed monitoring things while he ate. His acute hearing made it easy for him to follow conversations around him without ever leaving the table. The only voice he tuned out was Ander's. It'd taken time to master, but if he listened to Ander, he'd want to interfere with suggestions. They'd both learned the hard way it was better for Will to do his thing and Ander to do what he did best. Will chuckled. Ander was such a shy kid and an introverted adult. No one would guess that from his performance. He glanced at Maeve. Her face was all scrunched up and had a disapproving look. His eyes flicked over to what she stared at. She watched Ander. Maybe he'd said something that'd offended her?

"You ok?" Will finished his beer.

"Yeah, I'm fine." her voice sounded too formal. Women made no sense. She'd been in a decent mood when they got there, now full of attitude.

"Andy, do something to piss you off?"

She snapped her head in his direction. "No, of course not." She shifted in the seat again, her right hand moved toward her hair. "I just don't like him acting like that." She dragged the end of her hair between her fingers.

"Acting like what? He's doing his job,"

"No, I mean." she paused and glanced at Ander, who laughed.

Not his real laugh, but the fake one he used to win people over.

"That's nothing like him," she mumbled.

"That's kinda the point," Will replied, and popped another wing into his mouth.

No one was gonna talk to the real Ander. He was too mousy, and some people found him disturbing. He hadn't been blessed with Will's charming smile or natural charisma. Maeve just hadn't been around long enough to get it yet.

"Do you want more beer?" her tone still too formal.

"Sure,"

Before Will could say anything else, Maeve stood and picked up his empty glasses and marched to the bar near Ander. Fuck, she was gonna ruin everything. Ander stopped talking as soon as he saw her. He recovered, but if Will noticed, probably the people he talked to did as well. Maeve ordered beer, two in fact. Least she did something right. Will didn't listen to Ander's words, but heard the conversation pick back up. The tension left his shoulders. He tore into another wing.

The sound of Maeve's laughter caressed his ears and made the back of his neck tingle. With narrowed eyes he turned to the bar and saw her sitting on a bar stool talking to some idiotic athletic guy. His joke was stupid, and Will didn't like how he leered at Maeve. She leaned over closer to the guy and laughed again.

"I'm sure it isn't like that every time. Did you take down any buildings around here?"

Will right hand curled into a fist. Her sweet tone was unacceptable, couldn't use that tone on just any asshole. His rage pushed to the surface, made his temperature spike.

"Yeah, there are plenty of places around here. I can take you to one of them if you want," the cocksucker answered.

"That'd be great. Is it one of the places you need to demolish? Or a place you've taken down?" her pink lips stretched into a broad smile that made Will grit his teeth.

The jackass leaned forward, closer to her. "Which do you want to see?"

Will could smell the pricks excitement. It was nauseating. The violence sunk its claws into him. He was gonna rip that bastard apart.

"I want to see you work," she breathed.

The guy nodded, unable to take his eyes off of her, his heart pounded in his chest. It was deafening to Will.

She is yours, the guttural voice reminded him.

Ander's voice stopped. Will stood and stalked to where they sat. Maeve's eyes fluttered wider, and she jerked her head back. The bastard didn't even sense him. Still caught up stared stupidly at her.

"Where's my drink?" he spat out. Not what he'd intended to say.

"Oh, they're right here. Sorry, I got distracted by this handsome devil," she giggled as she handed him the two beers.

The fucktard got a goofy smile when she spoke.

"Yeah, well, don't get too distracted. We have an early day tomorrow," he growled, and forced himself to walk away.

He counted in his head, that'd been one of the suggestions the anger management people suggested when he'd been forced into classes. Had to get his crazy under control. He guzzled both beers and rubbed the back of his head and listened to her again. Good. Her voice was strained and awkward now, wasn't like before. He scanned the bar and spotted a female he would've bedded if Maeve wasn't with them. Annoyed by her presence again, he scratched the back of his head and sauntered over to the blonde.

Most of the time he preferred brunettes or red heads, but desperate times. Within ten minutes he had April eating out of his hand. Not only was she hot, but she was full of information about some of the sites they were going to look at. Most of which were considered haunted. He drank a couple more beers and a few shots to get his mind off Maeve. He peeked at Ander, who still milled around when he saw Maeve leave the bar. The fuck was she doing? Wasn't part of the plan. Will scanned around and made sure the athletic prick was still there. Thankfully he was, and looked disappointed. Good. Just before Will stood to follow Maeve, Ander signaled he'd go. Will turned back to the blonde and ordered another round of drinks.