The Belial Library (The Belial Series) by R.D. Brady Read Free Book Online Page B

that been fear in his father’s voice?  He curled his fist, though he was careful not to slam it on his desk.  He knew if he did, the desk would be damaged, if not destroyed. 
    Careful, always having to be so damn careful, so no one knew what he could do.  Why had his parents never told him?  Why leave him full of questions? 
    His Dad was gone, so there were no answers to be had from him.  But his Mom . . .  He sighed.  Getting answers from her was even more complicated than getting answers from his father.
    He glanced up as the door opened.  A broad-shouldered man in his mid-thirties with a shock of dark brown hair walked in.
    Henry shook off his thoughts, tucking them away yet again.  He smiled and walked around the desk.  “Jake.  I thought you weren’t getting in until tonight.”
    Jake shook Henry’s hand and grinned up at him.  Although Jake was six-foot-four, Henry towered over him.  Standing at seven-foot-two, he towered over most people. 
    "Wrapped things up early,” Jake replied, heading for Henry’s bar.  He picked up the decanter of Scotch and tilted it towards Henry.
    “No, I’m good, but help yourself.”  Henry sat in one of leather chairs in front of his desk, surreptitiously watching Jake.  Jake had never been a drinker.  An occasional beer, sure, but never Scotch.  And he looked like he’d lost weight.   His jeans were baggier and his navy t-shirt hung a little looser. 
    “You okay?”
    Jake took a seat across from him, his glass on the coffee table in between.  “Yeah.  Good.  Israel wrapped up pretty easily."
    Henry nodded, but didn't say anything, taking stock of his head of security.  Work was fine.  His health was fine.  Which only left one thing that wasn’t fine.
    “Have you talked to her?”  Henry asked, deciding to forego small talk.
    Jake swirled the amber liquid in his glass with a sigh.  “No.  Not for about two months.”
    Henry sighed.  He’d really been hoping these two could patch things up.  If any two people deserved a little happiness, it was Laney and Jake.  “Just give her some time.  It’s hard to downgrade from putting your lives in each other’s hands to asking if she’s got plans for Friday night.  You both went through a lot.”
    Laney had been the target of a supernatural stalker.  She’d borne up well and she and Jake had forged a bond through the ordeal.  But reality had been tough for both of them, especially Laney.  She’d lost one of her best friends to that insanity.
    “Have you talked to her? How’s she doing?” Jake asked, his face expressionless. 
    Henry read the shift in Jake’s attention, though, the tautness of his shoulders.  “She’s good.  She took a leave of absence from the University of Syracuse and started researching everything she could find on ancient civilizations.”
    Jake chuckled.  “She started that from the hospital bed.  Can’t tell you how many books I lugged back from the library and bookstore for her while she was recuperating.  What’s she doing, going for another Ph.D.?”
    “Actually, she is.  With her master’s classes, her doctoral work in criminology, and her work with her uncle, she was only a few credits shy.  She finished them up and now she’s working on the research for her dissertation.”
    Jake took a long drink.  “Well, good for her.  Where’s she doing the research?  Out with her uncle in Montana?”
    “Umm, no.  Actually, she’s working with an old friend of hers, Jennifer Witt.”
    Jake raised his eyebrows.  “Jen?  Jordan and Mike’s sister?”
    “Yes.”
    Jake had been surprised when he learned that one of Laney’s friends was the sister of two of his friends.  He and Laney had been only one degree of separation away for years.  “So, where’s Jen doing her research?”
    “Ecuador.”
    Jake grinned.  “Jen always did like being off the beaten track.  What are they researching?”
    “The lost library of Atlantis.”
    The grin