Guild of Truth 01 - Silent as the Grave by Mary K. Norris Page B

screwed no matter where she goes. But I doubt that they have a full-forced Dreamer, so let the woman stay where she wants and someone drive me home already. Syd?”
    “I don’t have a car,” she said forlornly.
    “What happened to your car?” Joel’s hands tightened around her waist in concern.
    Felix braced himself as Sydney pinned him with a look. “Felix Erased it.”
    Joel’s jaw bulged. “He what?”
    He held his hands out in peace. “Syd blocked herself in when she parked in the driveway. It was the only way to get rid of any evidence so whoever Collette was working for couldn’t trace her.”
    Joel’s anger eased at the mention of protecting Sydney, just like he knew it would. One obstacle avoided. Now he had bigger problems to overcome, like getting Cali to quit being so bull-headed.
    “There’s too much risk if you stay here alone, Cali. It’s not safe.”
    She weighed his words, but all hope of her coming home with him was blown out of the water when Sydney decided to open her mouth. “If you’re worried about Cali then I can always stay at your place, Felix. You live closest to the clinic, and if anything happens, she can call. As soon as I’m within range I can Shield the place.”
    “No.” He and Joel spoke up at the same time.
    Niella rolled her eyes and dropped her head back.
    “What do you mean ‘no’?” Sydney asked Joel.
    He looked at her as if the answer should be obvious. “I don’t want you staying the night there alone.”
    Felix cut short the retort he had ready. He and Sydney had been friends for years. Well before she met Joel. However, Joel was the over-protective type, and he couldn’t begrudge the guy’s not wanting his girlfriend to spend the night at another man’s home, no matter how ridiculous the idea of him and Sydney getting together sounded. He checked his temper. “She’s not staying at my house,” he said, making sure to convey that to Sydney. She could be just as stubborn as Cali was turning out to be. “If Cali wants to stay here then I think Syd should too. That way she can Shield if anything happens.”
    “I don’t need a babysitter,” Cali spoke up from her seat in the corner.
    “Agreed.” Niella seconded the comment.
    Felix didn’t appreciate her interference.
    Sydney instantly adopted the role of mediator. “How about I stay here until Cali gets settled, and then I’ll crash at your place?” She turned to Joel. “We’ll all crash at Felix’s place.”
    “I’m sure as hell not crashing there,” Niella muttered.
    Felix ran his hand through his hair. He didn’t want any of them crashing at his place. Yet, his fate was sealed when Cali gave a cross between a nod and a shrug in accordance.
    Of course she’d agree. It wasn’t her home that was about to be invaded.

Chapter 6
    “You’ll love it. Tom’s pizza is the best.” Sydney continued to gush as she led Cali out of the vet and two shops over to the little pizzeria. Felix, Joel, and Niella had left in the Hummer, leaving Cali alone with the very talkative and energetic Sydney.
    “You really don’t have to stay with me,” Cali told her for what was perhaps the fifth time.
    “Nonsense.” Sydney brushed her comment off as she had all the others. “I promised Felix I’d get you settled, and I will.”
    She held the door to the pizzeria open as if this were part of getting Cali settled. Cali bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying anything untoward. She didn’t need to be coddled.
    They’re trying to help.
    She had to constantly remind herself of that lest she go crazy from the constant hovering. With the rest of the group gone it was a little better, though she hated to admit that the sight of Felix leaving left an ache in her chest that refused to go away.
    The pizzeria was a quaint little place. It was done up in a red, orange, and white color scheme that had Cali thinking only of pizza. The smell of fresh garlic bread and tomato sauce permeated the air. She tried